[ViewtifulJC]

They're both inferior to DKC2

[Marlowe89]

To me, SMB3 is superior to such a gargantuan degree it's ridiculous. Tighter level designs, better controls, more memorable music and better background art in the SNES remake - okay, that one is admittedly more subjective - and just stronger platforming in general elevates it to a level that's honestly miles above SMW's so-called "varied" approach (which was really more a fluctuation of platforming quality than anything, plainly showing what is ultimately one of its biggest weaknesses as a Mario title). Ironically, the world themes were extremely unvaried and really quite bland (caves, haunted houses, forests and brown everywhere else; that's about it) in spite of SMW's obvious appeal to diversity. As close as the game comes in certain aspects, it's just not... quite... there.

Did I love the game? Sure. Do I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread? Not by a long shot.

[PetriP-TNT]

I prefer... both. I rarely play through all the stages in SMB3 but I remember most of them being pretty great and challenging, but I also love pretty much every stage in SMW3.

[Neiteio]

They're both inferior to DKC2

True. DKC2 never gets old. Only downside is it makes my eyes bleed on an HDTV. They need to re-master the DKC trilogy in HD and release it on a disk with DK64, Jungle Beat and Returns as Donkey Kong Kollection for the WiiU. Any anniversary milestones coming up for the big ape?

[Barrel Cannon]

I've become so good at both of them that I don't know which one is the harder one anymore. I love them both. I felt Super Mario Bros 3 had some really unique interesting worlds and so many unique costumes. I grew up with it first and loved it more than Super Mario World for a long time. Then after I got Super Mario World gifted to me for gameboy advance I started to like it more. The control felt more precise and flying around was so much fun. I even maxed out the scorebar in the game on my gba. It's like 999999990 or something.


Arguing about which one is better is the wrong question. Arguing about why we haven't had a game similar to them since is what we should be arguing about(New super mario bros games are too slow).

They're both inferior to DKC2

Love this game with a passion. The music, the secrets, the artwork.....

DKC2/yoshi's island/supermario world. The perfect triple threat of platformers for the snes(or any platform).

[EmCeeGramr]

SMW art is so ugly.

[Hot Coldman]

SMW art is so ugly.

Why aren't the Goombas Goombas

[Neiteio]

SMW art is so ugly.

You wanna talk ugly, look at SMB3 on the NES. Blech! All-Stars salvaged what it could from that eye-raping king of rapists.

[EmCeeGramr]

Why aren't the Goombas Goombas

i know right, they're little cherry tomatoes

and the cutesy music is so grating

[Jake Tower]

The auto scrolling airship levels automatically disqualify SMB3 from consideration.

[Nocturnowl]

Why aren't the Goombas Goombas

You saying just because they're Goombas from another continent that they aren't real Goombas? that's low man, Goomba racism even.

[EmCeeGramr]

The auto scrolling airship levels automatically disqualify SMB3 from consideration.

try getting more skill mayhaps???

[Combichristoffersen]

You wanna talk ugly, look at SMB3 on the NES. Blech! All-Stars salvaged what it could from that eye-raping king of rapists.

If I could reach you I'd slap you so hard your great-grandfather would feel it.

[Neiteio]

You saying just because they're Goombas from another continent that they aren't real Goombas? that's low man, Goomba racism even.

This made me lol. XD

[BlackBanditSho]

you can finish most worlds with a cape, just need to have the right timing. SMW's Technicality and Music is vastly superior to SM3. Control wise it is also more precise.

I'd argue that SMW is my favorite videogame of all time. I get the SM3 love, but there's something about SMW that is perfect. Music, exploration, the weight (and freedom) of mario when he's soaring. SM3 had a heavier center of gravity. SMW remains the most fun I've ever had (repeatedly) playing videogames in my 30+ years of playing them. That, and the game is STILL gorgeous.

[Andrex]

SMW art is so ugly.

Mario and some of the enemies are off but I absolutely love the environments. Only topped by Yoshi's Island IMO (for obvious reasons.)

[Nocturnowl]

Mario and some of the enemies are off but I absolutely love the environments. Only topped by Yoshi's Island IMO (for obvious reasons.)

Love the backgrounds for the athletic stages within cave areas, I have no clue why there's some night sky backdrop going on but it's great, as is the one you sketched out yourself.

[Jake Tower]

try getting more skill mayhaps???

Surely you got better than that?

The only place autoscrolling belongs is a shooter, like Gradius.

[Combichristoffersen]

Love the backgrounds for the athletic stages within cave areas, I have no clue why there's some night sky backdrop going on but it's great, as is the one you sketched out yourself.

