New Super Mario Bros. - Review

EDIT: There are some issues with the review's punctuation that i am trying to fix, so bare with me.




New Super Mario Brothers (DS) – Review
By MaTT


Mario is arguably the worlds most popular and recognizable figure in all of gaming. Generations of gamers have been playing Mario games throughout their lives and as a result Mario has become the single most profitable intellectual property in all of gamedom. But the 2D gameplay, which defined nearly 2 generations of console gaming and revived the industry, which has defined Mario has yet to see a contemporary installment. But the New Super Mario Brothers (NSMB) finally changes that by releasing a game that brings that fantastic 2d gameplay to the new generation of handheld consoles and as a result is one of the most entertaining games on any gaming console, be it a home console or a handheld. This game is entertaining, challenging and satisfying on many levels and as such should be added to the library of any self respecting individual who calls themselves a gamer.

If you’ve played Mario 1, 3 and the N64 version you are going to feel right at home the moment you begin the very first level. The gameplay is a blend of Mario 3’s overhead map-world, item collecting, platforming goodness and Mario 1’s challenging, hi-speed (that’s the way to play it if your looking for some good times!) platforming, coin collecting and flag pole jumping awesomeness. The look of the game comes from Mario 64, with its pseudo 3-dimensional graphics, with influences from just about every past Mario installment. Mario also has some of the cool new moves that Mario 64 utilized; moves such as the wall jump and triple jump have made their way to NSMB. So this title is the, in my mind at least, the perfect combination of all of Mario’s past games but with an focus on the gameplay established in the early part of Mario’s 2D games. Trust me when I tell you that this is a GREAT thing. It makes the experience enjoyable for long time fans, thanks in part to the nostalgia it inspires, while still presenting a challenge to them in the form of newly incorporated gameplay concepts. But its also accessible to individuals who have never even played a Mario game thanks to its charming visual style, lovable characters and seemingly simple method of control.
While this game uses the DS to deliver its awesome gaming goodness it doesn’t seem to use much of the systems unique capabilities. Don’t get me wrong; the graphics are sharp and visually engaging but the DS specific capabilities don’t make much of a significant impact. The bottom screen is often regulated to being a HUD which displays your standard stats, such as the number of lives left and the collection of star coins, as well as acting as a holding place for power ups which Mario can utilize at any moment to get an edge on any given levels competition. But the function of the extra screen, while great, doesn’t in itself add any significant gameplay additions that weren’t present in past titles.

These minor complaints aside the gameplay itself is about as solid as a game could ever get; levels are designed to provide each player progressively more challenging, and as a result more rewarding, gameplay experiences while providing the type of fun that only an old school Mario game can provide. The bottom line here is that if you are gamer, of any type, you will enjoy NSMB and if you are a gamer who owns a DS you should put this game on the top of your “to buy” list immediately. NSMB is the kind of game that is not only pure fun through and through but it is a game which appeals to a wide range of gamers like no other intellectual property ever could. Hell, my seven year old nephew and I both play this game regularly and with equal enjoyment.