New Super Mario Bros.
2006
- platform
- adventure
- action
- single player
- multiplayer
- co-operative
The story
New Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling 2.5D action-adventure platformer game for the Nintendo DS, starring Mario and Luigi. The game features a solo story mode with Mario or Luigi, a two-player wireless game Mario Vs. Luigi, as well as a minigame mode for up to four players. The gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. is very much like that of the classic 2D platformers, mostly Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, and substantially builds upon them to create gameplay both classic and contemporary. As the game is on DS, the touch screen allows players to store an additional power-up and view the distance still to go in a level.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated cartoon worlds rendered in crisp 2.5D sprites: sunny grassland greens, sandy desert yellows, icy blue snowfields, and dim, moody castle interiors where torchlight and lava glow against stone. The DS's flat top screen gives everything a clean, storybook clarity, while the bottom touch screen sits quietly with its power-up slot and progress bar. The soundtrack is bouncy and chiptune-leaning, with brass stabs, xylophone-bright melodies and a cheerful bounce that shifts into tense, pulsing rhythms during airship and castle stages. The overall vibe is playful, energetic and light, a comfortable pick for a short commute, a lazy afternoon or a co-op session on the couch. Pacing is brisk and forgiving, with levels that reward quick reflexes and curiosity; the sense of progress is steady and satisfying rather than punishing. Intensity is mild: enemies are cartoonish, defeats are quick and bloodless, and there is no gore or sexual content, though occasional undead, ghosts and giant insects bring a touch of spooky fun. Good for people who want approachable, colourful platforming with a nostalgic feel and an easy social hook through two-player and four-player minigames.
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