New Super Mario Bros. Wii

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
North American box art
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Shigeru Miyamoto
Composer(s)	Shiho Fujii Ryo Nagamatsu
Series	Mario
Platform(s)	Wii
Release date(s)	AUS November 12, 2009 (November 12, 2009) [1] NA November 15, 2009[2] EU November 20, 2009[3] JP December 3, 2009[4]
Genre(s)	2.5D Platformer[5]
Mode(s)	Single-player, up to four-player co-op
Rating(s)	CERO: A ESRB: E OFLC: G PEGI: 3+
Media	Wii Optical Disc
Input methods	Wii Remote, Nunchuk[6]

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a side-scrolling platform video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The game was released on November 12, 2009 in Australia,^[4] November 15, 2009 in North America,^[7] November 20, 2009 in Europe and December 3, 2009 in Japan.^[8] and the first title to feature Nintendo's new 'Super Guide' feature.^[9]

Gameplay

An early screenshot of the game as shown at e3 2009

While New Super Mario Bros. Wii is seen in 2D, some of the characters and objects are 3D polygonal renderings on 2D backgrounds, resulting in a 2.5D effect (also seen in the first New Super Mario Bros.) that visually simulates 3D computer graphics. Players can play as either Mario, his brother Luigi or two Toad characters: one blue and one yellow (with the first player always as Mario).^[10] Controls are similar to the last game, albeit with the added ability to spin in mid-air by shaking the Wii Remote, and being able to pick up, carry, and throw other players. During multiplayer, if a player's character loses a life, he will re-emerge encased inside a bubble, and can resume play once another player frees him by touching the bubble (the player can also shake the Wii Remote to move his bubble closer to a living player, but cannot free himself).^[7] Players can also encase themselves inside a bubble while a more skilled player traverses a difficult segment.^[11]

In multiplayer mode, if one or more players do not keep up with the one in the lead, on some levels, the view will pan out a bit so that the player[s] in the rear will still be in view. ^[12] If he still does not catch up, he is then dragged by the edge of the screen, until he moves forward faster or loses a life by a fall or other object.^[13] On vertically oriented courses, being left below the screen results in losing a life.^{[citation needed]} On the world map, the Mario player is the one who chooses the world.^{[citation needed]}

Players return to the map screen if they all run out of lives, or if all players lose their lives at the same time, leaving no one to free them. There is a midway flag, that if crossed, will return the player to that point after dying and being sent back to the map screen. The level is completed by getting at least one player to touch the flag at the end, though a bonus is awarded if all players manage to grab hold of the flag within three seconds of the first player grabbing it. In some courses, in addition to the normal goal and flag pole, there is a hidden goal leading to a red flag pole. Reaching this goal will open up a new path on the map, leading to new courses and on occasion a warp cannon (which will blast the player off to a later world). The game does not feature online multiplayer.^[14] During single player mode, the standard rules apply (i.e. losing a life sends the player back to the map screen.)

Along with the usual Mario series items, as well as the Mini Mushroom from the last game, new items have been added: the Propeller Suit which allows players to fly, the Ice Flower,^[15] which allow players to freeze enemies with ice balls, and the Penguin Suit which, on top of the Ice Flower's ability, allows players to slide along the ground and across water as well as have better control on ice and in water.^[16] Players are also able to ride on Yoshis, who appear on a few certain levels, who can swallow enemies and flutter in the air.^[17][18]

Courses are accessed via a map screen, and enemies are often roaming it. If the player bumps into one while traveling the map, it will initiate a "mini-boss" fight where players can earn extra Super Mushrooms. There are also Toad Houses where players can earn additional 1-ups and items that can be equipped on the map screen. At some points, a Toad will appear trapped in one of the previously completed levels, and the player can choose to rescue him from a block and carry him safely to the end of the stage to earn bonuses. There are three Star Coins hidden in each course which can be spent on hint movies that show certain secrets, such as the location of a secret goal or how to gain infinite 1-ups.^[19] Collecting all the Star Coins within a world unlocks one course from the secret World 9 that can only be played after the main game has been completed.

Game modes

The game includes simultaneous multiplayer capability of up to four players. In addition to the main story mode, which can be played in either single-player mode or in multiplayer mode, there are two dedicated multiplayer modes. "Free Mode" ranks players at the end of each course by score, coins, and enemy kills, while the other mode, "Coin Battle," ranks players on the amount of coins collected.^[20]

Control schemes

The game is played either in classic style, with the Wii Remote held horizontally, or in Nunchuk style, with the Nunchuk used for movement. Some actions such as jumping and attacks are performed with the buttons, whereas others like spinning in midair and picking up other players are performed by shaking the Wii Remote.^[16] Certain areas of some levels, such as specific platforms, can also be manipulated by tilting the Wii Remote.

