New Super Mario Bros. U

This article is about the 2012 Wii U game. For the Nintendo Switch port of this game, see New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. For the microgame from WarioWare: Get It Together!, see New Super Mario Bros. U (microgame).

New Super Mario Bros. U
North American box cover For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Wii U
Release date	November 18, 2012 November 30, 2012 November 30, 2012 December 8, 2012
Language(s)	Deutsch English (United Kingdom) English (United States) Español (España) Español (Latinoamérica) Français (Canada) Français (France) Italiano Nederlands Português (Portugal) Русский 日本語
Genre	Platformer
Rating(s)	ESRB: - Everyone PEGI: - Three years and older CERO: - All ages ACB: - General USK: - All ages
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Media	Wii U: Optical disc Digital download
Input	Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote (horizontal) Wii U Pro Controller

New Super Mario Bros. U is a 2012 side-scrolling 2.5D platforming game, and a launch title for the Wii U. It is the fourth installment in the New Super Mario Bros. series, a sub-series of the parent Super Mario platformer series. As a sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the game is a follow-up to New Super Mario Bros. 2. 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 mid-2013, titled New Super Luigi U.

Based upon the New Super Mario Bros. Mii tech demo shown at E3 2011, the game uses new, more detailed background styles and models and introduces the Flying Squirrel power-up, acquired by Mario and his friends from an item called the Super Acorn, as well as utilizing the Wii U GamePad in Boost Mode.

The game was originally purchasable at the Nintendo eShop, requiring 2301.7 MB (approx. 2.25 GB) to be downloaded, but with the retail release of New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U, it is no longer possible to purchase New Super Mario Bros. U as a standalone game in regions outside of Japan.

A port titled New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe was released for the Nintendo Switch in January 2019, and once again contains both New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U.

Story

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 save Princess Peach.

As the game progresses, the view occasionally shifts to Peach's Castle, showing the flags being replaced by Bowser's flags, and the castle being surrounded by a thin tornado-like cloud that is made thicker by Magikoopa's magic, entirely obscuring the castle. 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 a tower and Bowser appears, now at a giant size, alongside Bowser Jr. Eventually, Bowser is defeated and Bowser Jr. 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 recovers. Noticing the escaping airship, he climbs up onto one of the castle towers and leaps onto the ship, but his additional 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 cheering, with Mario delivering a final victory pose.

Gameplay features

Mario in his Flying Squirrel suit, in the first level of Acorn Plains.

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

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, 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 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.

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 does not feature Nunchuk support.

Stages

Action(s)	Wii U GamePad	Wii U Pro Controller	Wii Remote
Move, swim (Baby Yoshi)	/
Jump, swim, glide (hold), wall jump, Flutter Jump (Yoshi; hold), double/triple jump (press right upon landing)	Option 1: / Option 2: /
Run, carry objects (hold); shoot fireballs/iceballs, extend tongue (Yoshi)	Option 1: / Option 2: /
Ground Pound (normal, simultaneous*)	Jump + (down) /		+
Crouch, slide (on slopes)	(down) /
Climb (on fences, ladders, poles)	(up) /
Bubble*	N/A
Enter door/Warp Pipe	Door: (up) / 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 GamePad	Alternate between pressing and	Tilt Wii Remote
Pause
Boost Mode*		N/A

* Multiplayer only.

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

Worlds

Click an area to open the relevant article.

Unlike the previous New Super Mario Bros. titles, where the worlds are separated like in Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. U has a seamless world map with areas named after different foods and beverages, similar to Super Mario World. Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the worlds include Toad Houses and Enemy Courses that players encounter in the game, though only red and green Toad Houses return. 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. And like Super Mario World, the worlds are connected jointly.

Level	Preview	Description	Bosses
World 1 Acorn Plains		A grassy world with plenty of shrubs, slanted mountains, and the Acorn Tree.	Boom Boom Lemmy Koopa
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 called Stone-Eyes.	Boom Boom Morton Koopa Jr.
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.	Boom Boom Larry Koopa
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.	Boom Boom Wendy O. Koopa
World 5 Soda Jungle		A rainforest flooded by purple poison, based on the Forest of Illusion and World 4 from Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros., respectively.	Boom Boom Iggy Koopa Bowser Jr.
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.	Boom Boom Boss Sumo Bro Roy Koopa
World 7 Meringue Clouds		A sky world resembling the foreground of levels in World 7 from New Super Mario Bros.	Magikoopa Ludwig von Koopa Bowser Jr.
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 but on the inside it is similar to Bowser's Castle from the previous installments. This world must be completed to beat the game.	*Bowser Jr. Bowser
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 the previous worlds.	None
Secret Island		A small area between Acorn Plains and Sparkling Waters that houses a Purple Toad House. It must be unlocked as the same way as Superstar Road.	None
Coin Courses		A multiplayer exclusive world found in Coin Battle.	None

Yoshis

Mario and Luigi using Balloon Baby Yoshis to get over a Big Piranha Plant.

