New Super Mario Bros. U

New Super Mario Bros. U is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game for the Wii U system. It is the fourteenth installment in the Super Mario series, the ninth installment in the Super Mario Bros. series, and the fourth and latest installment in the New Super Mario Bros. series. Released on November 18, 2012 in North America, November 30th in Europe and Australia, and in Japan on December 8th, it is the first Mario game (excluding spin-offs) to be released as a launch title for a home console since Super Mario 64. Based off the New Super Mario Bros. Mii tech demo shown at E3 2011, the game uses new, more detailed background styles and introduces the Flying Squirrel power-up, acquired by Mario and his friends by an item called the Super Acorn. An expansion pack was also released in 2013 for the Wii U, New Super Luigi U.

Story
Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad and Yellow Toad are with Princess Peach in Princess Peach's Castle having dinner together. Bowser suddenly arrives in his Airship, with a giant mechanical fist, that smashes and launches the brothers and the Toads towards the Acorn Plains. Mario and his friends crash into the Acorn Tree, launching Super Acorns through the area. Mario and co. then tumble out of the tree, passing a Bubble Baby Yoshi and Balloon Baby Yoshi, while they're at it, and look into the horizon to see Bowser beginning a seige on Princess Peach's Castle, setting the Mario Bros. and the Toads to go on a new adventure and save Princess Peach.

After reaching Peach's Castle, Mario defeats Bowser and sees Peach in a tower. Before he can save her, she is locked inside. Then Bowser returns, but didn't knock Bowser Jr. over (making the game the New Super Mario Bros. game where Bowser doesn't knock someone over after turning giant; in New Super Mario Bros., Bowser Jr. was knocked on to his back when the cauldron reviving Bowser exploded, in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Kamek was knocked down when Bowser turned giant since he was flying above him to see if his spell worked, and in New Super Mario Bros. 2, the Koopalings were knocked down when Bowser turned giant since they did what Kamek did in New Super Mario Bros. Wii), and Mario must use Bowser Jr.'s Koopa Clown Car (stolen by stomping the rider) to trounce him. Bowser eventually is defeated and Bowser Jr. runs away in fright. Mario (or whoever delivered the final blow to Bowser) gets to Peach and bows down to her, he is then kissed on the forehead by her, to Mario's shock but delight. The Koopa Troop leaves and their airship crashes, and Mario and Co. rejoice.

Gameplay features
The gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. U is very similar to that of past New Super Mario Bros. games, especially New Super Mario Bros. Wii, with the return of the 4-player multiplayer, while most of the elements and design found in the game make a heavy reference to Super Mario World. Players can play as their Miis, including the first player, who can also choose whoever to play as. A fifth player can join as well, though they will use the Wii U GamePad to assist the players, in a mode known as Boost Mode. This mode allows the fifth player to create temporarily blocks to either assist or annoy the other players, simply by touching the GamePad screen. The player operating Boost Mode can also stun enemies.

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 company a Flying Squirrel form, which lets them glide and grab on to walls.

Worlds
Unlike previous New Super Mario Bros. titles, where the worlds were separated like in Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. U has a seamless world map with areas named after different foods and drinks, similar to Super Mario World. Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Worlds include Toad Houses and Enemy Courses that players will encounter in the game. The music changes instruments throughout the world map similar to Yoshi's Island. Though, like the previous games, there are Towers, Castles and Ghost House-related levels within each part of the world:


