Around The World – A Huge Super Mario World Hack
If you are a fan of Super Mario World and enjoy ROM hacks that offer new levels, different environments, secrets and plenty of challenges, New Super Mario World 2: Around The World is a title worth checking out.
Created by Pink Gold Peach (Rilla Roo), this hack is the sequel to New Super Mario World 1: The Twelve Magic Orbs. The project was released in 2019 and expands the classic SNES adventure with a much larger journey. (Babylon Burning Media Center)
A Massive Mario Adventure
One of the biggest attractions of Around The World is its size. The hack features 16 different worlds, more than 90 unique levels and 119 exits, giving players a lot of content to explore. (SMW Hacks)
Each world has its own visual theme and gameplay ideas. The adventure takes Mario through areas inspired by grasslands, beaches, forests, deserts, cities, haunted environments, mountains, sky stages, ice areas and even a space factory.
There are also secret paths and hidden exits, encouraging players to explore the stages instead of simply heading toward the goal.
New Gameplay Mechanics
Although the hack is based on the classic Super Mario World gameplay, it introduces several changes and new mechanics.
One particularly interesting feature is a wall-jumping ability that allows Mario to jump from one wall to another, somewhat reminiscent of the movement found in Mega Man. This mechanic becomes important in some stages and can be necessary for overcoming difficult sections. (Snes Forever)
The hack also makes extensive use of custom sprites, blocks and UberASM effects, creating gameplay situations that would not be possible in the original Super Mario World. (Babylon Burning Media Center)
Difficulty
Players should not be fooled by the easier beginning. New Super Mario World 2: Around The World gradually becomes more challenging as the adventure progresses.
Some of the later worlds are particularly demanding, requiring good reflexes and knowledge of the game's mechanics. Community descriptions generally classify the hack as challenging, especially toward the later stages. (YouTube)
Fortunately, the game also provides plenty of opportunities to collect extra lives, which helps reduce the frustration caused by the harder levels.
Graphics and Style
Visually, the hack follows what is often described as a "choconilla" style. It combines graphics from the original Super Mario World with new custom artwork and modifications.
This approach keeps the nostalgic appearance of the SNES classic while giving the game enough new elements to feel like a different adventure. (Babylon Burning Media Center)
Secrets and Exploration
Exploration is another major part of the experience. Besides the normal exits, the game contains secret exits, hidden areas and special paths.
There are also secret worlds and a post-game World 16 that can be unlocked by finding codes hidden throughout the adventure. This gives completionist players an additional reason to revisit previous stages. (SMW Hacks)
For anyone who enjoys trying to achieve 100% completion, the 119 exits provide a substantial challenge.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is also one of the interesting aspects of the hack. The game features music from different sources, including arrangements and songs associated with other games. Some stages use music from franchises such as Crash Bandicoot, helping give individual worlds a different atmosphere. (retroinvaders.com)
Is It Worth Playing?
If you enjoy classic Super Mario World hacks, New Super Mario World 2: Around The World is definitely a project to consider.
Its combination of:
16 different worlds
90+ unique levels
119 exits
Secret paths and areas
Custom sprites and blocks
New gameplay mechanics
Wall-jumping
A wide variety of environments
A challenging difficulty curve
makes it much more than a simple collection of modified Super Mario World levels.
The hack was designed to provide a substantial new adventure while maintaining the feel of the original SNES game.
Final Thoughts
New Super Mario World 2: Around The World is an ambitious Super Mario World ROM hack that offers a huge amount of content for fans of the original game.
With its numerous worlds, hidden exits, custom mechanics and increasingly difficult stages, it can provide many hours of gameplay for players who want something beyond the original Super Mario World.
The hack was created by Pink Gold Peach and is available through the SMW Central community, where players can find information about the project and its development. (IGDB.com)
If you are looking for a large, challenging and exploration-focused Super Mario World hack, Around The World is a great candidate to add to your list.
Important: ROM hacks are patches/modifications for games. To play one legally, use a compatible copy of the original game that you own and apply the appropriate patch rather than downloading an unauthorized ROM.
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