What Resolution is SNES Super Mario World?
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was a groundbreaking console that brought us some of the most iconic games of all time, including Super Mario World. Released in 1990, Super Mario World was a platformer that showcased the capabilities of the SNES and introduced us to Yoshi, Mario’s dinosaur friend. But what was the resolution of this classic game?
Native Resolution
The SNES had an internal resolution of 256×224, which is an 8:7 ratio for square pixels. This means that the game was designed to display a resolution of 256 pixels horizontally and 224 pixels vertically. However, when the game is displayed, this resolution is stretched to 4:3, which is the traditional aspect ratio of televisions at the time. This stretching resulted in a pixel aspect ratio of 7:6.
Display Modes
The SNES had several display modes that allowed developers to customize the appearance of their games. These modes included:
• Mode 0: This mode was used for games that required a specific resolution, such as Super Mario World.
• Mode 1: This mode was used for games that required a different resolution, such as the horizontal scrolling mode used in Super Mario World.
• Mode 2: This mode was used for games that required a higher resolution, such as the Mode 7 graphics used in games like F-Zero.
Pixel Aspect Ratio
The pixel aspect ratio of the SNES is 7:6, which means that the horizontal pixels are 7 units long and the vertical pixels are 6 units long. This ratio was chosen to allow for a wider aspect ratio than the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, which was commonly used in televisions at the time.
Upscaling and Downsampling
The SNES was capable of upscaling and downsampling images to fit different resolutions. This allowed developers to create games that could be played on different TVs, regardless of their resolution.
Comparison to Modern Resolutions
To put the resolution of Super Mario World into perspective, here is a comparison to modern resolutions:
| Resolution | SNES (256×224) | Modern Resolution (1080p) |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Count | 57,344 | 2,073,600 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | 16:9 |
| Pixel Aspect Ratio | 7:6 | 1:1 |
As you can see, the resolution of Super Mario World is relatively low compared to modern resolutions. However, the game’s graphics and gameplay hold up surprisingly well even today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the resolution of SNES Super Mario World is 256×224, with a pixel aspect ratio of 7:6. The game’s graphics and gameplay may not be as sharp as modern games, but the game remains a classic and an iconic part of gaming history.