 * World 1: Acorn Plains: A grassy world with plenty of shrubs, slanted mountains, and the Acorn Tree.
 * World 2: Layer-Cake Desert: A desert world with various desserts, such as melting ice creams, giant cakes, and a sea of sand with Moai-like statues.
 * World 3: Sparkling Waters: A tropical world with multiple islands, bubbling water geysers, and a sunken ship. This world can be entirely skipped for Frosted Glacier.
 * World 4: Frosted Glacier: A snowy world that takes place at night filled with stars and constellations. This world can be entirely skipped for Sparkling Waters.
 * World 5: Soda Jungle: A rainforest-esque world similar to the Forest of Illusion, with giant enemies and blocks, similar to Big Island.
 * World 6: Rock-Candy Mines: A mountainous world with tall, pillar like mountains. A cloud train seems to separate this world from the next world.
 * World 7: Meringue Clouds: A sky world resembling the foreground of levels in World 7 from New Super Mario Bros..
 * World 8: Peach's Castle: A grassland area, similar to World 1 from the previous New Super Mario Bros. games, containing mushroom hills and the castle of the princess. It has been taken over by the Koopa Troop and is slowly transformed into Bowser's image until eventually being surrounded by a tornado. By the time the player reaches the castle grounds, it has been transformed into a lava-based area. Princess Peach's castle remains mostly unchanged on the outside (the flags now have Bowser's symbol on them) but on the inside it is similar to Bowser's Castle from previous installments; this world must be completed to beat the game.
 * World 9: Superstar Road: A secret world unlocked after beating Bowser's final battle. Its levels must be unlocked with the Star Coins collected from all the levels of previous worlds.
 * Secret Island: A small area between Acorn Plains and Sparkling Waters that houses a Records Toad House. It must be unlocked as the same way as Superstar Road.
 * Coin Courses: A multiplayer exclusive world found in Coin Battle.

Yoshis
Green Yoshis make a return, acting like in New Super Mario Bros Wii. Baby Yoshis also return, which haven't been seen in a Mario platformer since their Super Mario World debut. Green is the only color available for Yoshis that the players ride on, unlike New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Yoshi now has a meter that tracks how many berries he eats. As usual, eating 5 makes him lay an egg containing an item. As it happens in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Green Yoshi isn't able to leave the courses he appears in.

New Super Mario Bros. U has differently-coloured Baby Yoshis, each one with a special ability. They differ from the adult Green Yoshi in terms of gameplay. Being babies, they can't be ridden, so characters must carry them throughout the levels. Baby Yoshis also instantly eat almost any enemy that is in front of them. Unlike in Super Mario World, Baby Yoshis don't grow into adults after eating several enemies. Two types of Baby Yoshis found on the overworld can be taken into any course, with the exception for the Fortresses, Airships and Castles.

Baby Yoshis

 * Bubble Baby Yoshi: Blue Baby Yoshis that blow bubbles from their mouths. Enemies caught in these bubbles will turn into 3 Coins, a power-up or an 1-Up Mushroom. These bubbles can also be used as miniature platforms. They first appear on the Frosted Glacier map area.
 * Balloon Baby Yoshi: Magenta Baby Yoshis that expand like balloons and gently float in the air. These Baby Yoshis are similar to the Blimp Yoshi power-up, found in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They first appear on the Acorn Plains map area. Additionally, up to 4 players can grab on to one Baby Yoshi, by grabbing their legs. This slows the player down though.
 * Glowing Baby Yoshi: Yellow Baby Yoshis that light up dark areas and can stun enemies with their light attack. These Baby Yoshis act similar to the Glow Blocks, found in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and also Bulb Yoshi from Super Mario Galaxy 2. Unlike the other two Baby Yoshis, the Glowing Baby Yoshis aren't found on the world map, and are only found in courses such as Perilous Pokey Cave. Instead of following the characters throughout the courses, they give an extra life when reach the end of the levels they appear in.

Inventory
The world map inventory, seen in Super Mario Bros. 3 and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, returns in New Super Mario Bros. U. Unlike the other inventories, this is limited to ten items only. If more items come in, the player will have to discard one item from the inventory. 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 a Nabbit, or finishing a level with the final two digits of the time matching.

Extra modes
As well as the main adventure, there are other options to choose from. There is Challenge Mode, where players have to complete a objective, with some having a time limit. Another mode is Boost Rush Mode, where players have to reach the end of two or three selected stages, in a similar way to the Coin Rush feature 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 the player collects coins. Coin Battle from New Super Mario Bros. Wii is also available.

