Early SMW Screenshot

[SpaceBooger]

Also, SMW is just a magical game, and it can't be too surprising that magic doesn't happen with each new Mario release.

I think that SMW was the pinnacle of the Mario franchise. It wasn't as simplistic as it's NES little brothers, but not too complicated and full of extra stuff like in Mario Galaxy.
Don't get me wrong I love Galaxy, but the extra stars and the knowing that you missed X amount of secrets makes the game too complicated. I used to love how I felt when I randomly found a secret while playing SMW - Now I just get frustrated if I don't find all of the secrets posted on the level select screen.

SMW and this pic brings back great memories, thanks!

[emwearz]

Thanks for sharing. Concept art and early screenshots are always entertaining to look at.

[jfe2]

I stumbled upon these images today... I'm not taking credit for the scans, I actually found these on an old thread on another board. Apparently they are from the same beta. I can't vouch for the validity of them, but they are interesting nevertheless.











The last two are the most interesting to me. I don't think the flying goombas made it into the final release, although I do remember them from SMB3. Also, the raccoon Mario is pretty neat.

[MrPopo]

The first three pics are legit, as they're from the same magazine I posted mine from. I ended up not bothering since they didn't seem as interesting as the world map.

january 94, right? that issue of nintendo power is what started my whole interest in japan, since the mother "review" was part of an article on games released only in japan and were never available in english. i think the way the internet has grown allows for this situation to happen a lot less now, which is great!

Actually, this was a couple different issues in 1990. The first was an interview with Miyamoto who makes an aside remakre that he was spending some time with Shigesato Itoi on a game set in teh modern day, and the second being the magazine I posted the SFC image from where they mentioned "Look! Upcoming game! It's called Earth Bound!"