Super Mario World/Super Mario Collection (Nintendo Power version)

A unique Nintendo Power download release

In Japan, Nintendo offered a special version of Super Mario World and Super Mario Collection through its download-only Nintendo Power service. This exclusive release was available for the Super Famicom’s SF Memory Cassette, a rewritable data cartridge that allowed players to download select titles at kiosks in convenience stores.

Differences from standard releases

This version of Super Mario World remains largely the same as the original 1990 release, but Super Mario Collection (the Japanese equivalent of Super Mario All-Stars) may have had slight variations depending on the data format. Since the Nintendo Power service allowed games to be overwritten, copies of these versions are relatively rare and can be difficult to identify without their original packaging or labels.

A lesser-known piece of Mario history

While the Nintendo Power download service was a creative way to distribute games, it remained exclusive to Japan and was discontinued in the 2000s. The SF Memory Cassette versions of Super Mario World and Super Mario Collection are now collectors’ curiosities, representing a unique chapter in Nintendo’s approach to game distribution.

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