Mario -- time for a diet, mate.
The title may have the word -new" in it, but this latest Super Mario Bros game just bristles with old-school charm.
The new Super Mario Bros for the Nintendo DS is a real nostalgia trip for older gamers familiar with the Mario legacy. It's essentially the classic Mario 2D-platform gameplay with a 3D gloss, and it's just as fun to play as those old games.
That's not to say this is a blatant rehash of earlier Mario platformers. New Super Mario Bros features plenty of new elements, but sticks closely to the tried-and-true formula the previous games set. Long-time fans will be more than happy with the game's updated looks and challenge, while new players will experience an outstanding side-scrolling 2D-platformer -- a genre which is becoming increasingly rare.
The game's plot starts off much like every other Mario game -- Princess Peach is kidnapped (this time by Bowser Jr) and it's up to everyone's favourite Italian plumber to come to the rescue. Controls are similarly old-school, but with a few additional moves for Mario. The control pad is used to move Mario left and right, while the X button is for Dash and the A button for jump. Mario can also perform double jumps, slide for short distances, jump off walls and do butt stomps.
Most of the game's levels are simple side-scrollers, although there are some rolling levels that force you to continually be on the move. Locations are varied -- from grasslands and deserts to cloud tops and icefields -- but all contain classic Mario elements such as breakable blocks, springs, pipes and more. There are eight worlds overall, with each world made up of several levels. In typical Mario-style, some of these levels (and even a couple of worlds) can be skipped altogether should players find the required hidden shortcuts.
Mario's varied mushroom power-ups also make a comeback. As well as the typical grow mushroom (to turn Mario into his larger Super Mario self) and fire flower (to give Mario the ability to throw fireballs), New Super Mario Bros also features a couple of new power-ups. The most fun is the Mega mushroom, which turns Mario into an invincible giant that can run through all obstacles. There's also a new mushroom which shrinks the plumber so he can fit into small pipes and a blue koopa shell that Mario can use to defend himself with. These new power-ups, however, don't seem to pop up too often, so you'll end up relying mostly on Mario's fireball as your main offensive weapon.
Bowser's back!
The game is fairly challenging, although Mario experts from year's past will probably have no problem breezing through the game in a matter of hours. Opening each level and world will, of course, add more time to the overall experience, as will finding all of the secrets each level contains. The game's honed controls make the entire experience, no matter how brief it may be for you personally, a joy to play.
New Super Mario Bros also throws in a few multiplayer games. There's a two-player Mario vs Luigi mode for those who have friends with a DS, which see Mario and Luigi racing across levels to see who can collect the most stars. There are also multiplayer touchscreen games such as a whack-a-mole type activity featuring Luigi. These multiplayer add-ons aren't that compelling, however, particularly when compared to the main game.
While New Super Mario Bros is on the DS, it actually makes very little use of the DS's capabilities. The bottom touchscreen is rarely used (although some short levels are played using it), while the DS's built-in microphone is not utilised at all.
New Super Mario Bros looks bright and colourful -- the almost 3D characters and settings are lovely to watch. Sound and music is also well handled -- there are plenty of classic themes and sounds thrown in for that extra bit of nostalgia factor.
Mario fans will be pleased to know that New Super Mario Bros is yet another winner from Nintendo. It effortlessly captures the charm and challenge of the earlier Mario games, and looks great to boot.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
Phenos
18/10/2008, 01:27 PM
rating
10/10
great challenging game, when i got it i played it for about 10 hours each day, i was obsessed i got a twitch in my eye and then i stopped playing, im up to world 8 and i can't seem to get any further grrr!
THE SAVING SYSTEM DOES NOT SUCK AND YOU DONT NEED TO LEAVE IT ON CONSTANTLY YOU SAVE THE GAME THEN SWITCH OFF AT THE SIDE OF THE CONSOLE!!
Pros: challenging, great entertainment for days, colours, graphics, themes. Fantastic gaming for all.
Cons: Will keep you going for days, it's like an addiction, frustrating because you can't save each time you complete a level you save when you get to halfway or the castle, frustration may cause you to yell out innapropriate insults at mario =), finger cramps
Report offensive comment
Alanimal
31/07/2008, 10:56 PM
rating
8/10
I really, really love it, great fun, wonderful boredom buster, anyone else noticed that when there's a certain beat in the music some of the little bad guys react to it?
Pros: great graphics
nice sound
Cons: saving system is a nightmare, have to keep ds on constantly
Report offensive comment
jake
17/10/2007, 05:20 PM
rating
10/10
your game rocks I love but can you send me a message about the secret challange mode please.
Report offensive comment
andrea
07/04/2007, 09:43 PM
rating
9/10
I thought is veryvery good! my friend and I r addicted! the only problem is it's really hard!!
Report offensive comment
Tedson
26/02/2007, 03:52 PM
rating
6/10
It was alright.
Pros: Graphics.
Sound.
Controls.
Cons: Too short.
No online.
Report offensive comment
desronsage@msn.com
01/12/2006, 05:38 AM
rating
7/10
this is off the bom
Report offensive comment
Dyllan
29/09/2006, 05:53 PM
rating
10/10
great fun graphics i give a A++++++
Pros: like this is great and challenging the rating is just the start i wanna give nintendo this "it rocks so much i just wanna get all the other mario games real bad i think i gotta kill myself if i don't and i'm only a 10 year old kid".
Cons: where the hell do you go to vs someone else in a race to the over end of the course.
Report offensive comment
Max
09/06/2006, 02:26 PM
rating
8.6/10
Mario MANIA!
What a great game! I'm loving this. Old school gameplay that is very reminiscent of all of the 2D Marios over the years. I almost died when I had to beat Bowser like in the original game! Great throwback to the good old days of gaming!
Pros: Old school gameplay,
Great controls,
Great sound - Mario doesn't talk during levels!,
Doesn't use the touch screen unescesarily
Cons: Mario is Mr Slide,
Saving system sucks
Report offensive comment