New? For now. Super? Forever.
| Platform | Presentation | Controls | Variety | Audio | Depth | Value & Fun | OVERALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo DS | 10.00 | 10.00 | 9.00 | 10.00 | 9.00 | 9.50 | 9.48 |
| Presentation | 10.00 |
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I was initially very hesitant about the idea of 3D visuals in a sidescroller--and I was completely wrong. Brilliant visuals from New Super Mario Bros. It's quite a surprise to see standout visuals from a Mario game, but this one delivers. The backgrounds are incredibly detailed (far moreso than Castlevania DS) and the animations are perfectly fluid. The frame-rate is a constant smooth rate, and the various effects you'll encounter are even better. Thanks to those 3D visuals, for the first time in a Mario sidescroller, the camera will zoom in and out in certain places, and it really helps create experiences not previously possible. And what New Super Mario Bros. may do the best job of what a series did admirably previously, is make sure you need to see is there to be seen. You'll never be annoyed at a poor angle causes your demise. |
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| Controls | 10.00 |
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The control of Mario at first definitely takes some adjustment (particularly if you're used to a previous game). My initial take is that he controls like a cross between the Super Mario World Mario, and the Super Mario Bros. 2 Luigi (whom I find awkward). However, adjustments made, let it be known: New Super Mario Bros. has the best controls ever in a sidescroller. You are in complete control once you understand how Mario works, and it couldn't be more natural. As for button layout, the game reverts back to its NES roots, using only Start/Select and two face buttons. However, it's not as simple as move/jump as in the original. You have a stock item like in Super Mario World, which is accessed by tapping it on the touch screen which works surprisingly well. His other new moves are the ground-pound from the 3D games (works similar to the SMW spin jump except with no bounce), and the triple jump (primarily useless and just for style). An item that may seem problematic at first is the new blue shell upgrade. This will cause you to automatically spin in your shell and act as a koopa shell. All you need to know is to release Y/X and you revert to normal form. |
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| Variety | 9.00 |
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I'll get the complain out of the way: too few levels. That's basically the only thing wrong in the variety department; the game has 80 levels, despite the fact that Super Mario Bros 3, which was released over 15 years ago, has 90. I'd think it would at least match the most in the series. As for level design variance and enemies, the game is crammed with variety. Virtually every enemy from Super Mario Bros 1, 3, World and 64 appears, subtract the sun from 3 and the koopa kids. They all have great 3D recreations and bring something unique to the table. There are also a few new characters, although minimal, are in instances great new additions (estimate between 3 and 6 new enemies). Level design is as varied as any in the series. Not only are nearly every enemy from the aforementioned predecessors, but nearly every type of level is included from those same games. And of course, new concepts, which work greatly but are appropriately scattered and rare. There are also bosses in the castles of each world, some unexpected and are a nice addition. But what would Mario be without secrets? There are 3 types of secrets in the game--star coins, portals, and worlds. There are 3 star coins in each level, and are used to either open mushroom houses for power-ups/lives, or once you've completed the game, buy new backgrounds for the bottom screen. There are 2 types of portals: Pipes and Canons. Pipes transport you to a further area in the world, and canons launch you to another world. And, while there are 8 worlds, for whatever reason, you have to unlock worlds 4 and 7. It's obscure and tricky and I personally find it obnoxious and annoying, but once unlocked it doesn't matter that much. There are also minigames and a one-on-one multiplayer mode. The minigames are mostly taken from Super Mario 64 DS, aside from a select few, and are a meagre distraction. |
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| Audio | 10.00 |
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The streak continues--brilliant audio from the Mario Bros. series. The new main theme fits right in with the previous classics, many of which are remixed and fitted in select areas (and not just cheaply reused). There is a new underground track, which while not as catchy as the original, is perhaps more appropriate in nature. Aside from music, there is the occasional voice-over clip, all of which are entertaining and add a layer of personality not previously seen in the sidescrollers of the series. |
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| Depth | 9.00 |
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Depth is certainly a tough are to judge in a platformer, but from what I can tell, New Super Mario Bros. does a very good job at letting the player get creative. The star coins are incredibly tricky in areas, and the new wall-jump move brings much to the table. The detracting factors are the lives issue and the power-up practicality. The mega mushroom and mini mushroom are nearly useless in general play as the mini mushroom is more of a downgrade used only for secret areas (somewhat tacky) and the mega mushroom is poorly placed as well as annoying since you lose your fire power if you take it. |
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| Value & Fun | 9.50 |
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The two most important aspects of the sidescroller are control and level design, and in both instances New Super Mario Bros. is best in series. Moving through each level there are things to watch out for, there are challenges yet simple linear pathways. While you can plow through the game and, if you really want, beat it playing every level in 2-3 hours, there is a lot left to do. Unlock those 2 worlds, collect star coins, open portals; and frankly, it's very fun to do. New Super Mario Bros. is also fairly speed-run friendly thanks to the portals. There's a nice balance of freedom to run and an excessively fast pace and difficulty in which to do it. If there's any problem with speed running it's all the levels you have to complete in World 8, but that's acceptable. The minigames don't really add much at all to the replay value, and are just a nice addition/distraction that should take up a tiny fraction of your time with the game. The one problem with the game in replay value is that the game is a bit too liberal with the extra lives. I finished the game in excess of 20 lives left over. Your coin counts carry over from the previous level, you get extra lives from dealing out destruction as Mega Mario (from eating a new Mega Mushroom), there are hidden extra lives in most, if not all, levels, and you get an extra life from reaching the very top of the flag (more difficult to do than in the original, though). However, the lives themselves aren't really the issue, as have multiple instances to save in each world, and dying is bother enough aside from Game Over. It still would have been nice to see better sectioning and fewer lives. |
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| Overall | 9.48 |
| New Super Mario Bros, welcome to the family. A very worthy entry into the renowned series, New Super Mario Bros. while not as groundbreaking as those before it, certainly brings as much entertainment. There is no reason for anyone with a DS not to pick up this classic from the most universally appealing series in gaming. | |
Posted by Ellyoda Sat, 20 May 2006 00:00:00
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