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Review: ‘Super Mario Bros. Wii’ for Nintendo Wii
When it was announced earlier this year, “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” looked like an instant classic. A follow up to the successful Nintendo DS game, “New Super Mario Bros.,” it looked like the kind of game that would unite old-school gamers and Wii late-comers. It would combine the classic 2-D gameplay of the original Nintendo “Super Mario” games with the Wii’s family-friendly motion controller and multiplayer gameplay.
On delivery, though, “NSMBW” is an odd duck. It’s polished and playable, of course. It has the clear markings of Nintendo’s A-Game in its intricate level design, subtle touches (though it’s 2-D, the game has bright, clever animation throughout) and enjoyable sound design. But by taking half-measures on both the single-player game and the frantic, near-impossible multiplayer side, this Wii game ends up being neither a classic nor anything revolutionary. In fact, it feels like filler. Very well-made, fun-to-play filler, but nowhere near the standards Nintendo has set with games like “Super Mario Galaxy” and “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.”
First off, the game is incredibly frustrating to play, even in single-player mode. Either I’m aging past my gaming prime or the game’s difficulty has been ratcheted up, but I found myself playing levels over and over again, dying often. Though the game offers a mode that shows you how to get past levels, it’s hardly useful; it’s not hard to figure out how to get past levels, it’s hard to coordinate your brain with your hands with the Nintendo Wii controller to do what you have to do with the split-second timing needed to survive.
Speaking of the Wiimote, the game goes old-school by having you play with the controller on its side. But the game does feature some motion-controlled “Waggle.” In order to pick up blocks and fallen turtles, you hold down the 1 button and shake the controller. Neat idea, but having to do this every time wears out its welcome quickly.
More frustrating is the game’s save system. You can only save your progress at the end of castle levels, which means that if you run out of lives before you get there (and you will. Often), you have to play those difficult levels all over again when you continue or revert to a saved game.
While that ups the (forced) replayability quite a bit, it makes for a game that you more often suffer through than enjoy when the going gets tough. The levels themselves are great and varied, if you can get to them, which becomes a major challenge. I found myself shutting off the Wii in disgust on several occasions when I simply couldn’t progress in the game. Maybe other gamers will feel differently; what feels crushingly difficult to me might be a welcome challenge to someone who typically breezes through games like this.
Multiplayer is hilariously fun at first, but also problematic in that introducing more characters to the mix makes the game exponentially more difficult. Jumps and other maneuvers that are already difficult in single-player become impossible when you have three other characters on screen bumping into you or taking your power-ups.
“New Super Mario Bros. Wii” is made up of some great parts that don’t add up to a cohesive or satisfying whole. It’s exactly the 2-D, old-school-style game that was promised, but there’s something disappointing about a big-budget game that delivers in that respect, but offers little more. As gamers, we sometimes have to be careful what we wish for.
“New Super Mario Bros. Wii
$50, for Nintendo Wii
Rated E for Everyone
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Comments
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By Geoff
February 5, 2010 7:32 PM | Link to this
Glad to see someone else feels the way I do. To the commentor, yes, it is a bad idea to give a bad review to a game you are no good at playing. But in this case the game is needlessly frustrating. One of the reasons for variable difficulty is that what one person finds to be easy will be extremely tough or even impossible for another. This game offers no customization. Either you put in the time to suffer through hours of playing the same level over and over and over again, or you give up and sell the game back. What really ought to happen is for consumers to demand their money back.
And you're not talking to old grannies who own a wii for the bowling. In my case, I am a FPS veteran, and no slouch at "hard-core" gaming. I agree with the review: this game isn't that great. Difficulty is one thing. Endless, pointless frustration isquite another.
By Jay
December 20, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
I Thought the game was wonderful for both amounts of players.On 2 or more players,it gets easier if you utilize the benifts, Such as the super ground pound which eliminates all units on the screen which can be Extremly helpful to a hard level your trying to get by.Second,It was a challenging game,But it was fun because of that.Third,they make the game easier through there hint movies.These help you get through tough levels,Tricks on getting a LOT of 1-Ups,And collect star coins. In all, People all have different opinons And mine is a 9.5 out of 10 becuase sometime the save feature can get in the way,but it saves after ANY Castle completion,Even if you have already completed it.
By this is a bad review!!!
December 16, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this
This is the worst review of the game I've ever seen!!!! just because you suck at the game doesn't mean its bad...
By LaCrae Hill
December 16, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
it was a good game to me
By Anon
December 16, 2009 3:14 AM | Link to this
I also thought it was great. To me, it seemed to be perfect for 2 players. When you have more, it does get a little crazy. With less, I find it difficult to get all the special/hidden stuff, and I seem to die more frequently. Try the game with 2 people...
By Keith
December 15, 2009 6:42 PM | Link to this
I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. I thought it was a great game.