New Super Mario Bros. 2

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan on July 28, 2012, in Europe on August 17th, in Australia on August 18, in North America on August 19, and in Hong Kong on June 21, 2013, while in Italy the game was separately released on August 24, 2012, for the retail cartridge. It is the thirteenth title in the main Super Mario series, the third in the New Super Mario Bros. line after New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii for the Wii, and the sequel to New Super Mario Bros..

Like Super Mario 3D Land, the game seems to be partly based on Super Mario Bros. 3, as it features Raccoon Mario, the P-Meter, and the Koopalings, all of which were introduced in said game. This game is so far the first of the New Super Mario Bros. sub-series to not include Bowser Jr. The game introduces a new power-up, the Gold Flower (which turns Mario into Gold Mario). Also, the Invincibility Leaf from Super Mario 3D Land returns, but this time, it turns Mario into the new White Raccoon form, instead of White Tanooki Mario.

According to Nintendo, New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the first Nintendo game (and specifically the first Mario title) to be available for purchase in both packaged (retail) and digital (downloadable via the Nintendo eShop) versions. The game can be stored onto an SD card, along with multiple other games, and be played on the Nintendo 3DS, but they cannot be shared with other Nintendo 3DS handhelds. This game is based around coins, and the game's overall goal is to collect one million of them.

Story
Standing on the balcony of Princess Peach's Castle, Mario and Luigi wave goodbye to Princess Peach to go on a coin hunt as Raccoon Mario and Fox Luigi. However, as soon as they return, the Koopalings suddenly appear, crashing their Koopa Clown Car onto the ground, as well as damaging the brothers, making them revert to Super Mario and Super Luigi. Roy Koopa reveals Princess Peach from his back. They soon fly away in their Koopa Clown Car, and Mario and Luigi chase after them.

After defeating all of the Koopalings, the brothers head out of World 5-Castle, and see Peach in a cage. As they are about to free her, the now-empty Clown Car transfers her to Bowser's Castle.

When Mario and Luigi arrive at Bowser's Castle, they find Bowser and Peach, who is locked up in a cage. One of the duo has to step on the ! Switch behind Bowser, making the bridge collapse and sending Bowser to his doom. Just before the bros. can celebrate their victory, Peach's cage gets pulled off screen. After riding some bony platforms, Mario and Luigi find the Koopalings in their Koopa Clown Car. They power Bowser up and Bowser transforms into a gigantic size. He attempts to use his massive hands to destroy the path, but the bros. still manage to climb up and press a giant ! Switch. The giant Bowser then falls through the floor, and the princess is released from her cage, and rewards each Bro. with a kiss on the nose. Then, everyone returns home, with Mario holding Peach in his arms and Luigi following closely behind, collecting coins along the way.

During the credits, the Koopalings can be seen in the background carrying the now regular-sized Bowser with the Koopa Clown Car. Bowser's immense weight exceeds its capacity, and the Koopa Clown Car crash-lands, scattering everyone throughout the ground.

Gameplay
The basic gameplay is very similar to the previous New Super Mario Bros. games. However, New Super Mario Bros. 2 focuses on collecting coins, with many and varied ways to collect plenty of coins at once, such as golden items that award the player with them. The game's overall objective is to collect one million coins, and coins collected in levels are added to a total that is shared between the game's three save files and Coin Rush. The reward for collecting one million coins is a new title screen featuring a Gold Mario statue. The reward for maxing out the coin counter at 9,999,999 coins is a Gold Raccoon Mario Statue.

Like New Super Mario Bros., the bottom screen displays a kind of map, showing the length of the level and where the player is, as showing the Star Coins collected, points total, number of extra lives, well as providing an item storage. It also shows the total number of collected coins, with the record number displayed next to it. There are nine worlds: six main worlds and three special worlds. Each world contains a different number of levels, including Ghost Houses, Fortresses and Castles. Reznors and Koopalings are found at the end of each fortress and castle, respectively.

Other details in gameplay were added in New Super Mario Bros. 2. Among these details is the game's music that slightly changes depending on the situation; for example, when playing as Raccoon Mario or Fox Luigi, a drumbeat is added, similar to how a drumbeat is added while riding Yoshi in other Mario games. Once a Gold Ring is activated, twinkling noises appear. Another example is that if Mario goes to the very top of the screen and out of sight, the music gets quieter.

