'Super Mario Run' news, release date and rumored specs: Mobile game to arrive in iOS on Dec. 15; Android version may come soon
This holiday season is increasingly becoming most nostalgic with the help of Nintendo and Mario, no less.
With a newly unveiled and released NES Classic Edition, Japanese video-game master Nintendo has just reinvigorated the surefire power of nostalgia among its consumers who, recently, have been awash with highly advanced consoles and game titles. But with the September announcement of "Super Mario Run," a higher level of anticipation and a bigger slice of audience are expected to flock in again to Nintendo's side as soon as it releases the game to various platforms.
First on the list of lucky audiences is Nintendo's iOS enthusiasts. Considered to be as big as "Pokémon GO," "Super Mario Run" is now scheduled to arrive on iPhones and iPad on Dec. 15, 2016 — barely three months after it was announced alongside the Cupertino-based firm's newest iterations, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
"Super Mario Run" will offer a few starter levels for free — an evident lure to an all-the-more fun gameplay experience. Meanwhile, a one-time payment of $9.99 through an in-app purchase is required in order to unlock the entire majestic world of Mario. Perhaps one of the biggest shockers of the game is not its imminent release but the fact that the game can be played with a single hand.
It is composed of three modes — World Tour, Toad Rally and Kingdom Builder. The "World Tour" will follow "Super Mario" in its traditional gameplay. Shigeru Miyamoto has noted that Mario may change direction and time movements precisely. The goal of the game is mainly to collect as many coins and make it to the flagpole at the end of each level.
In "Toad Rally" mode, players will be able to compete with friends globally. The user can choose an opponent and attempt to beat the challenger's points by simply collecting more points and performing "daring" moves for extra points. Meanwhile, the coins that the players have collected are crucial for the final mode — the "Kingdom Builder." In it, the player can create his own "Mario Kingdom" along with Toad followers, buildings and decorations that can be accumulated with the use of coins.
"Super Mario Run," on the other hand, may be released to Android platform in 2017.
