SMB3 Level Design Discussion

[Q-Nova]

@Aaendi I agree that this level is rather short and basic compared to the later levels in the game. I think that's a good thing for an introductory level, though; a good first level in a game helps the player get used to how it works, in my opinion. As the player gets further on, they should be more skilled and ready for bigger challenges. If World 1-1 was like a World 8 level, I think most players would end up getting frustrated and overwhelmed.

Think about learning to play a new game as like learning to play a new instrument. The first you'll want to learn is how to play the instrument. Once you've learned how to do it, you can try to do some short and simple songs with it. Once you get the hang of it, you can move on to songs that are a bit more complex. As you get more experienced, you'll be more ready for playing longer and more complicated songs with the instrument. If you picked up a new instrument and decided to do the entirety of "Mars, Bringer of War" right away, there's a chance that it may not end up going well.

@VinnyVideo Yeah, while I can see why some modern games give instructions on how to do something (especially if it's a complicated game), it's also nice when games try to make you figure it out yourself, especially when they have some subtle hints. When I do introduction levels in my games and mods, I usually try to do them like how SMB3 does its introduction level. I do provide some instructions on how to play the game, although I put them into either a README file or a menu option.

I'll keep this discussion up for a little longer in case someone has something to say about this level, since I think it's a rather important one. I'm thinking that in the next day or two, we can move on and talk about World 1-2, okay?

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