The Return of the King: New Super Mario Brothers (DS)

[Julius Seeker]

http://ds.ign.com/articles/705/705537p1.html

What does IGN have to say about it? They took the classic formula, added in some new innovations that have become technically possible since the last Super Mario game 15 years ago, and have made what they say is the best entry into the series; even the best platformer title to date. This is big because, in my opinion, Super Mario World was an excellent game, one that can still be counted among the best 2D titles even by todays standards.

I know that this is one I am buying right off the shelf the moment of its release. It seems that according to IGN this is the clear King of the Castle when it comes to DS games.

9.5 by IGN.

[M'k'n'zy]

I am defidently getting it as well. I cant wait for this one.

[Julius Seeker]

Well, since we have been talking about upcoming games and systems for so long now I figure now it's time to take a U-turn and put more focus on what we have right here right now: The New Super Mario Brothers.

All I've really got to say about it so far: Got it!

From what I have played (which is not very long at all), it looks like this is the game that's going to topple Phoenix Wright as the #1 best single player game on the system. Phoenix Wright is an underground thing right now though, it's not popular or known to many at all, but everyone who's played it loves it, and the game has gained an instant cult following.

So now it's a question, which game will be the most popular over here, Brain Age, Metroid, or Mario Brothers? Brain Age is already off to a huge start with Metroid doing quite decently as well; but Mario Brothers has a golden road already laid out ahead of it.

I would add this to my DS "Must Buy" list which consists of:

Phoenix Wright,
Metroid Prime: Hunters
Brain Age
Super Mario Brothers

Of course there are a lot of games that I think it's possible people here would love: Kirby, Castlevania, Advance Wars, etc... But these are the games that I feel almost anyone could love, Metroid Prime is questionable due to the control learning curve and its dependence on multiplayer; but here at tows you HAVE that available =)

[Agent 57]

Metroid Prime is questionable due to the control learning curve and its dependence on multiplayer; but here at tows you HAVE that available =)

Yeah, if we ever played any more.

The game arrangement thread hasn't been posted to in five days, and we still haven't managed to get a four-player game going. IF, however, there were more people who had MPH, then this wouldn't be as much of a problem (hint hint hint).

Although I finally ponied up the cash to join the SA forums last week, so hopefully I can get in on their online communities and have more than two friends per online game (and more than one on Live who I'm never on at the same time as).

Oh, and I'll be going out to get my copy of NSMB in a half hour or so.

[Julius Seeker]

Jesus, everyone with a DS seems to be buying this game today! The EB games I got mine at sold 4 copies just in the time I was there. It was the only game I saw sold today.

[Lox]

I picked up my pre-ordered copy today. Haven't played it yet though.

[Julius Seeker]

Alright, I am through two Worlds now. Totally awesome! =D

There is plenty familiar, and plenty of new stuff. It is difficult to say which game this one is closest too, different parts remind me of every single one of the other four Super Mario Brothers/World games. Its level design is like a beefed up Super Mario Brothers 3 in that you can travel to different maps (well, of course, this time around you can travel back to any previous map any time you want). It isn't like Super Mario World in that all the levels seem to be a part of one big world map.

This is a lot like Super Mario Brothers World where there are plenty of extra places to go, and different paths to take to the end. Unlike previous Mario Brothers games, you can't bypass 90% of the game with a few short-cuts (Flutes, Star road, World Warp Pipes) =P

But in total you might only have to play about 40-45% of the game if you just head directly toward the end. I miss the Kupa-Kids from the previous games, this one has Baby Bowser and Papa Bowser. It does have the Hammer Brothers =)

[Oracle]

Go Supa-Shroom Mario!

[Julius Seeker]

Alright, I am almost finished the game now, I am on World #8. My opinion on the game? I put it third place, Phoenix Wright still my #1, and Metroid Prime Hunters still my #2; although that may be debatable, as I do really like the Mario game; and Advance Wars Dual Strike is also a contender.

It is easily the second most widely appealing game on DS, next to Brain Age.

It seems that the Japanese To English Software has sold over a million copies in Japan now, I do wonder if the English speaking world will be seeing a similar release, except focussed on English to Japanese.

