2 Like What blatant anti-Nintendo bias. C'mon GameSpot. You can't list a single flaw for your "The bad" section, but the game only gets an 8.5? But GTA4 (which, btw, isn't on Wii) has two "the bad" flaws but gets a perfect 10/10?
New Super Mario Bros. U Review
Game Emblems
The Good
Gaming at one of its purest forms, but packed with a refreshing and valuable social component
It's yet another familiar entry into the New Super Mario Bros series. But it's definitely the best so far.
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New Super Mario Bros. U incorporates the best elements from classic entries, making it one of the most enjoyable Mario Bros. games in years.
The Good
- Excellent level design
- Smart difficulty curve
- Classic Mario elements make their triumphant return
- Additional content is plentiful and challenging.
New Super Mario Bros. U is an amazing jump start for Mario's 2D platforming career. It incorporates the best elements from the classics and mixes them into the New Super Mario Bros. formula, revamping the subseries' reputation for bland level design and menial difficulty.
As a whole, Story mode is a blend of joyful speed-run-friendly courses and precision-based platforming puzzles. It's the same balance of freedom and challenge that defined legendary entries like Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. 3, and it's the backbone of New Super Mario Bros. U's success. Also here are branching paths, a sprawling world map, and the overall sense of wonder that comes from exploring every last corner of the modern Mushroom Kingdom for secrets and alternate exits.
The first half of the game is a relative playground; troublesome enemies are at a minimum, power-ups are plentiful, and the environments are generally forgiving. Even at their easiest, the earlier stages are still enjoyable because their compositions lend themselves to acrobatic displays of triple-jumps and power-up-fueled maneuvers.
Sprinting through the first few worlds is carefree and instills confidence. Eventually, however, such hubris must give way to patience and awareness lest you squander all your remaining lives. The game's rise in difficulty is easy to miss, seamlessly transitioning from a light romp to a challenging test of perseverance.
Should you continue to fail multiple times in a given stage, the Super Guide box appears granting you a demonstration of Luigi completing the level, or allowing you to bypass the stage completely, though you may choose to forge ahead on your own. When failure persists despite your best efforts, the addition of a second player on the GamePad becomes a very attractive option. By using the touch screen, a second player can place up to four platforms at a time within a level, and can also stun enemies and interact with elements in the environment.
Where New Super Mario Bros. Wii's co-op was often frustrating and useful only on occasion, the touch screen method employed here affords an experience that rewards teamwork. There are still ways that the "ghost" player on the tablet controller can interrupt Mario's flow and ruin the experience, and this opens up delightful opportunities for the tablet holder to make a little mischief. Deviously obstructing a player's progress can be as amusing as virtuously helping them to victory, and every player should be sure to take a turn with the tablet. Up to five people may participate at a time when four Wii Remotes are used, and roles can be switched from the world map without having to exit to the main menu.
By
Peter Brown, Editor
Peter Brown has been writing about video games and hardware since 1999. He grew up with the NES and has an unwavering love for retro and arcade games. Though he's a New England native, he's called the Bay Area home since 2004.
214 comments
2 Like 
Another great Super Mario game. This time with HD graphics and new adventures. A good collection to the Wii U.
Played Mario games since I was 8 years old meaning just about everyone and saying that this isn't the best Mario title in 2d ever is ridicules. Get over the nostalgia of Mario 3 and world... Btw I'm 34
You have to use wii motes for multiplayer. Damnit. I guess I'm skipping another Nintendo generation if their games keep this theme going.
2 Like @terafumos Well you use the wii remotes like you would a classic nes controller. You hold it sideways and use the d pad to move and the 1 and 2 button to jump. For others games like call of duty, you can use the wii remotes, the gamepad, or their new controller the wii pro controller which is basically like an xbox remote
2 Like Well one thing we can agree on, Nintendo does not force you to register your game in your console only. You can still sell them, or let a friend borrow it, or bring it to a friends house and enjoy some good fun. XBOX720 and PS4 your screwed if the game stinks you own it, and can't do anything about it.
How about the controls? You mention that you have to use the Wiimotes, which I'm assuming means you also have to use the motion control 'shake' to do one of the actions? Can people still put themselves in bubbles whenever they want by hitting 'A'? Do the bubbles still get in everyone's way and stop your jump / timing when you hit them? When someone dies does it do a mini-pause of the game, screwing up the timing of everyone that doesn't suck in the game?
And lastly castles, are they still the equivalent of playing the waterfall level from contra for every one of these? If the answer is yes to any of these it looks like this game is a solid "Pass".
Very interesting that the review didn't have a single 'bad' item on it even though there were so many things wrong with the first NSMB's game on the Wii.
After playing this game I can honestly say it is the best mario scroller since world, 2nd or 3rd best overall.
