New Mario lacks 'newness,' says Infendo

Are you kidding me? Nintendo's been profiting off their fanbase's nostalgia since forever. Look at the entire library of GBA games. At least New SMB isn't yet another lazy port.

Err.. It's a game, buy it or don't.

Why does every game that comes out for the DS and not take advantage of every bell and whistle that it has "Not a DS Game"?
Sure, Brain Training gets you to write, read, and juggle while standing on your head.
Not everyone wants to do these things all the time for every game.
Sometimes, just a simple side scroller that is enjoyable is what the masses ask for.

If you want "DS Games".. play with your Nintendog while I blast some mushrooms with fireballs.

How can this blogger say it isn't a "new" game? Was SMB3 a new game? Yes. Yes, this game will contain many elements seen in previous SMB games, but they aren't claiming it's a new franchise, or a new concept, just that it is a new SMB game.

For the record this guy hasn't played the game and has only seen screenshots (by his own admission). How is it newsworthy that one person thinks this game is "old." Of course it's old! The point is that it is a refreshing reminder of how fun games used to be before graphics became the only important thing.

Personally I think this game will sell incredibly well, considering Mario Bros. the completely not-new game re-released for the Game Boy sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

"Judging by the info and screens we have up to this point"

What a f*cking idiot. Kill yourself plz. I'm sure nintendo has shown everything there is to know about this game /sarcasm


Wait to play the damn game, all this guy wants is publicity.

"New Super Mario Bros. will be fun, but let's not kid ourselves, it's not gonna shake up the state of gaming in 2006."

Erm, it's not what this game tries to accomplish anyways. It's about classic 2D jump & run gameplay with some new twists. That's it. I think I'll buy it.

-R.U.Sirius

Out of all the screenshots of New Super Mario Bros., I've seen maybe two levels that look like remakes of an old level, the first second level, specifically. Everything else had looked very different.

@3: you are right on the money.

Sometimes, when I'm riding the bus, I can't play meteos or draw things in brain training because the bus shakes a lot. I also don't want to be shouting things at the microphone so everyone can stare at me. Every now and then, I just want a regular game that I can play quietly, by myself, on the shaky bus.

"The point is that it is a refreshing reminder of how fun games used to be before graphics became the only important thing."

umm..sounds like nostalgia to me...which...is the whole point joystiq is tryin to make.

This is my first time posting here, and I really don't understand where he's coming from. I mean, "It's not a new game, and moreover it's not a DS game." Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't the game's content totally new? This isn't just Super Mario with fancier graphics, which he implies. It's a totally new Mario game, with nearly a hundred completely new levels, new gameplay mechanics, and it uses the DS for some enhanced graphics and a second screen with some useful functions (pick stored powerups, view where you are in the level, etc.) Sure, it doesn't particularly push many of the DS's innovative hardware functionality, but hell, neither did Mario Kart DS to a degree, which is in my opinion the best game out for DS so far. And I mean, OK, many of the environments are from the original Mario, which seems to be one of his main points, but what exactly does that mean? He would love this game if it was reskinned?

Or maybe he expected a 3D mario game or something? Leave 3D to a system that can do it well, mainly in terms of control. The Mario 64 port got a lot of points knocked off in most reviews for not so awesome control on the DS. I for one would rather have a really well done, spotless 2D side scrolling Mario platformer on my DS. Leave the next 3D Mario for Revolution. Can't wait till this game is out!

I can tell you why I'm excited about it...

Ever since games went three dimensional, control hasn't been the same. Moving something carefully through 129600 (360 * 360) degrees of freedom doesn't allow for meticulously crafted controls based on feeling. As a result, games have become easier than the glory days of the NES, which is a well documented phenomenon.

You could create a 2D game such that even with tons of bullets, koopa shells or whatever flying at you from every (only 360 in 2D, or possibly just left, right, up, and down) angle, you could master the control, act on instinct, and when you did manage to dodge everything, feel very satisfied with yourself.

Now, with the 3D worlds too complex to control with the D-pad and a couple of buttons, designers just make the game easier and there's less satisfaction when you win...

Two examples...
Wind Waker- You hold in the L button to lock onto the Darknut (because you couldn't maneuver without the targeting help in a full 3D world), wait for the button icon to glow bright, and hit the A button. YOU WIN! No skill required.
Zelda 1- You dodge blue dark nuts left and right because you're one with the gameplay and control. It looks like an impossible maze of up, down, left, and right, but you navigate it and attack their backs, all because of the player's skill. You feel tremendously satisfied when you win.

