Totem Link!
It’s a great time to get back into Super Mario Maker.
As of tonight’s update, we can now place mid-level checkpoints. Finally! They’re going to have such a big impact on my willingness to clear people’s levels. To add a checkpoint to your course, simply shake the arrow sign item to transform it into a flag, then place it.
The other big addition, Event Courses, can be found in Mario Maker‘s online hub. This new category is accessible by tapping the Toad icon on the Course World menu. There are six of these levels to start, and by clearing some of them, you can unlock the Totem Link (Tri Force Heroes) and Arino (GameCenter CX) outfits.
I’d also recommend taking a look at the Makers section of Course World — there’s now an “Official” banner with levels designed by Nintendo. You know, if you’re into that sort of thing.
A harder version of the fly-swatting mini-game is available, too, but good luck beating it. It’s accessible by shaking the Muncher item until the boss character pops out. I lost on the first level!
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the Mystery Mushroom transformation list now has 110 spots. One of them is tied to clearing the fly mini-game on hard mode, and looking ahead, Japan is getting event courses for Nekki and Super Mario-Kun this month. We better get those too!
And hey, don’t forget: we’re currently hosting an Un-Mario design challenge on Destructoid.