Controls

 * /: Move, Ground Pound (with + or +)
 * //: Jump, glide (hold)
 * //: Run, shoot fireballs/iceballs carry items, run up and down walls (Mini Mario); X and Y can't be used at the same time (ie. shooting fireballs while running).
 * Shaking the /////: Baby Yoshi abilities, Spin Jump.
 * Crouch
 * Create Boost Platforms (in Boost Mode and Boost Rush)

Playable

 * Mario
 * Luigi
 * Yellow Toad
 * Blue Toad
 * Mii (Boost Rush, Challenge, and Coin Battle Modes only)

Bosses

 * Boom Boom (Tower)
 * Boss Sumo Bro. (Tower)
 * Kamek (Tower)
 * Koopalings
 * Lemmy Koopa (Acorn Plains)
 * Morton Koopa Jr. (Layer Cake Desert)
 * Larry Koopa (Sparkling Waters)
 * Wendy O. Koopa (Frosted Glacier)
 * Iggy Koopa (Soda Jungle)
 * Roy Koopa (Rock-Candy Mines)
 * Ludwig von Koopa (Meringue Clouds)
 * Bowser Jr. (Airships)
 * Bowser (Peach's Castle)

Supporting

 * Yoshis
 * Green Yoshis
 * Baby Yoshis
 * Balloon Baby Yoshis
 * Bubble Baby Yoshis
 * Glowing Baby Yoshis
 * Princess Peach
 * Toad

Reception
New Super Mario Bros. U has received critical acclaim. GameXplain gave the single-player and multi-player modes 4 stars out of 5, IGN gave it a score of 9.1 out of 10 , EGM gave a score of 9/10, Joystiq gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 , Polygon and Destructoid gave the same score of 8.5/10, VentureBeat gave it a score of 83/100 (83%), Games Radar gave it 4 stars out of 5 , and Gamespot gave a score of 8.5.

The game has been praised for its balanced gameplay and challenge mode, with IGN's Rich George describing it as "the best thing to come to Mario's world since 3D", while criticizing it as not pushing the Wii U's visuals and audio potential. He also stated, "though it doesn’t necessarily redefine Nintendo’s iconic hero, it still manages to capture the sense of carefree adventure that many of us felt as kids." He also criticized the game's "weak graphics and audio, plus the return of the irritating chaotic, bouncy multiplayer mode." He praised the progressing difficulty in the game and the additional difficulty of Challenge Mode.

Updates
New Super Mario Bros. U has received three updates:
 * 1.1.0 added Miiverse functionality.
 * 1.2.0 gave in-game posts for New Super Mario Bros. U their own Miiverse community.
 * 1.3.0 allows the game to receive the New Super Luigi U DLC, and compatibility with the Wii U Pro Controller.

New Super Luigi U
To mark the Year of Luigi, a large-scale expansion pack titled New Super Luigi U was released as downloadable content for New Super Mario Bros. U on the Nintendo eShop, and was later released as a standalone title at retail. The pack contains 82 new courses in place of the original ones, with Luigi as the main character. It features multiplayer, with the option of playing as Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, or Nabbit (who cannot power-up like the other characters, but is impervious to enemy damage). The game features similar physics to that of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, in that the characters run faster and jump higher but stop slower. The levels are also shorter, with a 100 second time limit.

Development
As stated above, New Super Mario Bros. U was based upon the New Super Mario Bros. Mii Wii U experience demo shown off at E3 2011. A translation of a Spanish online magazine revealed that the new title was in development and would be revealed at E3 2012, with the game fully revealed to be New Super Mario Bros. U during the E3 trailer.

New Super Mario Bros. U began development using pre-existing elements from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, as development equipment for Wii U didn't exist at the time. The game's singular, interconnected world map was inspired by the one seen in Super Mario World; Masataka Takemoto desired to take the map from that game and use the Wii U in order to recreate and expand upon the concept. The map being seamless also had a role in Miiverse integration, as with the setup of the map it was possible to display comments across each of the levels. The concept of drop-in play with one player on the Gamepad placing blocks was brought up early in development. When the Wii U Gamepad was brought up during development, the team began to conceptualize ways to use it, talking specifically about the drop-in play. Wanting to make a feature with "controls that you can understand right away with no explanation," the concept of using the GamePad to place blocks the other players can jump on went through.

