Nintendo took the stage at Apple's event to announce Super Mario Run, the first Mario game designed specifically for smartphones. Shigeru Miyamoto made the announcement, surprising fans who have been waiting to see Mario on mobile devices.
Nintendo's mobile push
At the start of last year, we reported that Nintendo was planning to develop games for smartphones and tablets. Since then, we've seen Pokémon Shuffle, the first free Pokémon game on mobile, and Miitomo, the company's first official app, which arrived in early 2016. And of course, there's the Pokémon GO phenomenon. But the surprises aren't over yet. During the Apple event, Miyamoto took the stage to introduce Super Mario Run, an endless runner that stays true to Nintendo's signature aesthetic.
Gameplay
In Super Mario Run, your character automatically runs from left to right. You tap the touchscreen to make Mario jump, and the longer you hold, the higher and longer the jump. You'll need to dodge enemies, leap across gaps, and collect as many coins as possible. The goal is to reach the end of each level safely and in the fastest time.
Classic Mario elements
The classic power-ups are back, including the Super Mushroom, and you'll face familiar enemies, culminating in a showdown with Bowser. The game features 2.5D graphics similar to those in New Super Mario Bros., courtesy of the same team behind that series. Super Mario Run is being developed by Nintendo EPD.
Release plans
Super Mario Run will be available for free on mobile devices. It's scheduled to launch on iOS in December 2016, with an Android version following sometime in 2017.
