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| From: Nintendo
Category: Video Games
List Price: $34.99
Buy New: $29.45
You Save: $5.54 (16%)
New (43) Used (15) from $24.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  332 reviews
Sales Rank: 30
Platform: Nintendo Ds
ESRB: Everyone
Media: Video Game
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 5 - 20 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: NTRPA2DE
Model: NTR P A2DE
UPC: 045496737313
EAN: 0045496737313
ASIN: B000ERVMI8
Release Date: May 15, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new; still in shrink wrap!!
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| Customer Reviews:
 This game is amazing May 20, 2006
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
There are few things in the gaming world that could be referred to as a "must play" but this is one of them. Doesn't matter if you are a Nintendo fan or a Mario fan. If you are a gaming fan then you owe it to yourself to play this game.
 Fun, but lacking May 20, 2006
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
This past week I have been playing the New Super Mario Bros. I must say it is rather superbly crafted, but it seems a bit short overall. SOme of the stages seem too short, but there are plenty of stages. An interesting game that is an excellent homage to most of the Marios in the series; not just a rehash of been-there done-that gameplay, though. There were also some elements of exploration.
The game is beautiful overall, and not just from a graphical standpoint. The game uses 3D modeled sprites in a 2D setting (So Mario and other characters are made of polygons, while the background are standard, 2D backgrounds). This makes for some very interesting effects, and I like how the programmers actually incorporated the flexibility of the sprites when making gameplay (e.g. gigantic mario, giant versions of some enemies, more flexibility in the way characters are modeled, making logs roll, &c.) It's a rather interesting design, and it's not so much a gimmick as it is essential to some of the gameplay. ALso included were some nods to the lighthearted nature of the Mario series: enemies move in tune with the music that's playing, for example.
The gameplay, again, is very much a Mario game, and the difficulty is definitely there, especially in the latter areas of the game. Finding all the coins in every level, as well as all the alternate routes, is really what makes this game fun. Albeit, I found this not as fun at times because of the way one could save at almost any point. While Mario has no abilities to fly (except grabbing a Lakitu cloud), the new powerups make for interesting effects. Shell Mario seems primarily a defensive power-up, as he is impervious while crouched (in his shell). Likewise, he can spin like a koopa shell on the ground, but controlling him is difficult. Gigantic Mario is an interesting power-up that's fun to play with in more closed areas: Mario plows through his surroundings without hindrance, but the effect lasts temporarily; afterwards, Mario is awarded so many 1-Ups based on how much he destroyed. Finally, Mini-Mario is an interesting form. I've found navigating stages much more fun using Mini Mario, but he's super-vulnerable in this form, and attacking enemies requires a correctly timed ground-pound. The fact that using mini mario for a few areas in the game is necessary made the experience more interesting.
The biggest complaint I have with this game is length. It's way too short. Some levels are definitely too short, and sometimes seem uninspired because of this. Though there are 80 stages, sometimes it feels like you're only playing them JUST to play them. The existence of alternate routes made getting to and beating the final boss a really easy feat (I did it in the first night of playing). After that, it was just beating levels. The fact that two of the Worlds in the game are optional (found only by a certain trick) also makes playing through the levels seem a bit forced. Indeed, the alternate routes seemed a bit linear to find, and really had too much of an exploration type element to them. In Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, I recall actually having to go out of the way I was going to the exit to find an alternate route, and often this new route was more difficult than the regular one. The lack of subtlety in finding most of the alternate routes (which, too often, led only to Mushroom Houses) made me dislike the way they set this up. If they could have made the game longer, with a greater level of difficulty, I would have enjoyed it more. There was a decent amount of "themed" levels, but I think there could have been more of them, which would help to distinguish levels from each other. Finally, it would be cooler if the player were rewarded for completing the game enitrely, and indeed, I would have liked to see some challenging levels, to the effect of SMW's Special World.
Overall, this game is fun, but really lacks some depth and breadth that I would have liked to see in it. I give the game a 7.5/10 (with 5/10 being an "average" game).
The Best 2D Mario Game since Super Mario Bros 3! May 19, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is by far one of the best Mario games ever! It does everything right. This is one of the best examples of creating a game with phenominal graphics while still maintaining the classic feel. I'll try to give you the basic feel of the game without going into too much details or spoiling any surprises.
Gameplay: Perfect! Honestly couldn't be better. There are still just the right amount of glitches to keep the nerds guessing how to get perfect in the level, and also has the same amazing response time as every other Mario game. Platformers don't get much better than this. It's a wonder why Nintendo doesn't make a Metroid game like this. Two new moves are added to this game, [...] stomp and wall jump, both of great use. Also in this game are two new mushrooms, one that increases your size to fit the screen so you can dominate everything, and one to minimize you to fit into small crevaces and pipes. Both are rare appearces, but exciting when you get them. Also new is the ability to have a secondary item, similar to Super Mario World. All in all, it's an exciting experience.
Graphics: Beautiful. Engaging worlds, great 2D AND 3D effects, great/smooth framerate, and bright, vivid colors. There isn't more you could want. Character models are great, as well as vehicles, mushrooms, and bosses. One of the best looking DS games to date!
Sound: CLASSIC. Using 3 types of sound, Surrond, Stereo, and Mono, you can choose what type of sound you want to get out of your speakers or headset. Every crisp and clear and those old tunes never get old. Very appropriate for each level, and very familiar.
