Deconstructing Computer Games - Super Mario

Learning objective: To create a Power point presentation based on a game of your choice which explains the game play elements.

Computer games are created with recurring gameplay elements.
Here we will look at a number of these within the 2D Super Mario games.

Following on from this you will choose a game that you know well and create a Power Point Presentation which describes the same elements of that game.

The Super Mario games focus on Mario's adventures in the fictional Mushroom Kingdom and all its various locales. 

Gameplay often centers around progressing through various levels set in these locales, where Mario jumps on and defeats a number of enemies. 
The games usually feature simple plots; the most common theme is that of Bowser, the primary antagonist, kidnapping Princess Peach, whom Mario rescues. This can be said to be the game objective.

Super Mario Bros. established many gameplay concepts and elements prevalent in nearly everySuper Mario game, including a multitude of power-ups and items that bestow Mario with special abilities such as shooting fire and ice, growing to huge heights, and shrinking to micro size.
Over 262 million copies of games in the Super Mario series have been sold worldwide, making it the best-selling video game franchise.

Gameplay:

In the 2D games of the Super Mario series, gameplay primarily involves jumping on enemies and avoiding enemy attacks. In later 3D games, close quarters fights were incorporated. Intense emphasis on reaching various goals permeates the series; such goals include defeating enemies, reaching specific points, or solving puzzles. Throughout the series, collecting power-ups has been an integral part of the gameplay.

2D games have a certain number of hidden items and secret warp pipes. Early 2D games used levels with only one exit, then forcing the player to advance to the next sequential level. Super Mario Bros. 3 was the first game to use an overworld. In the game, levels are shown on a map, and the player can take different paths through the game. The order in which all these elements are arranged is not necessarily linear, which often allows the player to skip them or play them in different order. 

Super Mario World introduced levels with multiple exits. Unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3, where once a level is cleared, the player can choose the next level in the overworld, inSuper Mario World, the way the player exits the level dictates which path opens to player in the overworld.

Player Characters

Super Mario 

Jumping

Mario's special jumping abilities are a consistent element in the series. Mario can jump to considerable heights. The ability would evolve throughout the games, starting with the introduction of supercharged jumps in Super Mario Bros. 2 and spin jump in Super Mario World. Super Mario 64 introduced jumps such as the triple jump, wall kick, backflip and long jump, some of which would be featured in later games, including the New Super Mario Bros. sub-series.

Non Player Characters

Yoshi

The dinosaur character Yoshi has appeared as a mount to Mario in several Super Mario games since Super Mario World. Miyamoto had originally wished for Mario to be able to ride a dinosaur in Super Mario Bros., but this wasn't possible due to the technical restraints of the system. Yoshis generally provide varying abilities including eating enemies, flying and breathing fire.

Feedback

Item Blocks

Item blocks originated from the game Super Mario Bros. In that game and many of its sequels, such blocks contain either coins or power-ups, which aid the player's progress.

Mushroom Power-Ups

Mushroom power-ups appear in almost every Super Mario game. The most iconic of these is the Super Mushroom. Usually, it's about the size of Mario, and has an ivory stalk below a red and white (originally red and orange) spotted cap, giving it a striking resemblance to the real world Amanita muscaria. 

Collecting one of these increases Mario's size, allowing him to break certain blocks and take an extra hit of damage (upon which he reverts to his small size.)"

1-Ups

1-Up Mushrooms are common items that appear in the games and were introduced in Super Mario Bros. These mushrooms have green caps with white spots (originally orange caps with green spots). When Mario picks up one of these mushrooms, he is given an extra life. In Super Mario Bros., 1-Up Mushrooms are sometimes hidden in invisible item blocks. 3D games feature mushrooms that only appear if Mario walks over a certain spot, as in Super Mario 64, along with stationary 1-Up Mushrooms. 1-Ups can take other forms, such as the 3-up Moon

Rewards

Power Stars and course tokens

The Power Star is an item Mario needs to collect from levels in order to progress in some games of the series, such as Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. They are typically either found in certain locations or awarded for clearing certain objectives. The Shine Sprites in Super Mario Sunshine serve a similar purpose. In Super Mario Land 2, there are six Golden Coin tokens that must be collected to finish the game.

Coins

Coins are often littered throughout Super Mario levels, with benefits occurring with collecting them. Most Super Mario games award the player an extra life once a certain amount of yellow coins, commonly 50 or 100, are collected.

Invincibility

Invincibility is a power featured frequently in the series that is usually granted by a star item, and is accompanied by a common music track. The Starman (or Super Star) is an anthropomorphised, flashing star in 2D Super Mario games and was introduced in Super Mario Bros. When Mario touches it, it temporarily grants him invincibility from enemies and, in some titles, increased speed. 

Flying

Flight is a power granted by various means in the series. It made its debut with the magic carpet item in Super Mario Bros. 2.. The Super Leaf item in Super Mario Bros. 3 also allowed flight. When collected, Mario has the unique ability to fly when running at full power. 

Animal/power suits

Suits that grant Mario various powers (mostly animal-based) have featured in various games. The Tanooki Suit is an item that also debuted in Super Mario Bros. 3. It has the same powers as the Super Leaf, but Mario has the ability to change into an invincible statue for about 5 seconds.

Projectile flowers

Special flowers that provide a source of projectiles are another recurring element in the series. A Fire Flower, introduced in Super Mario Bros., transforms Mario into Fire Mario. Fire Mario can throw bouncing fireballs at enemies, using them as weapons. 

Artificial Intelligence

Bowser

Is the game's antagonist, he kidnaps Princess Peach and imprisons her. He breathes out fireballs and uses his tail to fight Mario as he tries to rescue the Princess.

You Need to create a Power Point Presentation based on a game of your choice.
Your presentation should include the following elements which make up the game play:

Name and producer of the game.

1. Objective.

2. Game Play Theme.

3. Player Characters

4. Non Player Characters

5. Story.

6. Sounds.

7. Feedback.

8. Rewards.

9. Artificial Intelligence.

10. A brief summary of why this game was chosen.