New Super Mario Bros. 2 [3DS]

Josey Wales

I've been waiting on a new 2D Mario game to be released. I would rather it was out on the Wii but the 3DS will do. The 3D games have never quite done it for me but I still love the 2D games. I loved NSMB Wii and I didn't think NSMB DS was as bad as some people say.

It is good to see the 'P meter' back from Mario 3. Great that it is out in August.

Anyone else glad to see a 2D entry in the series or would you prefer something like Galaxy on the 3DS?

Wolverine359

Can't wait for this. What I can't understand though is that Paper Mario 3DS still doesn't have a release date, despite trailers being shown for it since last year, yet NSMB2 is just announced today and is confirmed to be coming out in a few months time.

Potential-Monke

Side scrolling Mario is better suited to handhelds, i don't think Galaxy would work as well on the 3DS. And it looks like i'm going to have to finally splash on a 3DS...

cherryghost

Enough Mario already Nintendo! We want a new IP! Or at least a new Chibi Robo

Nollog

Positive comments!
The rest of the internet seems to hate the NSMB series.
I love it.

Potential-Monke

/\/ollog wrote: »

Positive comments!
The rest of the internet seems to hate the NSMB series.
I love it.

Really? I thought it was fantastic. It's the original, updated. This looks like more of the same. What's not to like???

I fear the internet is turning into a grumpy old man...

GTR63

/\/ollog wrote: »

Positive comments!
The rest of the internet seems to hate the NSMB series.
I love it.

Sigh, I think people on the internet hate themselves for the sake of it sometimes. I was delighted when I read the news on Siliconera. I am worried Paper Mario has been delayed though, looking forward to Project X Zone assuming its getting a western release.

Retr0gamer

The DS NSMB was kind of dull and uninspired and was by far the worst of the main mario games. I really loved the Wii game and think it's up there with Mario 3 and World. If they keep the Wii level of quality then I'll be happy.

pdbhp

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Side scrolling Mario is better suited to handhelds, i don't think Galaxy would work as well on the 3DS.

I agree side scrollers are best suited to handhelds where raw power is not a requirement.

Really looking forward to this game hopefully it takes all the good bits from NSMB DS & Wii while staying true to the roots of Mario games, if thats even possible.

Andy!!

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I fear the internet is turning into a grumpy old man...

The internet was born a grumpy old man :P

Josey Wales

Retr0gamer wrote: »

The DS NSMB was kind of dull and uninspired and was by far the worst of the main mario games.

I know some people love it but I have to say that I'd put Super Mario Bros. 2 at the bottom of the main Mario games.

Potential-Monke

Josey Wales wrote: »

I know some people love it but I have to say that I'd put Super Mario Bros. 2 at the bottom of the main Mario games.

I haven't played every single Mario game, but 2 was my least favourite too...

Star Lord

Josey Wales wrote: »

Anyone else glad to see a 2D entry in the series or would you prefer something like Galaxy on the 3DS?

Glad to see it, I think it's got great potential.
Ans we already have something like Galaxy on the 3DS, Super Mario 3D Land!

Josey Wales wrote: »

I know some people love it but I have to say that I'd put Super Mario Bros. 2 at the bottom of the main Mario games.

I'm one of those people! I have a bit of a soft spot for it.
Soon as I started thinking about it, I got the music playing in my head...

johnny_ultimate

Despite being a far more 'traditional' game than Galaxy, 3D Land was a joy, playing to the console's strengths and maintaining a very well considered difficulty curve. Perhaps would have liked a longer gap between it and the next big Mario (this is out in August in Japan!) but if it has the same design strengths as 3D Land this should be a joy.

Screenshots aren't particularly convincing, I must say. Look forward to seeing some gameplay.

Retr0gamer

I really like Super Mario 2. Takes a while to get used to the weirdness of it. I used to think I hated it because I only played the versions on the GBA and on All-stars but the NES version feels a lot better and is a better game.

Super Mario Bros 2 (jp) aka Lost Levels is the real stinker in the series. That game is way too tough.

