New Super Mario Bros. Review

Overall Rating

Inventive levels
Lots of mini-games
Great multiplayer
Shows colours you didn't even know existed

Hunting down all the star coins is very monotonous
Many of the mini-games are alike
You can't save as much as you would wan't to

Mario got his first game all the way back in 1983 and since then the format hasn't changed. From then on Nintendo has tried extremely hard to keep the games alive and inventive.

They've done a good job of that as well. Despite each level being basically the same premise, a left to right adventure, every single one seems individual, quite an achievement considering there are over 80 levels.

The many mini-games will keep you occupied for a long time. Some of the mini-games you will like so much you may find yourself playing them over and over again just to beat your own highscore. I know I did. There are, in total 18 mini-games split into 4 categories. You may find yourself better at the puzzles than the action games. It's nice to see Nintendo catering for gamers with different tastes.

The multi-player modes are brilliant. All you have to do is sit next to someone else with a DS and you're off. In multiplayer 2 players, as Mario and Luigi battle it out to gain as many star coins as possible. These stars can be stolen from the other player also, keeping the game alive and competitive.

The wide variety of colour is truly amazing. Despite being 2D it is still one of the best looking games on the system. How Mario looks has really evolved over these 20 years and now he's surely reached his pinnacle. Everything is so vivid and colourful. The sky, the grass the clouds. It's all done with a beauty that could put the Sistine Chapel to shame. But maybe that's just my opinion.

However, once you've completed the main story all you have to do is find all the star coins. It isn't apparent if there is a reward for this or not, but for some reason it feels like it needs to be done. You will bore yourself to near death looking for these. There are 3 in each level, tucked away of the main road. There are over 160 to find in the game and it will take you a long, long time.

After a while at the mini-games it becomes evident that many are simply the same in disguise. This is quite the let down. When you first hear about the number of mini games it really lifts your hopes up, at least it did in my case. After playing two mini-games basically the same it's quite depressing.

I think it's terrible that you aren't allowed to save at any point you want. Having to work to the next castle or tower isn't really that fun when all you want is to have a break and sit down. It really detracts from the point of the game, a light-hearted side-scrolling platformer.

In conclusion, I would definatly recommend this game, but anyone who says it's perfect is quite simply mental!

Members' Comments onGreentoastrack's Review

• Anonymous101 on 8th Feb 2007

  Mario is a great franchise, and I agree with this review 100%. Great stuff!