Editing Mario's Time Machine (section)

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name = "AllGame"/>
| EGM = 6.75/10{{efn|In ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', three critics rated ''Mario Time's Machine'' 7/10, another 6/10.<ref name = "EGM">{{cite magazine|last1=Semrad|first1=Ed|last2=Carpenter|first2=Danyon|last3=Alessi|first3=Martin|author4=Sushi-X|last5=Weigand|first5=Mike|date=November 1993|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_52/page/n41/mode/2up?q=%22Mario%27s+Time+Machine%22|title=Mario's Time Machine|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|volume=10|number=11|page=42|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>}}
| GamePro = 3.5/5{{efn|''GamePro'' gave ''Mario's Time Machine'' two 3.5/5 rating for graphics and control, 3/5 for sound, and 4/5 for fun factor.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=February 1994|title=ProReview: Mario's Time Machine|page=116|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=55|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_055_February_1994/page/n117/mode/2up}}</ref>}}
| GStar = 72%{{Efn|''[[GameStar]]''{{'}}s review was primarily by a writer that scored it 75%, with a "second opinion" on the side with a 70% rating.<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Chimera|author2=Steve|date=June 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/gamestar-1-june-1994/page/66/mode/2up?q=%22MArio%27s+Time+Machine%22|title=Mario's Time Machine|issue=1|magazine=[[GameStar]]|pages=66–67|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>}}
| GameZone = 60/100<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Simane|first=Kirron|date=March 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/nintendo-game-zone-17/page/n3/mode/2up?q=%22MArio%27s+Time+Machine%22|title=Mario's Time Machine|magazine=GameZone|issue=17|page=33|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
| SP = 60%<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tanser|first=Sarah|date=March 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/superplay-issue-17/page/n41/mode/2up?q=%22MArio%27s+Time+Machine%22|title=Mario's Time Machine|magazine=[[Super Play]]|issue=17|pages=42–43|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
| TOT = 83%<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Dane|date=February 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/total-26/page/44/mode/2up?q=%22MArio%27s+Time+Machine%22|title=Mario's Time Machine|magazine=Total!|issue=26|pages=44–45|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[CD-ROM Today]]
| rev1Score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mizell |first=Leslie |date=January 1995 |title=Mario's Time Machine Deluxe Review |url=https://archive.org/details/CDROMToday11Jan1995/page/n123/mode/2up |journal=CD-ROM Today |issue=11 |pages=118 |access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref>
}}
Since its release, ''Mario's Time Machine'' has received mixed reviews. ''[[GamePro]]'' praised the game's dialogues with historical figures, commenting that "the scenarios make flesh-and-blood human beings out of people who are usually just static pictures in textbooks". They criticized the Timulator controls as too confusing, especially for the game's targeted age group, but nonetheless summarized the game as both enjoyable and educational.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=February 1994|title=ProReview: Mario's Time Machine|page=116|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=55|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_055_February_1994/page/n117/mode/2up}}</ref> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' gave it a 2.65 out of five, while ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' gave it a 6.75 out of 10.

