02-23-2019, 11:26 PM
Great replies, guys! SMB3's World 1 is indeed a great example of subtly teaching players how a game works by doing a minimized form of each new mechanic and level type it introduces. Learning how these things work will prepare players for the next time they appear, where they can get built upon and mixed with each other to present harder challenges to keep the players entertained. We're not even halfway through this world and I'm already learning quite a bit from this topic and analyzing the first two levels.
Speaking of World 1, how about we take a look into World 1-3?
Full size
(I'm putting the level map into this post as I think it'll make these posts more noticeable. There is a link below the map that takes you to the image itself, if you want to get a bigger view of it.)
As @Vitiman said earlier, this level introduces the Bros, a type of enemies that would eventually become recurring ones (especially the Hammer Bros). Boomerang Bros are used to introduce the Bros, which I'd say is a good selection since their weapons are rather slow and predictable. I wouldn't say that they are the easiest enemies to deal with, though, so the level gives players some handicaps when dealing with the first Boomerang Bro. These include the blocks that help them jump over the Boomerang Bro and the Koopa Troopa that can be used to knock down the enemy. The second Boomerang Bro is harder to encounter, since there are no additional platforms or Koopa Troopas nearby, but it's not overwhelming since the player has figured out how they work.
After the first Boomerang Bro, there is a structure made out of bricks that has a Koopa Troopa on top, who can be used to wreck the place. Some of these bricks even have goodies inside, so this part of the level is like a variation of the brick piles that were seen near the end of World 1-1. While looking for items in the bricks, players will likely stumble upon not just a brick block with multiple coins but also a pink Note Block. If they use the unusual-looking Note Block, they'll be launched up to the skies and rewarded with a new concept for the player: coin heaven! Coin heavens give players lots of coins and after all that they'll drop them back down to the level, where they'll be further than before. In this case, they'll be right next to the end of the level! Because of all the stuff you get from coin heavens, player will want to find pink Note Blocks whenever they can!
Between the second Boomerang Bro and the card at the end are multiple blocks. I bet this part is quite famous to many of us, and that would mostly be due to one thing: the white block. Crouching on this block will make you fall through it and appear behind the scenery (although you can still get hit by enemies). If you go the end of the level, you'll find a whistle that will take you to the Warp Zone. This secret is very well-hidden, but it's very rewarding once you've found it. With this and the secret whistle in World 1's fortress, it's nice to be able to get up to two whistle early on in the game, since the original version of SMB3 didn't have saving, so the whistles provide a way to get back to where were you at.
One additional thing that I think is noteworthy is that the Paragoomba returns near the end of this level! What's different this time is that players are more likely to notice the jump-height-decreasing effects of the Micro Goombas since there are blocks and enemies that they may try to jump on. This is especially the case when they try to get the hidden whistle.
I think World 1-3 is a pretty good level; it brings us an eventually-recurring type of Bowser's soldiers and gives us previous elements that are used in ways that make them slightly trickier but still very easy to deal with, all of which get us more warmed up for the next challenge SMB3 holds!
Speaking of World 1, how about we take a look into World 1-3?
Full size
(I'm putting the level map into this post as I think it'll make these posts more noticeable. There is a link below the map that takes you to the image itself, if you want to get a bigger view of it.)
As @Vitiman said earlier, this level introduces the Bros, a type of enemies that would eventually become recurring ones (especially the Hammer Bros). Boomerang Bros are used to introduce the Bros, which I'd say is a good selection since their weapons are rather slow and predictable. I wouldn't say that they are the easiest enemies to deal with, though, so the level gives players some handicaps when dealing with the first Boomerang Bro. These include the blocks that help them jump over the Boomerang Bro and the Koopa Troopa that can be used to knock down the enemy. The second Boomerang Bro is harder to encounter, since there are no additional platforms or Koopa Troopas nearby, but it's not overwhelming since the player has figured out how they work.
After the first Boomerang Bro, there is a structure made out of bricks that has a Koopa Troopa on top, who can be used to wreck the place. Some of these bricks even have goodies inside, so this part of the level is like a variation of the brick piles that were seen near the end of World 1-1. While looking for items in the bricks, players will likely stumble upon not just a brick block with multiple coins but also a pink Note Block. If they use the unusual-looking Note Block, they'll be launched up to the skies and rewarded with a new concept for the player: coin heaven! Coin heavens give players lots of coins and after all that they'll drop them back down to the level, where they'll be further than before. In this case, they'll be right next to the end of the level! Because of all the stuff you get from coin heavens, player will want to find pink Note Blocks whenever they can!
Between the second Boomerang Bro and the card at the end are multiple blocks. I bet this part is quite famous to many of us, and that would mostly be due to one thing: the white block. Crouching on this block will make you fall through it and appear behind the scenery (although you can still get hit by enemies). If you go the end of the level, you'll find a whistle that will take you to the Warp Zone. This secret is very well-hidden, but it's very rewarding once you've found it. With this and the secret whistle in World 1's fortress, it's nice to be able to get up to two whistle early on in the game, since the original version of SMB3 didn't have saving, so the whistles provide a way to get back to where were you at.
One additional thing that I think is noteworthy is that the Paragoomba returns near the end of this level! What's different this time is that players are more likely to notice the jump-height-decreasing effects of the Micro Goombas since there are blocks and enemies that they may try to jump on. This is especially the case when they try to get the hidden whistle.
I think World 1-3 is a pretty good level; it brings us an eventually-recurring type of Bowser's soldiers and gives us previous elements that are used in ways that make them slightly trickier but still very easy to deal with, all of which get us more warmed up for the next challenge SMB3 holds!
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