Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Platform(s): Wii
Genre: Platformer

ESRB Content Descriptors: Comic Mischief

The Scoop: Mario and Luigi are back in the latest installment of the New Super Mario Bros. series, this time for the Wii.

The Setup: Like the classic Super Mario Bros. games for the NES, players take Mario on a side-scrolling, platform adventure, collecting coins, gaining power-ups, and stomping enemies through eight different worlds. All you need is a Wii Remote to watch Mario run, jump, climb, and anything else he’d do in a Mario game.

What’s Hot: The game features a 2-4 Player co-op mode, rather than classic Mario games where players took turns. This can also used as an advantage, such as aiding a fellow player over a cliff, reaching places you couldn’t get to in single player, or even help another get to the top of the flagpole for 1-ups. And while there are motion controls (shaking the Wii Remote) for certain abilities, it’s subtle and does not disrupt the flow of game play. Finally, it’s a Mario game. The Super Mario Bros. titles have never failed us. Between the enemies, music, even the sometimes frustrating level layouts, there’s a sense of feeling that you just can’t put the controller down until you’ve conquered that stage.

What’s Not: While I can’t fault the game because of it, the 4 player co-op mode can be one of the downsides. There are advantages to the co-op mode but there’re other times it’s a hassle. There have been more “accidental” deaths while playing the game with my friends . An example being Luigi grabbed a Koopa shell and hurled it at a stack of enemies, but forgot to tell Mario to get out of the way. The same can be said about a player snagging all the power ups in a level. Put simply, Super Mario Bros. Wii’s co-op mode is only as great as the other people playing with you.

Final Verdict:  New Super Mario Bros. Wii is just as fun as the original Super Mario Bros. games from the NES era. Even if you’ve never played a Mario game in your life, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a must have for anyone on the system.