Topic: Game Informer Sheds Light on New Super Mario Bros. U, Confirms Two New Attractions in Nintendo Land

[Norex]

Get ready for Metroid Blast and Balloon Trip Breeze!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31590

New Super Mario Bros. U will have multiple branching paths and more, and Nintendo Land is adding Metroid and Balloon Trip attractions, according to Game Informer's October issue, which will feature New Super Mario Bros. U on its cover. 

New Super Mario Bros. U will feature dozens of levels through out a one-world map, similar to Super Mario World for the SNES. The game will also feature multiple branching paths, map panning, and end-level castles guarded by Koopalings. There is also mention of Boost Rush mode, which features auto-scrolling, forcing you to move forward at a fast pace for an additional challenge.

Game Informer noticed seven different worlds, including Acorn Plains, Sparkling Waters, Frosted Glacier, Layer Cake Desert, and more. Some of the other worlds were reminiscent of Forest of Illusion and Sky World.

Metroid Blast and Balloon Trip Breeze are the two new Nintendo Land attractions.

Metroid Blast, an asynchronous arena shooter that was demoed at E3 2011 as Battle Mii, is said to accommodate five players. The Wii U GamePad is used to control "Samus' Ship" and the four other players use the Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuck configuration in order to try and shoot down the player controlling Samus' Ship. The mini-game is also said to feature multiple maps to play in, Samus costumes that Miis use, a take on horde mode, free-for-all and team deathmatch modes, and will not contain any type of radar system.

Balloon Trip Breeze, the second mini-game to be mentioned, is said to be similar to Balloon Fight, a classic NES title released in 1984. Players control a floating Mii through side-scrolling levels that will contain multiple hazards to avoid. The GamePad's stylus will be used to guide gusts of wind, which will in turn, direct the floating Mii forward. The goal of the game will be to fly as far as possible using both the TV's full scale of view in combination with the GamePad's up-close view. Nintendo hopes to breed competition through score attacks.

Game Informer promises more information about Wii U this coming month, and we'll be blowing the lid off the system on September 13, during Nintendo's Wii U-focused press event.

[Enner]

Ooo, sounds good. Eager to read how the other games play, especially the F-Zero inspired one. I think it's too early for something insane and potentially frustrating as having the tablet user draw a custom track as the four other players race on it.

[DonnyKD]

End of the WORLD Castles are guarded by Koopalings.

It would be annoying to have to fight Larry/Roy/whoever to finish a level...

[TrueNerd]

Liking just about everything I'm hearing and seeing about NSMBU. More interesting artwork, not using SMB3 as a primary influence, lots of branching paths, the squirrel suit, and now a single world map. On paper it sounds like the 2D Mario game I've been waiting for for the last 20 years. I really hope it's great.

[famicomplicated]

Metroid Blast sounds awesome! Maybe even as a 1-player game!? Who knows.
It's a shame there is about a 0.001% chance of it having online play...
4/5 player play online co-op Metroid game at the LAUNCH of a Nintendo console??!! THEORETICAL HYPE GET!


As for NSMBU, very exciting stuff too.
Mario World is the best 2D Mario game ever, anything even resembling that is good in my books.

[NWR_insanolord]

I'm going to go against the grain and say the more I hear about NSMBU, the less interested I am. It basically looks and feels like Super Mario World part 2, which I understand is great for a lot of people, but it's effectively killing any interest I might have had in it.

Nintendo Land looks awesome, though; if it's not packed in it's a day one purchase for me.

[C-Olimar]

That should be E3 2011, not 2010.
I'm sure there's a decent chance of this having online play. Nintendo Land does have some online features, so hopefully it will extend to the games, because this looks awesome!

[Sarail]

You would say that, though, J.P. You are a huge fan of Super Mario Bros. 3 after all, right?

I've always felt that there are two kinds of Mario fans out there - those who adore Mario Bros. 3, and those who love Mario World. Since Mario World is the better game, I'm all too excited about NSMBU (though, I wish it'd get a name change.. ugh). All kidding aside, it does thrill me to know that this game is retaining Mario World's full-blown world map system, and as long as there are tons of hidden exits and secrets to find (Moon 3-Ups!), I'll be a happy camper. Seriously.

I can't wait to see the Miiverse integration, too. Going to be quite enjoyable mocking you guys (and you mocking me, too) at certain points in the game.

