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C-PRIME's VG Reviews #37: New Super Mario Bros. DS
15 years ago
General
New Super Mario Bros. DS
Year Produced: 2006
Publisher/Developer: Nintendo
Game Style: Side-scrolling platformer
Sample Video of Gameplay: CLICK HERE
Additional Information: I have not had a chance to play any of the mini-games as of yet (mainly because I have no one else to play with), so the review will be based on the main game itself...though the existence of the mini-games will be taken into account when I get to the "intangibles/replay factor" section.
Plot: Bowzer Jr. kidnaps Peach and it's up to Mario to rescue her again. What else is there to say but that, it's pretty much standard fare for a Mario game.
Personal Experience: New Super Mario Bros. DS was a major reason why I ended up buying a DS in the first place. At the time it came out, I did not own my DS yet and the only system that I had that was my own was my Gamecube. Still, I wanted to get a portable gaming device so that I would have something to do at night after finishing with work while waiting to leave to go home. Back when I finally decided to buy a portable system, I was originally planning on buying a PSP, thinking that using the stylus on the DS was a "turn-off", much in the same way the Wiimote caused me to be hesitant to buy a Wii until last September.
However, on the day that I went to make the purchase, I thought about it for a while and I figured that the DS was more cost-effective as well as had more games that honestly interested me than the PSP did. As it would turn out, I would not regret the decision to buy the DS over the PSP in the slightest (of course, I'm sure you all know two of the reasons why I say that...and if not, have you been paying attention to the stories I've been producing for the last year or so?) As for Super Mario DS, this was one of the first games I purchased for the DS...but it wasn't the first (that honor belongs to Mega Man ZX), and much like all the other side-scrolling platform Mario games, I was immediately hooked on it.
Things I liked about this game
+: The gameplay (of course, it wouldn't be a Mario game if the gameplay wasn't spot on and easy to execute)
+: The Mega Mushroom (*plays Black Sabbath's Iron Man while inflicting mass destruction on hordes of goombas, koopas, and obstacles*) >:}
+: The Ninja Gaiden-esque wall jump (this has the potential to get you to places where you can't reach and it could also save your bacon a couple of times if it looks like you're about to fall to your doom)
+: The mushroom houses (though they're not quite as useful here as they are in NSMB Wii)
+: The map system (reminiscent of SMB3 and SMW...with unlockable pathways by collecting coins or finding secret goals)
+: The slide-show ending which shows every stage you've visited at the end (reminiscent of SMB3's ending)
Things that frustrated me about the game
-: Unlocking certain worlds in the game (I've tried countless times and I still haven't been able to unlock either world 4 or world 7)
-: The final fight between Mario and Bowzer is a bit anti-climactic, especially considering that of the Wii version.
Things that confused me from the game
?: How can micro Mario walk on water (who does he think he is...Jesus? OK, in the world of Video Games, he probably is, but I still find that to be a bit odd)
CONCLUSION: Much like all the other side-scrolling Mario games, this game has excellent controls, addictive gameplay, and is just hard enough to push you to want to succeed. As a reboot to a classic franchise, it succeeds in recapturing the element that made Mario a household name while not doing anything drastic to change the formula that has worked well in the last 25 years. It's not the grand champion of Mario games (that still belongs to SMB3), but it is slightly better than the Wii counterpart due to better controls and is about on par with Super Mario World.
Graphics: 8 (Nice details in the graphics considering the DS's limitations)
Music (sound effects): 7 (Good variety with decent quality)
Story: 6 (pretty much the same as most Mario games...save Peach from Bowzer Jr., bla, bla, bla)
Gameplay: 10 (Are you really surprised that I gave this game a "10" for gameplay?)
Replay Factor/Intangibles: 8 (Provides a lot of incentive to play through the entire game...even if it's a bitch to unlock all eight worlds. Plus, the inclusion of mini-games also helps, assuming you have someone to play them with)
FINAL GRADE: 8.2/A- (This game alone is reason enough to own a DS, it returns Mario to his roots and does an excellent job at it)
Next VG Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (NES)
Next week's Review: Alien Resurrection
Year Produced: 2006
Publisher/Developer: Nintendo
Game Style: Side-scrolling platformer
Sample Video of Gameplay: CLICK HERE
Additional Information: I have not had a chance to play any of the mini-games as of yet (mainly because I have no one else to play with), so the review will be based on the main game itself...though the existence of the mini-games will be taken into account when I get to the "intangibles/replay factor" section.
Plot: Bowzer Jr. kidnaps Peach and it's up to Mario to rescue her again. What else is there to say but that, it's pretty much standard fare for a Mario game.
Personal Experience: New Super Mario Bros. DS was a major reason why I ended up buying a DS in the first place. At the time it came out, I did not own my DS yet and the only system that I had that was my own was my Gamecube. Still, I wanted to get a portable gaming device so that I would have something to do at night after finishing with work while waiting to leave to go home. Back when I finally decided to buy a portable system, I was originally planning on buying a PSP, thinking that using the stylus on the DS was a "turn-off", much in the same way the Wiimote caused me to be hesitant to buy a Wii until last September.
