"A great mix of classic and new material."

It has been a very long time since we gamers have seen a new version of Nintendo's classic Mario platformers. Sure, there were all sorts of amazing games after Super Mario World (Some of which were perhaps better than the original format), but none were worthy (whether by quality or by genre) of the title "New Super Mario Brothers."

Until now, that is. And Nintendo's latest effort in the genre certainly lives up to its name... in almost every regard. It also manages to stay true to its entire title, both "New" and "Super Mario Brothers."

Graphics: A simple 2D side-scroller is somewhat beneath the DS...so Nintendo made something more - and made it well. While the background and environment haven't changed too much on the surface since Super Mario World, both are benefited significantly by the added power of the DS (as compared to the Super NES). The background and environment are all a bit sharper, brighter, and overall a noticeable (and expected) improvement.

However, the characters (Mario and the enemies) are vastly improved. They're all three dimensional, although the world itself is two dimensional, so we get the so called "2.5D" effect. However, the 3D characters still look good. They don't deviate much from previous Mario games (such as Super Mario Sunshine), but that's not a problem. Some actually look a bit more refined than previous Gamecube editions, but obviously the Gamecube versions are better overall.

Overall, the graphics present the player with an updated version of classic Mario games. 9 out of 10.

Controls: Simple and intuitive. Since the DS can function like a Super NES controller, fans of the series will have no trouble picking this game up and playing it. If the standard controls don't suit you, you can swap to a slightly different format (which I found much more comfortable). The standard controls use Y / X to Dash, and A / B to jump. I find using Y / B for dashing allows me to use my thumb. The standard controls forced my to put my index finger into a very uncomfortable position.

Either way, no problems that can not be fixed in this department. 10 out of 10.

Sound: So much nostalgia. So very much. So many classic sounds, along with some new ones, make New Super Mario Brothers a trip down memory lane. While there plenty of fresh sounds, as well, they get overwhelmed by the nostalgic sound of fist meeting brick and flame meeting shell. The new sounds and music are more than adequate...sometimes too much more. But they never detract from the game, and sometimes can alert you to dangers.

My only complaint is that there's perhaps too many sounds...but it's not like you HAVE to listen to the game to enjoy it. Overall, 9.5 out of 10.

Game play: The story consists of the classic "Save Princess Peach" form. Within the first few minutes, you get the basic story: Mario's out with Princess Peach, when he notices her castle is under attack. Before he can do much, the attack stops, and Bowser Junior snatches Princess Peach in the confusion. And you should be able to figure out the rest.

The game play itself offers plenty of nostalgia (We still have coins, fire flowers, mushrooms), but even more fresh game play (Star coins, Giant Mushrooms, Tiny Mushrooms, and Blue Shells)! The classic items serve their classic purpose, the star coins allow you to open new paths (as well as adding a nice diversion and challenge for the gamer), the Giant mushroom's effect is obvious, the Tiny mushroom lets you walk on water and reach otherwise unaccessible places, and the Blue Shell allows you to act like a controlled Koopa shell and swim much more adeptly.

Unlike many previous Mario games, the bosses are quite inventive (Well, most of them). Gone are the days of 8 straight simple Bowser Battles. In are the days of several unique bosses with very different weaknesses and attack patterns.However, the mid level boss(es) are largely redundant. However, the fresh faces spice the game's boss lineup sufficiently. No complaints in this department.

Aside from a few classic levels, New Super Mario Brothers offers all sorts of new challenges (These are laid out to the player in a somewhat simplified form of the maps used in Super Mario Brothers 3 and Super Mario World). To avoid spoiling them, I'll say there was never a frustrating moment. The game pushes your reaction speed, judgment skills, and timing (but never your patience) to the edge. I never found myself bored playing this game. Not even once. Each and every world presents unique challenges, all of which are fun filled.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of the game play is the difficulty curve. Some veterans may be a little underwhelmed at first, but the game quickly steps it up. I don't think anyone will complain about the game being too hard; although some might say it's too easy, they may want to see how 1-up houses they visited - While I lost plenty of lives, the game kept me well stocked (perhaps too much, to the point where I became casual with Mario's lives) and I wasn't in much danger of falling below 10 lives at any point - aside from the very beginning, where you have fewer than 10 lives to start.

There are numerous multi player modes, including several mini games, and a Vs. mode similar to that in Super Mario Brothers 3. Some of the mini games aren't too great, but there's a few gems here. Not too many people can agree on which is best, so I'll leave it up to you to decide which mini games to try first. Personally, I liked Snowball Slalom and the Puzzle category the most. Some the mini games can be played by just one person, but some do require other players. In summary, get a friend with a DS and New Super Mario Brothers, or you will miss out on a lot of what the game has to offer. And that is just a shame.

However, despite all that praise, there is one major facet of the game play that is somewhat lacking - replay value. After beating the game, you unlock...new wallpapers. What a prize. While this is a largely subjective thing, I suppose (There's still the chance to explore and find Star Coins), I have no incentive to play through the game again. There's nothing too enticing about it. I've played through Super Mario World numerous times, but New Super Mario Brothers seems like a onc and done type of game. Though I'll admit that perhaps it's my own fault that I don't want to play the game again - going to a site like GameFAQs can ruin some of the mystical allure of video games.

The multi player mode and mini games do add some level of replay value, but that's largely based on whether you can find someone to play with. I guess people who know some fellow DS owners will enjoy playing New Super Mario Brothers over and over more than I do. But my somewhat brief experience shows me otherwise.

Overall, New Super Mario Brothers can be rather shallow, although it is fun while it last. The game play gets a 7 out of 10.

New Super Mario Brothers entertained me for a few days, and I guess it could do so again - but I don't foresee that happening. I still wonder if it was worth my 35 dollars. But if you have friend(s) who also own a Nintendo DS, then it's certainly worth your 35 dollars.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/13/06