New Super Mario Bros. 2 feels like DLC to the Wii version at best, but even then it's still a very fun 3DS platformer.
What New Super Mario Bros. 2 DOES do differently is focus a lot more on coin collecting. You can turn enemies into gold by passing through golden rings, throw golden Koopa shells to create lines of coins, and even become gold. The brand new Golden Flower is one of the coolest power ups ever, because anything can be transformed into a coin. Making it even more special, it's rare in most levels until you beat the game. The Tanooki Suit is back as well, and unlike 3D Land, you can fly in the air! There's actually plenty of secrets in this game, and I love finding hidden pathways leading to new levels, and it seems to occur a lot more in this game! You can also use cannons to go between levels, like before but this time you need to run through an obstacle course, making it a lot more challenging than usual.
The coin collecting aspect results in more 1-ups and easier gameplay, but even at that this is still great. The trademark hop and bop gameplay feels good on the 3DS, though not as comfortable as the Wii Version in my opinion. A Coin Rush mode is included, and while I dismissed it before, it's actually a hell of a lot of fun, and I enjoyed using streetpass to compete with other Mii's.
New Super Mario Bros. 2 is also disappointing, however. This feels exactly like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, though not as fun. Showing this claim is music that is COMPLETELY RECYCLED from New Super Mario Bros. Wi and Super Mario 3D Land, with extremely annoying "bah bah bah" music. Usually I enjoy Mario tunes, but not when it was clearly stolen from a previous Mario title. The levels aren't nearly as imaginative, and feel like outtakes from the DS and Wii versions. Bu worst of all, this doesn't even feel like a 3DS game. Super Mario 3D Land worked because it felt like one. This doesn't. Nintendo could have added some of the elements of 3D Land into this game, but they didn't, which is a crime in my opinion. Even the final boss fight seems uninspired.
The graphics are generally good, and the visuals are smooth and a lot faster than 3D Land. I actually like the 3D effect, unlike most people, and I like how it blurs out the background, as if the focus was on the foreground. The music, however, sucks.
I found New Super Mario Bros. 2 to be a wash, but if it's a wash, then it's a wash worth waiting in line for. No matter how much I criticize it, notice that this is still a high quality title that kicks the crap out of most of the modern 2D platformers. Nintendo should have done a lot more to this game, but in the end, it continues the hot streak of classic Mario titles. The coin rush mode boosts the grade by a little for me, by the way, because it's so damn fun!
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 4/10
Value: 8/10
Final Score: 8.8/10 (B+)