Showing posts with label Mario's Time Machine for SNES print ad (1994). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mario's Time Machine for SNES print ad (1994). Show all posts

Monday, February 9, 2015

Mario's Time Machine for SNES (1994)

Original ad published in the January 1994 of EGM (no. 54)
Press to view or download image in higher resolution.

Historical Background and Graphical Analysis



A mediocre copy of the popular Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1985, various systems), the Nintendo-centric Mario's Time Machine (1993) tried to insert the Japanese developer in the edutainment branch of video gaming. It was a less than stellar product. Certainly not up to the standard the company usually delivers.

As you can see from the horrible print ad, the game is sort of a pastiche of different time-travelling quests that slowly advance as you solve different History or Geographic puzzles. If you played Carmen Sandiego, you know very well the dynamics of the genre.

The gameplay, music and graphic departments, however, left gamers scratching their heads seeing that other impressive products by Nintendo had been released previously, such as the excellent Super Mario World pack-in (1991). 


The strange presentation was related to the game being developed by a company called The Software Toolworks, now part of education giant Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. For Nintendo, it was not the best decision. External developers rarely achieved the same level of excellence with their product as the Japanese powerhouse. 


 


Mario's Time Machine for SNES print ad copy 


Travel With Mario in A Learning Adventure Through Time! Mario’s Way Cool Time Machine!!! 

Join Mario as he races through time on the wildest adventures. Tromp through the Jurassic period with giant T-Rex. Sail with Cleopatra in Egypt. 

You can even visit Thomas Edison in his workshop. You’ll get to witness some of the greatest historical moments of all time on a high flying, fun-filled ride. 

So whether you want to meet Bill Shakespeare or President Abe Lincoln, Mario’s Time Machine is a way cool ride with fun, excitement and adventure! 

  • Get ready for a ride through time with your favorite plumbers! Meet Sir Issac Newton and other famous folk among the way! 
  •  While having fun, you can actually learn about world history! 
  • What lurks beneath the surface of this Jurassic period? Available for NES and Super NES, IBM PC and compatibles.