A two-player co-op mode is also available, in which the second player plays as Luigi accompanying Mario in the single-player game; both players can select which character they would like to be, though. This mode can only be played with two Nintendo 3DS consoles and two game cards. The gameplay is not much different from the single player, although the camera only focuses on one player at a time (denoted by a colored arrow above their character; red for Mario and green for Luigi), and can be changed during the level by ground-pounding the player currently being focused on, if the other player enters a bonus area first, or if that player loses a life or enters a bubble. Additionally, like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, players are given two items when a block containing them is hit. The bubble mechanic from the Wii game is also retained for this installment. Each player also has their own item storage, and also like New Super Mario Bros. Wii coins and lives are shared, with each collected coin or extra life earned (though not collected) counting as two.

Coin Rush


Also featured in New Super Mario Bros. 2 is Coin Rush mode, a time attack-esque mode that challenges the player to collect as many coins as they can in three randomly selected single-player levels without losing a life. Levels are selected depending on the pack chosen. The Mushroom Pack selects three levels from Worlds 1, 2, and Mushroom; the Flower Pack chooses levels from Worlds 3, 4, and Flower; and the Star Pack chooses levels from Worlds 5, 6, and Star. Ten downloadable course packs are also available for purchase in the in-game store, also accessible in this mode, which allows the player to play three custom-created courses. In Coin Rush, players have the option to either play normally or as White Raccoon Mario.

Coin Rush records can be exchanged via Streetpass and challenged. Beating another player's record results in getting a Crown Coin (worth 1,000 coins). SpotPassing allows the player to put their total into the Worldwide Coin Total on the official website.

Main Menu

 * Select an option: or
 * Confirm:
 * Go back a step:
 * Play as Luigi in single-player mode: + (while selecting file)
 * Delete all save data: Press and hold +++ (when the Nintendo 3DS logo disappears)

In-Game

 * Move: or
 * Dash: Hold / or / while moving
 * Jump/stomp: / or /
 * Crouch: or
 * Ground Pound: or  (in midair)
 * Wall Jump: / or / (while holding or  in the direction of a wall, while sliding down it)
 * Double/Triple Jump: / or / (when landing after a running jump)
 * Pick up/throw: Press and hold / or /
 * /: Pause menu

Nintendo eShop description
''The bros are back for an all-new adventure worth its weight in gold!


 * ''Jump, bounce, and power-up through visually stunning side-scrolling worlds as you race to save Princess Peach.
 * ''Gold Flowers, Gold Blocks, and Gold Rings make collecting coins more fun than ever before! Can you collect a million coins?
 * ''Use all your speed-running and coin-collecting skills to best your friends in the new StreetPass-enabled Coin Rush mode.
 * ''Team up with a friend and play through the entire game via Local Wireless. (Requires two copies of the game.)

Playable

 * Mario
 * Luigi (Player 2 in Co-op mode, and unlockable for Solo mode after beating Bowser by holding +  at the title screen)

Sub-Boss

 * Reznor (All towers)

Main Bosses

 * Koopalings (All castles except World Star and World 6)
 * Roy Koopa (World 1)
 * Iggy Koopa (World 2)
 * Larry Koopa (World Mushroom)
 * Wendy O. Koopa (World 3)
 * Morton Koopa Jr. (World 4)
 * Lemmy Koopa (World Flower)
 * Ludwig von Koopa (World 5)
 * Bowser (World 6 and Gold Classics Pack)
 * Dry Bowser (World Star)

Supporting characters

 * Princess Peach
 * Toad

Downloadable Content
Downloadable content was first announced in a Nintendo Direct Mini dedicated entirely to the game showcasing the three packs and their price tags along with the release date. The downloadable packs are available for purchase on the in-game shop, available for 200¥ for Japan, €2.50 for Europe, $2.50 for America, HKD$20 for Hong Kong and 60 Nintendo Points for Taiwan. The service started on October 2 for Japan, Europe and Australia and October 4 for North America. Two more packs were released on October 25, two more were released on December 5 and the last two was released on December 20 (North America and Europe) and December 21 (Japan and Australia). In addition, a single pack, which could be downloaded for free until January 31, 2013, was also released on November 27.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is not only the first Mario game but also the first Nintendo game overall to feature true downloadable content.