Green Yoshis make a return, acting like in New Super Mario Bros Wii. 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, instead of showing a number each time he eats one. As usual, eating 5 makes him lay an egg containing an item. Like in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Yoshi cannot leave the courses that he appears in.

New Super Mario Bros. U also features the return of Baby Yoshis, having been absent from the Super Mario series since their debut in Super Mario World. The game features three differently-colored Baby Yoshis, each one with a special ability. They differ from the adult Green Yoshi in terms of gameplay. Being babies, they cannot 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, however, Baby Yoshis do not 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 of Fortresses, Airships, and Castles.

Baby Yoshi	Description
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 a 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 Light 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 are not 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 that they appear in.

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 ten items only. 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.

Characters

Playable

• 

  Mario

• 

  Luigi

• 

  Yellow Toad

• 

  Blue Toad

• 

  Mii (only in Coin Battle, Boost Rush, and Challenge Mode)

Bosses

Tower bosses

Boss	Description
Boom Boom	The tower boss from Acorn Plains to the first tower of Rock-Candy Mines. He does not change in the first battle. However, following his first defeat, Magikoopa gives him special abilities. In Layer-Cake Desert, Magikoopa will grant him the ability to spin jump. In Frosted Glacier and Sparkling Waters, Magikoopa will grant him the ability to jump, similar to Super Mario Bros. 3. In Soda Jungle, Magikoopa will make him larger. In Rock-Candy Mines, Magikoopa will transform his arms into wings, similar to Super Mario Bros. 3.
Boss Sumo Bro	Boss Sumo Bro was a regular Sumo Bro until Magikoopa made him grow in size. Knocking him off a platform makes him vulnerable to jump attacks. He is fought on Screwtop Tower.
Magikoopa	Magikoopa is fought on Slide Lift Tower and teleports most of the time when Mario gets too close. However, when he stops to attack Mario, he is left vulnerable to Mario's jumping. He also casts spells on Boom Boom, Boss Sumo Bro, and Bowser granting them extra power before their battles, such as causing them to grow in size.

Castle/airship bosses

• 

  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

• 

  Balloon Baby Yoshis

• 

  Bubble Baby Yoshis

• 

  Glowing Baby Yoshis

• 

  Princess Peach
  Toad

Transformations

Small Mario (starting form)	Super Mario ( required)	Flying Squirrel Mario (New, required)	Fire Mario ( required)	Ice Mario ( required)
Mini Mario ( required)	Invincible Mario ( required)	P Flying Squirrel Mario (New, required)	Propeller Mario ( required)	Penguin Mario ( required)

Enemies

New

Enemy	Description	Locations
Bowser Stunners	An electric statue that resembles Bowser's head and carries electrical currents.	Red-Hot Elevator Ride
Dai Gorō	A bigger Grrrol that rolls around.	Grinding-Stone Tower
Dragoneel	A dragon-like eel that attacks Mario by chasing him.	Dragoneel's Undersea Grotto
Dragoneels (purple)	Short Dragoneels that are purple in color, move slower, and make sharper turns.	Dragoneel's Undersea Grotto
Flipruses	A walrus-like creature that throws snowballs that can be jumped on.	Fliprus Lake
Goombas (balloon)	Goombas with balloons on them that float down the stage.	Skyward Stalk
Goombrats	A Goomba that resembles a persimmon and turns at ledges.	Common after Mushroom Heights
Grrrols	A sub-species of Thwomp that roll on the ground.	Stoneslide Tower Grinding-Stone Tower
Huge Fire Bars	A larger version of a Fire Bar.	Slide Lift Tower Fire Bar Cliffs
Ice Piranha Plants	A Piranha Plant that can shoot ice balls from its mouth, like Fire Piranha Plants.	Fuzzy Clifftop
Mecha Cheeps	Robotic Cheep Cheeps that are immune to Fireballs.	The Mighty Cannonship
Nabbit	A purple rabbit that steals items from the map and must be defeated to retrieve the items.	Acorn Plains Way Blooming Lakitus Urchin Shoals Prickly Goombas! Jungle of the Giants Walking Piranha Plants! Seesaw Shrooms
Piranha Pods	A projectile thrown by a Lakitu that turns into a Piranha Plant.	Blooming Lakitus
Targeting Teds	Red Torpedo Teds that home into their target, much like Missile Bills.	The Mighty Cannonship
Torpedo Bases	Red Torpedo Bases that fire Targeting Teds instead of Torpedo Teds.	The Mighty Cannonship
Waddlewings	Orange flying-squirrel enemies that glide through stages.	Acorn Plains and Sky Levels