What I'd like to see is a full mario sidescroller that uses the mechanics of the mario galaxy 2 sidescrolling. Those levels where you switched the gravity, used clouds for platforms and shook the wiimote to climb things were awesome. Why not have a scroller like that?
2 Like To be fair, there's only one NSMB game per console. CoD releases a game every year. That means starting back in 2006 where the first NSMB came out on DS, that 7 CoD games have been released since 2006. There are 4 NSMB games, one per console.
1 Like @Spacerac While I understand what you're saying, I'm still tired of seeing Marios face every month. Every other time Nintendo makes an exclusive Mario has to show his face. Over it. I'm about at the point where I won't buy a game with Mario in it on principle. I used to love Mario. So done with it now. I'm sure people who haven't seen his face for the last 25 years will still like Mario, but seriously Nintendo needs some new franchises.
4 Like whoaaa, a lot of fan boys here who hate on Nintendo. if you don't want the game, then don't buy it. i can say CoD is a decent game but I don't like it, not my cup of tea. you keep on talking about, innovation, innovation, yeah, as if you know anything about it. i bet this person who say he/she wants innovation is also the same person who keeps on buying the same CoD game, same Halo game, the same RPG game, the same freakin Madden NFL every year! Your hypocrisy makes me puke!
5 Like This game game SOOOO much better then the one that was released on Wii.
Seriously I tried going back to the Super Mario Bros Wii and just couldn't!! They up'ed the difficulty in this too which was nice. I actually died!
2 Like the title says "new super mario bros U" but i don't see anything "new" beside the better graphics and a few more power ups
i only wish they could made more 3D games like "super" mario 3D land
seriously there is bilions of side scrollers around the net
but not much 3D platforming
still nintendo is kinda targeting this to kids so
i don't think they care if it's recycled
but as for the veteran player, he knows it's not worth a WII-U
stick to 3DS
1 Like @thequickshooter I believe this was made to sort of tide people over until the next 3D mario platformer. The 2D games are easier and faster to make, the 3D games take time
Another side scroller to showcase a new system? C'mon Nintendo, give me a reason to buy Wii U
3 Like @DiverseGamer seriously? A good platformer with new reasons to play will never get old. While I would rather have a very good and true sequel to Mario 64, this is like a combination of Mario 3 and SMW. I'll take it.
3 Like @Sundaze @DiverseGamer He has a point though. We got New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the DS only three months ago, and yet another one right now. No matter how good these games can be, they're always the same; same worlds, same bosses, same obstacles, same powers.
@Vickman178 @Fandango_Letho @Sundaze @DiverseGamerI want the music to be same in all marios
@Fandango_Letho @Sundaze @DiverseGamer Uh no I'll agree that they have been releasing quite a bit of these 2D mario games lately but this game feels much fresher then previous instalments in the "New" Super Mario Bros series.
The only thing thats holding this game back from being even better is the recycled music from the other "New" Super Mario Bros games. That was the one thing that bugged me. I was really hoping for some new tracks not just remixed versions from previous games.
3 Like Ever since the original release of Super Mario "Galaxy" (and following the standard evolution from Super Mario "World") I jokingly (although actually seriously) suspected the next main series game would be called Super Mario Universe. When the Wii U was first announced, I was like...Wii U? That's an odd name...but now I'm starting to actually think my premonition is coming true and they named the Wii U as such specifically so that they could be clever and release..... Super Mario "U"niverse!!
Which actually really excites me if they do that for some reason...
What bugs me is they released only one Mario Bros for Wii..... the rest was galaxy and kart and a series of poor sports games. So I need to buy a whole new console if I want another Mario Bros. game??? Lame.
1 Like @mr_azim They did exactly the same thing with the N64 : released Super Mario 64, 3 Mario Party games and Mario Kart 64 and then it went to the Nintendo Gamecube. On that one they released : Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Party 4, 5, 6 & 7, Mario Kart Double Dash and other sports game. I don't see why you point it out with the Wii when Nintendo always did that.
2 Like Why make a new 3D Mario game with some new things when you can just rehash the New Super Mario Brothers series again? Same game but with a different title, a few new power ups, and different levels. Nobody will be the wiser, just look at COD!
Well, at least the graphics seem like they got updated and they look pretty nice. It also seems better than New Super Mario Bros. 2 for the 3DS!
2 Like @edpeterson Graphics got a huge bump in that they are full HD. Other than that, gameplay is tried and tried again, but it's still true.
2 Like "Incorporates the best elements" i.e it's a mishmash of content that has already been released. Why, why is innovation so frowned upon these days? New backgrounds and flashier coating don't change the fact that it's still the 50th Mario game that has you go from one end of the screen to the other.
2 Like "it's still the 50th Mario game that has you go from one end of the screen to the other." Ever heard of level design?! The greatness of Mario games has been, and will always be, the design of the levels and the precision controls! It doesn't matter if they use similar themes and powerups for each game, because the core element will always be level design and tight controls! As a lifelong fan, I can honestly say that NSMB U is one of the best games in the ENTIRE SERIES! And that is really saying something!
