Miyamoto takes to the stage at the Apple Keynote to reveal Super Mario Run.
It was one of those moments we never thought would happen. During Apple’s iPhone 7 keynote, Nintendo legend and creative fellow, Shigeru Miyamoto, received a rapturous welcome as he introduced Super Mario Run, a new Mario game due for release in December 2016 that will debut on iOS.
The game sees Mario run and jump to the right of the – portrait-oriented – screen negotiating a variety of familiar obstacles and enemies. Mario runs automatically and taps control his jump, with the length of the tap determining its height. The game is reminiscent of many mobile auto-runners but we’re sure that Nintendo’s design geniuses will bring something new to the genre. The game also includes a battle mode – called Toad Rally – in which you compete with friends in an attempt to impress Toad.
In a press release issued after the event Miyamoto said:
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E39ychZKnDI” autoplay=”no”]“We have created Super Mario Run to be perfect for playing on your iPhone. Super Mario has evolved whenever he has encountered a new platform, and for the first time ever, players will be able to enjoy a full-fledged Super Mario game with just one hand, giving them the freedom to play while riding the subway or my favourite, eating a hamburger.”
Surprisingly, Super Mario Run won’t be free-to-play with Miyamoto saying it would be sold at a ‘set-price’. However, the game’s App Store page does refer to in-app purchases.
Also announced was an Apple Watch version of Pokemon Go. The mobile hit will be come to the wearable device later this year and is built around player-set activity goals. The game registers calories burned, distance walked – handy for egg incubation – and also lets players visit PokéStops and catch eggs. Pokemon Go for Apple Watch is due for release later this year.