People are excited to have that satisfaction of mastering control again, since it’s so far been proved impossible in almost all 3D games. That’s where the excitement comes from. It’s a trip back to when games were more fun to play because of the hardware imposed limitations on the worlds.

This is crazy! If the game is FUN, it's FUN. Mario games are usually FUN. Nintendo has said, MANY TIMES, that they want to bring all sorts of games to the table. New ones, more epic titles, simpler ones. They've stood by their word. They aren't just saying. They are doing. And it's working. Without complicating things, the simple truth is that Mario games have always been fun. This one looks to be no different. Therefore, people are excited.

*gasp* Bite your tongue Ransom-Wiley! You speak of Nintendo, the holiest of companies!

Seriously though, Nintendo does profit from nostalgia, big time. Just look at the gatherings of nerdy young men around a game of Smash Bros.--including me.

I do think it's funny that Nintendo talks so much of newness and not throwing out tons of sequels, while at the same time slapping Mario onto as many different genres as possible. Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, Mario in NBA games, Mario DDR, etc. I love Nintendo, but they seem a tad hypocritical at times.

Yet, if they didn't pump out sequels, they would be lambasted for that, too. I couldn't believe how long it took them to release a new Metroid after Super Metroid.

Don't take any of this the wrong way. I love Nintendo. I'm going to buy a DS Lite and New SMB. Hopefully the same day.

I hope you realise that EVERY franchise out there is also playing on your "nostalgia" even more so than Nintendo as others tend to do that every year.

"I love Nintendo, but they seem a tad hypocritical at times."

No, not Nintendo. Their marketing. Marketing is per se hypocritical.

-R.U.Sirius

Embassy-

You are partly right. It is nostalgia in the fact that Mario is appearing in an oft-seen situation. The point I was trying to make is that Nintendo is trying to bring back 2-D sidescrollers which, all nostalgia aside, can be even more fun than much of what is prevalent today.

In other words, Nintendo is trying to make a light-hearted, entertaining, 2-D sidescroller that is fun to pick up and play for short bursts. That they are using an established franchise to do this is expected.

How the heck is this news? Are you guys going to start reporting everytime someone on some site makes some randomly negative comment about every game ever? Good lord, this post should be DELETED. It's editorial by Ransom-Wiley and nothing more. Last time I checked Joystiq was a news site, not a ranting blogs. Perhaps Ransom-Wiley is best suited to be fired and left to go start his own crap-blog. Because that's what he's turning this one into.

NSMB is a sequel to Super Mario World. It'll probably be the best 2D platformer of the past ten years. Reinvent gaming? No. But last time I checked, 99% of games didn't reinvent gaming.

What a stupid, worthless, pointless and downright embarassing post. A new low for Joystiq, sadly.

nfendo's Rollin had a thing or two to say about New Super Mario Bros NFL Madden. in this morning's post: "It's not a new game, and moreover it's not a DS game. Judging by the info and screens we have up to this point, this looks like an ankle-deep, shallow relic of Mario's past..."

there you go fixed...

Err... Please tell me why Nintendo should now only be allowed to release "innovative" games? They are a massive developer/publishing company. Why should every game they develop now be completely new and different?

I bet if the game was original, this blogger would be complaining how Nintendo didn't stay true to the Mario series. One of those people that thrive off of complaining about things I'm sure.

stupid html tags messed up my joke.

Wierd. I never really thought of it as Nintendo "Profiting off my Nostalgia", but that makes a lot of sense. They sell most of their titles to me because I'm familiar with the characters in the games.

Iwata, I think, at the GDC, said it was important for Nintendo to do both. He says they are guilty of doing a lot of sequels, and that this is what the fans want, but that they also think it is important to make innovative new franchises and ways to play.

This is what Nintendo typically does. They do a lot of new stuff you've never seen before, as well as a lot of sequels to popular frachises.

I think this is very much a worthy news story.

In fact I was very surprised that a known nintendo fanboy that writes for a nintendo fansite (Infendo's Rollin) actually wrote something that didn't automatically praise nintendo.

The fact that he wrote somthing that isn't instantly singing the praises of the big 'n' is refreshing.

Don't accept everything a corporation forces down your throat. If a corporation knows everything they offer to the masses will sell without question, where is their drive to innovate??

Rollin made some good points... why are you slagging him for offering his opinion?

If Nintendo did change anything about it they'd be borderline insane. It's a fucking 2d Mario platformer, for god's sake. You can't make it any better as far as I'm concerned. Give us some more levels/items/badguys and we're good to go.

To quote the writer: "New Super Mario Bros. will be fun"

Exactly, but let's find stuff to bitch about anyway.

I can't speak for others, but I would much rather play a new side-scrolling Mario or Castlevania game than the majority of the "me -too" first person shooters that publishers continually regurgitate.

