bit-tech Shopping: Nintendo New Super Mario Bros (DS)

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Very good game with excellent Graphics.

Weaknesses: None

Summary: Super Mario Brothers is one of my son's favorite games. He likes it so much. this game is fun as I expect it to be. The game is easy. The turtle shell and mini mushroom helps you uncover hidden areas.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Graphics and color

Weaknesses: Graphics and color

Summary: I wouldn't buy again. Slow startup run time and after completing several levels then losing all your men one has to start at the beginning very annoying. Desperately need a level restart.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Great graphics and gameplay. Lots of fun.

Weaknesses: Short and too easy. Lacks depth. Stupid save system.

Summary: Old school Mario gaming returns in this re-imagining of previous Mario games. Taking Mario back to his roots, but doing so with updated graphics, sounds, and control is a terrific idea and Nintendo doesn't drop the ball.Simply put, this is a fun game to play and captures everything that was great about NES/SNES Mario games. If you ever liked it before, you'll like it now.The save system is irritating, until you complete the game. You can only save at set points, every few levels. You can always put the DS into sleep mode, but if you're a few levels along and want to play another DS game, you're out of luck. Annoying, stupid design decision.The minigames are great, and a wonderful addition (although they're not recycled for me, since I skipped Mario's previous DS title).Overall, a great game for the DS, hampered only by it's lack of difficulty and depth. Nintendo should be commended for bringing Mario back with style. Next time, hopefully, they won't forget that good games should continue to challenge and reward, long after they're over.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Nod to past SMB titles with enough twists to earn the "New" in the title

Weaknesses: save feature

Summary: I?m almost through world one and it?s been fun so far. The graphics are really good and the developers definitely gave it a feel of the past SMB titles in their layouts and designs. The stylus/touch screen doesn?t seem to play a huge part in the first world other than being able to tap the extra item (shroom, flower) and make it available for use. I like the feature of being able to carry an extra item, but it could have been incorporated in the buttons leaving out the touch screen element. It?s kind of awkward if you try to use the stylus and me, not wanting to oil up the touch screen, I don?t want to put my thumb on it to release the item. I have to put in an order for those Hori screen protectors soon.The second map screen is a nice feature which lets you know where you are currently.The only thing I don?t like so far is the lack of a ?save anywhere? feature that was available in most of the previous SMB titles. As it stands now, you have to have a least 5 coins to open up a mushroom house to save. I haven?t figured out any other method to save your game after clearing one area. I suppose you could just close your DS and let it ?sleep? but I don?t like leaving my electronics on.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Old school 2-D side-scrolling platforming action at its finest.

Weaknesses: The new power-ups aren't anything to write home about. No Wi-Fi multiplayer.

Summary: The ten year-plus wait for a new side-scrolling 2-D Mario Bros. game has been well worth it. With the New Super Mario Bros. comes a reminder of the platforming of the old days. Taking some of the best elements of Super Mario Bros 1 and 3, and Mario 64, Mario is back in a killer new 3-D model in a 2-D world. If you fondly recall the NES Marios and wish for a throwback, this one is for you.