Josey Wales

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Despite being a far more 'traditional' game than Galaxy, 3D Land was a joy, playing to the console's strengths and maintaining a very well considered difficulty curve.

I really need to get back to 3D Land. I beat the first section of the game but stopped playing then. I know there is plenty more to get through but just need to find the time.

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I really like Super Mario 2. Takes a while to get used to the weirdness of it. I used to think I hated it because I only played the versions on the GBA and on All-stars but the NES version feels a lot better and is a better game.

I didn't realise there was a difference between the original NES version and the All-Stars version apart from the graphics. I think the 'weirdness' was just too much for me. Picking up turnips and coins from the ground, no koopa troopers, no jumping and flattening enemies.

But you might have a point about The Lost Levels. SMB2 doesn't inspire as much frustration as The Lost Levels so might be a more enjoyable experience.

Retr0gamer

I'm a bit weird but I just think the controls are a little off in the all stars games.

Kinski

Josey Wales wrote: »

I think the 'weirdness' was just too much for me. Picking up turnips and coins from the ground, no koopa troopers, no jumping and flattening enemies.

Wasn't really a Mario game though - just a Mariofied reskin of another game - so I suppose you have to excuse it for not resembling the first one much. I think it's alright.

Josey Wales

It may have been confirmed earlier but the co-op is local only. No online co-op which is a crying shame. I thought Nintendo were supposed to embracing the internet this would have been a good place to show it.

I don't know a single other person with a 3DS so this game will only be single player for me.

Retr0gamer

Honestly I won't be bothering with co-op much if at all and it's also not a game that would be enhanced by playing with a randomer online. Good move I say. The original on Wii would have been way too open to abuse my trolls online.

Josey Wales

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Honestly I won't be bothering with co-op much if at all and it's also not a game that would be enhanced by playing with a randomer online. Good move I say. The original on Wii would have been way too open to abuse my trolls online.

I agree that playing with random people wouldn't be the optimal experience. It would become frustrating very quickly. But the option to play with a friend online would be great. Playing locally would be better but that isn't always possible. It took me months to finish NSMBWii in 4-player co-op as we had to wait till we were all available.

Mr E

The general consensus seems to be that this game is really really (really) easy.

Which is a shame.

Josey Wales

I'm hoping for it to be on the same difficulty level as NSMB Wii. I think that game had near perfect difficulty grade. The early worlds were pretty easy but by the time you got to the very end of the game it was quite tough. Those last few special levels in particular were very hard to get the three coins in. But it never got frustrating enough to quit, which is key.

Retr0gamer

Mr E wrote: »

The general consensus seems to be that this game is really really (really) easy.

Which is a shame.

Sounds like it's more like the DS game than the Wii game. The Wii game was nicely challenging but DS was a walk in the park and really dull as a result. A bit of a shame.

Mr E

Mr E wrote: »

The general consensus seems to be that this game is really really (really) easy.

Which is a shame.

where you been games are to easy for the last ten years

Mr E

3D Land's second half was a great challenge.
NSMB Wii was a good challenge too.

FutureGuy

There needs to be a rock hard mode introduced into Mario games.

Firstly, less 1-up mushrooms...I remember when discovering a secret 1-up block was a big deal. They were well hidden and only found when you were randomly messing about on your nth playthrough, or had a moment of inspiration. Now you can find 2-3 in the same level in plain sight ffs! It's rediculous when you have 200 lives halfway through the newer Marios without even trying.

Secondly, make collecting coins a big deal! Following on from the first point, if 1-up mushrooms are much rarer, then collecting coins becomes a much larger element of the game. In SM3/SMW, collecting coins was a major element of the gameplay. Finding a secret pipe with 20 coins was a great joy. Now you just don't really care about coins that are out of your way, sure you will collect enough by taking Route A. The urge to truely explore just isn't there, apart from a few well hidden large coins.

Finally, the "power storage box" should be abolished. It's almost a get out of jail free card on most levels!

Maybe I'm pining for a game that has been dumbed down and passed down to a younger generation, but it wouldn't be hard to have such a mode in the game, even as a dlc option.