Either way, if you have a DS, New Mario Brothers is a sure fire good purchase.

[Lox]

I'm playing it now as well.

It's a fun game, but not as good as I was hoping. It's still a great game, but I don't feel like it has the depth that Super Mario World had. Maybe I just haven't gotten enough into it yet to see all of the extra secret stuff like SMW.

It reminds me more of SMB3 in how the worlds are laid out, which is ok, but I really liked how the SMW stages had some character to them besides simply having a different theme.

The boss fights are bit too simple and easy also.

It's definitely an enjoyable game though. I've been playing it non-stop for the last couple of days (well as non-stop as possible between work and other stuff )

[Julius Seeker]

I'm playing it now as well.

It's a fun game, but not as good as I was hoping. It's still a great game, but I don't feel like it has the depth that Super Mario World had. Maybe I just haven't gotten enough into it yet to see all of the extra secret stuff like SMW.

It reminds me more of SMB3 in how the worlds are laid out, which is ok, but I really liked how the SMW stages had some character to them besides simply having a different theme.

The boss fights are bit too simple and easy also.

It's definitely an enjoyable game though. I've been playing it non-stop for the last couple of days (well as non-stop as possible between work and other stuff )

I think I'll agree here. One thing that the game would have benefitted from is making bosses immune to fireballs. I would place the design of the game between Mario Brothers 3 and Mario World. There are some incredibly fun levels towards the end of the game, and I find the levels that are more difficult to reach tend to be the ones which are more fun. The earlier levels are quite basic, whereas the later ones are among the best in the series. The bosses with fireballs are simplistic, without fireballs they can be quite difficult.

Anyways, I personally do prefer the world design of Super Mario World, how everything is very linked. The individual level design in NSMB is more fun overall than any of the other games, I have found; but the layout is much more like SMB 3 rather than SMW. As a whole, I am not sure which I like the most, I like exploring around SMW more so than any other platformer, the game seems to have more of a living breathing world (only Sunshine tops it in this department, I am probably the only one here who loved Sunshine =D). Overall, I have to max out the game first, I still haven't played close to half the levels yet; certainly, the additional ones are better though, I just really started on them.


Just to note: a GREAT way to gain 99 lives is to go to first level (which is very short, run to the halfway point, hit the block with the giant mushroom and let it go forward until JUST before the first blocks appear (so not very far), get it and just run forward as fast as you can, smash everything, and jump only once at the place where you have to jump up (Mario will run over all the pits) and you should be able to make it through all the way to the flag (destroying the entire stairway in the process). This will max out your destruction meter and give you five free lives, just do this a few times and you'll be able to get 99 lives in short period of time. For the record, I am typically running the entire course in 48 seconds on the game clock. At the beginning, run full speed, jump just as you get under the fireflower block, the timing should be just perfect so that you'll hit the block, bounce back down to kill the goomba, and be bounced back up for the coin; run and jump back, get the fireflower, keep firing and running forward and jumping the obstacles until you get to the big mushroom, you should be killing all the goombas in the way.

I will probably get a chance to try out the multiplayer on the weekend.

[Lox]

I can't wait to try multiplayer. I hear it's really fun.

[Sephy]

defidently

What does this word even MEAN?

[Eric]

defidently

What does this word even MEAN?

lol

[Julius Seeker]

Alright, I finished the game, and also unlocked World 7 (you need to bring in a mini-mushroom; same with World 4, but I haven't unlocked that one yet). World 7 is easily the best world in the game.

Anyways, I recommend finishing the main game first before exploring around the extra worlds and extra levels. Reason being, once you finish the game you get the option to save anywhere you want at any time you want on the map; it makes things a lot easier.

The option to play Luigi is there as well in the single player game, just press L&R when selecting a save file.

[Lox]

Ah, that's cool about playing as Luigi. I'll have to try that.

I am in World 6 now and it is definitely a fun world. I am impressed by how fun some of the stages in it are. The design is definitely better in the later parts of the game.

I guess my beef is that they made the learning curve too gradual. I think that everyone knows how to play a Mario game. Give me the hard levels early on!!!