However, on the day that I went to make the purchase, I thought about it for a while and I figured that the DS was more cost-effective as well as had more games that honestly interested me than the PSP did. As it would turn out, I would not regret the decision to buy the DS over the PSP in the slightest (of course, I'm sure you all know two of the reasons why I say that...and if not, have you been paying attention to the stories I've been producing for the last year or so?) As for Super Mario DS, this was one of the first games I purchased for the DS...but it wasn't the first (that honor belongs to Mega Man ZX), and much like all the other side-scrolling platform Mario games, I was immediately hooked on it.
Things I liked about this game
+: The gameplay (of course, it wouldn't be a Mario game if the gameplay wasn't spot on and easy to execute)
+: The Mega Mushroom (*plays Black Sabbath's Iron Man while inflicting mass destruction on hordes of goombas, koopas, and obstacles*) >:}
+: The Ninja Gaiden-esque wall jump (this has the potential to get you to places where you can't reach and it could also save your bacon a couple of times if it looks like you're about to fall to your doom)
+: The mushroom houses (though they're not quite as useful here as they are in NSMB Wii)
+: The map system (reminiscent of SMB3 and SMW...with unlockable pathways by collecting coins or finding secret goals)
+: The slide-show ending which shows every stage you've visited at the end (reminiscent of SMB3's ending)
Things that frustrated me about the game
-: Unlocking certain worlds in the game (I've tried countless times and I still haven't been able to unlock either world 4 or world 7)
-: The final fight between Mario and Bowzer is a bit anti-climactic, especially considering that of the Wii version.
Things that confused me from the game
?: How can micro Mario walk on water (who does he think he is...Jesus? OK, in the world of Video Games, he probably is, but I still find that to be a bit odd)
CONCLUSION: Much like all the other side-scrolling Mario games, this game has excellent controls, addictive gameplay, and is just hard enough to push you to want to succeed. As a reboot to a classic franchise, it succeeds in recapturing the element that made Mario a household name while not doing anything drastic to change the formula that has worked well in the last 25 years. It's not the grand champion of Mario games (that still belongs to SMB3), but it is slightly better than the Wii counterpart due to better controls and is about on par with Super Mario World.
Graphics: 8 (Nice details in the graphics considering the DS's limitations)
Music (sound effects): 7 (Good variety with decent quality)
Story: 6 (pretty much the same as most Mario games...save Peach from Bowzer Jr., bla, bla, bla)
Gameplay: 10 (Are you really surprised that I gave this game a "10" for gameplay?)
Replay Factor/Intangibles: 8 (Provides a lot of incentive to play through the entire game...even if it's a bitch to unlock all eight worlds. Plus, the inclusion of mini-games also helps, assuming you have someone to play them with)
FINAL GRADE: 8.2/A- (This game alone is reason enough to own a DS, it returns Mario to his roots and does an excellent job at it)
Next VG Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (NES)
Next week's Review: Alien Resurrection
Story Commission Status
NOTE: Commissions usually get top priority when it comes to stories that I owe people...limit of 10 paid commission slots open at one time between FA and Inkbunny (IB commissions are shown in pink text).
1: Fira
2: Bigchris369
3: AsphaltLucario
Freebies (in progress)
rallyranger Bonus Story for purchasing a mini-series commission (In progress: 25% complete)
rayo_elgatubelo Story prize featuring his characters with Charlene (In progress: 25% complete)
Freebies (to be started) and Story Credit
NOTE: Any picture commissions have been converted into story credit ($5 per picture I owed)
rallyranger (1 3-part mini-series prize...separate from commission): Yet to be started...will start working on this as soon as $5 freebie is finished
PRIVATE PRIZE STORY FOR ANONYMOUS: Idea received...yet to be started (I hope to get started soon)
lonewolfsega $5 in story credit available
keeperofjunk $5 in story credit available
thewanderingpikachu $5 in story credit available
jade_styx $10 in story credit available
NOTE: Commissions usually get top priority when it comes to stories that I owe people...limit of 10 paid commission slots open at one time between FA and Inkbunny (IB commissions are shown in pink text).
1: Fira
2: Bigchris369
3: AsphaltLucario
Freebies (in progress)
rallyranger Bonus Story for purchasing a mini-series commission (In progress: 25% complete)
rayo_elgatubelo Story prize featuring his characters with Charlene (In progress: 25% complete)Freebies (to be started) and Story Credit
NOTE: Any picture commissions have been converted into story credit ($5 per picture I owed)
rallyranger (1 3-part mini-series prize...separate from commission): Yet to be started...will start working on this as soon as $5 freebie is finishedPRIVATE PRIZE STORY FOR ANONYMOUS: Idea received...yet to be started (I hope to get started soon)
lonewolfsega $5 in story credit available
keeperofjunk $5 in story credit available
thewanderingpikachu $5 in story credit availablejade_styx $10 in story credit available
Heh. Mini Mario is very light, so that's why he can walk and run on water. He also floats when he jumps, and the only way to damage enemies there is with a Ground Pound.
You can play some of the mini games by yourself if you don't have anyone. I did that a lot. A lot of them are for one player in addition to more than one. Some are for only one player.
Of course, when I'm able to see you...I'll have someone to play with =3 *nuzzles and kisses*
*Giggles* Yeah. Hehe. I'll be willing to play it again, so we can play together. *Purrs and nuzzles back, then kisses back* :3 Hehe. I've played the mini games a lot. I also played some with a cousin years ago.