Originally released at the launch of the Wii U we
were initially sceptical about the ‘New Super Mario’ brand as it had been
somewhat tired and generic too this point. Once we played it though are initial
fears disappeared. Now, transitioning to the Switch, the game remains worthy of
the Mario name.
Right from the first level you can tell something is different. It just
feels so much better than other games in the NSMB series. Everything seems to have
had just that little bit more attention paid to it. The mechanics feel tighter,
the music seems stronger and it still looks lovely.
It all starts with the world map which is now in the more traditional
style of Super Mario Bros 3 or Super Mario World instead of the line of levels
running from left to right. It helps makes the multiple routes feel more like
an exploration and the secret levels see paths winding off into unknown parts
with islands popping up and rainbows forming. What is on display shows the
imagination of classic Mario and this is also present in the level designs.
Many of the NSMB
levels before this felt generic and tired. Here, levels are fast and devious
and contain tricks and gimmicks that may only appear in a handful of places, or
even just once. This means that players will come away with levels that they
remember and love playing. Nothing is overdone and some of what is here is equals
the very best of Super Mario Bros level design.
One level in particular is set out in a spooky illustration style, a
graphical effect which is present nowhere else in the game. One water level
might have you dodging a continually circling dragon, while the next will see
you climbing up through a series of water bubbles trapped in the air. Everyone
will have their own favourites.
The bosses are also much better than NSMB2. The Koopa kids return along
with Bowser Jnr and a few others. But this time they take more than five
seconds to defeat. Still not as difficult as some of the bosses of old but at
least now you feel a sense of achievement for toppling them.
In terms of power ups there are the usual suspects of the fire flower
and invincibility star. The ice flower also returns (but is now much better
implemented), and the mini mushroom makes very fleeting
appearances. Yoshi is also here in both adult and baby form, though
he will leave you at the end of a level. The new addition is the flying squirrel
suit. This allows you to float over large distances and gives you one extra
jump while in the air. This subtle difference to the Racoon, Cape and Tanooki
costumes of the past allows for some excellent and clever use through the
levels – something you’ll have to make good use of to find all the hidden
coins.
The game is likely to last you a while as well. You can race through the
main levels in three or four days but there are many secret routes to find and
getting all three star coins will take a long time. Once all the coins in a
land have been found it unlocks a Star Road level which will put your reflexes
and brain to an even tougher test. Even with all the levels finished and
secrets found we find it hard to believe any gamer would put it away and never
play it again. It manages to capture that retro ethos of running through the
levels you already know just for the sheer fun of it.
Challenges are available such as time trials and the coin attack mode
found in NSMB2. There are also specific special challenges such as dodging
fireballs or staying in the air for as long as you can by bouncing off Goomba
heads.
Multiplayer takes the form of Coin battle mode as players fight to gain
the most coins. The four player story mode in the previous Wii game is also
here and still proves as awkward and chaotic as ever. The levels of the main
game certainly seem to have been designed with single players in mind and it’s
fair to say there’s nothing amazing here but they prove fun additions and
distractions from the single player story game.
There may not be anything as revolutionary here as Super Mario galaxy
but New Super Mario Bros U shows that the old 2D Mario still has the magic when
the property is treated with care and affection. In truth this is a fine
successor to Super Mario World and could have held the title of something
closer to Super Mario World 5 (if we don’t count Yoshi’s Island). That alone
should be enough to convince you to own a copy if you haven’t bought it already
for the Wii U. There isn’t much here in the way of extras for returning players
but for the people new to it should provide hours of fun.
Overall 8/10
(There will be a separate Luigi U review to follow)
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