Topic: The New Super Mario Brothers Wii impressions thread

Firstly, apologies for the confusing mess earlier - I've cleaned it up with the Nintendolife staff (and confirmed my identity as a journalist with Corbie - I really am not making any of this up guys :-/)

So, I have played Nintendo's new baby - as well as Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Style Boutique, Layton and the Diabolical Box and Wii Fit Plus - I know some of those games are available elsewhere but this was an Australian press event

So if anyone has any questions on any of those games - shoot them over, and I'll do my best to answer. I only spent between 10-30 minutes on each, but I have some pretty firm impressions on them

Which blew your mind the most?

Style Boutique!!! Tell me more!

salivates

EDIT: Seriously though, NSMBWii info, that's all I'm after, you lucky...

Soooooo, umm... Any idea what the worlds are? Cookie Mountain? Beach? Etc.

So, you are a journalist. My apologies. I thought the single player of SMBW was going to be as hard as Contra, was it hard or easy?

Is it like New Super Mario Bros. DS, only with more screen resolution, more powerups and more secrets?

Are the Koopalings and Bowser Jr. bosses or mini-bosses?

If you only spent 10-30 minutes, I assume you only played the early levels, or did they let you skip toward the end to get a feel for the difficulty level? Obviously the first few levels of a four-player game will be a bit dull in single-player.

Which blew your mind the most?

Mario Brothers, easily. 4-player is the best multiplayer experience this side of Smash Brothers.

Style Boutique!!! Tell me more!

salivates

Surprisingly good - it's definately a girl's game, but it does have Nintendo production quality all over it - this is not a cheap and quick game.

Soooooo, umm... Any idea what the worlds are? Cookie Mountain? Beach? Etc.

The build we played was a demonstration one - so there were 10 levels on show, and it seems to cover all the typical worlds for Mario games. Nothing that seemed overtly new but good nonetheless

So, you are a journalist. My apologies. I thought the single player of SMBW was going to be as hard as Contra, was it hard or easy?

I didn't get to play single player, but the levels I did play would be rather dull single player. Everything seems to be built with multiplayer in mind - action is ramped up to 11 though, it's a very frantic game.

Is it like New Super Mario Bros. DS, only with more screen resolution, more powerups and more secrets?

Yes and no. It's the multiplayer that is the standout difference between the two.

If you only spent 10-30 minutes, I assume you only played the early levels, or did they let you skip toward the end to get a feel for the difficulty level? Obviously the first few levels of a four-player game will be a bit dull in single-player.

As I said, it was a demonstration build - so it seemed to take a few levels at random throughout the whole game.

It doesn't feel like an easy game, but at the same time, it's very accessible - I fear "hardcore" gamers will fly through it.

Are the Koopalings and Bowser Jr. bosses or mini-bosses?

No idea about that one, sorry - but all the normal enemies are back, and the hammer throwing Koopa Troopers are still nasty as all hell.

Oh, and the swimming level rocks.

Do you feel that the game will turn some gamers off because the stages are easy, mainly stemming from the problem that they're meant for multiple players?

To put it nicely - yes.

I really do feel that this game was built from the ground up for multiplayer. Yes, there is a single player game, but I think anyone who will only be playing that will be disappointed with this one. I am guessing that's why Nintendo announced a new 3D mario game as well, to keep the single player gamers keen and happy.

But again, if you can pull a friend over, you are in for a hell of a ride.

Would you say the difficulty is closer to SMB3, SMW, or NSMBDS?
Is it the same basic Mario action, or has it been made more puzzley (hitting switches and such, a la LBP) or taken in some other direction?
What is the world map like? Similar to NSMB DS, or did you not see it? Do you know if you lose any progress when you get Game Over?
If you played a castle level, was the princess there, or was she in another one?
Used any new power-ups? If so, thoughts?
Did you win any of the multiplayer levels? What is the End Level screen like, pretty Four Swords-ish?
Next time you get to play it, can I come?

Wait, you've played Spirit Tracks? Any and all impressions from that I would love to hear, as I know so little about the game now.

EDIT: I also second Adam's question about the end-level screen. I loved how 4 Swords handled it, especially the adjustments for killing more enemies, dying less, and the voting feature that punished players who were regarded as a nuisance by all the others.

Are any of the DS Power-ups back (Mega mushroom, Mini Mushroom, Koopa Shell, etc.)?

Can't read this. No spoilers will come to me.

Spoilers? Since when did a true-to-the-formula Mario game have spoilers?

@V8 Ninja: She gets captured every time, sure, but DIFFERENTLY.

Epic win of the century.

In multiplayer? NSMBDS, but with the added difficulty of having to deal with co-players who are not necessarily on your side. In other words, the difficulty ramps up as you play with better players.

Is it the same basic Mario action, or has it been made more puzzley (hitting switches and such, a la LBP) or taken in some other direction?

I felt it to be very traditional Mario. There was the huge gold coin to collect, unfortunately, but other than that it seemed very straightforward.

What is the world map like? Similar to NSMB DS, or did you not see it? Do you know if you lose any progress when you get Game Over?

It looked just like the NSMB DS world map. What do you mean by "lose progress"?

If you played a castle level, was the princess there, or was she in another one?

Sorry, no castle level

Used any new power-ups? If so, thoughts?

THE PENGUIN SUIT IS SO CUUUUUUUUUUTE. Seriously fun to play with. And it seems the giant powerup is gone, thank God. And Yoshi is a powerup, of sorts. He controls very nicely.

Did you win any of the multiplayer levels? What is the End Level screen like, pretty Four Swords-ish?

I don't remember seeing a End Screen of sorts - possibly a side effect of only playing a demo build.

Next time you get to play it, can I come?

Sure, but only if you bring the snacks.

Wait, you've played Spirit Tracks? Any and all impressions from that I would love to hear, as I know so little about the game now.

It seems very similar to the last Zelda DS game - the Demo build allowed us to play a dungeon or a boss fight. The puzzles are cute, and make very heavy use of your phantom partner dude, and the boss battle was exciting as always.

I'm not the biggest Zelda fan, as I find the games are very derivative now, and this one sticks very closely to that formula. If you like Zelda, then you'll love this one - for what its worth it did grab my attention a tiny bit more this time around.

Are any of the DS Power-ups back (Mega mushroom, Mini Mushroom, Koopa Shell, etc.)?

Don't think so, Don't think so, didn't see.