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| New Super Mario Bros |
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: £39.99
Format: Wii
Age rating: 3+
Score: 4/5 Stars
GUARANTEED to put a big fat grin on your face, this old school platform game is an absolute riot of fun as players guide Mario and chums on a mission to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser Jr.
Spread across eight gigantic cartoon worlds, it's a throwback to more innocent times. Spin jumps and butt stomps are the order of the day, rather than the rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rifles of its peers, and the entire game is about as family-friendly as it's possible to get.
In single-player mode, it's all about running from left to right, collecting coins, balancing on beams, leaping chasms and clobbering anyone who gets in your way. As Mario charges around each level, exploring secret areas and trying out different power-ups, you'll wonder why more games can't be like this.
The game really moves up a gear, though, when you dive into its multiplayer mode. It includes everything you'll find in the single-player game, plus up to three of your friends can join in. You can opt to play as Mario, Luigi or one of two Toads and the idea is to work co-operatively, navigating the various puzzles and obstacles of each level as you all make your way to the end-of-stage flagpole.
That's all fine in theory, but in practice it's just too tempting to pick up one of your buddies and chuck them into an abyss, throw them at an enemy or stomp on their heads. Once you die, you're reborn inside a floating bubble and can only rejoin the action if a friend decides to pop it for you, but they might just leave you where you are while they grab all the coins.
With lots of new power-ups to collect and a hints system that'll actually play a particularly challenging part of the game for you, New Super Mario Bros. Wii oozes charm at every possible opportunity. Sure, it's a shame there are no online options, but it's an irresistibly charming adventure and one that the whole family can enjoy.
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