Nintendo games have always made playing with your friends more fun.  New Super Mario Bros. Wii puts another notch on the tradition belt.

If you have played any side-scrolling Mario game in the last 25 years, there is going to be nostalgia for you in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.  From the flags at the end of each stage, to Boo houses, to super-smooth animation and laugh out loud humor, there is something for every Mario gamer here.  

Mario games have always been deceptively difficult, but NSMB is one of the hardest Mario games to be released in quite a while.  The earlier worlds are easy enough, but the difficulty ramps up quickly.  The odd thing is that the level designs themselves are not difficult, and the enemies are just as stupid as ever (walking back and forth, etc.)…yet somehow, this game will really test your platforming skills, ESPECIALLY if you want to collect each of the three secret coins in every level.  There is no continue limit, although the game keeps track of how many continues your particular character has used.  There is a “super guide” feature if you get stuck while playing single-player, so you won’t ever have to worry about not reaching the end of the game if you are playing by yourself…but this game is no fun by yourself.  Not when you can play with up to three other people.

Four player co-op in this game is pure, unadulterated insanity.  Jumping off other player’s heads, stealing powerups, knocking other people into enemies…these are all things that will happen even if you don’t want them to.  With just two people playing co-op, things are much more controlled…but when you have four people on the same screen at the same time, accidents are going to happen.  Much like the Super Smash Bros. series, you never quite know how events are going to play out.  A whacky chain of events can cause a situation that will make you laugh for a very long time, and group inside jokes are bound to appear (“So…how many of those continues are yours?”)

Animation is silky smooth, with good detail on each of the characters.  Their individual voices are hilarious as ever (Luigi being jumped on is my personal favorite.)  Colors are bright and pop off the screen, while backgrounds are active and impressive.  Level design is simplistic yet very creative; I’m amazed every time a new Mario game comes out that more levels are crammed in the skulls at Nintendo, and this time is no exception.  With an overall feel like a cross between Super Mario Bros, Super Mario 3, and Super Mario World, there are a lot of various locations for you to visit, each with its own theme.  

If you don’t know anyone willing to play a Wii game with you, skipping New Super Mario Bros. Wii might not be a bad idea.  The real fun of this game comes out when you are playing with 2 or more people, and if you can manage to get a total of four people in the same place at the same time who are ready and excited to play, you will have a blast.  It’s good to see that Mario isn’t restricted to 3D now; New Super Mario Bros. Wii proves that there is still life for this franchise in the 2D realm.