New Super Mario Bros.

[TheVinh]

I know this game has been out for like, 3 years, but I'm going to write this review as if I just got the game in 2005-2006.

It's been over a decade since the last NEW 2D Mario game, but it's finally here. And it's beautifully made. Despite the lack of major changes to gameplay and innovation that the Mario series is so well known for, New Super Mario Bros. throws all the right darts in the center of the dartboard......Okay, I know that analogy sucked. Let's just say New Super Mario Bros. completely nails the dynamic handheld experience.

The game itself starts out slow and easy, with an extremely easy level at the beginning. I don't know how, but despite the levels' simple and linear designs, they seem to muster a large amount of charm and fun.


REQUIRED ASPECTS:

Graphics: The graphics for the Nintendo DS are very bright, colorful, and pleasant to look at (unlike some 3D DS games that have horribly designed graphics). The gameplay graphics are pleasant: A 3D, smooth Mario running across 2D levels and stomping on 2D monsters. The 3D graphics of mini-games (Table games) are some of the best on the DS. There's really nothing wrong with the graphics, but it would have been nice to see 3D enemies to go along with a 3D Mario.

9.7

Gameplay: Classic butt-stomping, Goomba-squashing, and shell-kicking. But now, the game allows you to pick up shells. The gameplay is left virtually untouched, which is a good and bad thing. Some new additions to the gameplay, however, include the appearance of 3 new items: Blue Shell, Mega Mushroom, and Mini Mushroom. The Blue Shell gives you ultimate defense from everything, and if you run and go into Blue Shell form, you can endless slide across the course. Mega Mushroom makes Mario huge in size, covering up almost the entire screen. You are invincible, much like the star, and you can run through things as if they were nothing: Pipes, rocks, enemies, blockades, the stairs at the end of the level.

9.5

Music: Great. The tunes during the levels are spectular to listen to, and they play cooperatively with the setting of the level. Despite the excellence of the songs, you will probably only hear about 5 tunes during the entire game experience. We are left with little, but a very enjoyable little.

9.2

Lasting Appeal: Large. Each level has about 3 Golden Coins that will let you get into houses that offer things like power-ups or green mushrooms. There are also many levels that secret obscure techniques to achieve 99 lives, and some levels have secret doors that lead to cannons in overworld maps. Many Boo houses contain these. Since there are 2 levels that you can virtually never touch, you can go after those too.

9.3

OPTIONAL ASPECTS:

STORY: It's quite simple. Nothing really new. Princess Peach = Kidnapped. Mario = Must save her.

7.6

MULTIPLAYER: Great multiplayer. The mini-games are quick fun, and the creative Mario vs. Luigi game is very addictive. The only pity is the lack of online mode, as I crave opponents for M vs. L.

9.1


OVERALL SCORE: 9.6

Bottom line: If you haven't bought this game yet, you've been living under a rock.

PROS: Excellent untouched gameplay, Nice graphics, great implimentation of multiplayer, first 2D Mario game in years.

CONS: Very easy, not many changes to gameplay, little tunes.