Finally what we've all been waiting for.
Graphics: 9
The graphics are darn good for the DS. Most areas look crisp and you never run into lag. The different environments are true eye candy, and really enhance the whole experience. Mario and the other 3-D characters are a little blurry, but honestly I don't care because it doesn't really make that much of a difference.
Gameplay: 9
New Super Mario Bros. has a lot of new gameplay mechanics that aren't in the previous games. In this particular game you can groundpound, become extremely small in order to reach different areas, gain a shell in order to spin into enemies, swing on ropes, become giant and crush everything in your way, and jump on certain pads which make you fly for a short amount of time. All of these improvements really add a lot to the game, and make it different. This time around it doesn't involve simply jumping on goombas heads.
Sound: 9
The sound in some levels is charming and enjoyable. It doesn't really make that much of a difference, but lets just say that if you were to play with your ds volume turned off, it wouldn't take away from the experience.
Overall: 9
This game truly is superb with its new additions and great level designs. Any DS owner is recommended to get this game, it is very worthwhile. The one downer is that it's extremely short, but you just might find yourself playing through again or trying to get all of the star coins.