By NGamer Staff for CVG UK

This article originally appeared in Nintendo Gamer magazine.

In Super Mario Galaxy, Mario knew exactly where he was going. Space, the final frontier, and the only place there was physical room to accommodate the breadth of Nintendo’s imagination. Look at the plumber gracing NGamer issue one and he’s almost unrecognisable by today’s standards: there’s a look of steely determination in his eyes, the grit of a true platforming pioneer. What happened to that guy?

Now, off the back of New Super Mario Bros. 2 But the glint is gone. His eyes have the safe glaze of a cuddly Pixar protagonist. This is the Mario Nintendo splash all over merchandise; the Mario your granny likes; the Mario who lowered himself to share three games with his mortal enemy, Sonic the Hedgehog. The Mario from issue one? He’d puke his guts up if he had to spend one minute with Sega’s obnoxious rodent.

Somewhere in eighty issues, something changed. Can we chalk it up to fatigue? Six new games in as many years is going to knacker any platforming hero, especially one who refuses to wear proper running shoes. Painful stuff: ankles like concertinas. Or is the number of games symptomatic of a bigger problem? Is Mario’s prolific output evidence of a hero who doesn’t know where he’s going; and whose only choice is to try every direction at once?

MONEY MATTERS

The identity crisis began after Super Mario Galaxy; specifically, after Super Mario Galaxy failed to sell 30 million copies. It sold a respectable 10.68 million, only a third of what New Super Mario Bros has shifted to date. Nintendo is – like so many businesses – run on money, and it doesn’t take Robert Peston to work out that ideas that make more money are going to be the ideas favoured going forwards. But what if that money-making idea is the opposite of what you’ve strived for?

Mario, the poster child for innovation, sells better when he repeats past victories…

This is the Mario dilemma in a nutshell: Mario, the poster child for uninhibited innovation, sells better when he repeats past victories. Ouch. Surely that’s frustrating? While Nintendo would never publicly declare such failings, there’s a detectable undercurrent of disappointment in Super Mario 3D Land’s Iwata Asks interview. When Miyamoto jokingly implores fans of 2D Mario to give the 3D adventure a go, the following (laughs) is better read as (laughs through gritted teeth). That whole interview concerns an attempt to create an introduction to 3D platforming written in the language of a 2D game. Everything from the 2D iconography – the bricks, the flagpole, the little/big Mario health system – to the (largely) parallel-tracking camera, is designed to tempt old fans from the 2D shallows to the three-dimensional deep end. Hey, it’s marginally subtler than the DVD that came with Super Mario Galaxy 2, ‘How to play Mario if you’re a mum with no 3D spatial awareness’.

As such, 2D Mario’s future isn’t hard to predict. New Super Mario Bros hit the jackpot and, if the success of the Wii sequel is anything to go by, will continue to do so. There’s a reason it’s this slightly unambitious side-scroller that launches alongside Wii U, and not a risky 3D outing. To their credit, Nintendo promise not to milk the ‘New’ series, with Iwata telling Kotaku in a recent interview “we only create one per platform.”

A look into the European CDN server where Nintendo hosts their downloadable eShop titles hints at some interesting uploads, the data files for Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. 

The discovery was made by an avid server scout who posts the specifics here.
The files for Super Mario 3D Land were uploaded to the server on August 21, while Mario Kart 7 was added on August 30, though neither have been confirmed for an eShop release at this stage.

Judging by the evidence on hand it seems that these two titles will be made available for digital download at some point in the near future, with perhaps older titles coming later. Of course, we have no word on pricing at this stage, or if regions outside Europe will have this service made available.

Whenever video-game companies stretch out popular franchises for financial reasons rather than creative ones, disenchanted customers call it a “money grab.” It’s a charge Nintendo has largely been immune to, even though its most popular character, Mario, has starred in hundreds of games.

That changes with “New Super Mario Bros. 2,” which takes the whole money-grab concept quite literally. The whole point of the game is to grab money — namely, the sparkling gold coins that have littered almost every Mario release since the mid-1980s. It’s an oddly mercenary approach to Nintendo’s lovable little plumber, and the result is one of the least-inspired outings in his storied history.

“New Super Mario Bros. 2”

★ ★

Nintendo, 3DS, $39.99

That’s not to say this is a bad game. It’s exactly what you would expect: a collection of cleverly designed, two-dimensional environments for Mario to scamper through, dodging monsters and collecting treasures. The usual power-ups — flowers that let Mario shoot fireballs, a raccoon suit that lets him jump farther — are available in convenient locations. And most of the levels include alternate pathways, so there’s motivation to return after you’ve conquered them.

