New Super Mario Bros. U

This article is about the Wii U game. For other uses, see New Super Mario Bros. U (disambiguation).

New Super Mario Bros. U
North American box cover For alternate art, see the related gallery.
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform	Wii U
Release dates	November 18, 2012 November 30, 2012 November 30, 2012 December 8, 2012
Languages	English (United States) English (United Kingdom) Japanese Dutch French (Canada) French (Europe) German Italian Portuguese (Europe) Russian Spanish (Latin America) Spanish (Europe)
Genre	Platformer
Ratings	ESRB: - Everyone CERO: - All ages PEGI: - Three years and older USK: - All ages ClassInd: - General audience ACB: - General FPB: - Parental guidance
Modes	Single player Multiplayer
Format	Wii U: Optical disc Digital download
Input	Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote (horizontal) Wii U Pro Controller
Serial codes	WUP-P-ARPJ WUP-P-ARPE WUP-P-ARPP

New Super Mario Bros. U is a 2012 2.5D platform game and a launch title for the Wii U, released in the United States on November 18, 2012; in Europe and Australia on November 30, 2012; and in Japan on December 8, 2012. It is the sixteenth entry in the Super Mario series and the fourth New Super Mario Bros. game. The game follows Mario and his friends as they travel across the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach after Bowser takes over her castle. As a sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the game is a follow-up to New Super Mario Bros. 2, though its graphics and presentation are largely based on those of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. It is the first Super Mario–series game to be released as a launch title for a home console since Super Mario 64. An expansion pack for this game was later released in June 2013 as a celebration for The Year of Luigi, titled New Super Luigi U.

Based on the New Super Mario Bros. Mii tech demo shown at E3 2011, the game retains many key elements from the New Super Mario Bros. subseries, most notably a simultaneous four-player mode, while using new, more detailed background styles and models. The highlighted new features of New Super Mario Bros. U are the Flying Squirrel power-up, acquired by Mario and his friends from an item called the Super Acorn; a single-player Challenge Mode; three variants of Baby Yoshi with their own unique powers; and the utilization of the Wii U GamePad in Boost Mode to manipulate the current gameplay by placing Boost Blocks and touching enemies to defeat or stun them.

The game was originally purchasable at the Nintendo eShop, requiring 2,301.7 MB (about 2.3 GB) to be downloaded, but after the retail release of New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U, it was no longer possible to purchase New Super Mario Bros. U as a standalone game in regions outside Japan.

Along with Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U is one of the first home console Nintendo-published games to be officially localized in Dutch, European Portuguese, and Russian.

An enhanced port of New Super Mario Bros U + New Super Luigi U, titled New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, was released for the Nintendo Switch in January 11, 2019.

Story

The following text is taken directly from the official website.

Bowser’s gang has taken over Princess Peach’s Castle! This time, the goal of the journey is Peach’s occupied castle!

The Mario Bros. and Toads about to be hit by the Mecha Hand.

Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad are with Princess Peach in Peach's Castle dining together. Bowser and the Koopalings suddenly arrive in their Airships, with the former sporting a Mecha Hand that smashes and launches the brothers and the Toads away from the castle. Mario and his friends crash into the Acorn Tree, launching Super Acorns through the area. They then tumble out of the tree, passing by a Bubble Baby Yoshi and Balloon Baby Yoshi, and they then look into the horizon to see Bowser beginning a siege on Princess Peach's Castle, setting the Mario Bros. and the Toads to go on a new adventure and to save Princess Peach.

As the game progresses, the view occasionally shifts to Peach's Castle, showing the flags being replaced by Bowser's flags (after Tilted Tunnel), and the castle being surrounded by a thin tornado-like cloud that is made thicker by Magikoopa's magic (after Stoneslide Tower), entirely obscuring the castle (after Giant Skewer Tower or Freezing-Rain Tower). Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad also encounter Bowser's forces, including the Koopalings, Boom Boom, Magikoopa, and Bowser Jr., who occasionally attacks the heroes with his father's airship. All of them are defeated, and Bowser Jr. causes the airship to crash after making the mechanical hand punch through it. After reaching Peach's Castle and defeating Bowser, the group moves onward, but Bowser Jr. appears and urges Magikoopa to spread his magic across the area. After heading to the castle exterior, Mario and the others see Peach in a tower. Before they can save her, she is locked inside the tower and Bowser appears, now at a giant size, alongside Bowser Jr. Eventually, Bowser is defeated and Bowser Jr., embarrassed, flees. The character that defeated Bowser gets to Peach and bows down to her, and is then kissed by her, to their shock and delight, as the clouds surrounding the castle disappear, restoring it to its former state.