If you're referring to those glittering things in the cave level backdrops, I always assumed those were supposed to be crystals.

[Marlowe89]

The auto scrolling airship levels automatically disqualify SMB3 from consideration.

The airship portions provided a unique challenge in that the player had to simultaneously platform and dodge numerous obstacles while confined to a moving space, conveying a more intense feeling in the series and arguably better gratification from completing it. Pretty brilliant if you ask me, especially considering there were multiple non-auto scrolling levels to create a perfect sense of balance from the generally chaotic structure of airships.

[SloaneRangerSW1]

SMW is gaming perfection. It should be carried down the catwalk at every Victoria's Secret show on a fluffy yet respectfully firm pillow.

[Neiteio]

Little Mario can look up in World, which if spammed simulates the appearance of head-banging. That is awesome.

(Meanwhile, DKC2 looks upon the petty squabbles of SMW and SMB3 with vague disinterest, peering over the ledge of its marble temple atop Gaming's Mt. Olympus)

[Jake Tower]

The airship portions provided a unique challenge in that the player had to simultaneously platform and dodge numerous obstacles while confined to a moving space, conveying a more intense feeling in the series and arguably better gratification from completing it. Pretty brilliant if you ask me, especially considering there were multiple non-auto scrolling levels to balance them out.

AKA artificial difficulty in a platforming, exploring game

It's the platforming equivalent of limited save checkpoints in other types of games.

[Nocturnowl]

If you're referring to those glittering things in the cave level backdrops, I always assumed those were supposed to be crystals.

That's always been my second theory, but then there's the weird almost bushy section at the bottom of the screen, cave plants?

The airship portions provided a unique challenge in that the player had to simultaneously platform and dodge numerous obstacles while confined to a moving space, conveying a more intense feeling in the series and arguably better gratification from completing it. Pretty brilliant if you ask me, especially considering there were multiple non-auto scrolling levels to create a perfect sense of balance from the generally chaotic structure of airships.

My only real gripe is how they repeat the same hazards too frequently with airships, i'd rather just have 2-3 and no more, SMB3 overdoes it with them in some respect, I can only take so many rocky wenches, cannon fire and flame jets. Basically NSMBWii had the right idea.

(Meanwhile, DKC2 looks upon the petty squabbles of SMW and SMB3 with vague disinterest, peering over the ledge of its marble temple atop Gaming's Mt. Olympus)

yes....YES!

[Boss Doggie]

I find it weird because one of the stages in Vanilla Dome... is a night sky :P

Also am I the only one who thinks that the area names are essentially literal? Like Vanilla Dome is essentially an actual frozen icing/candy with vanilla flavor?

[JasonMCG]

I've always disliked SMW's plastic look, but it has better music and I have better memories with it so it's my favorite 2D Mario by default. SMB3 is a close second and SMB2 is even closer behind that.

[Marlowe89]

AKA artificial difficulty in a platforming, exploring game

The point is that there's hardly anything "artificial" about an implementation that places emphasis specifically on platforming in a uniquely challenging way. I feel like people are throwing this word around a bit too often.

Remember that SMW had these sequences, too. You can't exclude SMB3 from the equation solely for the concept.

[Miutsu]

<Shameless self promotion> *swoon*

What is it? Looks like an emulator filter in some way.

Also, i'm in the SMW wagon, but I cannot deny nostalgia plays a part of it.

[BigDes]

I always thought that SMW was the best 2d Mario game

However it is also the only Mario game I really like so I may be a weirdo outlier on it

[Canadian Psycho]

I forgot about SML. That's another game that I think is better than SMW. The only game I can think of that I like less than SMW is probably SML2.

That's insane... Did SMW rape you as a child or what?

Today is the first time I have realized there is some sort of imaginary rivalry between Mario 3 and World. I thought that everyone who loved the former loved the latter as well...

[Boss Doggie]

The point is that there's hardly anything "artificial" about an implementation that places emphasis specifically on platforming in a uniquely challenging way. Remember that SMW had these sequences, too. You can't exclude SMB3 from the equation solely for that reason.

Yeah but they're generally not quoted as "excellent" stages :P

[KillGore]

SMW art is so ugly.

Keep bringing on the hate, it's salty. SMW looks amazing, even today, SMB3 not so much.

[Nocturnowl]

I find it weird because one of the stages in Vanilla Dome... is a night sky :P Also am I the only one who thinks that the area names are essentially literal? Like Vanilla Dome is essentially an actual frozen icing/candy with vanilla flavor?

I would devour Donut plains and drink up soda lake, not sure I want to taste the um "Valley" of Bowser though...

[Anth0ny]

World is superior to 3 in every way.

It's close, though.

