GameSpot Reviews New Super Mario Bros. 2.

Sure, there are some throughly enjoyable moments to be had, and at times a little of that Mario brilliance shines through too. But it's overshadowed by a real lack of imagination in its level design, which makes New Super Mario Bros. 2 little more than a retread of past glories. A fun, and sometimes challenging retread in parts, but a retread nonetheless.GameSpot

You can read the full review here and watch the video review here.

I'll be getting it at launch anyway - I'm just hoping that even if it is the same old formula we're used to, that the level design is high quality and there's some challenge. I've heard conflicting things on other game websites that said NSMB2 has the best level design of that series so far; and it provides a fair amount of challenge, while coin rush provides something addicting and new for players.

Ill get it, but Im in no big rush to buy it. Plenty more to play right now.

Yep. Sounds to me like they are docking points for it being exactly what you'd expect and not much more. Fair enough. Nothing new in the hood but still a good game. I'll get it one of these days. NSMB is really as good as any other Mario game so more of the same will be welcome to me.

Meh.

I already knew i'd skip it.

It's 2D Mario! I think the reviewer was kinda harsh.

Called it.

It's 2D Mario! I think the reviewer was kinda harsh.

lancea34

I think as of late GS has been trying to be a bit more critical in their reviews when previously every popular game got 9.0 or above. I'll probably get the game eventually. You can never go wrong with 2D mario. :P

I think as of late GS has been trying to be a bit more critical in their reviews when previously every popular game got 9.0 or above. I'll probably get the game eventually. You can never go wrong with 2D mario. :P

Toxic-Seahorse

Unless it's the original NSMB.

They should just have Miyamoto make another 2D Mario game.

I think as of late GS has been trying to be a bit more critical in their reviews when previously every popular game got 9.0 or above. I'll probably get the game eventually. You can never go wrong with 2D mario. :P

Toxic-Seahorse

[QUOTE="Toxic-Seahorse"]

I think as of late GS has been trying to be a bit more critical in their reviews when previously every popular game got 9.0 or above. I'll probably get the game eventually. You can never go wrong with 2D mario. :P

King9999

Unless it's the original NSMB.

They should just have Miyamoto make another 2D Mario game.

Ugh, I hate when reviewers do this:

There's a lack of variety and imagination to the level design that makes the stages some of the blandest and most repetitive to ever grace a Mario game.

(one paragraph later....)

Some levels require precise, well-timed leaps across vast chasms, while others require more methodical hops over streams of Bullet Bills and meandering Bob-ombs. Others still are all about sheer speed, with the screen pushing you swiftly onward while you manoeuvre your way around vicious spikes and fireballs.Gamespot

SO WHICH IS IT???

He gives a really good argument for why the level design is great, yet he gives NO argument for his main point that the level design is bad.

So I'll just assume that although he knew from an objective standpoint that the level design is good, he just had this feeling that he couldn't put into words that left him with the overall impression that he didn't have as much fun with it as he would've liked. Since I'm not him, I'll probably enjoy the good level design.

And one other little nitpick:

That magical Mario spark that promises new and brilliant ideas each and every level is painfully missing.Gamespot

I don't know what Mario games he's been playing, but I can't remember one that had a new brilliant idea in each and every level. Even Mario 3 only has maybe two brilliant new ideas in each world. He's probably just nostalgically remembering his entire childhood and mashing together the best moments of every 2D Mario game into one mythical, epitomic Superior Mario Game From The Past.

[QUOTE="Rod90"]I'll never get this game. My next 3DS game will be Roller Coaster Tycoon 3D or Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir.Toxic-Seahorse

August 28.

Fingers crossed!!!

It looked pretty bland from the start. It has been getting good scores (yes, 7.0+ is good), but I'm not sure if I want to buy this.

[QUOTE="GameSpot"]Sure, there are some throughly enjoyable moments to be had, and at times a little of that Mario brilliance shines through too. But it's overshadowed by a real lack of imagination in its level design, which makes New Super Mario Bros. 2 little more than a retread of past glories. A fun, and sometimes challenging retread in parts, but a retread nonetheless.Haziqonfire

You can read the full review here and watch the video review here.

I'll be getting it at launch anyway - I'm just hoping that even if it is the same old formula we're used to, that the level design is high quality and there's some challenge. I've heard conflicting things on other game websites that said NSMB2 has the best level design of that series so far; and it provides a fair amount of challenge, while coin rush provides something addicting and new for players.

[QUOTE="King9999"]

[QUOTE="Toxic-Seahorse"]

I think as of late GS has been trying to be a bit more critical in their reviews when previously every popular game got 9.0 or above. I'll probably get the game eventually. You can never go wrong with 2D mario. :P

videog

Unless it's the original NSMB.

They should just have Miyamoto make another 2D Mario game.

For the same reason what GameSpot doesn't like about NSMB2: bland level design. The older 2D Mario games (the ones in which Miyamoto was at the helm) had imaginative level design. Levels weren't just from left to right; they were also up and down. You could fly to an obscure corner of a level and find something interesting, like a random pipe that led to a bunch of coins or 1-Ups, or maybe even a new level. Basically, I want the Mario games that encouraged exploration.

[QUOTE="Toxic-Seahorse"]

I think as of late GS has been trying to be a bit more critical in their reviews when previously every popular game got 9.0 or above. I'll probably get the game eventually. You can never go wrong with 2D mario. :P

sinsalaca

This is pretty much how I see it too. It sounds like it's well-made but nothing special. They explain that and judge it accordingly. To contrast, on the same day, GS posted a review of Sound Shapes which is a 2D platfomer they found to be not only a well-made game but unique and special and gave it a 9.0.

For the same reason what GameSpot doesn't like about NSMB2: bland level design. The older 2D Mario games (the ones in which Miyamoto was at the helm) had imaginative level design. Levels weren't just from left to right; they were also up and down. You could fly to an obscure corner of a level and find something interesting, like a random pipe that led to a bunch of coins or 1-Ups, or maybe even a new level. Basically, I want the Mario games that encouraged exploration.

King9999

But if it's any encouragement, NSMBU apparently has a lot more room for exploration, based on the demo levels people have played. The same people who were kind of disappointed in the NSMB2 demos were looking forward to NSMBU.