Returning

Enemies with an asterisk (*) are enemies that first appeared in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The only two enemies that do not reappear are Obake Stand and King Bill from World 9-3.

The Bullet Bill, which is a returning enemy.

Amps Banzai Bills Banzai Bill Cannons Big Amps Big Boos Big Buzzy Beetles Bill Blasters Bill Blaster Turrets Big Cheep Cheeps Big Dry Bones Big Fuzzies* Big Goombas Big Koopa Troopas Big Piranha Plants Big Pokeys Big Thwomps Big Urchins* Big Wigglers Bloopers Blooper Babies Blooper Nannies

Bob-ombs Bony Beetles Boos Boomerang Bros. Bramballs* Broozers Bulbers* Bullet Bills Burners Buzzy Beetles Cannons Cannonballs Chain Chomps Cheep Cheeps Cheep Chomps Circling Boo Buddies Cooligans* Clampies Dry Bones Eep Cheep*

Fire Bars Fire Bros Fire Snakes Fire Piranha Plants Fish Bones Flame Chomps Foos* Fuzzies Giant cannonballs Goombas Hammer Bros. Heavy Para-Beetles* Hefty Goombas* Huckit Crabs* Ice Bros.* Icicles Jellybeams* King Bills* Koopa Troopas Lakitus

Lava Bubbles Lava Geysers Magmaarghs Magmaws Mechakoopas Meteors Mini Goombas Missile Bills Monty Moles Muncher Obake Blocks* Para-Beetles Parabombs Paragoombas Paratroopas Piranha Plants Pokeys Porcupuffers Prickly Goombas* River Piranha Plants*

Rocky Wrenches Scaredy Rats* Skewers Sledge Bros. Spikes Spike Tops Spiked Balls Spinners Spinys Spiny Eggs Spiny Cheep Cheeps Stalking Piranha Plants* Stone Spikes* Sumo Bros. Swoops Thwimps Thwomps Torpedo Teds Torpedo Bases Urchins Wigglers

Features

Power-ups

The Super Acorn, which is a new item.

Super Mushrooms Fire Flowers Super Acorns

Ice Flowers Mini Mushrooms P-Acorns

Super Stars Penguin Suits Propeller Mushrooms

Items

The POW Block, which is a returning item.

? Blocks ? Switches ! Switches 1-Up Mushrooms 3-Up Moons 3-Up Moon Blocks Barrels Beanstalks Berries Big Blocks Blue Coins Boost Blocks Boost Stars

Brick Blocks Checkpoint Flag Coins Coin Blocks Coin Flowers Crates Dash Coins Donut Blocks Flying ? Blocks Giant Snake Blocks Goal Pole Green Coins Green Rings

Hard Blocks Hone Yuka Ice Blocks Iron Blocks Light Blocks Mario Brothers Yuka Mega ? Blocks Note Blocks POW Blocks P Switches Pipe Cannons Red Coins Red Rings

Roulette Blocks Snake Blocks Super Guide Blocks Star Coins Springboards Stretch Blocks Warp Doors Warp Pipes Water Balls Yoshi eggs

Reception

New Super Mario Bros. U has received generally positive reviews. The game currently maintains an 84 average on both Metacritic and GameRankings. 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.