I really want to go home now and play SMW on the Wii!!!

Josey Wales

For certain genres i.e. FPS or third-person adventure games I don't mind if the difficulty level is too easy. Sometimes I just like to breeze through a game without getting stuck or replaying sections over and over. With limited time to play games it is good to just see the story and experience what the game has to offer.

But I think for a 2D platformer a certain amount of difficulty is needed to stave off boredom that can set in if you can simply walk through every level. I agree with Retro about his comments on NSMB DS, It was too easy, the only real challenge in that game was finding a couple of the better hidden coins.

Josey Wales

FutureGuy wrote: »

Secondly, make collecting coins a big deal! Following on from the first point, if 1-up mushrooms are much rarer, then collecting coins becomes a much larger element of the game. In SM3/SMW, collecting coins was a major element of the gameplay. Finding a secret pipe with 20 coins was a great joy. Now you just don't really care about coins that are out of your way, sure you will collect enough by taking Route A. The urge to truely explore just isn't there, apart from a few well hidden large coins.

Well you are in luck then with New Super Mario Bros. 2. The whole game is based around the idea of collecting coins. You'll be sick of the coin collecting noise by the end. I'm sure we all will.

FutureGuy

Josey Wales wrote: »

Well you are in luck then with New Super Mario Bros. 2. The whole game is based around the idea of collecting coins. You'll be sick of the coin collecting noise by the end. I'm sure we all will.

Yeah I just think it's a dreadful gimmick.

Retr0gamer

I'm actually playing SMB again on a NES and trying to finish it without warp pipes and what Futureguy says is true. You really have to collect every 1up and collect every coin you come across so you have enough lives to continue. It's ridiculous that I maxed out the extra life counter in the DS game by the second world without even trying.

penev10

My son is 6 and the difficulty of NSMB DS is just right for him. He needs all those extra lives as it takes him a good few goes for each level. Considering most DS owners appear to be <10 perhaps this is a smart move by Nintendo.

Galaxy was easy enough but had the additional stuff for the more hardcore players and Galaxy 2 (haven't played it) is adjudged to be a lot harder. Perhaps they're aiming the Wii entries at the Wii user-base which is mostly >10 I'd imagine.

Retr0gamer

penev10 wrote: »

My son is 6 and the difficulty of NSMB DS is just right for him. He needs all those extra lives as it takes him a good few goes for each level. Considering most DS owners appear to be <10 perhaps this is a smart move by Nintendo.

Kids these days have it too easy! You didn't see us complaining and yet we managed to beat rock hard games like Contra, Castlevania and the older mario games. Tell your son to man up!

Mr E

I was just thinking about this over lunch (as you do), and the cynic in me thinks that a hard mode of some description might be released as paid DLC (now that Nintendo is in the 21st century).

Maybe the equivalent of SM3DL's 2nd half...

Or "Pay us €15 and we'll turn off coins and cap lives at 3".

Josey Wales

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Kids these days have it too easy! You didn't see us complaining and yet we managed to beat rock hard games like Contra, Castlevania and the older mario games. Tell your son to man up!

I would imagine that playing games on devices like iPhones and iPads is having an impact on young players abilities to handle harder games. A platform game on an iPhone like say, League of Evil has decent controls but doesn't give you the fidelity you get from a normal controller. If you then handed a kid a game like Contra and a controller I'm sure they would struggle.

Just for the record I'm pretty sure I would struggle myself now on Contra

Retr0gamer

Josey Wales wrote: »

Just for the record I'm pretty sure I would struggle myself now on Contra

Played it recently, first time taking it seriously and had it beaten in an evening. It's quite an easy game, definitely not deserving of it's reputation.

o1s1n

Josey Wales wrote: »

If you then handed a kid a game like Contra and a controller I'm sure they would struggle.

They'd struggle in the beginning - anyone would. But leave a kid with a game for long enough and they'll master it. If we could do it back then, then they can do it now.

I think the main difference is kids today are spoiled for choice, so they wouldn't be willing to put the same effort in to one title.

