New Super Mario Bros. U

New Super Mario Bros. U
North American box art
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Masataka Takemoto
Producer(s)	Takashi Tezuka
Series	Super Mario
Platform(s)	Wii U
Release date(s)	NA November 18, 2012 EU November 30, 2012 AU 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 2012 side-scrolling platform video game in the Mario franchise developed by Nintendo for Wii U. It is the thirteenth game in the Mario series and is a Wii U launch title. It was released in North America on November 18, 2012, and will be released in Europe and Australia on November 30, 2012, and Japan on December 8, 2012.

 

 

 

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 the Toads far away. Mario and company must now travel across this new land and find a way back to the castle in order to save Peach.

Gameplay

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 play separate from the television screen. Like the Wii game, up to four players can play simultaneously, choosing from Mario, Luigi, and two Toads (colored blue and yellow, the same as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii). 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, an additional player using 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. The Koopalings, Bowser and Bowser Jr. are back 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 and cling to the side of the walls. Baby Yoshis, which last appeared in Super Mario World, 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. Some older power-ups also have new abilities; for example, the Mini Mushroom now allows players to run up walls. Unlike New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which had 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.



The game features two all 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.

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. The game also utilizes Miiverse, allowing players to share comments or feelings about particular levels with one another.

Development

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

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. 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. 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.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	85%
Metacritic	85/100
Review scores
Publication	Score
1UP.com	B+
G4	3.5/5
GamesMaster	82%
IGN	9.1/10
Joystiq

The game received an 82% score by GamesMaster magazine, who called it "a great excuse for families to gather round the TV, and an enticing glimpse of Mario's HD future." IGN also gave it a 9.1 out of 10.









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