Most irritating levels in Mario games

[cortjezter]

Mario is a great series, no doubt, but every now and then you run across a level in a Mario game that is straight up poorly designed - and these levels stick out like sore thumbs, considering how great other levels in each respective game can be. So what are your least favorite Mario levels?

Two weeks ago, when I'd think 'crappy Mario level', the first thing that would come to mind is Crappy Lava Boat in Super Mario Sunshine, or Crappy Roller Coaster in Super Mario Sunshine, or Crappy Rocket Nozzle Pinball Challenge in Super Mario Sunshine, or Crappy Boo Hotel Yoshi Thing in Super Mario Sunshine. You've played those levels, you know how awful they are.

Today, though, I discovered a level that makes all of those levels seem fun and simple in comparison.

Spoiler:

Purple Coins on the Rainbow Road.

This level sucked to begin with. Crappy controls (and don't try to tell me the rolling ball sections don't have crappy controls). Way too short. Far too simple to careen off the level thanks to the shoddy motion sensing. So what do the devs do? "Lets cram the most difficult purple coin challenge in the game on this level! derp herp" I was having a blast with this game, and then I got to this level, and an hour later I'm still trying to beat it. Bah.

[MAGNUS-8M]

Haven't gotten to that one yet, but it sounds like that 'four hour motion-controlled level' that one review was ranting about.... it'll probably be a while before I get to that.

Part of me wants to say SMW's 'Chocolate World Level 1' or whichever level included multiple paths with little to no initial explanation as to how it worked. I'm still not sure if I even remember how that worked. Otherwise yeah, a lot of the Sunshine levels had that sort of loose feeling to it, where you could walk and jump just about anywhere, but everything just sort of felt awkward. Of course, Red Coin Pachinko and that Leaf-River bonus levels were some of the worst.

I would almost say one of SML1's levels, but really those levels were irritating mostly because of the slightly different game-controls, and being used to Mario's standard controls from the other games. It just had an awkward start/stop speed, no extra bounce from enemy stomping, and little ability to face a different direction without walking in that direction(and falling off a cliff immediately after).

[Devil_Rising]

There are lots.

But right off the top of my head: 9-7 in NSMBWii. THE most sadistic Mario level, in 2D or 3D, that I can ever remember playing. Still got all three star coins, eventually...but GOD DAMN. That's just ****in' mean, Nintendo. lol

[WesFX]

That one level in NSMB with the scrolling platform; you have to stay with it to beat the level. In world 8. I hate stuff like that, it just slows down the game.

[Facepalm]

Wow, Super Mario Sunshine took the cake when it came to annoying levels.
That pachinko bonus level. Hooooly jesus, that was a pain in the ass.

Something else that comes to mind after just playing it recently is that godforsaken Battlerock minigame in SMG where you need to blow up all the space junk with bobombs in a ridiculously short amount of time.
I've only done it once about a year ago, and I reaaaally don't want to spend all that time training myself to split-second perfection again.

[Popple]

Every stage in Sunshine.

Spoiler:

I actually beat that rainbow road purple coin challenge on my 3rd try. It was Luigi's Purple Coin Chaos that game me the most trouble in SMG2. Then there's the grandmaster galaxy the perfect run mission (the 242nd star) it took me a while but I finally did it.

SMB3 is also challenging I have still yet to beat that game. NSMBW's 9-7 was the only difficult stage for me in that game. Final Boss in SMW. It's easy for me now but back then.......that's all I can think of but there's probably much more.

[MAGNUS-8M]

NSMBWii did have some difficult levels. 9-7 did put up a bit of difficulty... but it was worse after first seeing it done nearly perfect by Luiz(the all-coin one-hit run starts in the middle, the first half is just a no-hit speed-run):

Spoiler:

[Darth Vader]

Wow, Super Mario Sunshine took the cake when it came to annoying levels.
That pachinko bonus level. Hooooly jesus, that was a pain in the ass.

Something else that comes to mind after just playing it recently is that godforsaken Battlerock minigame in SMG where you need to blow up all the space junk with bobombs in a ridiculously short amount of time.
I've only done it once about a year ago, and I reaaaally don't want to spend all that time training myself to split-second perfection again.

that one actually becomes incredibly easy once you realize that coin markers on the ground show you exactly where each bomb should be placed.

[ragnaroq]

Annoying Mario levels?

Super Mario Bros. 3. Sky Land, stage 6. The one with para-beetles.

To me, nothing compares. Not even the para-beetle level in NSMB Wii.

Scrolling levels in the classic Mario games in general are bad, but that one just takes the cake.

[Ngamer01]

The most annoying level for me now is:

Spoiler:

Fleet Glide Galaxy from Galaxy 2. Let's put Comet Medal gates in places where you almost kill yourself trying to reach!

I swear that galaxy gives new meaning to suicide dives.

The previous annoying level for me was 9-7 from NSMB Wii.

Spoiler:

Ice blocks + Fire Flowers + Fire Bros. + Venus Fire Traps = RAGE

[thresholdXCI]

The last level of Super Mario Land 2 was probably the most annoying Mario game level to me. Just cuz it was so damn hard.

[Ngamer01]

I find Bunny Mario to be very helpful in Wario's Castle. While you will still have to watch your jumps, Bunny Mario can slow his descent after taking to the air. Very handy for getting across those skull platforms!

[Popple]

I find Bunny Mario to be very helpful in Wario's Castle. While you will still have to watch your jumps, Bunny Mario can slow his descent after taking to the air. Very handy for getting across those skull platforms!

Man, I need to go back and play that game again. It's one of my favorites!

[gtt]

That level in sunshine where you had to traverse up the back of that one tall thing in the amusment park I believe. the camera kept getting in my way, I hated it.

[Devil_Rising]

Upon further reflection, I change my answer.

While 9-7 of NSMBWii is indeed a cruel and unjust mistress....

STONE CYCLONE GALAXY, by far, is the single most annoying and cheap goddamn level I've played in a Mario game. F*** that level. That is all.

[Artistic_Anarchy]

Super Mario Galaxy 2:

That stupid galaxy where you have to control that bird with motion controls. I have no idea why they have to include those levels in the game. It BREAKS away from the fun experience. Terrible motion controls and the races are NOT fun. I'd rather do those galaxies where you're riding the ball than to play those atrocious levels.

[MAGNUS-8M]

Super Mario Galaxy 2:

That stupid galaxy where you have to control that bird with motion controls. I have no idea why they have to include those levels in the game. It BREAKS away from the fun experience. Terrible motion controls and the races are NOT fun. I'd rather do those galaxies where you're riding the ball than to play those atrocious levels.

Not to immediately disagree, but I was just thinking the other day how much I enjoyed the bird levels...they're a bit difficult to get into, but they remind me so much of using the Wing Cap in SM64, except dedicated only to one level. The controls haven't been too bad for me, although I sometimes need to tilt down further than I realize in order to go down as far as I wanted to. But to me it helps to imagine it as a one-way Wing Cap stage..

[mariomaniac45213]

@A_A
Yeah I didn't care for them either. The motions seemed off.

@Devil_Rising
Yeah Stone Cyclone (smg2) is pretty hard but none the less, I beat it on my 6th try.

[Zwollie]

Hmm, most of my frustration comes from Mario Sunshine. (I love the game btw)

Oh oh, and every level that had you work with the spring power-up in Galaxy 1 & 2.