There is one particular thought that you should dismiss from your mind
before reading a review or perhaps even going out to purchase this
game. And that is, do not expect this to be along the same monumental
line as Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, or even the first game Mario
appeared on for that matter. Think of Mario’s latest venture as more of
an anthology of sorts; an assemblage of positive features from his best
games, spanning over the last twenty years. A nostalgic trip down
memory lane has definitely been one of the main incentives to purchase
a DS and the same applies for the latest in the long line of Mario’s
platform-based adventures. With new and old elements alike, some good
and bad, New Super Mario Bros. is yet another reason to purchase the
dual screen handheld -- that is of course if you haven’t already.
Now the first thing noticeably different about New Super Mario Bros. is
the graphical presentation. Mario is now sporting a three-dimensional
image, first seen on the Nintendo 64. What of course hasn’t really
changed is the reason why he is frantically running across the world as
if something is terribly wrong. Once again, the Princess has been
abducted, this time however by Bowser Jr, who has apparently become his
father’s errand boy within the last few games. Over the course of eight
worlds, two of which secret, you will travel over a relatively large
map, knocking out stage after stage in the hope of retrieving the
Princess yet again. And sorry Super Mario World fans, none of Bowser’s
other kids are in this one unfortunately.
If you are familiar with the traditional controls then the learning
curve of this game will not be a problem. Using certain buttons in
conjunction with the D-Pad will allow you to pull off dashes and hops,
as well as acrobatic feats, such as: triple jumps, ground pounds, and
wall kicks. The latter being quite useful in later areas when you have
to make quick escapes, especially in the screen scrolling stages.
Another thing to note is that the touch screen is somewhat limited in
use, providing just an overview of the world and a mini-map of your
present location.
Nevertheless, what has always made these types of games fun is the
atmospheric diversity apparent in said worlds. As you hop from land to
land (by way of a Super Mario Bros. 3 style map system), you’ll cross
valleys and deserts, climb up piranha vines to the clouds, and swim
through underground caverns, all the while avoiding carnivorous eels
and fish. Nearly every stage shows off something new but at the same
time brings back some nostalgic moments, especially if you have
followed the series for quite some time.
You probably wouldn’t even think of buying this game if you haven’t
right? I mean who could forget putting on the tanooki suit for the
first time in the third or finally beating the difficulty scaling
masterpiece that was Star Road. New Super Mario Bros. brings to the
table some interesting additions of its own, one of which being the
power-ups. Ranging from absolutely mandatory to merely conventional,
the mega mushroom, mini mushroom, and blue shell encompass the title’s
primary tools; helping you thrash koopas and solve the trickiest
puzzles with less effort than normal. For example, the mega mushroom
puts you in an invincible state, letting you run through the area with
no cause for concern. While this is happening, enemies are getting
trounced, pipes are unearthed, and blocks are crumbled, all in the wake
of your massive size.
Regular mushrooms, 1-up mushrooms, super stars, and the ever prevalent
fire flower also make their return, giving platform perfectionists
quite the arsenal. And while some of these additions make the game more
exciting, there are others that bring along a detrimental tedium. A
tedium that presents itself in the form of collectible star coins.
Perhaps too many collectibles have always been a problem in most
adventure games, especially when they add so little to the game. Just
thinking of the blue coin system from Super Mario Sunshine makes me
cringe. Though not quite as horrendous, the three coin system prevalent
throughout each stage is really more of a distraction, if anything.
Here’s how it breaks down: in each stage you will find three coins
which act as your main currency. Hidden in less than obvious locations
throughout your progression, you will have to take the time out to find
these tokens or even risk certain doom to grab them. And the reward for
your hard work? Nothing more than being able to access mushroom houses,
which allow you to purchase a random power-up.
Strangely enough, the coins also tie into the frustrating saving
system. Meaning that opening these mostly pointless areas act as one of
the few ways to save your progress. This becomes aggravating in later
levels, especially if you have to quit early, but find that you have
either opened too many houses or don’t have enough coins. And let’s not
forget the dreaded scenario of the battery running out at the wrong
time.
Ouch.
Then again, maybe you are the type that likes to collect every trinket
and trophy, all in the hope of earning that perfect score. That natural
urge to grab something within reach is just sometimes too strong to
withstand, I know. If that is the case then there is little cause for
concern, but just remember if you ever find yourself pulling out your
hair that most of it is avoidable. Most of it.
What was also disappointing was the absence of a familiar face or two
that some of us have come to expect to see. Yoshi, for example, fails
to show up and would’ve been an interesting addition (not the vomiting
Yoshi, of course, but the normal one.) A flying mission or two with him
for old times sake would’ve been interesting, as would have been being
able to brawl with Wario in a traditional man to man showdown. Then
again, maybe I am being a bit too picky. I am glad that Luigi was able
to make an appearance and with it, he brings along the introduction to
the fun co-operative feature. With this addition, you and a friend (or
enemy) can simultaneously play through stages at the same time, tag
teaming enemies, challenges, and bosses alike.
Speaking of which, the game scales at a relatively balanced state,
providing an adequate challenge as you travel from place to place. Boss
fights are continually engaging and later confrontations even require
some thought and several lives to beat. However, if you’ve heard some
complaints of how the game is too easy, then I'd have to say the
early-bird critics are somewhat correct. Lives are easy to come by,
especially if you collect most of the star coins. I’ve even heard that
the 99-life trick exists in the game, so if you discover its location,
use it at your own risk. Nevertheless, what helps sustain the replay
value throughout is the fact that all worlds are replay-able, even
after they have been completely beaten. This surprisingly including:
regular stages, mini-battles, and fights with the final bosses
themselves.
Also heightening the reason to keep playing is the addition of
mini-games that were first seen on Super Mario 64 DS. Knowing that this
is a hand-held game, Nintendo would have been crazy to not throw some
time passing challenges on here for the road. Some you will notice,
some you won’t. Whether it is whacking moles on the head, blowing into
the microphone to keep Yoshi afloat, or playing “Where’s Waldo”
Nintendo style, there is plenty to keep you and your friends occupied
for hours upon hours.
None of that would be possible though if you didn’t have some catchy
music to play to right? Well, New Super Mario Bros. delivers on that
front as well, providing several enjoyable tunes, both traditional and
new. A few familiar themes are remixed, but most of the game features a
fresh soundtrack. A soundtrack that is mostly upbeat with the exception
of the mellow pace featured in the various water locations. Mario and
Luigi also churn out some new voice samples as you pull the flag down
to the bottom, following the completion of each stage.
What helps New Super Mario Bros. succeed is the sense of balance that
it finds. Though it doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, it manages to
create an adventure that brings back some old memories and helps create
new ones. With fantastic game-play mechanics, satisfying length, and
plenty of extra features, the latest work from Nintendo succeeds on
several important levels. The inability to save wherever you want is
frustrating though, as is the lackluster use of the touch screen. But
at the end of the day, the positives clearly exceed the negatives, and
the result is what we can normally expect from a Mario game.
Quality.
