New Super Mario Bros

[godofPH]

Has anyone else picked up this little DS gem yet? For those of you who don't know, this is the first original 2D Mario platformer since Super Mario World back in the early 90's. Believe me, this is worth the purchase. Its just as good as the old Mario sidescrollers we have fond memories of. The character models and items are 3D, but the backgrounds are good ol' 2D. Mario has new moves (butt stomping, sliding, wall jumping) to help him along the way, along with some new power-ups. First of which is the Mega-Mushroom. This large fungus causes Mario to grow to gargantuan perportians and he takes off across the screen, destroying everything in his path until the mushroom's effect wears off and he shrinks back down again. The next new power-up is the Mini-Mushroom. When eaten, it shrinks Mario down to about the sie of a Goomba's eye. Mini-Mario can jump higher and longer (called the Float Jump) and walk on water (a mustachioed Jesus perhaps?), but he dies after being hit once. The last new power-up is the Blue Shell. When aquired, Mario puts the shell on over his back. The shell can be used for protection (instead of ducking, Mario simply retracts into the shell) or he'll start spinning in his shell when he gets to runnin fast enough (a nasty move for your opponents). As much as I like this game, I do have a few complaints. Mario's new moveset borrows from his 3D adventures, so why can't we get some of his punches from Super Mario 64? Giving the Plumbers so punching power could have really spiced up the gameplay, and keep Mario and Super Mario from being pretty much powerless. Another complaint is the game's shortness, if it only had a few more worlds it could be a game that could eat up many hours of your time. A minor disappointment is the game's name. When New Super Mario Bros was first announced, I thought the title was only temporary. Now that its released, the title is still the same and its kind of bland. Oh, and to those who say its an enhanced remake of Super Mario Brothers, you're wron. Its a sequel. You're facing Bowser Jr., not Bowser.

[Burkion]

Wait. Bowser JR.?!

I thought he already HAD kids! That was everywhere! WHO YOU KILLED!

...what does the ******* look like?

[godofPH]

Originally Posted by Burkion

Wait. Bowser JR.?!

I thought he already HAD kids! That was everywhere! WHO YOU KILLED!

...what does the ******* look like?

Remember Baby Bowser from Yoshi's Island? He looks something like that. We first met Jr. in Super Mario Sunshine when he claimed that Peach was his mother (my first thought on that was "Ouch"). Though, later we find out that Peach actually wasn't Jr.'s mother so we are left to guess who his mom actually is.

You mention that the King Koopa already has kids, and I assume that you mean the Koopa Kids. My theory on that is that the Koopa Kids weren't actually Bowser's kids, but just powerful underlings above the rank of ordinary Koopa Troopas.

[Burkion]

Wait...if Peach really WAS his mother...

Does that mean she's been cheating on Mario, or did Bowser rape her...?

[MirrenDono]

She's NOT the mother, it's explained in the GAME

Originally posted by godofPH
When New Super Mario Bros was first announced, I thought the title was only temporary. Now that its released, the title is still the same and its kind of bland.

That's exactly what it is, though


Terrific game, probably DS's best. The visuals and sound are spectacular for the little handheld's limits, and the gameplay is awesome. I can't believe just how well the levels were designed; they might be the best in the entire franchise. The obstacles and terrains you have to get across (and how you have to get across them) are genius. That, and the boss battles are an excellent addition.

The main quest is somewhat short, but there's a lot of value to be found in the game. There's no doubt that you'll spend a lot of time finding all of the Star Coins, and those will lead to secret levels and other paths, and don't forget about Worlds 4 and 7 that have to be discovered. The Minigames are fun, too, especially if you never played Super Mario 64 DS.

And let me make it clear; Mario vs. Luigi multiplayer is a riot

[Burkion]

I said "WHAT IF?" I want answers, damnit!

...and maybe pictures later.

[godofPH]

Originally Posted by Burkion

I said "WHAT IF?" I want answers, damnit!

...and maybe pictures later.

You want a What If answer, eh? Heres an answer: Peach wouldn't be walking so good today, much less star in Super Princess Peach

[godzy]

Originally Posted by Burkion

Wait...if Peach really WAS his mother...

Does that mean she's been cheating on Mario, or did Bowser rape her...?

I am sorry, but you have waaaaay too much free time on your hands!

[Spüne]

It is marvelous. A brilliant game. The multiplayer is surprisingly fun too!

Every single level has something new about. Instead of each level just having a different background, they have something new about. One may have fire falling from the sky, another might have you swimming away from a giant eel, while the next might be upside down.

[rodanguirus]

The game is indeed excellent. I am a bit miffed that the Koopalings (aka Koopa Kids) who carried two of the best Mario platformers there are (SMB3 and Super Mario World) are replaced by relative newcomer Bowser Jr. (who you fight TEN times! Ten!), especially since the excuse for not including Yoshi was that he was too recent of a character. Early '90s is too recent, but early 2000's is fair game?

Anyway, beyond that, the game rules. A bit too easy, but that's probably more due to my experience with Mario platformers. The concept of the Mega Mushroom was better used in Paper Mario 1000 Year Door- as a joke- because it kills all challenge in what is already quite the easy game. Still, the Mini-Mushroom's lots of fun to play around with, and the Blue Shell is one of the best additions to Mario's repertoire yet.

As Mario platformers go, this one falls right behind the Big Three (Yoshi's Island, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World) in my book.