Super Mario World (SNES)

Best: Yoshi

Super Mario World is when Nintendo finally introduced Mario’s dinosaur companion Yoshi, who our hero gets to ride around throughout the game. He rules because he can just eat enemies Mario would have to stomp or throw a well-timed fireball at. Then, when he eats certain koopa shells, he gets powers like flight, earthquake stomps, and three-way fireballs. We love a multi-talented king, and he deserves to be the star of his own game. Which he was in the next one.

Worst: Lost some flavor

Super Mario World portended Nintendo’s general approach to sequels on its new, 16-bit system: refine, refine, and refine some more. This resulted in countless memorable classics, but was not without drawbacks. One reason some people prefer Super Mario Bros. 3 over its sequel is that Super Mario World filed off so many rough edges it may have lost some of its “flavor.” The movement physics feel less weighty, the various lands’ themes are a bit mundane and don’t do much to inform the level designs (what makes a level design…chocolate?), and overall the game is just too easy. (That said, fans who create custom levels have addressed that last point quite thoroughly.)

Read More: 14 Of The Best And Most Obscure Secrets We Spotted In The Super Mario Bros. Movie