Not Content With Mario Kart, Link Tries Super Mario Maker 2

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Arguably as newsworthy headline: Super Mario Maker 2 is getting an update.

Remember that Super Mario Maker 2 is out? For less than six months? Has everyone forgotten about it? Well, Super Mario Maker 2 has basically four million copies. As of writing this, it's the 34th most-viewed game being streamed right now on Twitch, ahead of things like ASMR. It's not irrelevant, then.

Still, Nintendo hasn't been giving it the love that Super Mario Maker on the Wii U got, in terms of update quantity at this point in the game's lifespan.

Super Mario Maker 2 has gotten one update so far, which enabled online with-friends multiplayer. When the game launched without it, that was a huge complaint.

Nintendo has now announced a second update to be released this week, which primarily is the addition of a new power-up course part: the Master Sword, which allegedly transforms Mario into Link from The Legend of Zelda series with a sword, shield, Pegasus Boots, down-thrust, arrows, and bombs. Take a look:

This is far more expansive than those Mystery Mushrooms from Super Mario Maker, but it's still exclusive to the Super Mario Bros. game style. Boo. Even worse, Mario doesn't really “transform” into Link. If he gets hit, he still turns back into small Mario. That's unlike, say, Cappy-induced transformations where Mario takes a hit but is still transformed. If it's a real transformation and not just a costume, why would Link hitting a Goomba turn him into Mario? That doesn't happen in the 2D side-scrolling sections in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

You can tell the power-up is the Master Sword, because if it was the Four Sword, the fourth Link's tunic would be purple, not pink.
And if that pink Link happens to get hit by a Thwomp, it'll be three Links and a Mario, and the whole thing is ruined.

There's also a Ninji Speedruns mode that uses what appears to be custom sprites of Ninji (though they're in a Paper Mario style) as other players’ ghosts going through the course, emulating whatever actions other players did while playing the course for themselves. The courses are time-limited (weekly) and offer stamps for “special Mii costumes”, so it's a reason to continually return to the game even if there's no new updates for game content.

I thought this sort of thing was already in the game, along with things like P Blocks, Spike, and ice elements. And there is Pokey and Dash Blocks (only for Super Mario 3D World's style). Though I haven't paid any attention since the dedicated Super Mario Maker 2 Direct and that E3 2019 mini-tournament.

I didn't like when Mario Kart 8 had Link in it and a bunch of other crossover stuff, though at least this is free. It's not really good implementation though, and shouldn't lead to things like customisable platformers for other franchises... because it's a temporary power-up. Probably for the best. They'll probably have more of these than expanding within Super Mario Maker 2's own franchise, though. Start with that Paper Mario thing...


Ludwig isn't sure if he even has a coherent point in this article. He thinks wanting the Master Sword to violate 2D Mario platforming norms is a coherent point, but no one really agrees with his anti-crossover stance. You should, though. Crossovers aren't special if they happen all the time.


There's another big update to Super Mario Maker 2, but it's not another crossover. In fact, it's very personal to the author.