REVIEW: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nintendo Wii)

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a FUN game and the first must-buy Wii title since Super Smash Bros. Brawl hit the system in early 2008. That's a problem in and of itself, but let’s save the critiques of the Wii for another day, shall we. Unfortunately, even given its "must buy" status, New Super Mario Bros. Wii exhibits many of the same flaws that have come to characterize Nintendo's current console.

First and foremost, the lack of online play is absolutely criminal. This game begs for it. Why does Nintendo keep doing this to its fans? The four player mode in this game is so insanely fun (it really is the only way to play) and is the game's core feature. There is no excuse and no reason why it should not have been broadened to include online support. I'm sorry, but the game loses major points for its lack of online play. Missed potential has been Nintendo's slogan for the past three years. Glad to see them continuing the tradition.

Another, albeit minor, criticism I have of this game is that, when playing with four players, you have the option of Mario, Luigi, and two toads (one blue and one yellow). Ok, that's fine. I can see where Nintendo was going here; they couldn't include Peach (as they did in Super Mario Bros. 2 back when she went by a different royal title) as a playable character because she’s too busy being kidnapped again. I can also see why they included two toads to go along with the "brother" theme (Mario is to Luigi, as Blue Toad is to Yellow Toad, I suppose). HOWEVER, I cannot accept that while this game was being tested that someone didn't say, "hey, things get a little confusing with two toads since they look so similar, ESPECIALLY when you get power ups like the ice or fire flowers." Ignorance, negligence, whatever it was, it sucks, Nintendo. You have the greatest roster of characters in ANY medium EVER and you refuse to use them. For shame, for shame.

Gripes aside, this game is a helluva ride. It is a love letter to Mario fans from Nintendo. It is a multiplayer blast, guaranteeing that you need four wii-motes to play. Also, you've probably heard, but this game can be hard. The difficulty is a refreshing change of pace for Nintendo games as of late. The worlds are more diverse and clever than you would expect from a Mario game and it is a true improvement over the DS New Super Mario Bros.

Really though, my affection for this game is hard to quantify or express. It comes from the fact that, like all Mario platformers, it is just so purely fun. There are missed opportunities here, maybe too many, but what is included is an absolute blast to play. When faced with such a drought of good hardcore games on the Wii, New Super Mario Bros. Wii demands your attention. It should get credit for appealing to both a hardcore and casual fan base like no other game can. It is a perfect fusion of these bases that Nintendo is simultaneously and mostly unsuccessfully trying to cater to. Again, above its shortcomings and successes, it remains some of the most fun you can have with a video game this year. It is also, without question, the Wii's game of the year and a great placeholder between Galaxy 1 and Galaxy 2.

Final Score: 9.0

-DC