[SonofMrPeanut]

I'm glad Battle Mii has joined the compilation proper, as its 3-analog scheme (sans actual 3rd stick, thankfully) w/ the ship was one of the really interesting things to come out of E3 2011.  I hope this inspires other developers to explore said feature, because it's something that could have a very real effect on gameplay.

[Nova]

I'm LOVING this news. Super Mario World was my favorite of all time and they've yet to really make a game based off of it, everything has always been based off of Mario 3 which to be honest isn't my favorite. I'm totally getting this day one.

[HeyItsMe]

If both of these games are there are launch. I'll probably have to get Nintendoland first and then Super Mario Bros for Christmas.  I never been so excited to buy my first Nintendo home console at launch. I will be preordering as soon as they announce the price.

[ShyGuy]

Balloon Fight, your day has come!

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

This is about the best news we've had for New Super Mario Bros. U - I've been saying since June that it looked the superior of the two NSMB games this year, but confirmation that it has a structure akin to Super Mario World and that it's mixing up the traditionally-themed worlds is just fantastic. Definitely one of the games I'll be picking up with my system.

As for Nintendo Land, it depends on the price. It sounds like the sort of showcase that's perfect for the beginning of a system's life cycle, but will it have staying power? Still wait and see at the moment.

[Ras]

Great artwork. I love seeing that hapless goomba in the bubble.

[Disco Stu]

I don't know...I could see them really half-assing the "one" world map concept.  I would not be surprised if it just meant that 1-8 and 2-1 have a path connecting them or something.

[DonnyKD]

@Disco Stu:

Your pathetically pessimistic attitude is so adorable.

[Sarail]

I don't know...I could see them really half-assing the "one" world map concept.  I would not be surprised if it just meant that 1-8 and 2-1 have a path connecting them or something.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the actual levels have names in Super Mario World, too? Or was it just listed like Donut Plains 1-1 or Vanilla Dome Fortress?

[TJ Spyke]

I don't know...I could see them really half-assing the "one" world map concept.  I would not be surprised if it just meant that 1-8 and 2-1 have a path connecting them or something.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the actual levels have names in Super Mario World, too? Or was it just listed like Donut Plains 1-1 or Vanilla Dome Fortress?

They were just numbers mostly (other than the Special World levels):
Yoshi's House
Yoshi's Island 1
Yellow Switch Palace
Yoshi's Island 2
Yoshi's Island 3
Yoshi's Island 4
#1 Iggy's Castle
Donut Plains 1
Donut Plains 2
Donut Ghost House
Donut Plains 3
Donut Plains 4
#2 Morton's Castle
Green Switch Palace
Top Secret Area
Donut Secret 1
Donut Secret House
Donut Secret 2
Vanilla Dome 1
Vanilla Dome 2
Vanilla Ghost House
Vanilla Dome 3
Vanilla Dome 4
#3 Lemmy's Castle
Red Switch Palace
Vanilla Secret 1
Vanilla Secret 2
Vanilla Secret 3
Vanilla Fortress
Butter Bridge 1
Butter Bridge 2
Cheese Bridge Area
Soda Lake
Cookie Mountain
#4 Ludwig's Castle
Forest of Illusion 1
Forest of Illusion 2
Forest of Illusion 3
Forest Ghost House
#5 Roy's Castle
Blue Switch Palace
Forest of Illusion 4
Forest Secret Area
Forest Fortress
Chocolate Island 1
Choco Ghost House
Chocolate Island 2
Chocolate Island 3
Chocolate Fortress
Chocolate Island 4
Chocolate Island 5
#6 Wendy's Castle
Sunken Ghost Ship
Valley of Bowser 1
Valley of Bowser 2
Valley Ghost House
Valley of Bowser 3
Valley of Bowser 4
#7 Larry's Castle
Front Door
Donut Secret 2
Chocolate Secret
Valley Fortress
Back Door
Star World 1
Star World 2
Star World 3
Star World 4
Star World 5
Gnarly
Tubular
Way Cool
Awesome
Groovy
Mondo
Outrageous
Funky

[Sarail]

Ok, ok, overkill. But I get the point.

Hopefully Nintendo goes back to that numbering method for the levels then. Makes a lot of sense, and I like it better that way. Though, individual, unique names for the levels - ala Donkey Kong Country - would be cool, too.

[tendoboy1984]

@Disco Stu:

Your pathetically pessimistic attitude is so adorable.

Hey I've seen you from GoNintendo and My Nintendo News. I was actually on My Nintendo News earlier, and I couldn't believe all the swearing and insulting that was going on in the comments and threads. Does that site have any moderators? It was like being on IGN!