Reviews
Reviewer, Publication	Score	Comment
Jim Sterling, Destructoid	8.5/10	"New Super Mario Bros. U is a great little platformer that kicks off the Wii U launch with a bang. Players know exactly what they're getting with this one -- an entertaining and incomplex bit of gaming that provides challenge and smirks in equal measure. While certainly a "safe" game to launch with, it is by no means unremarkable, and the only people who would fail to have fun are those with a fundamental aversion to Mario or platformers in general. Literally everybody else would find it incredibly difficult to dislike this one ... even if some of those latter stages will make them temporarily despise it. Because nobody likes lava levels. Nobody."
Christian Donlan, Eurogamer	9/10	"Is the plumber's Wii U debut as good as his recent 3D outings? Not quite, but for the New Super Mario Bros. series, it's a real step forward in detailing, imagination and character. There's always been a keen Mario brain working away inside these 2D design exercises. Now, it feels like there's a proper soul to go along with it."
Richard George, IGN	9.1/10	"It's difficult to find freshness or brilliance in a 2D landscape. Mario's world is now three decades old. That would seem to suggest new territory is scarce, and in some ways the formulaic New Mario series had come to reinforce that fear. But New Super Mario Bros. U demonstrates there's not just life left in this type of game, but that it can be modern and nostalgic at the same time. Nintendo's approach here strikes a great balance in all areas, ranging from its difficulty to design to enemies and bosses. And for everything the basic Story Mode does right – and that's a considerable amount – the Challenge Mode will be remembered as a key moment in the life of the New Mario series, where Nintendo realized it didn’t have to sacrifice the core gamer’s experience at the expense of a more casual audience. This is how Mario can and will appeal to everyone."
Aggregators
Compiler		Platform / Score
Metacritic		84
GameRankings		84.48%

Sales

As of March 31, 2014, New Super Mario Bros. U is the 3rd best-selling game for the Wii U, having sold about 4.16 million copies worldwide. As of September 30, 2021, it had sold 5.82 million copies worldwide.

Updates

1.1.0

Release date: November 18, 2012

Released at launch, the first update adds the game's Miiverse funtionality.

1.2.0

Release date: March 15, 2013

The second update causes any Miiverse posts made in-game to be posted to a separate "Game Posts" community rather than the standard community.

1.3.0

Release date: June 20, 2013

The third game update adds the ability for the game to receive the New Super Luigi U downloadable content and puts a prompt in-game to go to the Nintendo eShop to download it. The update also adds support for the Wii U Pro Controller.

New Super Luigi U

New Super Luigi U retail box art.

Main article: New Super Luigi U

In July 2013, as part of the Year of Luigi celebration, 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, featuring Luigi as the main character in the place of Mario, who does not appear at all within the game.

The game features the same 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 Luigi's style of gameplay in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, in that the characters run faster and jump higher, but stop slower. The levels have also been designed to be more challenging, with each one being shorter and featuring a 100 second time limit.

The Mario & Luigi Deluxe Set Wii U bundle released in November 2013 includes with it both games put onto one disc, titled New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U. In addition to being a compilation of both games, this release includes several bonus videos.

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 soon after the completion of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, using pre-existing elements from the Wii game, as development equipment for the Wii U did not 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 the 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.

Pre-release and unused content

Four Miis in Acorn Plains-1.

Main article: List of New Super Mario Bros. U pre-release and unused content

Miis were originally going to be playable in the game's Story Mode. In the final game, Mii playability is restricted to the bonus modes. Additionally, Boost Mode was also originally titled "Assist Play". The Acorn Plains map as seen in the E3 showcase for the game is also very different from the version seen in final game.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:New Super Mario Bros. U.

• 

  Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad

• 

  Mario and Yoshi

• 

  A Waddlewing holding a Super Acorn

• 

  Goomba

• 

  Group art

Media

For a complete list of media for this subject, see List of New Super Mario Bros. U media.

Overworld Theme

File infoMedia:Overworld Theme New Super Mario Bros U.oga 0:30

Athletic Theme

File infoMedia:New Super Mario Bros U Athletic Theme.oga 0:30

Snow Theme

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Title Theme

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Glitches

Main article: List of New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U glitches

By entering a Warp Pipe or door in any stage exactly when the timer hits zero, the player does not die, and they can explore the level indefinitely.

Staff

Main article: List of New Super Mario Bros. U staff

New Super Mario Bros. U was produced by Takashi Tezuka and Hiroyuki Kimura, with Masataka Takemoto as the director and Tsutomu Kaneshige and Shinichi Ikeamtsu as the general coordinators. Satoru Iwata was the executive producer, with the general producer being Shigeru Miyamoto. Masanobu Sato was the lead designer, and Shiro Mouri was the programming director. The music was composed by Shiho Fujii and Mahito Yokota, with Koji Kondo as sound adviser.

