Playing through Mario's 1-1 level vertically looks a lot more stressful

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Mario games can be challenging, but they aren't known for being so difficult you want to throw your controller at the screen. In comes Super Mario Maker 2. Lately, people who enjoy others' pain have been coming up with inventive ways to make playing Mario feel more like an extreme exercise in patience and determination. The latest isn't quite so extreme, but it is an entirely more stressful way to experience one of Mario's most iconic levels, 1-1 from the original Super Mario Bros, only vertical.

One meticulous Super Mario Maker 2 creator turned the classic first level of Super Mario Bros. on its side, tasking players with jumping upwards and catching onto anything and everything that might allow them to progress through the level. Beating the level requires a surprising amount of technical prowess, as ascending to a platform often demands jumping at extremely precise angles or using Goombas to bounce up to the next landing area.

The "1-1 Flipped on Its Side!" level was created by Super Mario Maker 2 user DannyB, and can be located by its course ID: 9M3-SNK-WRF, for those who dare. For the uninitiated, a course needs to be completed by its maker in order for it to be published for the world to play, so the vertical Super Mario Bros. 1-1 is definitely doable. In fact, it's far from the most difficult Super Mario Maker 2 level we've seen.

Not all Super Mario Maker 2 creations are punishingly difficult - some are simply fascinating for the amount of time and detail that undoubtedly went into making them. Take this fully functioning calculator for example.

We put together a list of the best custom levels we've seen so far in Super Mario Maker 2, complete with the course ID numbers you need to access them. 

Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

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