Moving on to their aesthetics, SML1 is minimalist in its presentation, offering simple visuals and a fair audio effort. Foregrounds can look rather plain and blocky at times without many efforts to hide it, and backgrounds are often overly basic in their designs. Background details can also be awfully sparse along stretches, giving their levels an uninspired feel. There are a few exceptions, such as the designs of the second world, Muda Kingdom, the underwater shooter level, and within several of the dungeon levels. The dungeons in particular are better portrayed with their individual tilesets, flaming torches, waterfalls, and world-specific detailing. I’ll also say that I like the enemy designs, as many are quite unique. However, these highpoints make apparent the inconsistent efforts across the game. Regarding its audio, the tracks are solid, possessing their own charm and adding a bit of energy to their levels. I do wish there was more, as the main track for the first and third world are shared and a single dungeon theme becomes repetitive. Memorable, yes, but more variety in music seems like a must.
SML2’s aesthetics are a vast improvement, and starting with its visuals, we are treated to an artistic effort full of imagination, charm, and detail. Each zone has its own theme and their depictions within their levels are detailed throughout. From the foregrounds and platforms we interact with, and the backgrounds that bring added vividness, to the cleverly designed enemies that populate these equally whimsical areas, the attention to detail is simply impressive. I also praise the way the visuals may hint at a hidden secret through course or background or designs. They encourage us to take the time to have a closer look and ultimately enable us to enjoy their visuals all the more. As for the audio, although each track has its charm and their usage never deters from the levels in which they’re played, there is a notable shortage of unique tracks. I would have loved it if each zone had its own set of tracks. In fact, the Space Zone does, however the other zones all feature shared music. I realize it may have been too tall an order for every zone to have its own set of music, but more music overall would have only helped. Having said that, the music is appealing nonetheless, and together with its outstanding visual efforts, SML2 possesses an outstanding aesthetic presentation that still holds up strongly today.
Both Super Mario Land and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins are wonderful nostalgia trips. At their cores, they are pure fun, offering classic gameplay and lasting charm. And sure, although gaming has come a long way since their respective debuts, they will always provide genuine enjoyment. As I said, sometimes, the best aspect of gaming is that feeling of shutting yourself off from the world around you, and these two classics offer experiences wholly worth losing yourself in.
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Land |   |
| Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | |
