Game review: New Super Mario Bros

New Super Mario Bros.

£44.99, Wii

Princess Peach is being held hostage in her castle by the notorious Bowser, and it’s up to Mario to travel across Dinosaur Land to save her.

As far as controls go, this is a classic Mario experience, with plenty of jumping, neat platform mechanics and a slew of power-ups including the ice flower and the new Super Acorn. This gives Mario the power of flight over a short distance, helping players reach hidden areas and bonus coins.

It’s far from the trickiest game in the series however, and as such feels a little bit geared towards the younger market Nintendo has been chasing in recent years. You won’t fail often, giving a sense that this is Nintendo on cruise control.

Regardless, few platform series can confidently stack next to Mario. It’s a formula that refuses to age poorly, and always delivers a certain standard of gameplay. It simply works, charms and enthuses across the board.

Plus, the Wii U GamePad is a fine controller, and allows for five-player games – where four people control characters on screen using classic WiiMotes, while the GamePad operator taps their screen to create platforms. It’s a great mode for family play, and lets everyone get in on the fun. This is yet another solid Mario game, and even if it lacks innovation, it’s thoroughly enjoyable.