I've only played the New Super Mario Bros. for a short time, but I didn't think it would be cool to switch the game like I did last week (which was also a game I hadn't played much). Still, it's pretty fun, especially in multiplayer. Last weekend I had the delight of playing this new Mario game with my brother. This may not sound like much, but maybe the image might be slightly enhanced if you understand how I play games.
Tpyically, I play alone. Multiplayer generally comes when my brother (and occasionally myself) invites the other, or my brother picks up a controller and sits down. This is happened at least once the past two weekends (last night played Castle Crashers, but that's another story), but normally we play solo. Not by any means because we take sibling rivalry to the extreme, but simply because we often play alone/play games that aren't geared for multiplayer/aren't fond of what the other's playing/would rather watch and commentate instead.
So, again. I generally play alone. That doesn't stop me from laughing, growling, and otherwise chatting it up while gaming even when I'm the only one there. Yes, I'm positive I'm not crazy. Add my normal chatter-box nature to a multiplayer Mario session, and you've got what, in my mind, turns out to be a fun game of good natured yelling and "teamwork."
If you've ever played a side-scrolling Mario game then you'll know the basic gist of what goes on. You run, stomp enemies, grab mushrooms and other power ups, and try to rescue a princess who may or may not be in another castle. The New Mario Bros. isn't much different in that respect. However, instead of each player taking a turn to play through a level, in the New Bros. everyone gets to play together on the same screen. Pushing and shoving will ensue. If not then you're way more careful than I am.
When even two people are jumping around on screen, it's hard not to accidentally take the power up someone else wanted or launch yourself off the top of their head. On accident, it's not always a good thing, but when used correctly then you've got good teamwork. An example of an accident: my brother accidentally grabbed my character, and then proceeded to accidentally walk of the edge of a platform. "Dude, you just killed us both!" came soon afterwards. Actual teamwork could involve purposely trampolining off another player to reach an overhead pipe.
New power-ups come forth in this game as well. A blue mushroom makes your character really, really tiny. So tiny you can pull off a Sonic the Hedgehog and dash across water. Some flight mushroom thing puts Mario in a really dorky looking suit, but allows him to helicopter into the air. Ice flowers are just like fire flowers, except with... you know, ice. There's even a penguin suit that I haven't used yet, but after watching my brother play solo it apparently lets you slide along the ice and even has the Ice Flower power (rhyme was unintended until I realized it rhymed) of chucking ice at enemies.
Plot-wise, there's not much. It's Princess Peach's birthday. She gets kidnapped. You go save her. Same old, same old, but hey people don't play Mario for plot anyway. You traverse through worlds, completing levels, playing mini-game things, and stomping Bowser's lackeys (not that I've even passed world 2).
Despite my own personal "play alone but still keep talking" gaming habits I still find the New Super Mario Bros. more enjoyable to play in multiplayer. Good natured yelling is actually quite enjoyable. Up to four people can play this game, and if you enjoyed the old games with the Italian plumber then you'll probably like this one as well. Whether you want to play is your choice though.
Happy gaming. See you next week.
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