New Super Mario Bros. Wii Impressions

[DaveMMR]

As great as 64 and Galaxy were, I've always thought side-scrolling Mario games were more fun.  So I was highly anxious over NSMBW.  So far, I haven't been disappointed.  It's a solid Mario game with cool power-ups and a decent challenge.  Some points:

• Although in the same style and sharing the same music, it is quite different from the DS game.  Among the more obvious changes: there's no Mega-Mushroom, the end bosses are the original Koopa Kids from 3/World, levels are all different, etc.
• From the reviews I've seen, multiplayer is very "love it or hate it".  The game is designed to play fine either way and it's not biased towards being along or playing in a group.  Some people may take issue with having to constantly watch out where they land (lest they push someone off an edge) or having to not climb vertical levels so fast.  Luckily, the game is very forgiving in multiplayer, allowing slow pokes to put themselves in bubbles if needed.
• It doesn't feel as expansive as 3 or World.  I remember in world 6 feeling like the level ended way too quickly.  Then again, there was only 32 levels in the original SMB and no one ever complained about that.
• Not as "annoyingly cute" as Galaxy.  Yes, it is colorful and cartoony, but there's no squeaky stars, etc.
• Yoshi's back, but he's level-specific now.  You can't carry him level to level like you could in Super Mario World.
• Like most Mario games as of late, it's geared to be simple for casual gamers but challenging for the hardcore (i.e. getting all the star coins).

 

At any rate, I like it a lot and my girlfriend and I are having a blast.  What are others' impressions?

[J_K_M_A_N]

I have only been able to play about 30 minutes but I really like it. I think it has a close enough feel to the original from the NES that old time gamers (like me) will like that. It is a little tough for me to get used to the controls though. Tilting the controller and shaking it are not things you had to do in the original but it is way fun. I am not a hardcore gamer and I agree with you that it is easy enough for people like me to play casually. I am not sure if it would be enough if I was a hard core gamer. But I am not so all is good.

J_K_M_A_N

[DaveMMR]

The problem with Mario games is that all the levels are designed to be run through while you're holding down the run/pick up items button.  There's only so many patterns that work so it doesn't really matter what you do with the graphics.  It's the same complaint I had about the DS game.

Really?  Just thinking right off the top of my head I can think of a lot of levels throughout the series where running is a bad idea and is next to impossible on auto-scrolling levels such as the airships.    Maybe if you're doing a speed run...

[dafelandry]

I love this game!! When i got it on sunday (along with 2 other copies for xmas gifts) i played it for a solid 6 hours.... I found it really tough at first (especilly the desert world and ice world).... but now i just got to the 6th world (legit.. technically i am on the 8th world using cannons) and those 3 coins are quite interesting to find.... especailly the ones hidden in invisible walls (most of the castles and ghost houses) speaking of which the ghosthouses are definatly SNES worthy ( i believe ever one has a multiple exits and one exit leads to a "cannon") multiplayer mode is quite interesting but i find jumping on each other is a common problem that and the "bubble"... I cant even count how many times i have had to go back to the map screen from (self dubbed) "double bubble-ing".... that and the super team ground pound technique is cool!!!......that and iv shut off my WII twice while playing (BLASTED WII MOTE POWER BUTTON AND HAVING SAUSAGE FINGERS)

overall great vintage feel.... old sound effects EVERYWHERE from 8-bit to mario 64 castle theme (in peaches castle buying hint videos) i hope i beat it soon and voyage to the 9th world...

EDIT: Yoshi definatly rules but like DAVEMMR said level specific... i heard once u beat the game you can quick save without going to the title screen (whoopty freakin doo)

[Franco B]

Thanks for the impressions guys. I'm definitely picking this up tomorrow when it comes out over here. 

I loved New Super Mario Bros on the DS. In fact its all I really play on it, I must have been through it 30+ times. I did find it too easy though. It sounds like this Wii version may be more of a challenge.

I was a little concerned that it may be focused a little too much towards co-op play but it sounds like that is not an issue from what you guys have said.

I'm really looking forward to both single player and some co-op play with the GF () We was going to go away for the weekend but we decided to buy this and get a few hours in instead 

[Ginsu Victim]

The problem with Mario games is that all the levels are designed to be run through while you're holding down the run/pick up items button.  There's only so many patterns that work so it doesn't really matter what you do with the graphics.  It's the same complaint I had about the DS game.

Really?  Just thinking right off the top of my head I can think of a lot of levels throughout the series where running is a bad idea and is next to impossible on auto-scrolling levels such as the airships.    Maybe if you're doing a speed run...

Other than the auto-scrolling levels you mentioned, I've always held run for the entire level (ever since the first SMB).

[RTSDaddy2]

My 7 year old and I loved it! One thing that I stink at though is getting the toads free...so far I've got none.

[DaveMMR]

The problem with Mario games is that all the levels are designed to be run through while you're holding down the run/pick up items button.  There's only so many patterns that work so it doesn't really matter what you do with the graphics.  It's the same complaint I had about the DS game.

Really?  Just thinking right off the top of my head I can think of a lot of levels throughout the series where running is a bad idea and is next to impossible on auto-scrolling levels such as the airships.    Maybe if you're doing a speed run...

Other than the auto-scrolling levels you mentioned, I've always held run for the entire level (ever since the first SMB).

I "hold" run quite often in the levels, but I don't "run through" them (I have to stop for power-ups, vertical climbing, tricky jumps, etc).   I equated PBJ's comment to just speeding through the levels ala Sonic the Hedgehog. 

[Gorotsuki]

I like the game a lot.
Mario never clicked with me in 3d.
So this was what I've been waiting for
since the DS new super mario.
I got lucky and did the bounce off the turtle shell
trick for 99 lives.
When you have 99 lives Mario removes his hat.
Drop down to 98 and he wears his hat again.
Thought that was pretty cool.

[DaveMMR]

I'm adding a little more to my original post after finishing the game (in two-player mode)

• The Bower showdown is actually challenging for the first time in a good while.  Be prepared for a twist on the classic confrontation.
• World 9 opens up after beating the game. You can compare it to the "Special World" from SMW (i.e. - they are challenging courses).  What makes it even more brutal is that the eight levels only open up when you find all the Star Coins in the respective worlds.

[csa3d]

I think the game is pretty fun multiplayer, but wish that it behaived more like Little Big Planet when your teammate is offscreen.  There are no onscreen alerts to let you know your partner is about to die, and often times you're too worried about yourself dieing to keep one eye on them.  The game is harder then I imagined it to be, but think most of that comes from having to get all players through the level.  Overall, I'm very happy with the game and think it's a good throwback to the franchise.

[hypernova]

It's basically got elements of 1, 3, and World all wrapped up into one game.  Very nice.  Just tested out the single player, though.

[Frigo]

I've only played a couple of levels so far, which I can attribute to being part of the problem I have with the game. I've never really been all that into multiplayer games, especially where it feels like the multiplayer option felt tacked on or not fleshed out in the way it should have. That's how I feel about NSMBW, in that the multiplayer experience didn't really add a lot to the formula, and certainly didn't change the way I viewed video games. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun enough game; I plan on beating it when time permits, but the desire to get through it all (like I had when playing Galaxy) just isn't there this time. It feels like more of the same to me, and while it's enough to get me to play through the game, it's not enough to make me want to play it over and over, like I do/did with SMB 1&3.