That's not to say I don't like newer style 3D games, but I much prefer game companies offering bits of nostalgia instead of a flood of crap.

did anyone see Iwata's interview. He says he wants to create opportunities for new types of games, but he also wants very much to conitune older franchises because of fanbase. Nintendo is really trying to do both. Thats what this Mario is. A game that will appealling to us 'old schoolers' while giving new gen kids a chance to play a fun game. Many companies are ending 2D scrollers. I don't like that. Many of my friends and family haven't evolved with the 3D gen and would rather play 'old-school' games. They want this type of game. You want a game that uses all the DS bells and whistles and is next gen. Play Metroid:Hunters. Thats the point isn't it. With the DS you have the best of all worlds. Nothing is cut off.

Games like Tetris, Brain Games can appeal to puzzlers. Metroid is a new FPS for the DS. Need racing, how about Mario Kart. Old school 2D, you got the new Nintendo. On top of that look at Ace Attorney or Trauma Centre, those are unique games.

Don't forget, this also showcases other dev companies about what the potential is.

I for one, have pre-ordered this game.

Nintendo can make all the rehashes it wants. A formulaic copy of a Mario game will never suck as much as say, Jak and Daxter.

The only problem I have with this criticism is that it isn't very constructive. What should be changed about the game so that Nintendo isn't playing off our nostalgia? Let's get something straight, a new SMB isn't even in the same category as say...Madden, where we get a new one every year and often times, it's really the same old game.

Mario represents a certain quality of 2D or 3D platformer that we expect. I'm not planning on buying the new SMB solely because it's a Mario game, but rather, because I feel that Nintendo's Mario Platformers have always represented really great games. So in my case, it's definitely not a 'nostalgic' purchase, but I can't speak for others.

And criticizing a game without even playing it??!! C'mon that's just not fair to anyone. There's a lot of great games that you would never be able to tell they're that good just by looking at screenshots.

PLEASE EVERYONE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND NSMB!!!!!!!
UNDERSTAND, THE NINTENDO DS SYSTEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THEIR FIRST SYSTEM THEY HAVE EVER PLAYED/PLAYED IN SOME YEARS!!!!!

NEW SUPER MAIRO BROS. IS A GAME FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCE THE "OLD" SMB!!! IF "OLD" SUPER MARIO BROS. CAPTURED A LOT OF THE ADDUIENCE THAT PLAYED THE GAME 20YRS AGO... MORE SO NINTENDO IS TRYING TO DO THAT SAME THING WITH THE NEW COMERS TO THE VIDEO GAME WORLD!!!
NINTENDO IS GIVING THEM THE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GAMES THAT HELP CHANGE THE HISTORY/ROUTE OF GAMING!!!!

ONCE A DEAD INDUSTRY, TO VERY LIVELY!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure what Infendo's point really is other than trying to trash Nintendo by putting up a straw-man only to whack it down. The name of the game is "New" Super Mario Bros. Not "Revolutionary Mario Bros." This game is not trying to reshape the gaming world for 2006 or any other year... give me a break.
This game is meant to move product. Nintendo will bundle the DS lite with the NEW Super Mario Bros. and will be making money hand over fist. Infendo will be playing this game on his DS light in between have his weiner in his hand and fist. And that my friends is something that will change gaming as we know it.

"But if we're going to criticize other companies for churning out sequels and rehashes, we'd best lift the 'untouchable' veil from in front of Nintendo's name and let them have it too."

I don't consider Nintendo 'untouchable' however I do not consider them guilty of the same crime as other said companies. It is very true that they have capitalized on their franchises with many sequels. What sets Nintendo apart is their willingness to make other more 'innovative' games along side the 'rehashes'. You don't see games like Nintendogs or Brain Age from the likes of EA. I am very glad Nintendo has this philosophy. I am excited about the prospect of playing a NEW old game as well as brand NEW games. There is nothing wrong with sequels and remakes. There will always be a place for those games. As long as those are not the only ones being produced and no one can say Nintendo is guilty of that. Let's not criticize too harshly.

A few points:

1. Nintendo has been in the game business at least twice as long as any other company so it would be expected that they have more sequels than any other company. However it’s not like they churn out those sequels at anywhere close to the same rate as other companies. They just put their franchise characters in different games. The only exception to this is Mario Party. All others usually have 1 or 2 games during the life of a console.
2. Mario is Nintendo’s premier franchise and they aren’t about to really screw it up. You can guarantee that it will be extremely well made. It might not satisfy everyone’s tastes, but I know of no game that does.
3. I’ve personally have been fooled by “screens and info” many times. This is no way to make a determination that a game is good or not and you’d be foolish to try. Only by trying it yourself or taking the opinion of someone you trust can you determine a games rating.
4. A lot of people know what their doing when they start poking at the Nintendo fanboy bees nest. It’s a really easy way to generate attention. I know if I had a blog and I wanted more hits I wouldn’t give a favorable review of a Nintendo game; I bash it for all it’s worth.