''[[GameSpy]]''{{'}}s Brian Altano and Brian Miggels named its ending as one of the worst ever, criticizing it for showing Bowser crying.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/101/1013829p1.html|title=The Worst NES Endings, and Why We Deserved Better - Page 1|last1=Altano|first1=Brian|last2=Miggels|first2=Brian|date=August 14, 2009|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815224512/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/101/1013829p1.html|archive-date=August 15, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=2011-01-19}}</ref> Fellow ''GameSpy'' editor Mike Drucker called it "half-assed".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wii.gamespy.com/articles/108/1080907p1.html |title=GameSpy: Mario is Evil - Page 1 |publisher=Wii.gamespy.com |access-date=2011-01-19 |archive-date=2011-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109225941/http://wii.gamespy.com/articles/108/1080907p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[GamesRadar]]'' commented that those who like this game may like ''[[Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (video game)|Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian]]'', which they gave a negative review to.<ref>{{cite web |author=Words: Jem Roberts, Xbox World 360 UK |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian/review/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian/a-200906031811544711915/g-20090407133441600091 |title=Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Review, PC Reviews |date=4 June 2009 |publisher=Games Radar.com |access-date=2011-01-19 |archive-date=2011-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616044957/http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian/review/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian/a-200906031811544711915/g-20090407133441600091 |url-status=live }}</ref> They later suggested that it was an unpopular game, commenting that "five, maybe six people played the NES version of ''Mario's Time Machine''".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-ever-changing-sizes-of-mario-and-bowser/a-20081008112917635057 |title=The ever-changing sizes of Mario and Bowser |date=8 October 2008 |publisher=GamesRadar |access-date=2011-01-19 |archive-date=2024-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816160031/https://15.taboola.com/tb?oid=15&pubnm=futureplc-gamesradar&unitType=226&tbloc=&pageType=text&pstn=Below%20Article%20Thumbnails%20%7C%20Card%201&uuip=Feed%20-%20Below%20Article%20Thumbnails&cisrf=&cirf=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamesradar.com%2Fthe-ever-changing-sizes-of-mario-and-bowser%2F&encoded=1&uid=d904d4d5-3d74-4445-9436-c103ff27d6ee-tuctdb8fd1e&variant=0{{!}}892&callback=TRC.videoTagCallbacks.videoCallback3&cb=1723824031478&tagid=&cntry=US&platform=1&sesid=a3a5847a45620a8203af0a5f3aeae5d7&itemid=/the-ever-changing-sizes-of-mario-and-bowser&viewid=1723824030520&geolat=&geoing=&deviceifa=&appid=&sd=v2_a3a5847a45620a8203af0a5f3aeae5d7_d904d4d5-3d74-4445-9436-c103ff27d6ee-tuctdb8fd1e_1723824030_1723824030_CNawjgYQ1N89GLiGrd-VMiABKAEw4QE4kaQOQIuwDkjz2NgDUKcGWABgAGjN7r2U2IfQhcUBcAE&ri=dcf66d796a4e4f7c9669a7308a7a5c9b&appname=&cdb=&gdprApplies=false&rid=&sii=8747360882027601375&oee=true&tpubid=1011668&uis=2&fagg=1&ccpaDns=false&ccpaPrivacy=1YNN&region=CA&hasGDPRConsent=false&tcfVersion=2&cmpStatus=0&tnetid=1009595&prcnt=&layer=&normp=1&gvv=11008&gvv50=11008&gvv61=17312&gvv62= |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Good Game (TV program)|Good Game]]'' called it "awful", and was "way too complicated for any school-aged youngster to understand".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2567035.htm|title=Good Game Stories - Edutainment|website=www.abc.net.au|access-date=2011-01-19|archive-date=2024-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816160010/https://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2567035.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Nintendo|Nintendo of Canada]] included a sealed copy of the NES version as part of a charity auction along with several other sealed NES games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/nintendo-of-canada-offers-sealed-nes-snes-gameboy-titles-for-c/|title=Nintendo of Canada offers sealed NES, SNES, Game Boy titles for charity auction|last=Miller|first=Ross|date=2008-05-30|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128063424/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/nintendo-of-canada-offers-sealed-nes-snes-gameboy-titles-for-c/|archive-date=January 28, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=2011-01-19}}</ref> In the book ''Video Games: A Guide for Savvy Parents'', author David Sheff found the educational elements good, but criticized the gameplay.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K8kDYRNreJ8C |title=Video Games: A Guide for Savvy Parents |access-date=2011-01-19|isbn=9780679752820 |last1=Sheff |first1=David |year=1994|publisher=Random House }}</ref>

Authors David Wesley and Gloria Barczak associated ''Mario's Time Machine'' with the recent "flood of ill-conceived ''Mario'' spin-offs", arguing that these games nearly destroyed the ''Mario'' license.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O5KjS3Q7QdsC |title=Innovation and Marketing in the ... |access-date=2011-01-19 |isbn=9780566091674 |last1=Wesley |first1=David T. A. |last2=Barczak |first2=Gloria |year=2010 |publisher=Gower Publishing |archive-date=2023-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213005814/https://books.google.com/books?id=O5KjS3Q7QdsC |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Independent]]''{{'}}s Janet Swift discussed ''Mario's Time Machine'' in her article on the latest generation of educational titles in 1994. She compared it to ''[[List of Mario educational games#Mario Is Missing!|Mario Is Missing!]]'' in its execution, which she found "special", praising it for its educational value for children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/computers-teaching-children-to-teach-themselves-the-latest-generation-of-edutainment-programs-can-keep-children-as-engrossed-as-their-favourite-shoot-em-up-janet-swift-looks-at-indoor-attractions-for-halfterm-1393384.html|title=Computers: Teaching children to teach themselves: The latest generation of 'edutainment' programs can keep children as engrossed as their favourite shoot 'em up. Janet Swift looks at indoor attractions for half-term - Gadgets & Tech, IndyBest|last=Swift|first=Janet|date=1994-02-11|work=The Independent|access-date=2011-01-19|archive-date=2015-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925032516/http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/computers-teaching-children-to-teach-themselves-the-latest-generation-of-edutainment-programs-can-keep-children-as-engrossed-as-their-favourite-shoot-em-up-janet-swift-looks-at-indoor-attractions-for-halfterm-1393384.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Allgame]]''{{'}}s Brett Alan Weiss called the action scenes "dreadfully dull" and the presentation "merely average".<ref name = "AllGame">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=13473|title=Mario's Time Machine - Overview|last=Alan|first=Brett|date=2010-10-03|publisher=allgame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114121243/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=13473|archive-date=November 14, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=2011-01-19}}</ref> He added that while he does not dislike educational games, they must be both entertaining and enlightening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12507&tab=review|title=Mario's Time Machine - Review|last=Alan|first=Brett|date=2010-10-03|publisher=allgame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114134134/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12507&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=2011-01-19}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]''{{'}}s Levi Buchanan included it in their assessment of the "other ''Mario'' games", implying that the premise was boring and criticizing the game for lacking any real platform gameplay. He commented that it had "honorable intentions", but that it was "decidedly shallow". He also criticized the act of putting Mario in realistic time periods, commenting that he "occupies the imagination, a place with Star Festivals and giant piranha plants".<ref name="ign"/>