STORY
Assuming you've played one of the New Super Mario Bros games (or any Mario game, really) this should be old news to you. Bowser's kids (the Koopalings) decide to kidnap Princess Peach, and being two of the only capable beings in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and Luigi set off to rescue the damsel.
Sound familiar? I know that people complaining about the lack of innovation in Mario games (or Nintendo games in general) is not a new thing, but a little bit of change wouldn't go amiss. I mean, while pretty much a different game, didn't people enjoy the original Super Mario Bros 2? Obviously they did, because it got remade for the GBA. Why not add some of those features into the New Super series? Sure, it's not necessarily innovation, but it's different from the Bowser kidnaps Peach story.
Aside from the bare basics of the game, there really is no story here. It's terribly disappointing.
PRESENTATION
As with the others in the "New" series, the graphics are pleasing, and the 3D update to the old sidescrollers is still a good look. Despite that, I'm yet to see any real new environments or visual themes in the game. If it wasn't in the original Mario Bros. series, then chances are it came from somewhere in the "New" Franchise.
Similarly, the music isn't anything new. Super Mario #D land had some cool audio ideas, but NSMB2 just uses the familiar old tunes. Sound effects are pretty much ripped from your childhood. The A Capella style for the music is charming, but tends to get old fast.
For the most part, the 3D effects don't detract from the game, but they don't add much to it. They just blur the background, giving you a sense of distance. I will say, however, that during the final boss, the 3D effects look pretty sweet.
GAMEPLAY
Here's where things get a little new, but I'll get to that in a moment. For the most part, NSMB2 plays just like the Mario platformers of recent times. You'll run, jump, ground-pound, wall jump and collect power ups to reach the flagpole or boss battle at the end of each level.
The raccoon tail makes a return via the superleaf, allowing you to take a run-up and fly, as well as series staples: the fire flower and the invincibility star. There is a new power-up however. The Golden Flower allows Mario to transform whatever he shoots into gold coins. And here-in lies the biggest new "feature" in the game.
New Super Mario Bros 2 is the first Mario Bros game I've ever played that had an actual focus on collecting your everyday golden coins. I mean, they've always been there to give you a life per 100 coins, but have you ever gone out of your way to get coins?
No. You haven't. Unless you really needed a life.
NSMB2, however, spurs you on your money grubbing adventure by having a persistent coin counter. Every coin you collect over the course of the game comes here, and the overall goal of the game (Past beating bowser and his kids) is to get one million coins. It certainly makes coin collecting seem alot more important, and new features like the Golden Flower or golden ring (which makes enemies produce coins) give you opportunities to fill your wallet.
But what do you get at the end of it all? Honestly, without wanting to spoil it, your reward seems hardly worth it (though I'll leave that up to you guys to determine).
At the end of the day, you probably aren't here for the coins. Though you can't count on Mario for interesting stories or innovation, you can always count on the fat little Italian for solid platforming action.
REPLAYABILITY
Like any Mario outing, the gameplay is fun enough for you to come back just on the gameplay's merits. That said, there are still plenty of star coins to collect, as well as secret worlds to visit. And if that's not enough, theres always the million gold coin challenge. Replay value is quite high here.
OVERVIEW
Like many recent Mario games, Nintendo has decided to rely on the past again for a few quick bucks. Mario games will always sell, if only because the gameplay is always fun. In saying that, however, the game just doesn't seem to have a soul of it's own. It's only new features seem to concern the collection of money, which I guess could be saying a thing or two about Nintendo at this stage.
What I'm trying to say is that New Super Mario Bros. 2 is fun. It plays well. But if you've played the other 2 "New" games, or even any of the older titles, then you've already played this game. If you want something fresh, this is not the game for you.
Next time, we take a look at Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.
See ya!
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