The Price and Date of Super Mario Run Finally Revealed

Super Mario Run was revealed a few months ago. While there has been very little detail regarding the title, opinions have been predictably decisive. For some, this is a surreal moment, perhaps even frightening, to see Nintendo characters and mascots on software designed for non-Nintendo hardware - which makes the Big N seem more similar to another Japanese developer, Sega, who had a small problem in the early 2000s of dropping their own hardware in favor of exclusively software development. For others, it seems like a smart move, and while 'endless runners' are certainly a tried-and-true genre, there's little argument that there's no better fit for the iconic plumber in red, assuming he doesn't follow in a certain Hedgehog's footsteps.

Well, we still don't know if the game is any good (outside assurance from Nintendo that this game is getting all the care and talent of the other Mario games), but we at least now know how much it will exactly cost, and when it will come out.

The game is set to launch on December 15th, and the cost is... curious. As it stands, it seems players will be able to download Super Mario Run for free. However, the application will be limited, and the only way to access all three game modes is to purchase the full game for $9.99. What, exactly, is included in the 'free' game is yet unknown, but it seems as if the free version will act like something of a Demo, which is good.

We can safely expect this game to be very solidly designed, and fun to play, given that it comes from Nintendo. If it's so much better than any other endless runner that it's worth 10 bucks to play, well, we'll obviously have to see for ourselves come December 15th.

I wouldn't say I'm EXCITED, but... I sure am curious.