Extended Practice Size and Layout of World Research: Super Mario

The game series that I wanted to explore for the size and layout of the levels was the Super Mario series due to how influential they have been to many other games in the history of gaming. Mario has always been one of the biggest and most well known stars of the gaming world and the influence that these games in particular bring to the influence on my own game level are huge.

Super Mario 64
The first game that I wanted to look at is Super Mario 64, one of the first proper 3D games to ever come out, and the first Mario in 3D, and it was crucial in the role of creating a platform for all games to follow. The size of these levels do tend to vary and there are lots of different areas to explore when it comes to them. The levels that feature include about 10 different locations altogether but the premise of the game play is revisiting them multiple times, about 5 for some, to unlock new things about them. This was generally exciting as some things would change about the level each time and there would be small subtle changes that were made, not making the size of them change but things like the enemies and dialog.

The layout of the levels is something that I do really like about this series, the design of them is excellent, including some really interesting features all around different locations. As the game is set across about 10 different levels there has to be enough variety in them so that it is still interesting for the player when they revisit levels over and over again. The way that this game gets around that is by opening up different parts to the levels and changing them around slightly so that they are different for the player for when they go back to it. This is a great technique and ensures that the player never gets bored with what they are doing.

Super Mario Sunshine
The next game that I wanted to look at was Super Mario Sunshine, which is a fantastic little game that was next in the 3D super Mario series. The overall size to this world was a little big bigger than Super Mario 64, but not by too much. The game starts in the hub world of Isle Delfino which is pretty much a level in itself due to the huge size of it, not to mention that there is a huge underground tunnel system as well as height to the level as well. Then there are the levels which are accessed all around the island. The way in which the levels work is the same as the previous game, making the player revisited them about 8 eight times each to do a different object each time, but there is a lot of variation to the level generation, with lots of mini games included and mini boss levels as well.

As the size of the levels as far too big for my game level I'm creating, the layout of them is definitely the most influential area of this game. The layout is great offering the player the chance to explore the levels fully, and they are packed full of objects and assets that are incredibly exciting. The overall design to the levels are excellent offering a lot for the player to see and find. The levels are generally built up high due to the fact that Mario has the ability to jump high and a mechanic of the game is using FLUDD to get even higher up. The fact that the levels have so much to explore in height is such a great feature, but most of the levels also offer the chance to explore underwater as well, offering another dimension to the game.

Super Mario Galaxy
The last game that I wanted to look at in the series is Super Mario Galaxy, this was a brilliant game that followed on, quite a few years later, from Super Mario Sunshine. The premise of the game was pretty much the same as all of the other Mario games ever made, but this one was almost set in space, giving the new mechanic of having Mario being able to have this gravitational pull towards the centre of planets meaning that he couldn't fly off into space, but this was an interesting way to bring size to a level. The fact that most of the levels are set on small planets makes it appear at first glance fairly small, but when exploring round each one and then being pulled to the next planet and the next and the next makes the levels then feel even larger.

The layout of the levels are just as interesting, and this is mainly due to the fact that they are set on planets and most of the levels are round, offering a unique experience to navigating the environment. The layout is fairly samey throughout, with obstacles on the planets and Mario having to avoid or use them to his advantage, but overall as it was a unique experience, the levels feel a lot more exciting because of this.