Gaming

‘Super Mario Maker 2’ Is Proof That Every Human Being On Earth Is A Massive Sadist

Some players just want to watch the world burn.

by Joseph Earp  6 July 2019
Super Mario Maker 2

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For the most part, Nintendo’s Mario franchise is one of the purest fountains of joy we have in our dark, uncompromising world — a wellspring of gentle, unbridled happiness. Super Mario Maker 2, however, is the exception to that particular rule.

See, Super Mario Maker 2 wrests the level-making power out of the hands of the kindly folk at Nintendo, who understand how to craft challenges that are worthy of your time without ever being deeply frustrating, and places it into the hands of the general public. And here’s the thing about the general public: the general public is mean, vindictive, and obsessed with making life harder for their fellow human beings.

Yep, no matter how optimistic you might be about the human condition, Super Mario Maker 2 has the power to undo that faith. Though some players are using their great power responsibly, crafting levels inspired by say, one of the best running gags born out of The Simpsons, for every jolly, inventive level, there’s one that makes you want to snap your Switch controller with your bare hands.

Feast your eyes on this monstrosity (level code 21F-3K3-X1g), which requires a nimble use of the dreaded turtle shell, not to mention a shedload of lava:

Or, look at this horror show, (level code LM6-TM7-VKF), which requires a truly gobsmacking number of jumps perfectly-timed spins:

Or how about this absolutely agonising puzzle (level code 0LL-FRJ-2SF), which requires you to not only dodge a series of obstacles, but to do so while holding a box:

There’s also, of course, a sequel to one of the most famously infuriating Super Mario Maker levels, the dreaded ‘Super Meat Bros’. Titled ‘Super Meat Bros Forever’ (level code TWQ-8TV-KRG), it’s exactly as upsetting as you’re probably imagining.

Of course, this wouldn’t be an article about difficult Super Mario Maker levels without a mention of Ross O’Donovan. The streamer and occasional member of YouTube legends Game Grumps, O’Donovan is the master of infuriating Mario levels, and his newest bevy of horrors do not disappoint. Particularly awful is ‘Companion Spring 3D’ (level code HJ9-1BL-46G), which had one particularly nasty surprise waiting for a streamer:

All of those levels so infuriating that they’re sapping you of your will to live? If you need a restart, why not check out this level, which plays a version of John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’?

See, maybe people can be pretty okay after all.