New Super Mario Bros. U Critic Reviews

New Super Mario Bros. U is close to the ideal 2D Mario game hinted at by the debut of New Super Mario Bros. seven years ago. It's a more sincere follow-up to Super Mario World than any previous game, and even if its innovations are muted and on the periphery, this is the evolution the series needed. It's a simple question, really: Do you like 2D Mario? If so, play this game. It is that damn good.

There are curmudgeons out there who will skip this game because of the liberal Mario throwbacks, but they're missing the forest for the trees. Inventive level design, loads of content, and the shockingly profound boost mode make this one of the best 2D platformers out there.

It doesn't push boundaries, but it reminds us all that Mario will always be the king of the 2D platformer genre, even long after that genre has been buried beneath decades of gaming history.

After playing through New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS a few months ago, I was concerned that the "New" series had run its course. The levels didn't feel as fresh and the coin collection gimmick didn't make much of an impact. I feared this dip in quality signaled stormy skies for New Super Mario Bros. U on Nintendo's next home console, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

Nintendo's approach here strikes a great balance in all areas, ranging from its difficulty to design to enemies and bosses.

All in all, I found New Super Mario Bros. U to be a very rewarding, fun breath of fresh air for the series that does a pretty good job of showcasing new elements found in the Wii U system. It's certainly a step up in terms of visuals, and looks great both on the big screen and on the Wii U Game Pad.

New Super Mario Bros. U is Wii U's first must-have title, especially if you're a fan of Mario or platforming games. It's the culmination of the New Super Mario Bros. sub-series, and perhaps the best 2D Mario title since the SNES era. This is all thanks to how well it strikes a balance between the offering of recognizable mechanics and original ones.

A love-letter to the days of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. U's multiplayer modes, insane platforming, and beautiful HD graphics offer more than enough to provide hours of fun for gamers of all stripes.

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.

Is the plumber's Wii U debut as good as his recent 3D outings? Not quite, but for the New Super Mario Bros. series, it's a real step forward in detailing, imagination and character.

Mario doesn't want to change what works. The GamePad gets an episode that continues all, also the fun. High Definition to support the color and the design, with many challenges ahead for up to 5 players.

Nintendo crafts levels like no one else. They take their well-known motifs and themes and don't necessarily surprise you every time, but they always excel at reshaping them in a highly lovable and entertaining fashion. If that´s what you want out of New Super Mario Bros U, this is the best humanly possible result. That this might not be enough for some fans of the franchise speaks volumes about the three decades that princess spent in "another castle".

New Super Mario Bros. U is maybe the best platform of the "New" series due to an inspired level design and lots of game modes. The Challenges are just what hardcore Mario fans were looking for, and are capable of pointing out the best elements of one of the most refined gameplays ever created. The last Mario adventure is, without doubt, a killer app. for the Wii U, even without an intensive use of the Wii U Gamepad.

New Super Mario Bros. U may not offer the cataclysmic genre shift that many badly crave, but it's the gem of the Wii U launch lineup and a must-have purchase.

New Super Mario Bros. U plays it safe in the right areas while providing enough new things and challenge to make it worth not only playing, but coming back to for series veterans. Featuring tons of platforming fun, it plays wonderfully on both the GamePad and Wii Remote and has the best level design of any New SMB-series game to date. A notable improvement from NSMB 2, it does just the right amount of new things to seem different from past games, while still giving fans what they expect in a Super Mario Bros. title.

Wii U gets the best possible Mario, the one we've been enjoying for many years.

New Super Mario Bros. U may not revolutionize the genre and doesn't show us what flashy stuff the new console has to offer. But the playful level design, well balanced difficulty level and flawless control are more than enough to make this into one of the best games in the genre. This is 2D-plattforming at its finest, and a must buy for anyone who owns a Wii U.

New Super Mario Bros U is truly a "new" game in the series. A Must Buy for every Mario fan on the Planet.

New Super Mario Bros U is going to teach you to not worry about turtles nor squirrels, but to love mushrooms. You don't believe it? Then try yourself this Wii U launch title, and have fun - solo or with someone.

New Super Mario Bros. U succeeds in delivering classic 2D Mario gameplay in a more visually appealing and complete package than ever before and is simply a blast to play both alone or with friends.