10 Reasons Super Mario World Is The Best 2D Mario Of All Time
5. Bowser And The Koopalings
Though players would have to wait until 2002 and Mario's second 3D adventure, Super Mario Sunshine, for the debut of his nasty little son, Bowser had already established himself as one of the gaming world's most infamous baddies by the time the franchise hit its stride.
Fans of the series knew that he was the King of the Koopas against Princess Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom, but it wasn't immediately obvious what he was actually the king of besides a few Goombas and Koopa Troopas.
Then came Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy and Ludwig Koopaling in Super Mario Bros. 3. These seven baddies gave the end of each world a unique and fun challenge, but it was arguably in Super Mario World that their personalities and characteristics were really fleshed out.
Super Mario World also features perhaps the best Bowser boss battle in the franchise's history. Instead of the overused design of jumping over him and hitting the worst-placed switch in gaming history, this battle features the scariest looking Koopa King raining Mechakoopas down from his Clown Car, which Mario then has to kick back up at him.
Surprisingly tough and strategic for a Bowser battle, it is easily one of the most memorable finales in Super Mario history.