[Tain]

AKA artificial difficulty in a platforming, exploring game It's the platforming equivalent of limited save checkpoints in other types of games.

lol, "artificial". There's nothing even slightly fake about forced scrolling or limited checkpoints.

Those late-game airship stages are the best.

[Jake Tower]

Remember that SMW had these sequences, too. You can't exclude SMB3 from the equation solely for the concept.

Those sequences were shitty in SMW. The entire levels of this in SMB3 were even shittier.

[Boss Doggie]

lol, "artificial". There's nothing even slightly fake about it. Those late-game airship stages are the best.

Ehh if anything I thought 8's stages were rather redundant and boring save for that "portal path" thing. It's like they're milking it all the way through. It's the only Mario game I recall that milks a certain end boss gimmick throughout the world.

[Emitan]

SMW has better physics and character controls. Most important feature of a platformer.

[Andrex]

What is it? Looks like an emulator filter in some way. Also, i'm in the SMW wagon, but I cannot deny nostalgia plays a part of it.

Recreation I did in MS Paint.

The other one I did:



Basically I was mindblown at there being a moon in the very first level of the game.

[Lord British]

Another thing I dislike about World is having to replay old levels. Now that's some padding right there.

It's still god-tier.

[kinggroin]

How many years later, and we still don't have a platformer as visually engaging, flawlessly controlling, musically charming and the level design.... Wow. It's also the only game I can go into auto-pilot on any given level, and have a blast winging it, over and over again (each time doing things a little different than last).

[LeleSocho]

Super Mario World is leagues ahead of Bros 3...
Even Miyamoto agree with World being the best Mario ever made.

[RoboGeorgeForeman]

That's insane... Did SMW rape you as a child or what? Today is the first time I have realized there is some sort of imaginary rivalry between Mario 3 and World. I thought that everyone who loved the former loved the latter as well...

Nope. I just don't like Super Mario World that much. I mean, it's not like I said that SMW was a bad game or anything. I've just had more fun with the other games in the series (sans SML2).

[Andrex]

Nope. I just don't like Super Mario World that much. I mean, it's not like I said that SMW was a bad game or anything. I've just had more fun with the other games in the series (sans SML2).

Oh now it's on.

[entrement]

They're both inferior to DKC2

And all are inferior to YI.

[Balb]

SMW is a great game but man did it have lackluster new enemies, aside from Wiggler.

[EmCeeGramr]

SMW has better physics and character controls. Most important feature of a platformer.

Right, which is why the superior controlling SMB3 is better.

[Myriadis]

As someone who played all 2-D Mario games last year for the first time (save for SMB and small parts of the other games) I must say that I prefer SMB3. I prefer the visuals in SMB3, the bigger level variety, the soundtrack and the items over SMW. I prefer the way you control Mario in SMB 3. It is also a very challenging game unlike SMW, which had some few challenging spots, but mostly I quitted my progress with over 30 lives left. I never had any problems with Tubular. Only Outrageous was kinda hard for me.

That doesn't mean SMW is bad. I personally think that the overworld map with its different paths is a great idea, and the levels having multiple exits is also very good. I also think that some levels in this game are the best in the whole series (the sunken ship, so epic) and the Bowser Boss fight, although very easy, is better than the final fights in SMB 1 and 3. Plus the huge amount of secrets is really amazing.
I just can't stand the soundtrack, especially since 90% of the soundtrack is one and the same theme that I don't like and I think that visuals aren't really good. I also don't like it that many potentially good ideas were wasted by just appearing in one or two levels. The cape is way too easy to master and quickly becomes a game breaker and the fire flower feels so useless, especially since it doesn't work on many enemies.

Both games are good, but I absolutely prefer SMB3.

[Hilbert]

I go back and forth on these myself.

Mario world has a great map, tons of secrets and yoshi! The bowser kid castles are excellent. The star levels are amazing, and some of the platforming is the best ever(I love jumping on saws in the butter bridge with yoshi).

But I think I generally come down on the mario 3 side myself.
I love the tanokii suit. Worlds like sky land, giant land, plant land are more interesting than butter bridge of forest of mystery. Mario looks like mario(I think he looks kind of weird in SMW). The versus mode(my brother and used to play what we called "cutthroat style", where we would drag each other in and try to steal their cards and take their turn), the cards at the end of the level, trying to grab the wand as high as possible. The mushroom houses, the concentration game, the coin ship. Probably more that I can't think of right now. Overall I think I have more fun with Mario 3.

That's not to say world isn't any good, it is still excellent.

[Pocks]

It only makes sense that the best Mario game is on the best Nintendo system.

Same thing goes for Zelda.