New Super Mario Bros Wii

Heavy is the crown that rests on Marios’s head. Despite being arguably the most recognizable character in the history of gaming, with new games cropping up to spawn their own franchises, the battle for supremacy has never been greater. The question of how a character with over twenty years of history can continue to stay relevant in the constantly changing gaming landscape without becoming stale must surely be a constant thought in the minds of Nintendo’s brain-trust. Fortunately, if Nintendo has proven anything over the years, it is more than ready to show why it is still regarded as the head of the gaming industry.

With New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the company famous for its willingness to take risks for the sake of innovative ideas has opted to update its title character for a new generation of gamers. With the inclusion of the wii-remote as well as the added option for multi-players, Nintendo has added a few new variations to how people can play Mario, creating a gaming experience that incorporates the Wii’s motion sensor controls while still keeping as close to the classic remote as possible so as not to alienate those familiar to the franchise.

Anyone who has played a Mario game should be familiar with the premise of the story. Princess Peach has been kidnapped yet again, this time by Bowser Jr. and his villainous siblings (presumably to avenge their father’s latest defeat), and the mushroom kingdom has fallen. Now it’s once again up to Mario and Co. to rescue the Princess and free the kingdom from their clutches.

Immediately one of the major changes players should take notice of is the new multi-player function. Most, if not all, Mario Bros. games (excluding party games such as Mario Kart and Mario Party) have been either single player or played in turns. Now up to four players can traverse worlds and battle enemies simultaneously allowing both friends and family to take part.

Along with the extra players, new techniques are introduced that allow gamers to maximize their teamwork. Characters are given the abilities to carry and throw each other throughout levels. There is also a free for all setting that allows players to compete against one another to see who can be the most dominant at stomping their enemies.

As previously stated, the addition of the wii-mote is a relatively new feature to the Mario games. The game features several ways to incorporate the remote’s motion sensor controls to add extra depth to the game play. By shifting the wii-mote upward while pressing B, players can lift and carry objects as well as other characters. Shaking the wii-mote upward while equipped with certain items can cause any number of effects to better aid Mario on his mission.

Despite this being a new game, the story is not. The kidnapping of Princess Peach is to be expected as it has almost become a cornerstone of the Mario universe. If you have played Mario 3, you will no doubt notice more than a few passing similarities. Everything from the map to the villains appears to have been ported over with updated graphics to match. While the graphics are up to par with several recent releases, some consumers may be disheartened to find that the game treads over so much familiar territory to the point that some could consider it a remake.

Despite its short-comings, New Super Mario Bros. WII will no doubt be considered a “game of the year” contender. The Mario franchise has garnered a considerable group of fans consisting of both hardcore and casual alike. It is inevitable that a small pocket of these fans will be turned off by the use of the wii-mote over the classic controller. For those who do decide to give the game a try, you won’t be disappointed. The Mario games have always been both challenging and rewarding, offering hours of playability. Anyone who does decide to take the plunge will be hard-pressed to deny that Mario has a new jewel to add to his considerable crown.

New Super Mario Bro. Wii - A-