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New Super Mario Bros. U

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New Super Mario Bros. U
Packaging artwork released for all territories.
Developer(s)Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Masataka Takemoto
Producer(s)Takashi Tezuka
Hiroyuki Kimura
Designer(s)Shigeyuki Asuke
Daiki Iwamoto
Ryutaro Kanno
Artist(s)Masanobu Sato
Composer(s)Shiho Fujii
Mahito Yokota
SeriesSuper Mario
Platform(s)Wii U
Release
  • NA: November 18, 2012
  • PAL: November 30, 2012
  • JP: December 8, 2012
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

New Super Mario Bros. U (ニュー・スーパーマリオブラザーズ・U, Nyū Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Yū) is a side-scrolling platform video game in the Super Mario franchise developed by Nintendo for the Wii U. It is the fourth title in the New Super Mario Bros. series of Mario games. It was released as a launch title in North America on November 18, 2012, in Europe and Australia on November 30, 2012, and in Japan on December 8, 2012.[1] An additional campaign for the Year of Luigi, New Super Luigi U, was released as downloadable content on June 20, 2013, and was released as a standalone package on July 13, 2013, in Japan, July 26, 2013, in Europe and August 25, 2013, in North America.[2] The game was critically well-received and is currently the Wii U's third best-selling title.

Plot

In a change of pace from his usual kidnapping routine, Bowser, along with the Koopalings, decides to invade Princess Peach's castle, using a giant mechanical arm to throw Mario, Luigi and two Toads far away. Mario and company must now travel across this new land and find a way to go to the Princess' castle in order to save Peach again. On the way, they encounter each Koopaling, Kamek, Koopa monsters, Nabbit (a thief), Bowser Jr., and some minor enemies found inside levels. By conquering all of them, they inch closer to Peach. The heroes reach Peach's castle, which has been transformed into an evil reflection of Bowser. By defeating Bowser, the castle returns to normal. As the heroes celebrate, Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings attempt to escape, almost leaving Bowser behind, he manages to jump up onto the ship, but his weight causes it to crash and they are forced to flee on Bowser Jr.'s Koopa Clown Car.

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Players use the Wii U GamePad's stylus to add platforms and stun enemies on the main screen.

New Super Mario Bros. U iterates on the gameplay featured in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The objective of each level is to reach the goal flag at the end of each level while avoiding enemies and hazards.

The game can be controlled either using Wii Remotes or the Wii U GamePad, the latter of which allows for Off-TV Play, where the game can be played strictly on the GamePad's screen, without the use of a television.[3] Wii U Pro Controller support was added in the 1.3.0 patch.[4]

Up to five players can play simultaneously. In multiplayer, the player using the Wii U GamePad cannot control a character, but instead can interact with the environment, such as putting down blocks down or stunning enemies. As such, in multiplayer, there must be an equal number of controllers, excluding the GamePad, to the desired number of on-screen characters.

Certain game modes also allow players to play Mii characters saved on their console. New to this version is an asymmetric multiplayer experience called Boost Mode. In this mode, the player with the GamePad can use the touchscreen to place blocks on the screen or stun enemies to aid the other player(s). This can be used to both assist amateur players and allow expert players to perform speed runs.[5][6] The Koopalings, Bowser, Kamek, Boom Boom and Bowser Jr. appear as the game's main villains.

Along with returning elements, such as Ice Flowers and Yoshis, New Super Mario Bros. U introduces new power-ups, such as a flying squirrel suit that allows players to glide across long distances or slowly descend down vertical paths[5] and cling to the side of the walls.[7] Baby Yoshis can be carried by the individual players. Each baby Yoshi has a special ability based on its color, such as inflating in midair, blowing bubbles to attack enemies and illuminating dark areas.[6] Some older power-ups also have new abilities; for example, the Mini Mushroom now allows players to run up walls.[8] Unlike the previous New Super Mario Bros. games, which have separate maps for each of the game's worlds, New Super Mario Bros. U features one large map containing all the game's worlds and levels, similar to that of Super Mario World. Some levels have multiple exits that lead to the different areas on the map.[9] The Super Guide, which takes control of the player's character and moves it automatically through a level, is available in case the player has failed a level many times.

There is a new antagonist in the game named Nabbit, who appears at some levels and time, to be chased after stealing a power-up from Toad. Once Nabbit is caught, Toad rewards it to the player(s).

The game features two new modes of play, Challenge Mode and Boost Rush. Challenge Mode adds unique challenges, such as clearing levels quickly or earning as many 1-UPs in a row as possible without touching the ground. The Coin Battles from New Super Mario Bros. Wii also return and this time, the player can customize the battles with the GamePad to place the coins and Star Coins on the course.

Boost Rush takes place on an automatically scrolling level which increases in speed as players collect coins, with the goal to clear the stage as quickly as possible.[8] The game also utilizes Miiverse, allowing players to share comments about particular levels with one another.[7][10]

Development

New Super Mario Bros. U started development shortly after the release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and took three years to develop.[11]

The game, initially entitled New Super Mario Bros. Mii, was first revealed at E3 2011 as one of several tech demos demonstrating the capabilities of Wii U. The demo's visual style duplicated New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but featured high-definition graphics, and Mii characters were notably featured as playable characters alongside Mario and Luigi.[12] Shigeru Miyamoto later announced that the Mario demo was going to be released as a full game for the system, and would be demonstrated in its revised form at E3 2012.[13] The new game, titled New Super Mario Bros. U, was revealed at the event and was announced to be released alongside the Wii U console.[1][14]

The game's soundtrack was written by Shiho Fujii and Mahito Yokota, with Koji Kondo serving as the sound adviser.