Replay Value: EXCELLENT!!! Especially if you didn't play Super Mario 64 DS. There are tons of minigames to play if you get tired of playing the regular mode. But then again, the regular mode is so fun, I don't know how you'd ever get to the minigames. You can also do vs mode via Wi-Fi hook-up. There is PLENTY to do in this game, you won't get bored.
BOTTOM LINE: If you own a DS, this is the game you've been waiting for! The Best 2D Mario game since Super Mario Bros 3. 16 years later... 2D is REVIVED!
God I Miss Mario May 18, 2006
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
It's been a really long time since we've seen Mario in his 2D roots. I remember back in the good ol' days when 8-bit graphics were king, save points were a rarity, MIDI tunes were the bomb, and games that froze could be fixed (temporarily) by literally blowing the dust out of them; those were the glory days of video games. Although things are fun now, and with the next gen systems including the Wii on the way, nothing nowadays equates to that feeling that you had when playing old school 2D sidescrollers. Mario 64 was a blast, don't get me wrong, but this is how Mario became a video game household name.
GAME CONCEPT: Back to the basics folks; this is the good ol' "sidescrolling, get to the end of the level while stomping on goombas before the time runs out, finding secret warp pipes, and trying to get the timer's last digit to read 6 when you get to the finish flag" Mario. Think of the feel of all of the Mario All Star games (1, 3, and World, anyway) rolled into one, but with a lot more horsepower behind it. Essentially, it plays like Mario 1 and 3, with the overworld level selection similar to 3. Each world has multiple levels, and each with a tower where you will fight Baby Bowser, and a castle to mark the end of the World where you will fight different bosses. The super mushroom and fire flower have returned for powerups, along with a few new ones as well. The one item that most people who have been keeping an eye on this game have noticed, and are aware of by now, is the Mega Mushroom, which grows Mario to the size of the screen and you can obliterate pretty much anything in your path, warp pipes and blocks included. There is also the Mini Mushroom, which allows you to navigate pathways that are too small for even normal Mario. These are actually required to find some of the secrets in the levels. Finally, there is Shell Mario, where he'll don a costume similar to the Hammer Brother outfit from Mario 3, but his maneuver is to roll into a shell (a la' a stomped and then kicked shell) and take out anything in your way. One nice feature is the ability to save items, like you could in Mario World, if you were already maxed out on power, but rather than pulling into the screen after getting hit, you have to manually bring them in by touching the item's icon on the touch screen.
At face value, the levels are very similar to the ones found in Mario 3. However, to keep up with the times, there are a lot of secrets stored in each stage, so hardcore gamers who can't help but complete every possible thing in the game will be pleased. One of the secrets that is common to every level are the Star Coins. Each level has 3 of these coins that you can collect, which is optional, but definitely adds to the replay value. Rather than being there for the potential for a 1-up, as the Yoshi Coins were in Mario World, these coins will allow you to unlock different pathways in the overworld maps, allowing you to take alternate pathways to get to the World's end level castle, or to other levels that are isolated from the main path. These items are similar to Yoshi coins in their placement, and you will need to use your head as well as have a keen eye to find them. The good thing is that when you collect one (and you haven't died afterwards in that level) you never have to find that one again, so the frustration factor is kept to a minimum. Another thing that keeps the levels going is the hidden exits, which aren't totally new to Mario games, but they are really well hidden this time around, and this always gives gamers reason to come back for more.
The touch screen is rarely used in the game itself, only to be used for pulling in the item from your saved item box, and selecting a different World from the main map screen. Other than that, it really only serves the purpose of the level's map, so you can see how far along you are, and what Star Coins you have collected in the level. It is used extensively in the minigames, however. A note on the mini-games that come with the game...they are pretty much pulled straight from Mario 64 DS. Nothing new there.
GRAPHICS: 2D Mario has never looked this good; obviously since it's been so long since a 2D Mario, but since all the characters are 3D models on the stage, rather than sprites, the animation is far more fluid. I have yet to see the game's frame rate drop at all.
SOUND: Many of the basic sounds, like the jump and the coins and the fireballs, seem to be pulled directly from the first Super Mario Bros. Definite nostalgia factor with that, and a definite plus in my book. If you finish a level and hit the pole at the right time so you get fireworks, it will play the Super Mario Bros end level theme that we all know and love (it sounds direct too, not a remake of it...ah, that brings back memories). Some more recent sounds show as well, such as Mario 64's Feather Hat music for the Invicibility Star. The music is typical Mario fare; catchy, but not obnoxious.
CONTROLS: Another thing I miss about Mario games are the simple controls. You should know what to do within the first three seconds of the game. The only new things that you should really be aware of is the triple jump (dash and jump three times), the butt-stomp (press down while in the air), and the wall jump (hold the direction of the wall you're on, and press jump). Just a note, I felt that the wall jump was kind of odd at first, because I've played almost all Metroid games to death, and the wall jump in those games required you to push AWAY from the wall you were on, not towards it. If you think that will be a problem, you'll get over it quickly. I did.
OVERALL: This is a must own, no question. If you're thinking about it, just get it. Rarely do I feel that way about games unless I read other reviews first, but being the Mario fan that I am, I just had to pick it up for old times sake. I'm glad I did, and you'll be glad you did.
Fantastic May 18, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a fantastic game. I have always loved the Mario Bros. I am only on level 5. The graphics are wonderful and the game fun. I do wish there was more areas to save a game though. Takes me awhile to get from one save to another and if I have to stop playing you have to do the areas over again. Still it is alot of fun.
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