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.: The second level is an underground level with a secret path over the ceiling passing over the exit Warp Pipe, leading to a secret exit. 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 Boom is 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. Airship levels, and the castle rooms before entering a Koopaling's airship, both use a remastered version of the airship theme from Super Mario Bros. 3.
• Super Mario World: The world map is connected again and a ghost ship, similar to the Sunken Ghost Ship level, appears in this game. The Warp Pipes have a similar structure to the ones in Super Mario World. 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 that this game has: 96.
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: The name of the Challenge "Spin Jump, Get Dizzy" is a reference to that of a level from this game, Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy. Bubble Baby Yoshi's abilities maybe a reference to how Yoshi can shoot bubbles in this game including how the player can bounce off the bubbles. Kamek uses his magic to enhance Boom Boom's attacks, just as he did with this game's bosses. He also grows Bowser to a large size, similar to the final fight with Baby Bowser.
• Mario Kart Wii: The Red Shell and Green Shell use their artworks from this game, but the Green Shell's artwork is mirrored.
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Many graphical, audial, and technical assets were reused from this game. Kamek growing Bowser with magic could also be a reference to this game's final fight, where similar events transpired.
• Super Mario 3D Land: Boom Boom's voices are reused, as well as the motion patterns of some of the enemies.
• Mario Kart 7: The Miis reuse their voice clips from this game.
• New Super Mario Bros. 2: The Note Block sounds are reused. The Goal Pole also produces the flag containing the emblem of the topmost character, also seen in this game.
• 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.

References in later games

• Mario Kart 8: Mecha Cheeps reappear in the underwater sections of Water Park.
• Mario Golf: World Tour: Layer-Cake Desert, Sparkling Waters, and Rock-Candy Mines appear as downloadable courses in this game. Some pieces of Mii gear are based upon both Nabbit and the Boss Sumo Bro, both of which originate from this game. Nabbit returns as a downloadable playable character.
• Super Smash Bros. for Wii U: A stage based on New Super Mario Bros. U, Mushroom Kingdom U, appears in this game.
• Mario Party 10: A few of the minigames take place in areas that resemble some of the worlds in New Super Mario Bros. U, such as Cheep Cheep Leap taking place in Sparkling Waters and Fruit Scoot Scurry taking place in Layer-Cake Desert.
• Super Mario Maker/Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS: The fourth game style in these games is based on New Super Mario Bros. U.
• Super Mario Run: The graphics, as well as most of the music, are based on New Super Mario Bros. U.
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The stage Mushroom Kingdom U from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U returns as a stage in this game. The Koopalings, Nabbit, Boo, Hammer Bro, Banzai Bill, Thwomp, Bob-omb, Flying Squirrel Toad, Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Super Star appear as spirits, using their artwork from New Super Mario Bros. U.
• Super Mario Maker 2: Like the previous Super Mario Maker games, the fourth style in this game is based on New Super Mario Bros. U.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	New スーパーマリオブラザーズ U Nyū Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Yū	New Super Mario Bros. U
Chinese (simplified)	New 超级马力欧兄弟 U New Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Xiōngdì U	New Super Mario Bros. U
Chinese (traditional)	New 超級瑪利歐兄弟U New Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Xiōngdì U	New Super Mario Bros. U
Korean	뉴 슈퍼 마리오브라더스 U Nyu Syupeo Mariobeuradeoseu Yu	New Super Mario Bros. U; as named in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

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 be colored like Wario. If P4, they will wear blue shirts and dark blue overalls, similar to Luigi's light blue alternate costume from the Super Smash Bros. series. This could be a reference to the player 4 in some of the Wii U Virtual Console ports of the Game Boy Advance iteration of Mario Bros.
• When the Mario Bros., Toads, or Miis are not moving, they stop and stare at the screen until the player starts moving them again.
• Sometimes, on the title screen, Luigi almost trips over instead of jumping and ground-pounding the ground.
• In this game, New Super Luigi U, and their Nintendo Switch port, Yellow Toad and Blue Toad's in-game voices are swapped compare to New Super Mario Bros. Wii. However, their voices in the menus and character selection screen are still the same as the previous game. In Super Mario Maker 2's New Super Mario Bros. U-style, Toad's voices are a combination of both of them.
• Bowser transforming Peach's castle into a stronghold of his in this game is similar to the climax of Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!

External links

• American Website for New Super Mario Bros. U
• European Website for New Super Mario Bros. U
• Japanese Website for New Super Mario Bros. U
• Official YouTube channel of New Super Mario Bros. U
• The Main ground theme from the game.