Personally, I've been longing to play a new 2d Mario Bros. game since Super Mario World. But that is just one facet of my, and other gamers, tastes.

Nobody said NSMB was going to be the most "innovative" title of the DS. On the contrary, they said it was specifically a throwback to the first Super Mario Bros utilizing both screens. There's already enough innovative games and gameplay out there for the DS: Electroplankton, Trauma Center, Nintendogs, Metroid Prime: Hunters, Brain Age, and so on.

ok i didn't read any of the other posts so maybe somebody already said it, but the fact is there hasn't been a good 2-d platformer outside of rayman and alien hominid for a good while, so although the concept of mario is not new, the genre is pretty empty. with that in mind it makes it a more unique game. at least for me i'm just tired of the fps thing they are fun but ther are a heck of a lot out there. as for sequels, they aren't bad as long as they are well done, GT and GT2 are freakin awesome games the RE games are awesome. mario games are great too. i don't see a problem with it.

Damn straight, Infendo. Who needs another damn 2d platformer? I don't care how fun it is. I mean, this is like 2006 or some shit.

I heard that in the new XBox 360 Mario game, the graphics are so detailed you can see each individual hair in Mario's mustache. It's freakin' awesome.

I have been saying this for YEARS. Nintendo has been riding that Mario and friends short bus for FAR TOO LONG.

Ask yourself: Would the game be fun if it wasn't Mario brand?

Maybe... but certainly not worthy of a bunch of your money.

The same crap happens to their consoles, it's like they intentionally make the screen dim and the unit big so you have to buy another Gameboy when it comes out.

Well HEY ITS A NEW MARIO GAME... I guess time for you consumer whores to shell out another wad...

"You don't see games like Nintendogs or Brain Age from the likes of EA."

Black & White? The Sims? Spore?

-R.U.Sirius

"I think this is very much a worthy news story."

Gee, I wonder how you got 4 stars. *cough*

"Rollin made some good points... why are you slagging him for offering his opinion?"

I thought this was news, not editorial? It's labelled as such. It's on a news site. He doesn't make any points. He never once mentions the quality of the game itself, never once adresses this issue. All he does is comment on an off-handed comment by someone who never even PLAYED the game. And the entire story is worded so it sounds like its fact based on playtime. "20 year old concept"? Huh? What? A platforming game starring Mario? Because that's the concept. Last time I checked there are almost NO original concepts, yet there are still eons of great and original games.

This is a personal rant being pushed as news. It's embarassing for Joystiq and shameful deceit, as well.

"Why does every game that comes out for the DS and not take advantage of every bell and whistle that it has "Not a DS Game"?"

A very good point. And also note that if a game DOES use every special feature of the DS, people will instead whine and moan about how it's too "gimmicky", even if it's really utilizing the features in a clever and original way.

"Look at the entire library of GBA games. At least New SMB isn't yet another lazy port."

Entire library? Geez, tone it down there, Dr. Exaggeratron. The GBA library is FLUSH with solid gameplay and there is simply no denying that.

It's a catch22 situation that Nintendo has been in for years, either way. If they do something completely new with a franchise, people bitch. If they leave it alone and add upon it, people bitch. There's nothing they can do. The best advice is buy it or don't.

This article in particular is of no real consequence to anything. Essentially it can be summed up as "I'm not really interested in another Super Mario Bros. side scrolling platform game based on the little I know about it. I will not address anything it is trying to do, however!" Interesting.

I don't think any one can contest that this isn't a "new" Mario game. It does some new things with the franchise while capitalizing on what is already expected. This isn't necessarily bad or lazy or anything else. In this case, it's more about semantics.

I also think people throw around this term "nostalgia" way too fucking much. "A new Mario game!! I played one of those ten years ago and anything new by default is playing off that nostalgia and that's all there is to it!" That's not really what that entails.

Isn't it obvious that this title is supposed to be a throwback to the original style of Mario gameplay? Haven't they made that painfully obvious with the title, the screens, the layout of the first level and in constant interviews? It's the first fully new title in the series that is both a sidescroller and not just an update of existing level layouts. For a hell of a lot of people that's exactly what they have been waiting for for years.

Sometimes I really don't understand what people expect from this company.

