Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Is it wrong that this image has singlehandedly changed my opinion of New Super Mario Bros. 2 from 'eh' to 'day one, beyotches'?

When I first heard that Nintendo was prepping a New Super Mario Bros. game for the 3DS, I was stoked. Although I found the DS original to be a snoozefest, I completely adored its Wii-based sequel.

Still, New Super Mario Bros. 2, which will be released throughout North America on Aug. 19 (pre-order a copy here), was rather unceremoniously pushed to the back of my consciousness during E3 2012--thanks in large part to games like Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Project P-100, Pikmin 3 and even New Super Mario Bros. U.

The portable-platformer-to-end-all-portable-platformers returned to its position at (or at least near) the front of my mind yesterday, though, after I came across the following piece of New Super Mario Bros. 2 concept art (click on it to take a closer look):



It's funny how expanding the view of this game's box art makes the entire endeavor so much more appealing, isn't it?

Zoom in on Mario and Luigi, a la the above-mentioned cover image, and all you really see is a whole lot of gold. Zoom out a bit, though, and you see colorful blocks that call to mind Super Mario Bros. 3 and a bursting-with-Koopalings Koopa Clown Car that calls to mind Super Mario World.

I'm still not altogether sure what to think of New Super Mario Bros. 2's coin-obsessed storyline, but at the moment I don't much care. Bring on the Koopa Clown Car, I say!

(Via nintendolife.com, by way of tinycartridge.com)

10 comments:

Viewtiful_Justin said...

I'm actually excited to see just exactly what those coins have to do with the story, and...if you earn lives by getting 100 coins, and getting 100 coins is WAY easy, wouldn't you think the game would ramp up its difficulty or maybe use lives in a strange and different way? They could do so much with it, and I hope that they do...

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, Justin, I'm curious about the coins, too. I just hope the whole thing is handled correctly. If not, the game is going to be WAY too easy.

Even if it is, though, I'm sure I'll still enjoy the game due to the presence of the Koopalings :)

Adam said...

I thought the Wii one was a huge step up from the DS one that I did enjoy a lot. I can say I cant' wait for 2 either

Unknown said...

I don't know... I'm not entirely convinced I want to play more Mario, but then again I've never been a huge fan. I haven't even picked up 3D Land yet!

But you have my eternal praise and adoration for using 'beyotches' in your headline :D

Bryan Ochalla said...

Adam: Me, too. I really didn't like the original all that much. It wasn't bad, of course, but I did think it was ... uninspired. The Wii sequel was much better, IMO -- and NSMB2 looks to be at least somewhat similar to it visually. The one I'm really looking forward to, though, is NSMBU :)

Bryan Ochalla said...

Anne: Oh, I understand that, especially if you aren't a huge Mario fan. Personally, I think the first three NES Mario games, and Super Mario World on SNES, too, were much better than any of these NSMB games. I also prefer Mario's 3D adventures.

Speaking of which: I've been surprisingly ho-hum about 3D Land. I love the graphics, but I've barely touched the game since I got it along w/ my 3DS for Christmas. People seem to love it in general, though, so maybe I'll go back to it soon.

Finally, I think it's hilarious that my use of 'beyotches' in the header here earned both your praise and adoration :) Honestly, I nearly didn't include it -- because I think it was too crass, etc. Now I'm glad I didn't go ahead with it!

diaglyph said...

So, 3DS XL......!!!!!

Bryan Ochalla said...

Ha! Yes, Igor :) I'm writing about it right now. What do you think of it?

diaglyph said...

Kinda mixed feelings.
I still feel they should've waited until next year - this year should've been the Wii U focus.
Could've worked on anniversary (next year) of 3DS to release the XL.
But I'm actually starting to come around to it, considering how close in size it is to Vita (5" - the XL is 4.88"). I could give my original 3DS to bf LOL he can play with 3D turned off.
Am disappointed that Fire Emblem is next year :( Oh well, Heroes of Ruin will have to do for now!!

Bryan Ochalla said...

I understand. I have mixed feelings about it, too. I really like the bigger screens and some of the other 'tweaks,' but I'm not sure about the exterior design. Also not at all a fan of those hideous colors they're releasing in the US (blue/black, red/black). Ugh. Oh, well, I'll probably get a Japanese one anyway -- should I get one.

Oh, and, yes, Fire Emblem not coming out until 2013 is disappointing, although not all that unexpected, IMO. Animal Crossing likely not coming out until 2013 is even worse :(