Outside the castle, the Koopalings and Bowser Jr. are fleeing on the airship as Bowser, who has returned to his normal size, recovers. Noticing the escaping airship, he climbs up onto one of the castle towers and leaps onto the ship, but his weight causes it to plummet into a hill nearby; they then fly away hanging onto Bowser Jr.'s Junior Clown Car while Mario and Blue Toad watch. They then turn back to the others, who are celebrating their victory, with Mario delivering a final victory pose.

Gameplay

Overview

Mario in his Flying Squirrel suit.

New Super Mario Bros. U is a platform game which plays very similarly to that of past New Super Mario Bros. games, especially New Super Mario Bros. Wii, with the return of the 4-player multiplayer functioning identically to the Wii game, while most of the elements and design found in the game make heavy reference to Super Mario World. Many other gameplay elements from the Wii game, such as the Super Guide, Enemy Courses, and the bubble function, also return. In Challenge Mode, Boost Rush, and Coin Battle, players can play as their Miis, including the first player, who can also choose whoever to play as. Power-ups, like the Fire Flower, Ice Flower, Penguin Suit, Propeller Mushroom, and the Mini Mushroom return. The game also features a new power-up, the Super Acorn, which gives Mario and co. a Flying Squirrel form, which lets them glide and grab onto walls. A similar item called the P-Acorn also makes its debut. This item gives Mario and friends unlimited flight, but it wears off at the end of the level.

The main goal of each level is to reach the Goal Pole at the end and advance to the next level before the timer runs out. Mario is able to jump over and onto various platforms and obstacles and stomp on certain enemies to defeat them. In addition to the basic jump, Mario can perform a Spin Jump to destroy other types of enemies, while holding down or allows Mario to dash. Pressing the dash button when Mario is next to certain items makes him pick up and carry the item through the level as long as the button is held down.

Mario is able to transform with power-up items, primarily found in blocks. The basic Super Mushroom turns Mario into Super Mario, causing him to grow larger and allowing him to take an extra hit. When Super Mario hits a block, a more powerful item usually appears in the Super Mushroom's place, such as a Fire Flower or the new Super Acorn.

New Super Mario Bros. U features two main controller options: single-player using the Wii U GamePad, and single-player or multiplayer using Wii Remotes and/or Wii U Pro Controllers; the player can switch controllers at any point between the GamePad and a Wii Remote or Pro Controller by pausing the game, either in a level or on the world map, and selecting the "Change Controller" option. The game supports up to five simultaneous players, with up to four being able to play as the characters with a Wii Remote or Wii U Pro Controller, and are able to drop in and out at any point while in a stage by pressing on the GamePad and selecting a character, or on the map by pausing and selecting "Number of Players". Another player is able to use the Wii U GamePad in what is known as Boost Mode. In Boost Mode, the GamePad player can assist the other players by placing blocks for them to stand on and stunning enemies. Boost Mode can be used at any point when playing with one of the other controllers; when playing with just the GamePad, it supports Off-TV Play.

After clearing Layer-Cake Desert-1 or Soda Jungle-1, an enemy called Nabbit appears and steals an item from a Toad House connecting that level, heading back to Acorn Plains-1. When the player enters a stage with Nabbit, the objective is to race him to the goal, trying to catch him before he can get away. If the player succeeds in catching Nabbit, they are rewarded with a P-Acorn. Replacing the Toad saving in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Nabbit only appears in one stage in each of the first seven worlds.

