Well, just because this is my first finished game doesn't mean you need to go "easy on it." Any comments at all would be welcome(and even if they aren't, it's your opinion. It wouldn't be my fault that you didn't enjoy the game(to an extent)).
Story:I didn't bother much with the story, because side-scrollers aren't really meant to have long, complex stories, but here's what I came up with: A monster called the Shadow Dragon, that lives in the Stormy Skies, ate Mario's soul, thus cutting him off from the world of the living, where Peach was and could now be kidnapped by Bowser(again) with nobody to stop him. Now Mario needs to venture to the skies and take his soul back from the beast.
How to Play:Arrow Keys-Move/Climb/Duck(if you duck and you slide under some obstacles, such as invisible blocks)
Ctrl-Jump
Shift-Hold to run faster and jump farther
Enter-Pause the game
Click-Choose options at title screen/Save the game(in Easy version)
Space bar-Load the game you saved(at any time)(both)
R Key-Restart the level(at any time)
Goal:The goal in this game is to get to the end of each level(there will be two levels and a fortress/castle and boss per world) and hit the gray box marked with the "!" However, there are some secret passages in each of the levels that make it easier to get through the game.(and, on depending on which version you download, either checkpoint, or being allowed to save at any time by clicking anywhere on the screen)
Download:Since I couldn't make up my mind, I made two versions of this game, which are mostly the same except for the saving system.
Easy version-Able to save at any time by clicking on the screen
Hard version-Only able to save by getting the checkpoints, which are the red "!"-marked boxes.
Note: They're both .zip files
Credits:Myself/Travis Box - Most of the sprites, level design
Martin Piecyk - For the basic Super Mario engine, ripped Mario and Goomba sprites
Those who make music for the Midi Shrine - for the music so far
Those at Mario Fan Game Galaxy - for ripping the sound effects