Review Information
Game Reviewed Super Mario Country, by DJ Coco
Review Author CanofNothing
Created Aug 11 2014, 5:11 PM

General Commentary and Game Overview
Super Mario Country is a fangame that harkens back to the days of the Game Boy, emulating to DJ Coco's best ability the graphics, sound, gameplay and charm the games provided. Much effort is apparent in the level design, aesthetics and overall game feel... as well as its unforgiving difficulty. Is this game worthy of the effort and determination that one would take to complete it?
 
Pros - Attempts to mimic the Game Boy authentically
- Graphics are edited to attempt fit in with art style
- Okay, if unforgiving, level design, with plenty of secrets and things to find
- Varied level environments, even within worlds
 
Cons - Unnatural physics and movement
- Slight art style clashes regardless of editing
- Some assets are in the foreground, obstructing view of the level
 
Impressions
Gameplay
8 / 10
The gameplay is solid, with little glitches (if any) to be found. Mario feels slightly rooted to the ground, however, and his acceleration and momentum are vertically nonexistent. While it is debatable that such things are unnecessary, Super Mario Land 2, the game this was inspired by, had such things. It, overall, change the feel of Mario's entire movement, and gives an admittedly unprofessional feel to the entire gameplay, which would have been solid otherwise.
While I am aware that changing the physics would potentially lead to unintentional side effects, it stands as a blemish to the otherwise great gameplay, leaving me in the hopes that it will be improved in future fangames.
 
Graphics
7 / 10
The visuals of this game have been highly labored upon to try emulate the visual art style of Game Boy games - Super Mario Land 2, in particular - and the effort shows - although not without some art style clashes, everything fits in sufficiently well, and the game as a whole is quite pleasing to look at. However, running into instances where the visuals obstruct the player's sight will be inevitable in some levels. It doesn't help in the gameplay aspect of things to obstruct the player's view, of course - which is an unfortunate blemish to the art in this game.
 
Sound
7 / 10
The music is mostly taken from Game Boy games, some custom-made. A vast majority of the music does not loop, however, and fades out over time. While not bad selections by all means, the fadeout is ultimately a big detractor, in this aspect.

Incidentally, the Starman theme - a short remix of You Spin Me Round - is absolutely dreadful. Who on earth is responsible for it?!
 
Replay
5 / 10
The levels sport various secrets and optional areas to explore and use to the player's advantage, and players could definitely replay them to see if they had missed anything on their first playthrough.
There are, to my knowledge, no secrets in the overworld, which could have done with the branching paths and exploration that games like Super Mario World provided.
 
Final Words
7 / 10
A considerably well-made game that, although could have benefited from more polish and better design, is not a bad experience overall.

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