Development
The concept of a 2D Super Mario game for the Nintendo 3DS was first hinted at during an earnings breifing in November 2010, with Shigeru Miyamoto speaking about the possibilities of 2D and 3D Super Mario games on the Nintendo 3DS. Later, after the release of Super Mario 3D Land, Saturo Iwata officially announced that a 2D Mario game for the 3DS was in development, which was finally revealed to be New Super Mario Bros. 2 during the April 21, 2012, Nintendo Direct in Japan.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 had a more unique development cycle than other games in the series. Not only was the game developed by the Entertainment Analysis and Development team, but also by members of other development teams, including the Software Planning and Development team, as part of the "Mario Cram School," a program meant to teach other teams about the development of Mario games. Also different is that the game's stages were designed before the mechanics and main focus were thought of.

The focus on coins came about early in development, with Takashi Tezuka and Toshihiko Nakago speaking about coins; at the time, development of Super Mario 3D Land, which features the Coin Box, had recently wrapped up. The coin concept was first implemented with the golden Koopa Troopa, and soon after Tezuka suggested the one million coin goal. The developers then began to fill the stages with coins, and created more ways to collect them, such as the additional golden enemies and Gold Mario.

Implementation of the co-op mode was originally met with conflict; Tezuka suggested adding it, but the staff opposed him due to being unsure on how it could be implemented, and that it couldn't be done within the remainder of the given development timeframe. Earlier in development, a prototype mode featuring both Mario and Luigi in the single-player stages had been developed. Using this, the developers worked on refining it, making it more similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Issues with the Nintendo 3DS' screen kept the camera from expanding to accomodate both players, so instead the camera was made to focus on a single player at a time, with both being able to fight for control over it.

The concept of the Coin Rush mode was thought of before the coin theme of the game was. Yusuke Anamo was thinking about how to make the game more replayable, but also something that could be played even in free time. In addition, after making the stages more coin-oriented, the developers noticed that, no matter how often the game was played, the million-coin goal was very difficult to reach. It was then that they decided to incorporate collecting large amounts of coins into the new mode. The Coin Rush downloadable course packs were originally announced before the game was released; the courses themselves, however, had not been created at the time. The idea of downloadable content had come up during the development of both New Super Mario Bros. 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U, and from both teams; the development team for New Super Mario Bros. 2 had thought of the idea of downloadable Coin Rush courses, and since this game was to be released first it was decided that content would be created for it first.

