New Super Mario Bros Wii

Posted by Kevin in Featured, Nintendo, Reviews | 3 comments

This game comes on the foot of a miserably-quiet year from Nintendo. Very little to shout about on the Wii that isn’t a remake or rehash means the console is facing up to a worse-then-ever Christmas. It also comes after Super Mario Galaxy, which used the Wiimote to fairly good effect to bring Mario to the “next generation”, on the Wii.

This is actually a photo of Ireland at the moment

This game does nothing new. Nothing, at all. It’s Mario. There’s little to discuss because it’s the same, tried and tested formula again. Sure, it looks nicer then older games, but it’s the same idea. Story doesn’t matter – just wonderfully imaged worlds filled with colour.

New features include Nintendo’s use of the Wiimote which almost mimics the SIXAXIS design. You hold the controller sideways like the SNES controller, with additional controls specific to certain gameplay modes and options being done by moving the Wiimote around, shaking it, etc. For example, some ramps show up that are controlled by tilting the Wiimote, allowing you to cross area’s, reach higher platforms or collect lots of extra coins.

New power-ups include a chopper-hat, which allows Mario to jump and fly up into the clouds to collect more “stuff” for a short period of time. There’s also a frog-suit (Mario 3) rip off in the Penguin suit which helps you when under-water.

This game feels like Mario. It’s hard to describe that, but somehow I doubt I have to. It looks fantastic, but my television is a big 40″ HD set, which makes the game artifact all over the place as well as generally look awfully pixellated in parts. Though it still looks a lot nicer then most other Wii titles on the market.

Rotor-suit is by far the best addition to the game

Adding the word “New” to the title is a bizarre move from Nintendo. The DS version of the game is not new, but still retains the title new. It also conjures up images of new design and thinking behind the title, but it has nothing of the sort. Hell, even the music is the same as old school mario music. I’m not complaining, the music is fantastic, but calling it “new” is a bit of a miss-sell.

Multi-player is fun, especially with 4 others in the same room. Very easy and is probably the only real way to enjoy this game. It’s potentially one of the best party games created aside from Rock Band. No one will say no to a game of Mario on the Wii. Just make sure everyone signs a waiver, as on a HDTV they may end up blind by the end of the session – squinting past the pixels and artifacts.

The game is not easy, not by any stretch of the imagination. 4-player games make it a little easier to take, and I’ve found trying to speed-run through levels makes it a littler easier as you ignore the enemies and burn through obstacles.

4-player co-op is great fun

There are 8 worlds which progressively get more difficult. There is a “super guide” to help you through the game after you loose 8 lives. Luigi will jump into a level you find difficult and will get you through the level itself. Most of the time you won’t need this, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely useless – just like the level skip option in ‘Splosion Man. Your only concession here is that Luigi will not discover secret items and collect every single coin, but at least you get to skip through to the next area!

This is a nostalgic experience that doesn’t offer much to new players, ironically given the title. However, everyone is a fan of Mario and they’ll no doubt jump into this one very quickly. It is Nintendos only real offering this Christmas. Not a system seller by any stretch of the imagination, but if you own a Wii, this is as good an excuse as any to dust it off and give this game a go!