'Super Mario Run' Does Not Have to Suck for Completionists

Super Mario Run, Nintendo’s first real mobile game, is a great deal of fun for casual players and experts alike. However, there is one group who may end up feeling so frustrated they can barely breathe: completionists. Super Mario Run moves so quickly, with so many twists and turns, it’s virtually impossible to grab all the coins, kill all the baddies, and get an absolutely perfect score. But that might very well be the beauty of it.

The game’s only been out for a few days now, but completionists, meaning those who like to collect and achieve everything, are already noting how the game is a “nightmare.” The primary goal of Super Mario Run, other than completing the Toad Rallies, is to collect all of the pink, purple, or black coins so you can advance each level’s difficulty, but that likely means having to sacrifice coins and enemies along the way. In that sense, Super Mario Run is all about making choices. If you want to collect everything and pull a perfect Angry Birds-style run, it’s not going to happen.

That alone can be frustrating for some players, but when combined with other things to be pissed off about in the mobile game, it becomes infuriating. For starters, Super Mario Run costs $9.99, which is relatively high for the mobile platform. It also requires an internet connection, making it basically impossible to play on a morning commute, while flying in a plane, or anywhere else where players don’t have access to wifi. Mobile gaming thrives on being accessible, and requiring internet access for a game seriously reduces how often it can be played. Any completionist on the fence about downloading Super Mario Run might be more inclined to think the game is a waste of time and money, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Super Mario Run is an awesome example of learning to let things go. Playing through a game where completion is virtually impossible means it’s more about the journey than the destination. In that sense, it can be used as a great zen tool. Why be obsessed with collecting everything when simply running through the game and grabbing coins is way more fun and relaxing?

Even the most staunch completionist can recognize that they’re not going to get everything, at least in every single run, and should simply have a good time playing a fun video game. Anyone who obsesses over collecting every trophy, every achievement, and every high school should definitely add Super Mario Run to their roster. Not because they’ll reach any end goal, but because the end goal doesn’t matter.

Of course, some genius is surely going to come along and pull off the perfect Super Mario Run, er, run, grabbing every single coin and killing every enemy with almost surgical precision. However, for most of us who aren’t that gifted, it’s way more enjoyable to let Mario run on his course and grab what we can, without worrying about the rest. Basically, just sit back and enjoy the ride.