The Wii U releases on Sunday, but how does its software launch lineup fare in the hands of critics?
New Super Mario Bros. U marks the plumbers debut in the world of high-definition and, according to critics, channels the greatness of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. Nintendo's latest entry in the expansive Mario franchise reportedly achieves the coveted balance between hardcore gamer and casual audience appeal, providing enough fodder for both crowds to deliver a rewarding experience for fans of all skill levels. Check out what the reviewers had to say below.
New Super Mario Bros. U demonstrates there's not just life left in this type of game, but that it can be modern and nostalgic at the same time.
Nintendo's approach here strikes a great balance in all areas, ranging from its difficulty to design to enemies and bosses. And for everything the basic Story Mode does right - and that's a considerable amount - the Challenge Mode will be remembered as a key moment in the life of the New Mario series, where Nintendo realized it didn't have to sacrifice the core gamer's experience at the expense of a more casual audience. This is how Mario can and will appeal to everyone.
New Super Mario Bros. U is a play for Nintendo's base; those who will always buy more hardware to see what the plumber has learned since his last game. There are enough new things to grab even seasoned players, and the challenges offer much to even hardcore players. So far New Super Mario Bros. U is a competent use of the technology, and moves the series forward in some interesting ways. I can't wait to continue playing with everything turned on and functional.
The New Super Mario Bros. series may have taken the beloved Nintendo franchise back to its 2D roots, but New Super Mario Bros. U reintroduces what made the original games so good in the first place. It proves that there's more to the formula than just impeccable platforming. 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. There's always been a keen Mario brain working away inside these 2D design exercises. Now, it feels like there's a proper soul to go along with it.
So I was pleasantly surprised to find that New Super Mario Bros. U, the first real Mario title to launch with a home console since the Nintendo 64, is the best two-dimensional Mario title in decades, and the first since Super Mario World to really capture the appeal of the 8- and 16-bit classics that came before it.
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