Challenge Mode was based upon the idea of setting a self-challenge in previous games, as well as the challenge site for New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Because of ideas like this, the developers decided to put the Challenge Mode into the game from the beginning. The challenges were created with all types of skill levels in mind.

Boost Rush Mode was based on the Free-for-All Mode featured in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, in that they wanted a similar mode for playing the main game stages in short bursts. The developers tried connecting courses together and playing them through, but found it uneventful; they then added the concept of collecting coins resulting in the screen scrolling faster, and found it to fit a Super Mario-style of gameplay.

References to other games

 * Mario Bros.: Coin Courses-2 is based on the levels in this game with similar platforms and Koopa Troopas acting like as Shellcreepers.
 * Super Mario Bros.: In the final battle with Bowser, when Mario hits the switch, it causes an axe to fall and break the bridge. Sprites from this game are used in the game menus.
 * Super Mario Bros. 3: Boom Booms are fought as the mid-boss of each world. The Super Acorn is comparable to the Super Leaf as it has a P-variation. The Koopalings, which originated from this game, have airships once again.
 * Super Mario World: 3-Up Moons, Bony Beetles, Baby Yoshis, Sumo Bros., Thwimps, and Torpedo Teds return. When Mario reaches the haunted part of Soda Jungle, the screen fades into the submap similar to how it fades in and out in this game. Also, the world map is connected again and a ghost ship, similar to the Sunken Ghost Ship level, appears in this game. Most of the worlds are named after food again. Some of the world's features are similar to those found in Dinosaur Land (e.g. Acorn Plains having jagged mountains or Soda Jungle being one-third based on the Forest of Illusion). Super Mario World has the exact same number of exits this game has: 96.
 * Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: Also, the name of the Challenge "Spin Jump, Get Dizzy" is a reference to that of a level from this game, Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy.
 * Tetris Attack: The Baby Yoshis sing just like in the title screen of this game.
 * Mario Party 5: The Big Amps first appeared in this game.
 * Super Mario Galaxy: Targeting Teds behave similarly to the Torpedo Teds in this game.
 * Super Mario Galaxy 2: Magmaarghs and Magmaws return.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: Boom Boom's voices are reused, as well as the motion patterns of some of the enemies.
 * Paper Mario: Sticker Star: The Ghost House doors use the design from The Enigmansion in this game rather than the one from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The Bony Beetle's design is reused. Also, Bowser Jr. uses the same glass dome in his clown copter as in this game. The Big Buzzy Beetles originated from this game, although they were a beta element from New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Trivia

 * If the Miis are selected as P1, they will be colored like Mario. If P2, they will be colored like Luigi. If P3, they will have yellow shirts and purple overalls, similar to Wario. If P4, they wear blue shirts and dark blue overalls, similar to Luigi's light blue alternate costume from the Super Smash Bros. series.
 * When the player grabs a Baby Yoshi, an additional choir is added to the music, while Baby Yoshi chants accordingly.
 * When the Mario Bros., Toads, or Miis aren't moving, they stop and stare at the screen until the player starts moving them again.
 * It is the first New Super Mario Bros. game where playable characters start out the first level far away from Princess Peach's Castle. It is also the first game where the players get to see the interior areas of Peach's Castle, not counting going inside to see videos in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
 * If one counts Secret Island and Coin Courses, New Super Mario Bros. U has the most areas/worlds in the New Super Mario Bros. series, at eleven worlds, and the most courses, at ninety-four courses.
 * Sometimes, on the title screen, Luigi almost trips over instead of jumping and ground-pounding the ground.
 * All eight main worlds are named after various foods; this even includes Peach's Castle, as the name "Peach" was named after the fruit of the same name.