Topic: Best way to play Non-Subscription Super Mario World

Had NSO for a few years for online playing, but am no longer playing online multiplayer. Interested in playing one game that I’ve never given a full go: Super Mario World. Would enjoy playing it on Switch but I’m not interested in the subscription version of the game. What’s everyone’s recommendation for Super Mario World from pre-subscription versions?

The snes game should be pretty cheap used if you have the console around.

Maybe the gba one too.

@Eel I have a SNES and CRT but I actually don’t remember if I have an original copy of SMW. I will have to look through some boxes in the basement, lol

I think I do have the GBA cartridge somewhere. I know that’s a version I’ve started playing a little bit of in the past. Would you recommend the GBA version over the original?

@Tayrailbridge I was thinking of starting a playthrough of it in retroarch on iPad. But I was kind of feeling maybe playing instead on a console..

@NinChocolate I personally love the gba versions, but some people dislike the voice clips.

@NinChocolate
Honestly the cheapest way if you just want to play through it once is to get an NSO sub. There are ways to get it outside of that legit but they're all going to be far more expensive, especially if you already have a Switch

If you're willing to sail the seas or deal with ROMs obviously all bets are off. Personally I'm quite fond of some of those portable emulator devices. And there are multiple ways outside of NSO to get Super Mario World. But unless you're specifically wanting to start a collection of retro gizmos then NSO is the best "legit" option

update.. I rummaged through boxes of old carts in the basement and I do have an original Super Mario World cartridge that I’ve not touched since high school (long ago). So that option is on the table.

I also have the game purchased on every version of Virtual Console (Wii/U/3DS). Would be curious to know if anyone particularly enjoyed any of those versions..? saves states might be nice

@Eel I know that version has Luigi too, which is pretty neat

@skywake NSO is there for sure. I’ve decided to hold off renewal until whenever I get into a Switch 2 online game (quite possibly Kirby Air Riders from the looks of the launch, if I buy at launch). I’m pretty certain I have every official North American release of SMW, I’ve just never played past the opening levels in any of them, and not in quite a few years now..

Wii U was how I played it. It's nice to be able to remap spin jump to a shoulder button.

@NinChocolate
I would be curious how well it plays on 3DS, that seems maybe the more interesting option from your list. In terms of Wii and Wii U, I was never much of a fan of the Wii U VC output. Wii is probably the go there assuming you have decent options for a display/analogue scaling and have component cables

Original hardware? If you have SVideo cables then that's also decent. Maybe not quite as good as other options but it's at least original hardware. Again assuming decent scaling options

I have it on Wii, Wii U, NSO, a PAL SNES, SNES Classic Mini and also a modern portable emulatior console. And I guess Steam Deck OLED. Of those options I'd pick NSO first, then the portable emulator, then probably the Classic Mini, then Wii and finally original hardware

If I was you and had it that many places.... I'd just grab a portable emulation console and emulate it

If you have a SNES Mini that has Super Mario World on it.

@Tasuki @skywake ah yes, this reminds me that there’s also the SNES mini version. So there’s one official version I don’t have access to. I suppose I wasn’t too interested in the snes mini when it was in stores, but I’d have to image the SNES Mini was how a lot people came back to SMW from playing the original version.

As for portable emulation.. My go to is frequently the PS Vita. Definitely could play SMW on the Vita if not the 3DS VC version, and probably I’d prefer to play it on Vita over 3DS

@Dogorilla Fortunately, my Wii U is presently out from the basement and all set up. I was actually thinking it might be nice to play SMW on the game pad. Especially because I always thought 2D games looked nice on the game pad’s 480p display (not so much 3D games tho..)

I could definitely see myself playing the GBA VC version on the Wii U game pad, that’s a strong contender.. hmm

@NinChocolate
Just be aware that the Wii U Gamepad streams video so the video quality varies significantly based on signal strength and scene complexity. Probably not a huge issue for Super Mario World but I remember F-Zero in particular being one of the best ways to demonstrate the limits of the tech

Although if you already have it setup the thing you have setup already is usually the most convenient option!

Well, if you can get hold of a GBA and the Mario Advance 2, I'd suggest that.

I just finished it on NSO, and I found that the inclusion of a tally of the dragon (Yoshi) coins that you've collected really motivated me to get them all.
Such a small psychological detail. We're an odd species.