But while I enjoyed my time in Mario’s latest world, I couldn’t help feeling like I’d been there before. The major new power-up is a golden block that screws onto Mario’s head, creating a trail of coins. The familiar POW blocks now turn obstacles into, well, coins. And hoops scattered across the skies deliver … more coins. Some sort of prize awaits if you collect 1 million of the things, but I only made it to 10,000.

And then there’s Coin Rush, in which Mario has one life with which to race through three randomly chosen levels, collecting as much gold as possible. You can then challenge other gamers to beat your score using the 3DS’ StreetPass function. There’s also a multiplayer mode in which Mario and his brother, Luigi, collaborate to collect double the loot. Both players need a 3DS and a copy of the game, and you need to be in the same room to team up.

Despite the “New” in its title, the latest Mario game is more of a look back to the 1980s, when we were all enjoying his antics on the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Nostalgia aside, it just doesn’t offer the innovations and rewards of last fall’s “Super Mario 3D Land.”

The release of “NSMB2” coincides with the arrival of Nintendo’s newest hand-held game device: the 3DS XL ($200), an extra-large version of the 3DS machine introduced last year. So you get your dual screens — one a touch screen, the other a three-dimensional graphics display — but they’re both about 90 percent larger.

That’s a huge difference to a gamer like me with vision problems. My eyes usually get tired after about 10 minutes of looking at the original model’s 3.53-inch-diagonal 3-D display. The XL’s 4.88-inch screen means I don’t need to squint as much, so I can play for about half an hour without needing a break. As a game reviewer, that’s a blessing when I’m facing a deadline, but I think you civilians will like it, too.

The entire package is still reasonably compact, fitting into an adult-size jeans pocket — though not exactly comfortably. If you resisted the 3DS when it came out last year, now’s a good time to give it a second look.

A sequel to 2006’s New Super Mario Bros on the Nintendo DS, the franchise returns with more Mario platforming goodness. Anyone loosely familiar with the old two-dimensional sidescrolling platformer genre, or a traditional Super Mario game, will know what to do. Get from A to B without falling in a pit, touching a nasty monster, and perhaps seeing if you can get all three of the big coins hidden throughout the myriad levels.

Mario games are tried and tested in their approach, with few leaps in innovation over the course of its 29 year history. That said, whenever the franchise has tried its hand at innovation it does so spectacular. Fortunately in the last few years the Wii has been gifting us with 2007’s Super Mario Galaxy (the first leap since 1996’s Super Mario 64, on the Nintendo 64), and then the 3DS received its first Mario game, last year’s Super Mario 3D Land, which has proved that the series need not rest on its laurels. 3D Land still stands out as a perfect combination of bite-sized chunks of Mario fun and 3D integration. Unfortunately New Super Mario Bros fails to stand up to its 3DS predecessor and sticks too close to the previous DS instalment.

New Super Mario Bros 2 is by no means a bad game. It’s still the same fun Mario game. And that’s the problem. It lacks the charm and innovation of 3D Land, and depends far too much on a gimmick – collecting coins and “aiming for a million”, to make it anything more than by-the-numbers fare. There is plenty to unlock and many levels to get through but the game just feels like déjà vu. There is also very little use of 3D effects, which is what made 3D Land feel unique. The characters are shown in slight 3D, but it is seldom used to facilitate gameplay and you might as well not bother having the 3D slider on.

The controls in New Super Mario Bros 2 are the same, but at times feel inadequately slow. Special power-ups like the gold mushroom, the shrinking mushroom, and the one that supersizes are pretty rare and we were only able to find each once or twice in a lengthy playthrough. They are nice to find but they don’t particularly make the experience any more exciting.

The game has three modes, single player, co-op multiplayer, and Coin Rush. Within the main game there are 6 worlds of about 8 levels, with three bonus worlds to unlock. Coin Rush is a time trial coin collector where you have to get from A to B, get as many coins as you can, and get there before the very short clock hits zero. It is fun stuff but after a few goes it becomes a bit tedious.

Tedious is probably the only way that we can describe the coin collecting. After you finish the game once, there isn’t too much to do other than replay every level to collect coins and attempt to unlock the levels of the third Secret World. The game quickly loses its charming veneer and your interest will quickly wander to other things.

This is a good game but it’s not a novel game. It is still the same old patented, charming Mario but we have seen better and more refreshing instalments in the moustachioed dungaree-wearing plumber’s series. Stuck between New Super Mario Bros 2 and Super Mario 3D Land? Get 3D Land, you’ll have more fun.

New Super Mario Bros 2 is available now for Nintendo 3DS.

