NOT
Same Old Formula
It’s sad to say to that New Super Mario Bros. 2 still has the same formula that we’ve most likely have seen in the first game. The level design and themes are very similar to the first game, thus making the majority of the levels seem old and recycled for the most part. Expect to see similar themes such as the lava and desert world. Just like in the first NSMB, it starts off with Bowser kidnapping the Princess and it’s up to Mario and Luigi to go through eight different worlds to save het. Sounds too familiar right? As for the platforming aspect, nothing has changed and fans who are familiar to the 2D Mario games will feel right at home. Though pretty much everything plays exactly as the first game, Nintendo somehow added some new techniques within that makes the game somehow stands out on its own like the Coin Rush mode.
Very Easy and Not Challenging at All
In the eight different worlds that the game has to offer, you can expect to blaze through them in as little as two hours. That being sad, the reason behind the quick playthrough is that the levels are not challenging at all. One of the reasons why the game seems to be more easier than the past 2D Mario titles is that getting life is much easier as with a lot of coins that you can get, you can expect yourself to stock up some with up to 999 lives. As for the levels, most of the obstacles and gimmicks within them are reused from the first game and fans who will be playing this will not be surprised as they rush through the levels.
Coin Rush is Bland
It’s good to know that a Coin Rush mode is available in this game but in reality, it’s utterly useless and bland. Since collecting coins up to 1,000,000 doesn’t offer any incentive, it makes the whole point of this new mode pointless. Whenever I get to see the 1,000,000 counter on the main screen, it makes me wonder how many people will actually do it where it doesn’t give anyone some sort of a reward for reaching that 1,000,000 mark.
VERDICT
Overall, the New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a disappointment as it offers nothing new and refreshing to players that have played the first NSMB game. The same old formula visible on the first game can be seen once again in this title and it makes the New Super Mario Bros. 2 an expansion rather than a new game as Nintendo suggest. However, what the game doesn’t fail to deliver is the fun in platforming segments that you will not see anywhere but in a Mario games, and besides, it does give that classic nostalgic feeling too.
[Editor’s Note: New Super Mario Bros. 2 was reviewed on the Nintendo 3DS XL. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]