References to other games and other media

 * Mario Bros.: Round 1 is remade as part of the Gold Classics Pack.
 * Super Mario Bros.: In the first phase of Bowser's and Dry Bowser's battles, Bowser throws sledgehammers and breathes fire, and Mario must wait for him to jump then get past him, very much alike to this game. Also, while the game loads (such as when starting up the game or looking for a second player in Co-op Play), the loading chime plays the first part of this game's overworld theme. Small Mario sprite from Super Mario Bros. appears in some parts of Coin Rush mode, such as to show which course the player will play or while counting the coins obtained in the levels. The maximum number of lives results in crowns like in this game. World 1-1, 1-2 and 1-4 are remade as part of the Classic Courses Pack.
 * Super Mario Bros. 3: Raccoon Mario, the P-Meter, Jump Blocks and Wooden Blocks return. The P-Wing makes a cameo, replacing the "P" icon of the P-Meter. The floor in Bowser's room is checkered, similar to those of several Fortresses in this game. Like in this game, Toad Houses feature a choice of three power-ups. Also, the loading chime plays a small part of this game's overworld theme. The Toad Houses also play the music that they played in this game. World 1-1 and 1-5 are remade as part of the Classic Courses Pack.
 * The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3: Morton Koopa Jr. appears in World 4 as the same world environment as Antarctica of "7 Continents for 7 Koopas".
 * Super Mario World: Chocolate Island backgrounds are used in some of the levels. Reznors and the battle theme return from this game. The Koopalings ride the Koopa Clown Car. The moons on Moon Coins strongly resemble 3-Up Moons from this game. Also, when the bridge breaks in the Reznor battles it has a similar sound to the blocks when they break in this game, and when the player hits a switch, it makes the P-Switch noises from this game. The loading chime plays a small part of this game's overworld theme. Mario and Luigi can look up as well.
 * Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2: The intro is similar, with Mario and Luigi being distracted by a flying power-up so the Koopalings can kidnap Princess Peach.
 * Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: The Koopalings in the final battle aided Bowser by spraying magic from their scepters in a manner similar to Kamek in Yoshi's Island.
 * Super Mario 64: Whomps and Scuttle Bugs return. The Wall Jump, Double Jump, and Triple Jump return. Silver Luigi resembles to Metal Mario.
 * Mario Golf: Gold Mario resembles to one of Metal Mario's alternate colors.
 * Super Mario Sunshine: If Mario jumps on a Toad, its mushroom cap will bounce. If attacked from a distance, it will flinch. This feature first appeared in this game.
 * Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: The 100 Gold Coin makes a reappearance in this game, this time it is based on its appearance in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.
 * New Super Mario Bros.: A direct sequel to this game. Mario's mini and mega forms return. Dry Bowser also returns. The game's remix of the Super Mario Bros. theme is used during the Dash Mario stages, as well as the Mega Mushroom theme.
 * Yoshi's Island DS: Bowser is fought as a giant in the background, just as he was in this game.
 * Super Mario Galaxy: The Toads' reaction to a raccoon tail whip (by spinning around happily) is reused from the Toads' reaction to a Star Spin in this game.
 * New Super Mario Bros. Wii: An indirect follow-up to this game. Numerous elements from the game return. The music and graphic style are reused from this game, with added vocals to the overworld and athletic themes, as well as vocal riffs "bah" included in the tower, castle and ghost house themes. The second phase of Bowser's battle can be compared to the second phase of Bowser in this game, except Mario needs to move from platform to platform vertically instead of horizontally. The bubble system returns, and the multiplayer gameplay is reused (though Mario and Luigi cannot pick up each other as before). The Koopalings also had the same voices from and also taunt the same way before they fight and are fought similarly to New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In addition, they also aided Bowser in a manner very similar to how Kamek aided Bowser in that game.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: The Super Leaf retains its look from this game, as it did in Mario Kart 7. The Invincibility Leaf also returns, as does the Assist Block. Peepas, Coin Coffers and Goomba Towers return. Toad Houses use the same music as in this game, which, in itself, is a remix of the theme from Super Mario Bros. 3. The POW Blocks are once again red. During the credits, Mario carries Peach in a similar fashion to this game, except he is not flying, but walking on the ground. + Clocks return with similar functions. Once again, items from Toad Houses work their effects immediately, rather than being placed in an inventory.
 * Mario Kart 7: Raccoon Mario's tail whip and transformation sounds are re-used from this game.

References in later games

 * New Super Mario Bros. U: The Note Block makes the same sound effect in this game, Boost Rush is similar to Coin Rush, when the player assumes the form of Power Squirrel Mario. The same sound effect is heard when the P-Meter is full (while the player is Raccoon Mario).
 * New Super Luigi U: All levels in this game have 100 seconds, similar to Coin Rush.
 * Super Mario 3D World: Red POW Blocks return. Also, three bonus worlds are called World Star, Mushroom, and Flower, just like the bonus worlds in this game.

Reception
New Super Mario Bros. 2 has received generally positive reviews from critics. IGN gave it an 8.5/10 and Nintendolife gave it a 9/10. Most critics considered it a solid Mario game, though they also criticized its unoriginality.

As of August 18, 2012, New Super Mario Bros. 2 has received a 78% average on Metacritic, with 22 positive and 13 mixed reviews. To date, the game has sold over 6.42 million units worldwide.

Trivia

 * US and Canada Club Nintendo members who purchased New Super Mario Bros. 2 from the Nintendo eShop by September 20th, 2012 and completed the surveys within four weeks after downloading could receive double the amount of coins (for a total of 100 coins) as they would receive if they bought the game at retail (50 coins). . European Club Nintendo members that purchase the game from the Nintendo eShop will receive 250 free Stars. Likewise, Australian Club Nintendo members receive double the amount of Stars (i.e. 400 instead of 200).
 * A puzzle based off this game can be found at the StreetPass Mii Plaza.
 * Nintendo made a special gold-themed week on the American Nintendo eShop to celebrate the release of the game, where every category's image was replaced with something from the game and the backgrounds were gold-colored; however, this did not occur in other regions.