The following is a transcript of our ‘New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Review’ video, seen above.
Ah another year and another Mario title. What better way to ring in 2019 than by jumping on mushrooms, dodging carnivorous plants and sliding down bare pipe. All of which and more you can do in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Arguably the last big Wii U release to be ported to the Switch, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe has some big boots to fill coming off the monumental triumph of 2017’s Mario Odyssey.
But are the latest escapades of everyone’s favourite plumber any good? Read on to find out whether New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is more Super Mario Bros. 3, or more *ahem* Hotel Mario.
Firstly, I’m happy to report that New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a delight, and one that unfortunately, not enough people have experienced until now. Whereas 2017’s Mario Odyssey pushed the limits of what a Mario platformer could be (with great aplomb, I might add), New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe takes the formula back to its 2D basics, a move that proves to be equally successful. If I had to describe playing this title to longtime Mario fans, it feels more akin to Super Mario Bros. 3 or World than anything else, in that it’s constantly surprising you, with no two levels feeling the same.
The Switch version includes the Luigi expansion, which wasn’t included in the original 2012 Wii U release, meaning you have a whopping 164 levels to navigate through. If you’re a platformer veteran, the expansion offers a decidedly more challenging experience, testing the dexterity of even the most seasoned players. However, all levels are just as accessible to younger players, with adjustable difficulty as well as the ability to jump into coop multiplayer at any time meaning no one gets left out.
Also included in this Deluxe edition are two new characters, Nabbit and Toadette, the latter of which being able to transform into Peachette thanks to a magic crown. Essentially the human version of the Toadette, Peachette raises more questions than I care to burden myself with – does this mean all toads can transform into humans? Is humanity the next stage of evolution for the toads? By stepping on Goombas, am I committing terrible, terrible atrocities? This is a rabbit-hole I’m not ready to go down, but if there are any former toads out there, please let us know in the comments below – we’d love to hear your side of the story. Still no word on Bowsette either, I’m afraid.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it didn’t need to as there’ll always be a market and no small amount of enjoyment to be found in traversing the 2D worlds of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. Rather, it refines a tried and tested formula to such a degree that I’m hard pressed to think of any major gripes or criticisms. Couple this with the added features bundled in this Deluxe edition, and you’ve surely got one of the gaming bargains of the year.
Mario Odyssey was Nintendo flexing their creative muscles as far as they go, whilst New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is Nintendo doing what they do best. And damn, do they do it well.