Super Guide

The game is the first on the Wii to feature "Super Guide," a new system created by Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. During single player mode, if a player fails a course eight times in a row, a green block appears, allowing a computer-controlled Luigi to show him a safe path through the level. The player may interrupt the guide at anytime and take control. After Luigi completes it, the player has the option to try the level again, or skip it completely. Luigi will not reveal any Star Coin locations or secret exits.^[21][9]

Plot

The game follows the traditional storyline of Princess Peach getting kidnapped by Bowser.^[22] When Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad are celebrating Princess Peach's birthday in her castle, a large cake rolls in. Immediately Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings pop out and throw the cake on top of Peach, trapping her. The cake is loaded onto Bowser's airship and takes off, with the Mario brothers and the Toads giving chase. The Toads in the castle then grant them access to the Propeller and Penguin Suits via a cannon.^[23] The player then goes through the different levels and worlds, facing the Koopalings, Bowser Jr., the Magikoopa Kamek and finally, Bowser himself, in order to save Peach.

Development

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was announced at E3 2009. The game was created in response to Shigeru Miyamoto's desire to create the Mario series's single player gameplay for multiple players, as he was unable to bring these ideas to fruition in the previous installments.^[14] The Wii's hardware allowed him to have all the enemies and items on one screen, and allowed a camera that could focus on all players at once.^[24] The Koopalings and Bowser Jr. appear as major villains of this game.^[25][26] Miyamoto has said Princess Peach will not be a playable character because of her dress, since it would require "special processing and programming to handle how her skirt is handled within the gameplay."^[27]

When asked about the game's story, Miyamoto joked that a cake could be used to kidnap Princess Peach;^[28] it was later revealed that a cake is used in the game as the method of kidnapping.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	89%[29]
Metacritic	87 of 100[30]
Review scores
Publication	Score
1UP.com	A+ [31]
Edge	7 of 10[32]
Eurogamer	9 out of 10[33]
Famitsu	40/40[34]
Game Informer	9.25 of 10[35]
GameSpot	8.5 of 10[36]
GameSpy	[37]
GamesRadar	7/10[38]
IGN	8.9 of 10[39]
Nintendo Power	9/10[40]
Official Nintendo Magazine	96%[41]
VideoGamer.com	8/10[42]
X-Play	[43]
Destructoid	9 of 10[44]
The A.V. Club	C+ [45]

New Super Mario Bros. Wii received critical acclaim. Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu called the game a "masterpiece of 2D action"^[46] and gave the game a perfect 40/40, making it the 13th title to receive this rating in its 23-year-old history.^[47]. British magazine Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game a score of 96%. The aspects praised were its attention to detail and in particular, its multiplayer mode. Computer and Video Games gave the game 9.0, although it mentioned that the game is better in single-player mode.^[48] Gaming web site IGN AU gave New Super Mario Bros. Wii a 9.2, saying that the game is a "blast" in co-op and it also maintains the same level of platforming gameplay that has made the Super Mario Bros. series an all-time favorite.^[49] IGN US gave the game 8.9, calling the core gameplay brilliant, but noting the lack of online play. GameSpy did not count this as a negative, pointing out that "deprived of clear, constant communication, you're left with pointless anarchy. And who really wants that?"^[50] 1UP.com rated it A+, arguing that it incorporates every great idea from twenty years of Mario games into a satisfying whole whilst offering something for every kind of gamer, without compromise.^[51] Gaming blog Kotaku highly praised the game, hailing it as a reason to buy a Wii.^[52] X-Play gave it a 4 out of 5, praising the difficulty and levels of the game.^[43] British publication Edge magazine gave the game a score of 7/10, citing a lack of the traditional Mario charm as well as poor graphical detail and the easiness of the game.^[53] GamesRadar also gave the game 7/10, saying it lacks some of the imaginative spark of previous games.^[54]. The A. V. Club rated it a C+ ^[55] stating that "The lack of a strong concept in this game brings that decades-old sameness to the fore and makes New SMB Wii the least essential Mario title to date." Nintendo Power, however, said that the game "does exactly what you want a sequel to do: add a lot of fun new stuff without mucking up what made the past games great."^[40]

References

External links

• Official site
  • European mirror
• Game profile at Nintendo.com