He does hit on a valid point. Nintendo for some reason remains immune to the complaint that there are too many sequels and rehashes and games that exist within one franchise. I think the stronghold of nintendo fans keeps that criticism from happening. They might not release sequels and rehashes at the same rate, but thats because they dont release GAMES IN GENERAL at the same rate as some other big companies. Nintendo fans tend to bash other companies for their lineups of sequels without looking at the company they love. It just seems a bit hypocritical. It is preying on the nostalgia of gamers, all games in long running franchises do to some respect, but I think nintendo does it over a longer time and by nature gets away with it.
Another thing, since when is it a bad thing to make a sequel. Some of the best games I know to exist were sequels. Many of the greatest games ever were sequels of a game, or a game within the same franchise as another game. All I ask for is that the complaint either to apply to the whole industry including nintendo, or not at all.
One has to commend nintendo for having such a devoted fanbase, but it seems sometimes like they are vicious dogs willing to pounce on any offender, even if that offender tells the truth.

This game is going to bring so many people back to Nintendo. Older gamers who loved the nes/snes but deserted Nintendo for playstation will buy a DS to play this game.

Artimus, if you want to have an adult discussion, you are going to have to stop with the jealousy and stop putting people down for expressing what they feel/think.

Now if you are ready, here is what I agreed with the author about:

"You don't need 2 screens or touch functions for this. It's not a new game, and moreover it's not a DS game. Judging by the info and screens we have up to this point, this looks like an ankle-deep, shallow relic of Mario's past with a couple modern intricacies."

Again, none of us have played the game... and he states that. For all we know, the game could be groundbreaking when it comes out.

Now I would like you hear what your problem is... is it with me agreeing with James or Rollin? Do you feel I am wrong in thinking Nintendo might be riding their moneymaker a little far here? Do you not like the fact I have stars next to my name? Do you feel that Nintendo should never be criticized?

Please, I would like to know what your issue is, Artimus... because your post doesn't really address anything. And remember, please use your adult voice.

I look at it this way: I have held off on buying the gameboy advance game "Classic Super Mario Bros." Not because I don't love it. Not because its a great game. But $19 bucks for NES games? I mean please, at least double up Nintendo!

But what if for $10 (even 20) more you can get a new version of the classic game with mini games to boot. DS graphics? Bonus!! I would get it in a heart beat, even if it isn't
a "Fresh" Mario title.

Just because it isn't as new an Idea as mario washing off rainbow mud was (which I loved), it has its place.

About time somebody realised that Nintendo are really milking Mario to saturation point. First GBA "Advance" shovelware, now Mario 64 DS and all "NEW" SMB And all the offshot totally unrealted games that seem to get Mario plastered on them in hope they sell more. How much more rehashed Mario cack are you fanboys gonna swallow? Jeeehzuz. It really is spoiling what Mario used to be.

SMB, Super Mario World... Classic's Loved them, still do. Mario 64, ground breaking at the time. BUT if you want to carry on buying the same old game then please do... otherwise do the more sane thing. Pull out your old NES, SNES or N64, or if your that way inclined run them on an Emulator. Of course only do this if you own the real carts ;) And now tell Nintendo to please make something NEW! REALLY NEW!! no more Mario rehashing, its getting ridiculous.

If you keep buying they will keep making, its simple! Nintendo are WORSE than sony!!!

Now, The Revolutions Virtual console, thats something different. I look forward to that idea. Like official emulation. Nice idea.

Now then, *Bracing myself with a Mario faced pillow* Go ahead and bash guys..

This article is right in some ways, but, like the game, doesn't bring anything mind-blowing to the table. True it doesn't appear to take advantage of unique DS capabilities, but it is called "New Super Mario Bros", not "Super Mario Bros DS". I think this game was never intended to "change the face of gaming" or "take an old concept into a new direction". I think this game is simply a sequel. So why all the hype? Because it is what looks like a beautiful sequel with some fresh elements to one of the best franchises in gaming history! Sequels are not evil when they bring a fresh feel to the game without changing the face of the game, and I think "New Super Mario Bros" is looking to do just that!

It's "new" because it brings a "new" generation to the Mario series.

Infendo is a bunch of idiots, If they read info on the game like they claim, then they know its been stated that there are many new elements that will suprise fans.

Someone wrote:
"It just seems a bit hypocritical. It is preying on the nostalgia of gamers, all games in long running franchises do to some respect, but I think nintendo does it over a longer time and by nature gets away with it."

It should say:
"It just seems a bit [inevitable]. It is [the] preying ... of gamers [that result in the] long running franchises, [so give them] some respect... I think nintendo does it [best]."