Nintendo Power Ranks the Super Mario Series

Picked up the May issue of Nintendo Power (vol. 278) and beginning on page 60 is a feature dubbed Ultimate Super Mario. This 11 page feature picks fourteen titles from the Super Mario series and ranks them. Mario's has had outstanding platforming adventures both in the 2D and 3D so ranking them in order is no easy task. Yet they did anyway. I'm sure this list will present some upsets, but here it is, anyway.

14. Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (NES)

13. Super Mario Land (Game Boy)

12. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

11. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

10. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

09. Super Mario Sunshine (GCN)

08. Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

07. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)

06. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

05. Super Mario 64 (N64)

04. Super Mario Bros. (NES)

03. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

02. Super Mario World (SNES)

01. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

For good measure, I've even included their sidebar picks.

Best Music: Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros.)

Best Non-Bowser Boss: Mouser (Super Mario Bros. 2)

Best World: Giant Land (Super Mario Bros. 3)

Best Secret: Warp Zone (Super Mario Bros.)

Best Bowser Battle: Super Mario 64

Best Suit: Hammer Suit (Super Mario Bros. 3)

Best Supporting Character: Rosalina (Super Mario Galaxy)

Best Remake: Super Mario All-Stars

Best Spin-Off: Mario Kart

Best Enemy: Koopa Troopa

Best Power-Up: Starman

Best Mario Brother: Luigi

Best Level Design: World 1-1 (Super Mario Bros.)

What do I think? Well, Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels has no business even being on the list as it's just a rom hack created by Satan. I won't argue Super Mario Galaxy ranking higher and Super Mario Galaxy 2 as I'm in the camp that actually likes the original over it's sequel. I don't think it's the best Super Mario game, though. I'd save that honor for Super Mario Bros. 3. 

The Mario Kart series is hands-down the best spin-off. Luigi as the better Mario brother? I agree and will always argue in Luigi's defense. The Hammer Suit is awesome and it better be in New Super Mario Bros. 2. I loved Rosalina and thought she was a great addition to the Mario universe. I actually enjoyed the bits of story we got from her in Super Mario Galaxy, which added more to the story than simply saving Peach. Heck, her inclusion in the game made me actually care about the story in a Mario platformer. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts. What about you?