The first update to the game added Miiverse support. With Miiverse functionality enabled, players can read each others' posts on the world map by viewing the map; when not viewing the map a Miiverse post is indicated by a red balloon, generally near a stage, and can be hidden by pressing ; when on the World Map while using Boost Mode, the GamePad player can scroll across the map on the GamePad screen and view Miiverse posts. At certain times throughout gameplay, such as when the player dies several times or reaches the end of a course in a specific way (collecting all the Star Coins, clearing in a certain amount of time, clearing without taking damage, etc.), they are given a prompt to post a message to Miiverse. Players can also see Miiverse posts after they die in a stage. Miiverse settings can be changed at any point on the world map by selecting the pencil and envelope icon on the bottom right of the pause menu.

The sound is in stereo, with no support for 5.1 surround.

Controls

Perspective of gameplay, featuring four players controlling the characters with Wii Remotes while a fifth player uses the GamePad in Boost Mode.

Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Wii Remote is the primary controller for the game, allowing players to shake the controller to perform a Spin Jump, dismount Yoshi, and pick up objects. However, players can also play the game normally with the Wii U GamePad (single-player only) or the Wii U Pro Controller (after the 1.3.0 update). In the case of the Wii U Pro Controller, actions that require motion control on the Wii Remote and Wii U GamePad are replaced with button pressing, as the Wii U Pro Controller lacks motion controls.

Unlike New Super Mario Bros. Wii, this game lacks Nunchuk support.

Stages

Action(s)	Wii U GamePad	Wii U Pro Controller	Wii Remote (Horizontal)
Move, swim (Baby Yoshi)	/
Jump, swim, glide (hold), wall jump, Flutter Jump (Yoshi; hold), double/triple jump (press right upon landing)	/ or /
Run, carry objects (hold); shoot fireballs/iceballs, extend tongue (Yoshi)	/ or /
Ground Pound (normal, simultaneous)	Jump + ↓ /		+
Crouch, slide (on slopes)	↓ /
Climb (on fences, ladders, poles)	↑ /
Bubble	–
Enter Door / Warp Pipe	Door: ↑ / Pipe: / (in direction of entrance)		Door: Pipe: (in direction of entrance)
Spin Jump, Baby Yoshi abilities, dismount Yoshi, Flying Squirrel jump, spin underwater (Baby Yoshi)	Shake / / / /	/	(shake)
Grab other players / Frozen enemies	Run + Shake / / / / (release run button to throw)	Run + / (release run button to throw)	+ (shake) (release to throw)
Tilt Tilt Lifts	Tilt	Alternate between pressing and	Tilt
Pause
Boost Mode		–

Map/menus

Action(s)	Wii U GamePad/Pro Controller	Wii Remote
Move, select option	/
Open inventory
View map
Pause
Zoom in/out (map view)	/
Confirm, hide/show Miiverse posts (map view)
Back

Inventory

The inventory.

The world map inventory, seen in Super Mario Bros. 3 and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, returns in New Super Mario Bros. U, allowing players to store items that can be used before entering a level. Unlike the other inventories, this is limited to only ten items. If more items come in, the player will have to discard items from the inventory until they have ten. Players can gain items into their inventory by playing Red Toad House minigames, collecting items on the world map itself, completing an Enemy Course, catching Nabbit, or finishing a level with the final two digits of the time matching.

Extra modes

Small Mario playing through a Time Attack stage in Challenge Mode.

In addition to the main adventure, New Super Mario Bros. U features three additional bonus modes to play. The first of these is Challenge Mode, in which players must complete a given objective on a given stage, some within a specific time limit. In most cases, after the player completes a challenge, they are ranked with a medal depending on how well they did. There are five types of challenges: Time Attack, Coin Collection, 1-Up Rally, Special, and Boost Mode.

Another mode is Boost Rush Mode, where players have to reach the end of two or three selected stages in the lowest possible time, similar to the Coin Rush mode featured in New Super Mario Bros. 2. Unlike Coin Rush, the stages scroll automatically, meaning the player has to keep up with the stage, which speeds up every time they collect coins.

