Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 22, 2006, 11:57:29 AM
New Super Mario Bros. just keeps getting better. At E3 2005 the two-player racing demo attracted longer lines with each passing day, and everyone is excited about the near-finished version on display at GDC.
Quite a bit has changed since E3. The refined controls most closely mimic the original Super Mario Bros’ floaty-yet-precise feel. NSMB includes the butt stomp (down in the air) and wall jump maneuvers found in more recent games, but Nintendo has removed the unnecessary 180-flip found in last year’s E3 build. Mario can store a single item, much like in Super Mario World, which is activated by touching the screen. The button mapping is configurable, but I was more than satisfied with the default controls of running with Y and jumping with B. L and R scroll.
Nintendo is finally showcasing New SMB’s single player adventure. From what I’ve played and seen, it is full of classic references and old-school action. Many levels have secondary exits leading to secret areas—the world map suggests that even the worlds branch, with world 2 leading to either 3 or 4, both of which lead to world 5. Mario fans will love other little touches: running over level 1-2 will bring you to a secret exit and the pulley platforms, virtually ignored since the original SMB, also return. Clever gamers will find coin heaven and will have to time their jump to collect the three final coins hovering over the exit. Trampolines induce a spin jump, allowing Mario to either float slowly to the ground or drill-dive by pushing down. Other playful touches include dancing toadstools and baddies that hop to the music.
I also encountered a new power-up. Sometimes a flying block will appear on the world map over a level. If Mario hits the block found within that level he can don the blue koopa shell, which allows him to slide in his shell once he is up to speed. This can be very powerful, as Mario is invincible, but players must avoid pits with well-timed jumps. Also notable are the eight red coins found in some levels as well as larger coins, the latter of which are used to purchase new levels and other goodies (including mushroom houses).
Multiplayer has also been overhauled. Instead of the unbalanced racing game seen at E3, Mario and Luigi compete for five stars in one of five short areas, whose ends are connected via warp pipes. The mode is similar to the competitive mode found in Super Mario 64 DS: a star will appear and both players will scramble for it. If one of the brothers attacks the other with a fireball or jump, the victim will drop a star. The resulting competitions are unpredictable and thoroughly enjoyable.
Curiously, New Super Mario Bros also includes many of the mini-games found in Super Mario Bros 64 DS as well as a few new ones in the same style. They aren’t simply recycled, though: in NSMB all of the games may be played competitively with up to four players, turning New Super Mario Bros. into an excellent party game.
Post by: joshnickerson on March 22, 2006, 12:35:05 PM
Post by: Ian Sane on March 22, 2006, 12:47:12 PM
Is this game going to kick ass?
Thank you.
Post by: Magus19 on March 22, 2006, 12:52:55 PM
Post by: Strell on March 22, 2006, 12:55:16 PM
Post by: jasonditz on March 22, 2006, 01:20:29 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
I'm trying to avoid spoilers for this game (quite unsuccessfully but I'm trying) so I'd appreciate if someone who has read these impressions can answer this question.
Is this game going to kick ass?
Thank you.
It sounds from the impressions like a worthy successor to SMB3 and SMW.
Post by: Ian Sane on March 22, 2006, 01:48:05 PM
Now THAT sounds good.
Post by: Louieturkey on March 22, 2006, 02:09:40 PM
Post by: Darkheart on March 22, 2006, 02:48:40 PM
Post by: Kairon on March 22, 2006, 02:57:19 PM
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Bloodworth on March 22, 2006, 03:38:57 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Louieturkey
And it also pays homage to the original SMB. So it's the best of those three games really and it adds more. Sounds like I'll finally have to plunk down for an NDS. Hopefully, the DSL will be released to coincide with NSMB.
Considering the recent date change for NSMB, I think it's safe to bet that rumored plans to release the DS Lite on the same day have been scrapped.
Post by: nitsu niflheim on March 22, 2006, 04:57:09 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: PGC NewsBot
In case the title alone isn’t enough to warrant your preorder.
Ha, I've had New Super Mario Bros. on preorder since I preordered my Nintendo DS way back in 2004.
That's commitment to a series. That Nintendo Loyalty.
Post by: Pale on March 22, 2006, 05:35:46 PM
I was somewhat confused by your impressions Typ... did they remove the racing mode in favor of the collect-a-thon? or are both games there in multiplayer?
Post by: Artimus on March 22, 2006, 06:40:36 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: BloodworthQuote
Originally posted by: Louieturkey
And it also pays homage to the original SMB. So it's the best of those three games really and it adds more. Sounds like I'll finally have to plunk down for an NDS. Hopefully, the DSL will be released to coincide with NSMB.
