New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U

2015

platform
adventure
action
single player
multiplayer
co-operative

The story

This is a disc that combines the two games New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U.

What it’s like

Bright, saturated cartoon worlds rendered in clean, cheerful HD: sunlit grasslands, glowing lava caverns, pale ghost houses lit by candle-like sparkle, and snowy peaks that catch the light. The art is crisp and hand-drawn in spirit, with bold outlines, rounded characters and a constant burst of colour, and the camera follows the action in a tidy side-on view that keeps everything readable. The soundtrack is bouncy and melodic, built on brass, xylophone and chiptune-flavoured motifs that loop cheerfully under the stages, while the stomp of jumps and the chime of coins give the controls a satisfying, tactile feel. The vibe is upbeat, playful and warm, with a hint of tension in the harder castle levels. Pacing is brisk: short stages that can be finished in a few minutes or revisited for hidden exits and star coins, with the reward of quick retries and gentle challenge. Intensity is very mild: enemies are cartoonish and defeated with a bounce or a fireball, with no gore and no real fear. Co-operative play for up to four players makes it a good fit for sociable evenings, and the separate Luigi campaign, with his floatier jumps and slipperier slide, suits anyone who wants a slightly longer, more deliberate take on the same playful world.

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