As promised, Nintendo revealed a wealth of new details about Super Mario Maker 2 during today’s dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation. Like the original Wii U/3DS game, Mario Maker 2 allows players to create and share their own Super Mario levels, but this time, they’ll have access to a load of new customization options and other features, including multiplayer.
Unlike the original Super Mario Maker, the upcoming Switch iteration boasts several different online multiplayer modes. In Multiplayer Versus, up to four players–playing as either Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Toadette–will compete to race through a randomly selected level. The first player to make it to the end of the stage will be the winner and raise their Versus Rating.
Those who prefer cooperative play can jump into Multiplayer Co-op, where the object is to work together to clear the course. If one player manages to make it to the end of the level, the whole team wins. There’s also a Nearby Play option; if four players gather together locally, each with their own Switch console and copy of Mario Maker 2, they can set up a play session. However, the host player will need to have a persistent internet connection for this.
While the original Mario Maker included a loose collection of pre-made levels to play though, Mario Maker 2 features a more fleshed out single-player story mode. Here, Mario is charged with helping rebuild Princess Peach’s castle, but to do so, he’ll need to amass coins by accepting “jobs” from a bulletin board. Each job takes the form of a different course, and you’ll need to clear it in order to earn the coins. Nintendo says there will be more than 100 levels to play through in story mode.
On top of that, Nintendo showcased some of the new tools and customization options coming in Mario Maker 2. As previously revealed, this time players will be able to build levels using assets from Super Mario 3D World. There are also a handful of new course themes for every Mario style, including desert, snow, forest, and sky, each of which is accompanied by a new tune by renowned Mario composer Koji Kondo.
Moreover, if you tap on the Angry Sun from Super Mario Bros. 3 while in the course editor, you’ll be able to turn it into a moon, which will give the course a nighttime makeover. Not only will the backdrop be starry, but some elements of the level will change as well; underground areas will be upside down, and there will be reduced gravity in sky levels.
You’ll be able to share your levels online and try out other players’ creations in the Course World hub. This time, you’ll be able to search for levels by popularity or using tags to filter the kind of levels you’d like to play, such as “puzzle-solving” or “autoscroll.” You can also download other players’ stages and play them offline.
Super Mario Maker 2 launches for Nintendo Switch on June 28. The game requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for online play, but if you don’t have one, Nintendo is bundling an individual 12-month membership along with the title for $70–a $10 savings. If you do already have an individual membership and decide to spring for this option, the extra 12 months will be stacked on top of your current subscription. Nintendo has also announced a new voucher program that allows NSO subscribers to purchase two select Switch games for $100.
Ahead of Super Mario Maker 2’s release, Nintendo will host a tournament for the game on June 8–the same day as its pre-E3 Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitions. Meanwhile, the company’s E3 2019 Nintendo Direct presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, at 9 AM PT and will reveal more information about the company’s 2019 lineup.