The Master Sword powerup turns Mario into Link, and opens up a whole bunch of new gameplay options.
Super Mario Maker 2 is adding Legend of Zelda hero Link — star of Nintendo Switch adventures Breath of the Wild and Link’s Awakening — in its Dec. 5 update, Nintendo revealed in a trailer Monday. You can use the Master Sword pickup to transform Mario into Link if you’re playing in the 8-bit Super Mario Bros. style. Link can fire arrows to hit faraway switches that Mario can’t reach, use his down thrust to kill protected enemies like the spiky Spinies and use bombs to blow up walls (and your friends, because being a jerk is fun). If a bunch of players get the Master Sword at once, you get a Four Swords-style situation with a colorful group of Links.
Along with Link, the version 2.0.0 update adds new course parts like the dash block (for the Super Mario 3D World style), the frozen coin and the P block, as well as classic enemies like Spike and Pokey.
The update also brings new mode — Ninji Speedruns — that lets you play a timed challenge in courses created by Nintendo, running against other players’ Ninji Ghosts.