Coin Battle from New Super Mario Bros. Wii is also available. However, in this version of the mode, players can be grouped into teams against each other or play free-for-all, rather than just the latter. The Wii U GamePad can also be used for Coin Edit, in which the GamePad is used to customize the coin placement in the Coin Battle-exclusive courses.

Unlike in the main game, player 1 can choose any character in these modes.

Levels

Click an area to open the relevant article.

Worlds

Unlike the previous New Super Mario Bros. titles, where worlds are separated like in Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. U has a contiguous world map, similar to Super Mario World. Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the worlds include Toad Houses and Enemy Courses, though only red and green Toad Houses return. Also returning are Towers, Castles, and Ghost House-related levels. Likely as a result of the redesigned world map, Warp Cannons are not present, with secret exits that unlocked Warp Cannons in previous titles now unlocking hidden levels. Completing them unlocks a shortcut to a later world, similar in vein to the Star World levels from Super Mario World. There are Pipe Cannons that send the player characters back to previously-cleared worlds, replacing the world selection option from previous New Super Mario Bros. games. The music changes instruments throughout the world map similar to Yoshi's Island.

This is the first 2D Super Mario game to use completely unique names for each of its levels, and the second after Super Mario World to name its greater areas in-game. Both games use food and beverages as the theme for their world names.

Worlds
Acorn Plains ×24 ×2 ×2	Levels
	Acorn Plains-1 Acorn Plains Way	Acorn Plains-2 Tilted Tunnel
	Acorn Plains-Tower Crushing-Cogs Tower	Acorn Plains-3 Yoshi Hill
	Acorn Plains-4 Mushroom Heights	Acorn Plains-5 Rise of the Piranha Plants
	Acorn Plains-Castle Lemmy's Swingback Castle	Acorn Plains-Blooper Blooper's Secret Lair
A grassy world with plenty of shrubs, slanted mountains, and the Acorn Tree. This world resembles many other first worlds in the Super Mario series. Unlock criterion: start a new game
Layer-Cake Desert ×27 ×3 ×2	Levels
	Layer-Cake Desert-1 Stone-Eye Zone	Layer-Cake Desert-2 Perilous Pokey Cave
	Layer-Cake Desert-3 Fire Snake Cavern	Layer-Cake Desert-Tower Stoneslide Tower
	Layer-Cake Desert-4 Spike's Spouting Sands	Layer-Cake Desert-5 Dry Desert Mushrooms
	Layer-Cake Desert-6 Blooming Lakitus	Layer-Cake Desert-Castle Morton's Compactor Castle
	Layer-Cake Desert-Ice Block Piranha Plants on Ice
A desert dotted with melting ice creams, giant cakes, and a sea of sand with Moai-like statues. Unlock criterion: Complete Lemmy's Swingback Castle
Sparkling Waters ×27 ×2 ×2	Levels
	Sparkling Waters-1 Waterspout Beach	Sparkling Waters-2 Tropical Refresher
	Sparkling Waters-Tower Giant Skewer Tower	Sparkling Waters-Ghost House Haunted Shipwreck
	Sparkling Waters-3 Above the Cheep Cheep Seas	Sparkling Waters-4 Urchin Shoals
	Sparkling Waters-5 Dragoneel's Undersea Grotto	Sparkling Waters-Castle Larry's Torpedo Castle
	Sparkling Waters-Leaf Skyward Stalk
A chain of tropical islands and sea stacks, similar to World 3 from New Super Mario Bros. Unlock criterion: Complete Morton's Compactor Castle
Frosted Glacier ×27 ×2 ×2	Levels
	Frosted Glacier-1 Spinning-Star Sky	Frosted Glacier-2 Cooligan Fields
	Frosted Glacier-Tower Freezing-Rain Tower	Frosted Glacier-3 Prickly Goombas!
	Frosted Glacier-4 Scaling the Mountainside	Frosted Glacier-5 Icicle Caverns
	Frosted Glacier-Ghost House Swaying Ghost House	Frosted Glacier-Castle Wendy's Shifting Castle
	Frosted Glacier-Fliprus Fliprus Lake
A snowy mountain set at night, filled with stars and constellations. Unlock criterion: Complete Morton's Compactor Castle