Considering the recent date change for NSMB, I think it's safe to bet that rumored plans to release the DS Lite on the same day have been scrapped.
Why? They just moved it a week.
Post by: wandering on March 22, 2006, 06:44:22 PM
Quote
Other playful touches include dancing toadstools and baddies that hop to the music.
My interest in the game suddenly shot way up.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on March 22, 2006, 07:22:32 PM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 22, 2006, 07:43:36 PM
And I hope that "race" mode from last E3 is still in there somewhere. I thought it was pretty fun to tackle bosses cooperatively, then compete for the bounty. It was a lot like Zelda: Four Swords, but it did need some rebalancing.
Post by: Hostile Creation on March 22, 2006, 09:24:44 PM
Game six or seven on my to-get list.
I'm also going to finally play Yoshi's Island when Rev comes out. AWESOME apltaengt
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 22, 2006, 10:40:38 PM
Post by: EasyCure on March 23, 2006, 03:52:33 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Hostile Creation
I suddenly realized what this, a new 2D Mario platformer, meant the other day, and I got really excited. I'm hyped for this crazy-bad.
Game six or seven on my to-get list.
I'm also going to finally play Yoshi's Island when Rev comes out. AWESOME apltaengt
you never played yoshis island? you poor poor being.
the only thing about this news that dissapoints me is the 180-jump was axed. i actually liked that, althouth i never played NSMB so i dont know if it worked well in 2d or not. though i think i recall it being good in that mario vs DK game on gba or gbc a while back
Post by: jasonditz on March 23, 2006, 04:52:41 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
I personally am concerned, it seems the game follows a similar level design as the original SMB which is pretty basic by today's standards. Also take in the fact I am a big SMB3 fan, which makes it even more dissapointing since this game looks like it could be taking a step back for the series! With that said I'll still be buying it, but I won't be expecting much.
I took that to mean in terms of sensibilities rather than in terms of complexity. We know there are at least two new powerups that we've never seen in a 2D Mario game before (the really, really big Mario from the cover and the one mentioned in this article. It's not going to be like the Japanese version of SMB 2 or something.
Post by: KDR_11k on March 23, 2006, 05:04:39 AM
Post by: EasyCure on March 23, 2006, 05:29:12 AM
Post by: Hostile Creation on March 23, 2006, 06:41:02 AM
I've played parts of it, but never the game in its entirety. I never owned an SNES, but I had a friend down the street who did, so I always played with him. Played many SNES games, but I've only played a few since then that I've played all the way through and everything.
Yoshi's Island is one where I never got to play the whole thing.
Post by: EasyCure on March 23, 2006, 06:51:19 AM
Post by: KDR_11k on March 23, 2006, 09:13:48 AM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 23, 2006, 11:17:57 AM
Also, if you think Yoshi's Island was easy you clearly did not go for 100%, because finding everything was difficult and some of the bonus levels were also tricky.
Post by: vudu on March 23, 2006, 11:38:30 AM
QuoteWait, what? I thought you could store up to three items?
Mario can store a single item, much like in Super Mario World, which is activated by touching the screen.
Post by: KDR_11k on March 23, 2006, 09:05:44 PM
Also, if you think Yoshi's Island was easy you clearly did not go for 100%, because finding everything was difficult and some of the bonus levels were also tricky.
I never go for 100%. That just feels like pointless time wasting to me since it usually involves searching through places I've been to already in order to find every single secret.
Post by: nitsu niflheim on March 24, 2006, 05:07:32 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Pale
But do they remember seeing as you preordered a game that didn't really exist yet?
Yes!
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 25, 2006, 08:30:22 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on March 26, 2006, 11:34:11 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: jasonditzQuote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
I personally am concerned, it seems the game follows a similar level design as the original SMB which is pretty basic by today's standards. Also take in the fact I am a big SMB3 fan, which makes it even more dissapointing since this game looks like it could be taking a step back for the series! With that said I'll still be buying it, but I won't be expecting much.
I took that to mean in terms of sensibilities rather than in terms of complexity. We know there are at least two new powerups that we've never seen in a 2D Mario game before (the really, really big Mario from the cover and the one mentioned in this article. It's not going to be like the Japanese version of SMB 2 or something.
I hope you are right, BTW has there been any mention of a world map like SMB/SMW, or will the levels be one after another like YI, SMB2 and SMB?
Post by: Artimus on March 27, 2006, 04:16:42 AM
Post by: KDR_11k on March 27, 2006, 04:57:39 AM