Rating: 7/10

The Nintendo 3DS had a rocky start, but has seen a recent surge in popularity thanks to stellar titles like Kid Icarus: Uprising, Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, and Super Mario 3D Land.

Nintendo’s most iconic heroes, the multi-talented Mario Bros., recently got their chance to shine once more in their latest adventure New Super Mario Bros. 2.

While the game sports all the familiar charms and trappings of the series, the “new” in the title couldn’t be more misleading.  All the gold coins in the Mushroom Kingdom can’t hide the fact that beneath that shiny “new” veneer lays a rapidly aging heart in need of something new and innovative.

What’s the Story?
Despite the “new” in the title, New Super Mario Bros. 2 prefers to revisit old ground in the story department.  Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.  Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach are enjoying another peaceful day in the Mushroom Kingdom, until Bowser’s cadre of offspring decide to kidnap Peach and run off to the nearest of seven castles, each in a themed world, while the brothers Mario give chase.  Somehow, a secondary objective which involves the brothers collecting 1 million coins is also comes up but frankly it has no bearing on the already wafer-thin plot.

Mario’s got the Mida’s Touch in NSMB2. While he may glitter like gold, the latest addition to Mario’s ever growing arsenal is nothing more than a sparkly variant on a tried and true classic. (Photo Special to the Saint)

How’s it play?
While the story in NSMB2 fails to impress, the gameplay is as rock solid as ever.  All the tight controls and superb level design that you’ve come to expect from a Mario game are present and accounted for.  Jumping and dashing feel smooth and platforming your way to that familiar flag at the end of each level is still satisfying.

Staple power-ups like the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, are present and the fan-favorite Super Leaf from Super Mario Bros. 3 is back, giving players the opportunity to soar high into the sky to avoid enemies below or seek out hidden coins and exits.  The newest addition to Mario’s arsenal of abilities is the Gold Flower which allows the portly hero to shoot golden fireballs at his foes and parts of the stage, turning them into a shower of coins.  This particular power-up ties back to the “one million coin collection goal” and feels more like a gimmick than a new or fun way to play.

You’ll traverse the usual spectrum of theme words including, deserts, tundras, forests, and active volcanos. There’s not much new in the way of enemies either, as you’ll encounter the same enemies you’ve been stomping on since the halcyon days of the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES.  Again, the “new” in NSMB2’s title is misleading, and the lack of innovation from this rebranding is beginning to show its age three entries in.  The gameplay is still fun, but the game lacks the kind of inspiration and strengths found in other entries in the series like Super Mario 3D Land and the Super Mario Galaxy.

The game’s strongest suit is its fantastic level design. The special cannon levels which have Mario running through a fast scrolling series of platforms and gaps are particularly fun. (Photo Special to the Saint)

Any Other Noteworthy Features?
New Super Mario Bros. 2 boasts a fairly impressive number of levels and hidden collectables which gives players some incentive to replay previously beaten areas.

The game also sports an extra mode called “Coin Rush” which has player’s racing through levels trying to collect as many coins as possible in the shortest amount of time.  This mode also supports Nintendo Wi-Fi functionality, which allows players to share their hi-scores and add to a global coin count.

This mode and the included Wi-Fi support are a fun little diversion but unless you’ve got a serious need to achieve hi-scores, chances are you’ll play it a few times and either return to the main game or seek your 3DS gaming experience elsewhere. I enjoy the familiar tunes of the Mario series just as much as the next guy, but NSMB2 recycles the soundtrack from the last 2 entries note for note.  Some new music would have been nice Nintendo.  The game also feels pretty lacking in the challenge department as players will most likely be able to blaze through levels with little effort.

Pros

• Strong level design.
• Solid controls and platforming mechanics.
• Plenty of extra levels and hidden items.

Cons

• Coin collection goal feels gimmicky.
• No new music.
• Not particularly challenging.
• Lack of innovation.

FINAL VERDICT: C+

I love games. Video games, board games, card games… it’s becoming kind of a problem, if you know what I’m saying. If I had more time to play them, it might be alleviated a bit. But I cram all my free time with them. Last night, it was Cards Against Humanity (with the new expansion!) and Super Dungeon Explore, with just a pinch of Ascension. Tonight? Dungeons and Dragons and Rainbow Moon, and maybe Chrono Trigger if I’m lucky. My heart is not complaining. My classwork and wallet are.

Anyway! A big thanks to Mike Ryan for his Bonus Scoop he wrote yesterday about Kid Icarus: Uprising. Way to keep a sharp eye out!

What have we got for you today? Well, Best Buy is having a buy two, get one free sale on 3DS games, including Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land, and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. I started buying some of them until I remembered I’m supposed to stop buying games for real, and then I had an argument with myself while holding my wallet and staring at the computer screen.

