Summary
In an all new 2D side-scrolling adventure, Mario and Luigi return after nearly fifteen years. The first traditional Mario Bros. game since Super Mario World.
The character models are rendered in real time 3D, allowing for a far greater number of moves ever before seen in a Mario Bros. title. Also as the game is on DS, the touch screen allows players to store an additional power-up and view the distance still to go in a level.
| Game Analysis | The game follows the traditional storyline of Princess Peach getting kidnapped by Bowser and his children, the Koopalings and Bowser Jr. When Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad are celebrating Princess Peach's birthday in her castle, a large cake appears. Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings emerge from the cake and trap Peach inside. The cake is loaded onto Bowser's airship and it takes off, with Mario, Luigi, and the two Toads giving chase. The Toads in the castle then grant them access to the new items, the Propeller Mushrooms and Penguin Suits. | |
| Optimization Score | 10 | |
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Super Mario Game Series [View Super Mario Full Game Series]
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- Replayability
- Level variety
- Fun multiplayer
- Just a really fun time
- Lack of difficulty settings
- Limited save options
- Story
- Underwhelming boss fights
The main campaign features 8 worlds (2 of which are completely optional) Each world has a selection of levels including a mini boss level, boss level and sometimes a boo house. Each level has 3 star coins to collect and many also feature hidden exits which can unlock bonus levels on the world map, or short cuts to a later point in the world or a new world entirely. So basically for those who are into 100% completion, this game has plenty for you. The amount of variety in all the levels is amazing and unique to this game as many later games in the New Super Mario Bros series come across as a bit samey. Here, each level experiments on its own cool mechanic or idea. Sometimes mechanics return later on in the game, but with added twists and challenges.
The boss fights are incredibly easy and there is no way to change the difficulty settings, aesthetically however they are all very unique to each world. I wish I could say the same thing about the mini boss, but Bowser Junior is the only one and fights with him were probably my least favourite part of the game. Incredibly boring and monotonous.
The Nintendo DS was probably the perfect platform for a revival of the 2D series, due to its easy pick up and play nature. However, the lack of a quick save feature damages the usefulness of the portable console since levels have to completed in sets of 3 or 4 before there is an option to save. In some cases in the later worlds I often found myself spending star coins to access toad houses, just so that I could have another opportunity to save my game. This system is definitely a throwback to more classic Mario games, but particularly on a portable console the save system needs to be easy to use and reliable.
Unlike future instalments, the original DS game has a healthy set of power ups which help the player but never feel over powered. The only thing I’d say is that I would have loved to come across more varied power ups in the levels. To get any power up other than a mushroom or fire flower often requires using road houses.
Obviously it’s a Mario game, so story is not the most important aspect. However, even for a Mario game the story of New Super Mario Bros is incredibly lacklustre.
Although it’s not the main point of the game, it’s also worth mentioning that it also comes with a really fun competitive multi player mode.