leo-j

User Score
8.1

Presentation - 9.0
Gameplay - 7.5
Value - 8.0

   New super mario brother's is just that, a new super mario brothers. Is the experience innovative? Is the experience the same as other mario games? Is it the best game ever to grace the DS? If I could give one answer for all of those, I would say no.

   Having been an avid nintendo player myself, and a huge fan of the mario series, New super mario bros to me, was expected going to be one of the best purchases I have made in a while, I wouldn't say it wasn't, but I definately wont say it was. Having bought the GBA mario games, I must say this may actually be a step back..

The game offers no new innovations from other mario games, except for the fact it offers two new mushrooms the "BIG" mushroom and the "mini" mushroom, and like there name state, they make mario either EXTREEMELY LARGE, or very tiny.

Sadly, new super mario brothers is not as good as its predecessors on the GBA. The game is somewhat short, and doesn't really make great use of the DS' touch screen other than some menu applications, and mini games.

The gameplay is typical for a mario game, you jump with A, you ground pound with R (yes you ground pound) and you move with the dual pad.

Graphicly, I must say new super mario bros' art style is so unique and beautiful that it makes most side scrolling platformers on the PSP look last generation. The 3d graphics on character models, mixed in with the 2d environment, just makes the game look all too good, and I say nintendo doesn't need to improve on the graphics one bit if they decide to make a sequel. The diverse environments are nice too.

Replayability has some issues.. first of all the levels can get repeititive, there are no HUGE dramatic levels, like in other mario games, and the bossess in the game are beyond easy.. even a 4 year old wouldn't have trouble beating any of the bosess. The game can take some 10 hours to beat maybe at most, and offers replayability, but again, the fact that the levels are the same thoughout the game with a face plate change, really hurt its replayibility.

Overall, I'd say this isn't one of the best mario game's I have played, although its  GOOD GAME, it isn't nearly as good as other 2d mario platformers, or certain 2D GAMES on a rival system..

verdict:

the good:

its a great platformer

its easily accessible

the bad:

its way too short

not much new from the countless of other mario games

I was expecting so much more, and got so much less, but still its a good game, and definately a must for anyone looking for a platformer on the DS.