This is really what my life is like.

Amazon is still having their back to school sale, including Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for $39.99, the ultimate edition of Fallout: New Vegas for $29.99, and Max Payne 3 for $39.99. Scoop ‘em up, folks!

Just one cool t-shirt for you today…

It’s Shirt Punch‘s simply named “Kart:”

Too rad.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 has sold over one million copies in Japan after five weeks of release.

Media Create, a Japanese company that tracks the sales of digital entertainment, stated that the game has gone on to sell 1,068,878 units since its release on July 28. In comparison, Super Mario 3D Land took eight weeks to reach similar numbers.

Video Game Review: New Mario Bros. 2

BY SAM STEWART | AUGUST 30, 2012 6:30 AM

Just as we all begin to quell our Olympic gold lust, New Super Mario Bros. 2 tempts us into relapse. As the sequel to New Super Mario Bros. for the DS, Mario Bros. 2 continues the series’ classic side scrolling game play but with a twist.

While the goal is still to defeat Bowser and rescue Princess Peach, collecting coins is now a focus, rather than just an aside, as you attempt to collect 1 million in total. Although this quest for gold certainly adds something new to the play and level design, it isn’t enough to set the game apart from the other games in the series.

As always, controlling Mario is a dream. By keeping the controls simple (run, jump, move left and right) the game retains the “simple to learn, harder to master” play.

The level design is top notch, and even though the world themes are all retreads (desert, swamp, snow) the coin collecting manages to keep the levels feeling fresh. You will rarely find yourself on a screen lacking at least a few coins, enemies drop coins when killed, and there are three special star coins to find in every level. If that’s not enough, new coin-related power ups have been added to facilitate your newfound addiction.

Coin block hats award you coins for moving at a fast pace, and golden rings scattered through the levels will temporarily turn all enemies golden, awarding you extra coins for defeating them and making them leave coins in their wake.

A new Golden Fire Flower turns your fireballs golden and causes them to turn blocks and enemies into more gold coins. Be sure to tinker with the new mechanics and figure out what works best to maximize your gold count.

Despite the new features, upgrades are one of the places where Mario Bros. falls short.

Your arsenal consists of three main power ups: the Mushroom, the Fire Flower, and the Super Leaf, which was recently resurrected in Super Mario 3D Land and is a blast to use. But sadly, that enjoyment won’t last for six worlds. Where are the Penguin Suits and Propeller Caps from Mario Bros. Wii? Or the Frog and Hammer Bros. Suits from Super Mario Bros. 3?

The Mini and Mega Mushrooms make a comeback, but they are rarely used. The game sorely needs more item variety, even if it is only five to six hours long.

In an attempt to keep you playing, the game also features three secret worlds, two-player co-op, and a new mode called Coin Rush. The three secret worlds are welcome additions; they can add a few more hours to the painfully short game. They also inject a dose of difficulty that the main game rarely provides. You can connect wirelessly to a local friend (sorry, no online) for two-player co-op, but it is plagued by many of the same problems as Mario Bros. Wii.

Mario and Luigi bump into each other and bounce off each other’s heads when they collide, which makes precision platforming nearly impossible. This is a problem that could be easily solved by allowing the characters to pass through each other. Also, for some reason the second player must always stay on the same screen as player one, despite their being played on different screens. This bizarre decision makes co-op a mess, and it is unlikely you will want to play with a friend.

Coin Rush mode is undoubtedly the best reason of the three to keep playing. In Coin Rush, you are tasked to complete three randomly selected levels with a single life, all while collecting as many coins as possible. You are also only given about one-half the regular time to complete each level.

You are given coin multipliers for completing levels, which allows you collect an insane number of coins in a short time. This mode is very intense but also a lot of fun. High Scores can be traded through Street Pass, allowing you to challenge others.

The game looks and sounds great, even if it feels similar to older versions.

Its graphics are comparable with those of its Wii counterpart. Very colorful and very detailed, you will feel right at home if you are a veteran fan of the series.

As far as the soundtrack goes, expect a lot of remixes of classic Mario songs. I didn’t notice a single original song in the entire game, from the level music to the boss themes. The Mario series has always had amazing music, but I must admit I have grown tired of a couple of these songs.

The reality is it just isn’t original. Every single Super Mario game has dared to be different, dared to try something new, whether it was full 3D levels in Super Mario 64 or four-player co-op in Super Mario Wii. Super Mario 2 seems to be content with being nothing more than a level pack for the series.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Nintendo 3DS
Released: Aug. 19
Cost: $39.99
ESRB Rating: E
Reviewer Rating: 8/10

In today’s issue:

Mario has returned to the Nintendo 3DS New Super Mario Bros. 2. After a stellar outing the first time around in Super Mario 3D Land, can the title live up to the success of Mario’s first 3DS entry or does it jump into a pit of fail?