Well this is good. This is what we buy Nintendos for right? At least their flagship has been done right :)
@ydnarrewop Done right is Super Mario galaxy. That was highly innovating and unique (and i can admit that even though I'm not a huge fan of it). This is Super Mario Brothers 13.
LoL @ the New in the title of the game.You use that word Nintendo but I don't think you know what it means.I wonder how many casuals will buy this games before they realise it's not for their good old Wii, it's an all "new" Wii, too big to carry around, too small to play at home.
1 Like quit whining about not getting a new series. it wouldn't sell as well so why would nintendo bother? the majority of people who buy video games probably research only a small fraction of what anyone here does when buying games..if at all. they see the name and say oooh mario, or ooooh halo.
@japanesegoth Maybe Nintendo should bother because they should strive to bring new and fun series to games because that is what a good company does. Not to mention it isn't whining to stand up and say when a company is being a bunch of cunts with there games. It is whining, however, when you bitch about people wanting companies to do what is right for their consumers. Not to mention how do you think Mario and Halo got popular? They were new IP that were amazing at what they did and they sold well. Mario almost single handedly brought the industry out of a recession in the 80's. But that was Nintendo 25 years ago, Nintendo now seems to only care about profits, not making new games. I still love Mario, Zelda and Metroid, but I won't support a company that will make nothing but that. BTW, work on your wording. It is really bad.
I just want to say that after I ACTUALLY PLAYED THE GAME, I feel that NSMBU is probably the second best 2D Mario game of all time. . . after Super Mario World! I used capitol letters because I wanted to make the point that almost none of you have even played this game yet you are all bashing it based on the fact that it is a "New" Mario game? Don't let the title fool you. . . this is a really hard and brutal game that I would say is about as "hardcore" as a platformer can get! I died more then 100 times before world 5, and I'm a lifelong Mario player! No BS!!!
1 Like I just don't get Nintendo. How long are they going to continue to remake the same game?... wait... never mind... I guess the answer is however long ppl continue to pay them to do it... man I really hate that Zelda and Bayonetta are exclusives to this system...
@SSJMonkey say that to EA and its FIFA's games lol. Ok now talking seriously, I thought this game would be the same thing again, but taking a look on all the social interaction, it's really a new addition to the series ands a great game of course. Anyway, yes, it's time to Nintendo put this series down for a while and wait new concepts to be developed as well
1 Like @SSJMonkey Wouldn't Zelda fall into the category of a game which has been re-made and re-modeled endless times? With around....Thirty entries into the fray?
1 Like @megafitch exactly... Zelda is my favorite series, and I'll admit that openly. All these people sitting here and crying CoD! are the same people play BLOPS:2 right now... Mario Bros. games will continue to be 2D side-scrollers... and, they continue to be the best in the genre. I still predict a true Mario 64 sequel on the Wii U.. hopefully that will satisfy some of these people.
@megafitch lol, yeah, that's true, I guess I'm just being bias because I still enjoy the zelda games... some of them... and that tech demo looked awesome.
2 Like @SSJMonkey If they could pull that tech demo off in a full game, then it would wipe the floor with anything anybody has ever seen - I'm sure there would be tonnes of people itching to play it! Not all of their titles would be suitable for a more graphical "mature" setting, but Metroid and Zelda could definitely lead that charge! I t would be nice if Nintendo updated a few of their old classics and bought them into this new era for themselves and their fans for sure, and modernising then slightly more would help the appeal across the gaming spectrum. I don't think Mario running around Vice City would work :P But Nintendo do have a wealth of titles at their disposal which could make fantastic comebacks. Wave race could be phenomenal, as could pilotwings. I would really, REALLY like to see a new, and I mean BRAND NEW game - one where Nintendo go for a far more visceral and realistic looking game - It wouldn't need to be filled with blood or swears (I'm sure it wouldn't be anyway), but done right they could really turn some heads!
I like n64,it has many great title,especially where it come to play duke nukem zero hour, resident evil 2 or road rash , hope new wii has new fresh great title , In my opinion they should not make exclusive game to wii,what about pc version of new mario or zelda,like sega did in sonic
2 Like @croserII You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. Sega was a company that made consoles and "Sonic" was only on Sega Consoles. After Sega stopped making consoles they only made games and thus started putting them on other systems.
When you say PS3 and XBOX, not all of their games are made by their own game studios. If a third party company(like say EA or Activision) creates a game, they can put it on any console or PC if they want to. But for the most part when Sony owns a game, you'll only see it on Playstations, and Microsoft > Xbox's, and so on. So basically you wont ever see Nintendo's exclusive titles on other consoles unless Nintendo stops making consoles.
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