Kinski

Oh good, a "Pfft, kids these days..." discussion! Yeah, the little bastards are totally spoiled. They get given way too many games for one thing. After having a NES maybe four or five years, my games collection numbered less than a dozen (used to loan to and borrow from my friends to try other titles); my nephew receives at least four on Xmas day alone. By God, when you only get to play like six different games in a year, you master them.

On topic, this game looks ****ing boring, and I never thought I'd say that about a mainline Mario title. Guess it's all part of Nintendo's slow, painful transition from creators of some of the most innovative, challenging and clever games the world has ever seen, to pedlars of perpetually rehashed, casual-friendly tripe.

drunkglitch

oh that game looks beautiful you can be raccoon Mario again. I am looking forward to this

why not just add a hard mode

Nollog

o1s1n wrote: »

They'd struggle in the beginning - anyone would. But leave a kid with a game for long enough and they'll master it. If we could do it back then, then they can do it now.

I think the main difference is kids today are spoiled for choice, so they wouldn't be willing to put the same effort in to one title.

What?
The market almost crashed due to too many bad games back then.
Are you making the bad versus good games distinction?

over 400,000 sold in a day is incredible though.
(Released in Japan on the 28th of July, and the figures came out July 29th)
Curious how it does against the competition at Christmas, NSMBU.

Mr.Saturn

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I'm actually playing SMB again on a NES and trying to finish it without warp pipes and what Futureguy says is true. You really have to collect every 1up and collect every coin you come across so you have enough lives to continue. It's ridiculous that I maxed out the extra life counter in the DS game by the second world without even trying.

I did the exact same thing last week, oddly. For a game so universal, it sure does get somewhat diabolical near the end. I've been meaning to give Mario 2/Lost Levels a proper go too, but all my memories of it are me being trolled every time I started to make any inroads. Yanno yourself, you make a near impossible jump, only to find a massive gust of wind coming your direction as soon as you get anywhere near the next platform. Fundamentally borked and broken.

o1s1n

/\/ollog wrote: »

What?
The market almost crashed due to too many bad games back then.
Are you making the bad versus good games distinction?.

No, what I'm saying is back then, I got one game for Christmas (two if I were lucky) and then the same on my Birthday. I had limited choice. If I got a hard game I'd have to stick with it.

Kids now have a second hand game market which didn't exist back then. They don't have to 'stick out' hard/bad games in the way we did.

Josey Wales

So what are you guessing is the prize for collection one million coins? I don't think I will ever collect that many. I know there is a lot of coins all over the screenshots and videos of the game but one million is an awfully large number. I bet whatever the prize is it will be underwhelming.

I'm going to say it gives you an extra star on your save file.

Kinski

Deleted User wrote: »

why not just add a hard mode

The difficulty in a platformer really has to be inherent to the level design - just slapping a "less 1-Ups" mode in there doesn't cut it.

Josey Wales

Kinski wrote: »

The difficulty in a platformer really has to be inherent to the level design - just slapping a "less 1-Ups" mode in there doesn't cut it.

I agree but that is a very fine art. All too easy to end up with frustrating levels.

Retr0gamer

Josey Wales wrote: »

I agree but that is a very fine art. All too easy to end up with frustrating levels.

It's pretty much the difference between a good game and crap one really.

chopperbyrne

Well Rayman Origins is pretty much just as easy as NSMB, but it's a very good game.

Easy =/= Bad

Retr0gamer

It's gotten a pretty mediocre review on Gamecentral. Seems the lack of decent level design holding it back just like NSMB DS.

o1s1n

I never get the dislike for NSMB. It's piss easy, but it's fun. The only annoying thing about it was being unable to save anywhere. But then I guess that would have made an easy game far too easy.

Retr0gamer

o1s1n wrote: »

I never get the dislike for NSMB. It's piss easy, but it's fun. The only annoying thing about it was being unable to save anywhere. But then I guess that would have made an easy game far too easy.

It's not that it's too easy. It's more that the level design is just dull and uninspired in most levels. Compare it to NSMB Wii or the older mario games where each level introduces something new or uses familiar mechanics in new exciting ways and it's easy to see why it's so dull.