E3: New Super Mario Bros Hands-On

The first new Mario side-scroller in more than a decade brings the possibility of greatness.

New Super Mario Bros is a wild and nostalgic ride for the Nintendo DS that remixes the play style of the original Super Mario Bros. game with some crazy environment and gameplay additions that sets the game apart from anything else in the franchise.

While there doesn't seem to be any story to speak of at the moment, storytelling is obviously not the point. The fun of this title lies in its extreme remixing of past concepts, something that has the potential of brilliance.

The game mixes 2D side-scrolling gameplay with 3D character and environment polygons to give the game a fresh look. But even with the 2D/3D trick and some excellent animation the game currently lacks the polish of past Mario entries, something that could improve with time. While the core graphics are almost stale by today's standards, it's the endless gameplay touches that make the game shine.

The environment is highly interactive, even more-so than in the highly stylized and creative Yoshi's Island. Some old enemies take on bold new traits, a trip down a familiar warp pipe could send you flying up into the air, things that were rock solid might flex and bend. The old rules are thrown out the window to make room for a new set that is designed solely for the sake of being fun.

In addition to mixing things up in fun and creative ways, the title really makes use of key DS features. For the first time ever fans will be able to play a simultaneous two-player Mario adventure game via the portable's wireless features. Player's can race through the levels, one starting on each end and criss-crossing to the finish. The DS touch-screen is also used cleverly. Aside from the normal inventory and map functions, the bottom screen becomes the "underground screen" when Mario goes down a pipe. Very cool.

For fans of past Mario greatness, this is a game to look forward to. Truly one of the most overlooked games at the show (overshadowed by fancy new consoles and graphics hoopla) some time and polish could make this yet another classic Mario title for the ages, and a much needed original Mario adventure for the Nintendo DS. Color us impressed.

Carl Johnson
Executive Editor, Kikizo Games