Reception

New Super Mario Bros. U was well received by critics. GamesMaster magazine called it "a great excuse for families to gather round the TV, and an enticing glimpse of Mario's HD future".[21] IGN stated that "Nintendo's approach here strikes a great balance in all areas, ranging from its difficulty to design to enemies and bosses".[24] Joystiq commented "There's a sense of wonder again, of exploration and discovery. I'm not quite prepared to say New Super Mario Bros. U fully recaptures the spark of Mario's 2D heyday, but it's an impressive step in the right direction".[25] Game Informer considers it the best game in the New Super Mario Bros. series, saying it has "Some of the most creative NSMB levels Nintendo has created".[20] GameSpot observes "It's a challenging platformer, an excellent recreation of Mario's best moments, and it's the perfect way to kick-off Nintendo's journey into HD."[22] SupeReal Media gave the game an 'A' Grade, praising the versatility, and stating that Mario has never looked so good.[26]

Giant Bomb was slightly more critical, noting "Everything about New Super Mario Bros. U is pretty exciting, except the game itself. Is it possible that this is the best game in the 'New' series to date--not to mention one of the best exclusive Wii U games on the market, by default--and at the same time kind of flatly uninteresting? Apparently so. The game is perfectly well made for what it is, and I had plenty of fun playing it in short bursts here and there, but at this point the series' by-the-numbers design philosophy is starting to lend the name 'New Super Mario Bros.' a degree of unintentional irony".[23] At the 10th Annual Spike Video Game Awards on Spike, New Super Mario Bros. U won "Best Wii/Wii U Game".

As of June 30, 2015, New Super Mario Bros. U has worldwide sales of 4.84 million.[27] New Super Mario Bros. U is one of the four games featured in Super Mario Maker for the Wii U

Awards

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
2012 Spike Video Game Awards Best Wii/Wii U Game Shigeru Miyamoto Won
NintendoLife Wii U Retail Game of 2012 N/A Won[28]
Vooks.net Game of the Year N/A Won[29]
IGN's Best of 2012 Best Wii U/Wii Game N/A Nominated
Best Wii U/Wii Multiplayer Game N/A Nominated

New Super Luigi U

Main article: New Super Luigi U

Nintendo announced the game's downloadable content New Super Luigi U in a Nintendo Direct on February 14, 2013. It was released on Nintendo eShop in June 2013 worldwide and a standalone retail version of the game was released the following month.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b Newton, James (19 June 2012). "First Impressions: New Super Mario Bros. U". NintendoLife. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  2. ^ "New Super Luigi U Gets A Full Retail Release August 25". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  3. ^ Stein, Scott (November 19, 2012). "What the Wii U needs next". CNET. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "New Super Mario Bros. U Update Allows Wii U Pro Controller Use". 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  5. ^ a b George, Richard (5 June 2012). "E3 2012: New Super Mario Bros. U - The Glory of the Flying Squirrel". IGN. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b Little, Riley (12 June 2012). "'New Super Mario Bros. U' Hands-On Preview". Game Rant, LLC.
  7. ^ a b Charles, Jonathan. "New Super Mario Bros. U Not Launch Title or Rehash of Predecessors". Mobile & Apps. Retrieved July 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ a b "It's Impossible to Hate the New New Super Mario Bros. U". Kotaku.com. 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  9. ^ Fletcher, Leon. "Fab New Super Mario Bros. U Details Revealed". Palm Gamer. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  10. ^ George, Richard (5 June 2012). "E3 2012: Behind the Scenes of New Super Mario Bros. U". IGN. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  11. ^ "What Should Be New?". Iwata Asks: New Super Mario Bros. U. Nintendo. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  12. ^ "E3 2011: The Miis Meet Classic Nintendo Franchises on Wii U". IGN. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  13. ^ Dawson, James (16 April 2012). "New Super Mario Bros. Mii Is the Mario Bros. Wii U Game". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  14. ^ Narcisse, Evan (5 June 2012). "Hallelujah! New Super Mario Bros. U Coming to Wii U". Kotaku.
  15. ^ "New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U". GameRankings. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  16. ^ "New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  17. ^ "New Super Mario Bros. U Review: Nintendo's Safe Bet". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  18. ^ "Famitsu reviews Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U". Wiiublog.com. 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  19. ^ Wishnov, Jason (2012-11-15). "New Super Mario Bros. U Review". G4. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  20. ^ a b "New Super Mario Bros. U Review". gameinformer. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  21. ^ a b "First review of New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land arrived". 5 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  22. ^ a b Peter Brown (2012-11-18). "New Super Mario Bros. U Review". GameSpot.com. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  23. ^ a b "New Super Mario Bros. U Review". Giant Bomb. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  24. ^ a b "New Super Mario Bros. Wii Review". IGN. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  25. ^ a b "New Super Mario Bros. U review: A return to form". Joystiq. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  26. ^ Hradsky, Brian (2014-01-21). "Game Reviews "New Super Mario Bros. Wii U"". SupeReal Media. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  27. ^ "Top Selling Software Sales Units". Nintendo. June 30, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  28. ^ Whitehead, Thomas. "Game of the Year: Nintendo Life's Staff Awards 2012". NintendoLife. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  29. ^ Vuckovic, Daniel. "Vooks Game of the Year 2012: New Super Mario Bros. U". Vooks.Net. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  30. ^ Luke Karmali (February 14, 2013). "Nintendo announced New Super Luigi U DLC". IGN. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
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