Playing the game is really quite simple. First there are three modes of gameplay; the main story in which up to 4 people can take control of the characters (Mario, Luigi, and two toads), and progress through the levels (even with more than one player, the levels can be progressed through and unlock more). There is a free for all mode in which everyone is competing for score, and a coin battle mode in which you compete for score. Free-for-all and coin battle only work on stages that have already been cleared.

The game is essentially easier with one player for one doesnt have to worry about other players pushing them into obstacles nor do they have to worry about what the other players are doing or the number of powerups they take from you. There are some benefits such as being able to ground pound simultaneously to clear the enemies off the screen, or jump on each other to read greater heights. It can be fun with more people if everyone is on the same page and not just throwing each other around and pushing obstacles into them (and its a great crutch to use since it essentially equates to at minimum of 5 lives per player on screen if a level is that hard). For single players there is a super guide function which has Luigi take over and complete the level for you, if you die eight times on a stage.

Control wise, there are two styles of play, single wii-remote and wii-remote and nunchuk. Controls are easy to grasp and I wont go into detail here, but there are what I consider waggle controls (shake the Wiiremote and the character will spin to go a little bit further when making a jump, shake it to move closer if you are floating on a stage, and lastly, shake it to lift obstacles). The controls are easy to grasp and not too difficult.

Presentation wise, the graphics are excellent for the game and get the job done. Sure it isnt a game that is graphical defining on the Wii but they do look crisp and clear for a game set in the Mario Universe. Most of the good looks here is the chance to see nostalgic enemies and environments in a new 480p light. Soundwise, nothing new hear in terms of sounds for the Mario universe, Mario and Luigi appear to have the same soundbites (Toad sounds just the same as they were in Super Mario Galaxy), songs sound either remixed from their classic counterparts or are all memorable. Nintendo seems to have delivered a great experience in terms of presentation here.

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The bottom line is that NEW Super Mario Bros Wii is an excellent addition to the Mario Universe and brings back the feelings of odd with the series. The gameplay is excellent, being able to play with friends on these levels is a great experience (locally, though the lack of online co-op for this is questionable though not worthy of scrutiny) but doesnt leave people who have no one to play with lacking the ability to complete the game, and the presentation Nintendo offers us here in terms of music and graphics is worth its weight in gold. For those who havent bought a Wii game since Super Smash Bros Brawl (yes there are a few of us) as well as for those who are looking for an excellent single player and multiplayer experience on the Wii, New Super Mario Bros is a game to get.

Note: The Red case design and boxart is amazing and I hope Nintendo does more like it in the future
Rating: 5 / 5

Mario is one of a very few characters who survived the jump from 2D to 3D. Mario 64 was revolutionary, and Super Mario Galaxy even more so. So it might seem odd that Nintendo would go back to a traditional side-scroller in the midst of 3D gaming. I for one am glad they did. Yes, there is something to be said for the nostalgia factor: the game goes out of its way to reference previous games in the Mario series, from the enemies to the music. But make no mistake, this is a NEW game with NEW, very CHALLENGING, levels. It may come as a surprise to those who were introduced to Mario via Galaxy or New SMB on the DS just how much harder this game is compared to those. NSMB Wii has a difficulty level on par with Mario 3 or Mario: The Lost Levels (aka Mario 2 in Japan). This game is relentless with agressive enemies, tricky platforming, and those classic secret areas that you can often see but can’t fathom how Mario can reach them!

The gaming community has been very nervous about this game’s new feature that allows you to “skip” a level after dying eight times. Will this create a culture of gamers who cheat and don’t get to feel the sense of accomplishment that those who stick with the game for hours upon hours honing their skills? To that I say, relax. If you don’t want to use the feature, you don’t have to. Further, the feature doesn’t show you how to reach all the secrets in the level. It’s not an instant “I Win” feature. Anything that allows game designers to make creative levels without fear of holding back because they might make the game to hard is a good thing.

The multiplayer feature of this game is frantic and fun. It’s an interesting mix of collaborative and cooperative play that works great. Added games like Coin Battle and Free for All make this a very complete package.

This game should herald a new beginning for 2D games. With a market saturated with FPSs, I for one am glad that there’s still a company making “traditional” platformers and realizing that the gaming past can still influence the future of gaming.
Rating: 5 / 5

Normal 4gb Xbox 360 = $200

Kinect by itself = $150

However, this is bundled with both for $300, which is a steal. This is definitely my favorite console this gen and Kinect is receiving amazing reviews and has a great line-up already, even though it just launched.

Good games to purchase for Kinect (there are many but these are highly rated):

Dance Central

Kinectimals

Kinect Sports

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved

Be on the lockout next year for (especially if you’re hardcore gamer):

Child of Eden

Star Wars Kinect

Project Draco

Haunt

Codename D

Rise of Nightmares

Steel Batallion: Heavy Armor

This is definitely the hot item this Christmas, don’t miss out on picking one up.
Rating: 5 / 5

This game is based off of what Nintendo started in 1985. The game play is very similar to Super Mario Brothers 3 and World (SNES). There are One to Four players. This time around Nintendo has you all playing together (cooperative or competitive) – alternating version is not available – no need to wait for your turn to play. You can play as either Mario, Luigi, or 2 different Toads.

This game goes back to Nintendo’s and Mario’s roots for what jump started the video game industry. If you are familiar with the series you will find many things reminiscent of past mario games, for example:

8 Worlds : SMB, SMB2, SMB3

Flag Ending: SMB

Riding Yoshi: SMBW

Maps for World: SMB3, SMBW

Item House: SMB3

Saving Princess Toadstool: SMB, SMB2, SMB3, SMBW

Pipes: SMB, SMBW

Half Way Save Point: SMBW

Koopas Castles: SMB3, SMBW

Items: Mushroom, Firepower, Star

All the characters are back from Bowser to Goomba’s, Bullet Bills, Chain Chomps and more.

Game play is the same from earlier versions of Mario Bros series.

New things include:

Add or remove multiplayers while you are playing a game — no need to quit because someone is tired of playing, add them back in when they want to play or when people come over.

Items:

Propeller mario — shake wiimote to propeller into the sky.

Penguin Mario: Move more freely in water and on ice — shoot ice balls. Belly slide on snow to kill enemy’s.

Ice Mario: Freeze enemy’s and use them as a block to jump on.

Star Coins: Use these to unlock hints for each level in Peach’s castle.

Super Guide: Die 8 times in one level and watch how to beat it or let the computer beat it for you and move on.

Multiplayer Mode: New as you can lock yourself in a bubble if your friends can not get through a tough section — and you unlock yourself out of the bubble when you want to play again.

If you die, you come back if you have remaining lives to help the team.

New Modes: Coin Battle — battle in a level to get most coins.

Free for all — play any course with your friends.

All in all this game is great if you are new to the Mario Francise, a casual gamer, fan of the original Mario series, multiplayer gaming, and want to have some old school fun. I recommend this game to everyone who owns a Wii. This is what Mario Should have been the first time around. Simply Amazing.

Rating: 5 / 5