A highly polished 2D platformer that exemplifies difficulty and variety but comes up a little short in terms of value.
This review is by no means an objective analysis of the games inherent quality, or a representation of anything other than the reviewer's personal experiences with the game. Any recommendations given out are based merely on the preferences of the writer and are by no means a guide for the reader to warrant purchases. Any reader should take this review with a grain of salt and if they are unsure as to whether the game will please them, to try it out before buying, as we all have our own personal preferences.
-REVIEW-
A culmination of nearly 25 years of gaming development, New Super Mario Bros. Wii appeals to both those who grew up on the cIassic iterations as well as opening up the genre to a whole new group of gamers. Compared to the DS version, this game makes accessibility a second priority to pleasing the die-hard fans looking for a platforming challenge, without sacrificing fun for new players.
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Gameplay
This is 2D platforming at its finest. This is what happens when you have an idea that is moulded and polished over more than two decades. They took every fantastic idea from previous 2D Mario's and crammed them all into a single game with varied and challenging level design and a level of polish that will not be surpassed by much of anything. The gameplay is very simple, one button lets you run, another jumps, the d-pad controls your direction and waggling the Wiimote adds a new layer to the gameplay (mostly spinning).
As far as this game goes, it sells itself on gameplay alone. Most of the other elements in this game really aren't as great as they could have been, but when it comes to platformers, gameplay is what really matters, and this game does it nearly perfectly. Wall-jumping was introduced in NSMB on the DS, but really wasn't taken advantage of until now. Honestly, I go back to the older games and wonder why it wasn't introduced earlier... it adds a whole new level of depth to the control of Mario, that opens up whole new doors for creative ideas for levels and obstacles. And the mid-air half-spin seen in some of the "super skills" videos adds a whole new level for speed runners wishing for even greater perfect runs.
The controls are responsive about 95% of the time, the waggling does get in the way at some points, but overall it works as it should. The accessibility of the "bubble" for beginners is a nice addition for those not willing to play through absolutely everything, and let the better players pass it for them. Co-op and coin-battles are a frenetic and hilarious addition that are very Smash Bros-esque, and while adding to the package, doesn't leave much else than the main game.
The new powerups are quite useful and creative, and Yoshi, while missing in a lot of stages, fits in really well with the game and shows us just how much he changed the face of platforming in both Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island.
Sound/Music
A great soundtrack and sound effects. The Wiimote speaker definitely under-performs when applied to anything other than clicks or tinks, and while not grating, doesn't help things. There isn't much to talk about in terms of music, either good or bad, it is typical Mario fare and brings out the nostalgic child in all of us while offering some great new tracks and remixes.
Technical Design/Graphics
A fantastic looker when it comes to technical graphics, and running smoothly at 60 frames it plays beautifully. The level designs are amazing and extraordinary and show just how much effort went into to totally revamping the DS version of this game.
Art Design
Almost non-existent. While I would argue in favour of art in most cases, this game's lack of art isn't a detriment. It backs itself up on the gameplay, and doesn't need to sell you by some fancy art or creative story. Its about one thing: platforming, and while art made Yoshi's Island a thing of beauty, it isn't entirely necessary. It would make this game better if it took some artistic twist to the Mario universe, but its not needed.
Content/Value
When packed with the red Wii, this game's value is extraordinary (you get it essentially for free). It offers tons of hours of fun even if you go through it once, and given its a platformer, you'll probably want to come back for more later. It doesn't offer the best value when purchased on its own (sometimes $65 in Canada), and aside from the core gameplay, really doesn't offer any collectibles (beyond coins) or unlockables. If you can justify its price, then it is a game worth playing. But I don't think its worth more than $40 as a complete package. It is an exceptionally high quality game, but considering some releases in 2010 like DKCR, it isn't up to Nintendo's general standards for content.
Difficulty
This game gets very difficult the further you get into it. They ramp up the difficulty right at the end of World 1 for the first castle, and then it just gets crazy from then on out (there are several "separate the boys from the men" levels). For single players, this game is definitely not for beginners, it requires a history in the platforming genre and some serious skill with precision when controlling Mario (slides and wall jumping especially). In groups, it is much more hectic and quite fun, and doesn't punish beginners as much because if there is a skilled player in the group, they can carry the rest of them through harder parts.
Unlike the DS version, this game's accessibility only comes when playing co-op. When alone, it is a core game through and through. Even if it is well received by the casual gaming public.
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In the end, it all comes down to how much fun this game is. Is it? Yes, very. Will it be fun for a lot of people? Yes, probably. The greatest appreciation for this game however won't come from the casual gaming public, but the core fanbase that has been with the game series since the beginning. They will appreciate the subtle and sometimes surprising design elements, the nostalgic fan service and the smooth, but high difficulty curve. It is one of those games that speed runners will be playing 10 years from now and perfecting their runs of every level. It is a solid game for the Wii that is a little lacking on content and value, but is exceptionally well-made and offers a very fun time.
-Overall-
Verdict: 9.5/10
Note on score: The way I score games does not in any way reflect its content or quality. This score is merely a quantification of how much I enjoyed playing the game, and how "good" of a game it is to me. As the reader, you may disagree entirely, but this is how I felt about the game, and not how I think others *should* feel about it. Go and try it for yourself before you decide whether or not its worth your time and money. I am merely writing this review for my own benefit. If you get something from it, that's great.