Summary

New Super Mario Bros. 2 enriches the Mario series by focusing on an audacious goal of collecting one million coins. This game blends traditional Mario platforming with innovative mechanics, like the Gold Flower power-up, to offer a familiar yet fresh challenge on the Nintendo 3DS.

Release Year: 2012
Genres: Adventure, Platform
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Developers: Nintendo EAD, Nintendo SPD
Publishers: Nintendo

Introduction

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a continuation of Mario’s iconic adventures, offering players a unique challenge centered around coin collection. Released for the Nintendo 3DS, this title combines traditional platforming with a fresh, golden objective.

Synopsis

“New Super Mario Bros. 2” is a platform game developed by Nintendo EAD Group No. 4 and published by Nintendo for its Nintendo 3DS handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan on July 28, 2012. This game is a direct sequel to the 2006 Nintendo DS game “New Super Mario Bros.” and is the first Nintendo-published game to be released simultaneously in both downloadable and physical forms.

The plot of “New Super Mario Bros. 2” is similar to its predecessors, focusing on Mario and Luigi’s efforts to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser and the Koopalings. When Princess Peach is kidnapped by Bowser and the Koopalings again, it’s up to Mario and Luigi to travel through 9 worlds and 85 levels to save her.

“New Super Mario Bros. 2” continues the style of gameplay from the first “New Super Mario Bros.” game, featuring side-scrolling platform action as Mario or Luigi attempt to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser and the Koopalings. Power-ups include the Mini Mushroom and Mega Mushroom returning from the first game, and the Super Leaf from “Super Mario Bros. 3”, which allows the player to tail-whip enemies or to fly.

The game has a heavier emphasis on coin-collecting than other Super Mario games, with multiple unique items dedicated to producing large numbers of coins. The game features a specialized mode called “Coin Rush”, which focuses exclusively on quickly completing a series of stages while collecting as many coins as possible. The game’s main focus is on coins, with the primary goal being to collect one million. To reach the goal, the game includes many new items to aid the player, such as the Gold Flower, which turns Mario into Gold Mario.

“New Super Mario Bros. 2” features nine worlds that consist of six main worlds and three special worlds. Those worlds total 81 complete levels, many of which have multiple exits to unlock more areas in the game to play and explore.

“New Super Mario Bros. 2” received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its level design, gameplay, and graphics, but criticizing its low difficulty, lack of innovation, and strong similarity to the earlier “New Super Mario Bros.” games due to its reuse of various assets from prior games and recycled soundtrack from “New Super Mario Bros. Wii”. As of September 30, 2022, “New Super Mario Bros. 2” is the fifth best-selling game for the Nintendo 3DS, with 13.41 million copies sold worldwide.

A follow-up to the game and a sequel to “New Super Mario Bros. Wii”, titled “New Super Mario Bros. U”, was released as a launch title for the Wii U on November 18, 2012.

“New Super Mario Bros. 2” is a game that continues the legacy of the Super Mario series, with its familiar plot, innovative gameplay, and emphasis on coin collecting. Despite some criticisms, it has been well-received and continues to be a popular game in the Super Mario franchise.

Characters

Main characters include Mario, with a special appearance by Gold Mario, and Luigi, offering a multiplayer option. The game also features a host of familiar enemies and characters from the Mario universe.

Gameplay

Maintaining the series’ classic side-scrolling gameplay, New Super Mario Bros. 2 introduces new elements focused on coin collection. Players navigate through various levels, utilizing power-ups and avoiding obstacles to reach the goal of one million coins.

Conclusion

While New Super Mario Bros. 2 may not revolutionize the Mario series, it offers a solid platforming experience with a unique twist on coin collection. Its engaging gameplay, combined with the challenge of collecting a million coins, ensures its place as a memorable entry in the Mario franchise.