Nintendo took a big step in releasing its first mobile game on iOS this month. However, this game is disguised as a free game on the app market. Essentially the free part is a demo of the game where you can play three levels and it feels relatively empty. After finishing the third level you're surprised with a screen that tells you to purchase the app for the rest of game.
Business wise, I understand why Nintendo did this. They wanted people to download the app and try it out first. Plus offering this short "free" version allows them to get more downloads. I'm going to state pros and cons of Super Mario Run, so you can decide if it's worth it to play or not.
9.99 is definitely on the more pricey side for an iphone game. If you're expecting a classic Super Mario Bros. feel from this game, you will probably be disappointed. Also the app uses a lot of data and can only be played online. So if you are going to purchase it it's probably a better purchase for people with unlimited data or to only play it when you're on wifi.
Okay, there are three modes that the game offers.
1. Tour Mode
2. Rally Mode
3. Build Mode
Tour mode has six worlds each consisting of four courses. The courses are timed at 90 seconds. Each world also has a boss, and the final boss at the very end, Bowser. Tour mode is the most "platformer" part of the game. I like it, it's fun and the coin challenges give you reason to play levels again. The biggest drawback for Tour Mode is I finished it very quickly.
Rally mode pits you against a 60-second time limit to get a better score than other people. You win by getting a higher score than your opponent. If you win you win Toads which can be used to unlock things like characters. This mode can be frustrating at times because you are going against people's best times, so there is not really room for mistakes. If you lose, you lose Toads which can be a little frustrating.
Build is for decorating Mushroom Kingdom by unlocking decorations.
All in all, I'd recommend playing fully the demo before purchasing to get a feel for the game. Play all the modes, that's the best way to assess whether it is truly worth it to spend 10 dollars on.