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a sequel to the Nintendo Wii entry of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Besides being on a handheld a few new features are added and a heavy focus on coins is made. To aid the Mario brothers on their journey, as well as the ultimate goal for the player (to collect one million coins), they have added new power-ups to help in coin hoarding.  Bowser is at it again using his many little Koopa Kids to deter Mario and his brother away from rescuing the ever-in-distress Princess Peach.

This entry in the series has almost nothing to do with Super Mario 3D Land other than to borrow a few features. The Tanooki suit, as well as the White Tanooki suit for failing more than five times in a level, also returns to help players out reach their goal while new suits and some older fan-favourites coming to help Mario on coin hoarding pursuit across the Mushroom Kingdom to save the helpless Princess; A Golden Fire Flower being one of them. This shimmering bit of argriculture turns Mario – you guessed it – gold and allows him to shoot golden fireballs which converts impacted enemies and blocks into even more golden currency. Then there is the Golden Brick Mask which is sometimes garnered within levels or rewarded upon completion of certain levels to be used in the next level that the player chooses to access. Once worn, the mask allows a trail of coins to flow into Mario’s pocket for a set amount of time or until the player is hit by an enemy. Finally there is the Golden Ring; Similar in style to the red coin rings except the Golden one turns all enemies Gold; This is best used with a koopa, so you can throw his shell and take out a group of enemies and reap the rewards of a coin chain left in its hard-shelled destructive path.

Being a side-scrolling platformer as opposed to the more recent 3D outings gameplay is a lot more akin to the old Super Mario games rather than the 3D titles, despite it making use of the 2.5D style brought in during the original New Super Mario Bros. revival . The dual screens now show more of the map at the bottom of the screen; a top down view to be exact complete with Toad house locations. Star coins are still accessible via three per stage and play a larger part as Toad houses require five to unlock, however most players are best to hang onto them as they are harder to gather up than in Super Mario 3D Land.

A good amount of the game world is made up of hidden areas. Two hidden worlds again require your hard thought process to figure out their entrances while the obligatory “Star World” awaits your completion at the climax of the game. Unlike Super Mario 3D Land, the game only features six main worlds and two hidden ones with a single measly Star World as opposed to the usual 8. This is just a minor fault as the majority of the focus is now on coin hunting like a greedy under-working, over charging corrupt plumber – Though Mario has done his fair share to request such a hefty fee for his efforts.

Moving onto “Coin Rush” now, a new mode made especially for this new money grabbing Mario gameplay. The mode unlocks upon completion of World 1 and adds new levels to the randomly generated sets as you complete them. You’ll play sets of three levels, each with one-hundred seconds and one life to try and collect as many coins as possible. Once completed your score will be posted on the online leaderboards as well as given to friends via Street Pass as challenges, as you’ll pick up those challenges set by others on the road. Co-op mode allows two players with two cartridges, and of course, two Nintendo 3DS’, to play with each other gallivanting throughout the levels and salvaging even more cash. It’s fun for local play with a friend, however it would have been nice to be able to play online via Wi-Fi.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 adds a lot of new features to the rather same old Mario we have come to love over the years. It may not be as jam packed with content as other entries on the handheld, but it offers a nice option when you want your platform hopping fun in short bursts or if you just want to find out what happened to Mario Peach after New Super Mario Bros Wii (take a guess). It’s another solid entry from Nintendo’s part, but let us hope that the next entry may finally give us co-op via Wi-Fi. And Yoshi. I miss Yoshi.

Audio/Visual – 4/5: As with all Mario titles the music is classic and the colors pop. The 3D works great on the Nintendo 3DS where the coins at times can fly at you which creates a cool effect.

Gameplay – 4/5: Same Mario gameplay we have come to love, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Mario is something that is sacred to many gamers and rightfully so, as it gives the most fulfilling and honest fun a gamer can have.

Innovation –3/5: Addition of new gameplay elements focused on something we have taken for granted over the years such as coin collecting was unique and interesting. It is a step in the right direction and hopefully future tiles will incorporate more of this type of gameplay element. However, the lack of Wi-Fi features is a bummer.

Value – 3/5: Again, not the most content packed entry but it is still a total of around eight worlds when all is said and done, a ton of collectible coins and the ultimate goal of reaching one million gold coins. It will keep younger Mario fans busy for a while but seasoned fans may grow tired after a few weeks.

Final Score: 3.5/5