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  • $49.99
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New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

common sense media says

Ingenious remake is a classic for both old, new fans.


parents & educators say
  • 35% say there are positive role models
  • 30% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that New Super Mario Bros. Wii offers fun cooperative gaming for players of all ages. While this "E-rated" game has some light cartoon violence, it is of the jump-on-top-of-baddies variety. The game encourages group play on the same television (perfect for siblings or kids and their parents). There is no online interaction with strangers.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: The game encourages people to work together in order to accomplish goals. Players can break open others trapped in bubbles, toss them up to hard-to-reach places, or work together to solve puzzles. But some might not like the cliched "damsel in distress" storyline in which Princess Peach is, once again, kidnapped at the start of the game.
Positive role models: Mario and Luigi are presented as the good guys who can work together, as well as with the two Toads (but the game doesn't develop the backstory of these characters). Some might frown on the brothers' strong Italian accents and stereotyped phrases, such as "Mamma mia!" or "It's a me!" In this world, Princess Peach is always getting kidnapped and needs rescuing.
Ease of play: New Super Mario Bros. Wii is quite easy to play. Gamers simply hold the Wii Remote sideways to control their character, pressing the 1 and 2 buttons to jump or shoot, and shaking the controller to float around. But adding/droppping out players and selecting various worlds is a bit more tricky.  
Violence & scariness: As with past Mario Bros. games, the protagonists can jump on enemies to destroy them, toss a turtle shell at them, or throw a fireball. But this "violence" is quite tame and cartoon-like.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.

More on New Super Mario Bros. Wii

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how Nintendo went from last place to first in the multibillion dollar "console wars" by reinventing how we play games -- namely, motion-sensing control, social interaction, and appealing to a wide audience. Obviously this formula worked, so did Microsoft and Sony miss out with its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, respectively? Or do you, in fact, prefer the more intense, high-definition experiences on these two platforms?

  • Do you prefer playing a Mario game alone or with others? Why?
  • What is it about Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom that is so appealing? Why do you think this franchise is so popular?

What's the story?

What's the story?
What better way to reinvent one of the most popular video game franchises of all time than by adding simultaneous multiplayer fun? This is precisely what Nintendo has done with NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII, the first game in the series to let up to four players jump, climb, fight, and fly through the vast Mushroom Kingdom -- all at the same time, on the same television. Featuring more than 80 colorful levels, this new "platformer" game has you running from the left side of the screen to the right -- just like the past games -- to collect coins, bounce on baddies, and reach the flagpole at the castle. But this time around, you can share the screen with up to three friends, each of whom holds a Wii Remote sideways to play. At the start of the main mode, gamers select a character to play (the mustached Mario, his brother Luigi, or one of two Toads), each with their own unique abilities, and attempt to rescue the kidnapped Princess Peach (on her birthday, no less). Worlds range from lush green towns to cloud-filled skies, dry deserts to icy levels, dark  dungeons, and so on.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

This game is absolutely fabulous. If any game this year can bring together family or friends in front of the same television, it's this "Everyone"-rated title that's easy to pick up but hard to put down. Of course you can play New Super Mario Bros. Wii by yourself if you want, but the game was designed primarily for group play with its handful of cooperative and competitive modes, along with minigames. In fact, some actions require more than one player to pull off, such as hopping up and down on a seesaw to reach high areas. You can also pick up other characters and toss them into the abyss, ride Yoshi (and use his tongue-lashing attacks), or don special suits that let you fly, slide, or freeze baddies. As with its predecessors, this game includes many well-hidden secrets and surprises as a reward to those who explore. It could be extra coins and power-ups, underground caverns or the ability the warp to future worlds. Arguably the finest Nintendo Wii title of the year, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is an extraordinary game that should yield many weeks and months of multiplayer fun.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo Wii
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Released on: November 15, 2009
Price: 49.99
ESRB Rating: E for Comic Mischief
Screenshots

This review was written by Marc Saltzman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

7
Based on 20 parent & educator reviews:
  • 35% say there are positive role models
  • 30% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

TheUltimateRev ...
kid, 10 years old
 
Fun, Fantastic, Mario game amazing for kids and family -
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a fan favorite for family and kids around the world.Over here, the violence is mild and tame, although you kil non-creatures, but it's without blood.They jump on enemies though and can kill enemies with other enemies of power-ups.Of course, there are a lot of positive sides about this game.It's pretty easy to play, 2 to jump, control pad to move, shake the wiimote to spin, hold 1 to sprint.It's pretty simple to play, and newcomers get the controls very easily.Mario and Luigi, and the two toads, are the goods guys, trying to save Princess Peach who is (and always) kidnapped by Bowser, or his Koopalings.Mario is the most popular Nintendo character so that's noticable.Great Game, great detail, great role models, and if you want a family game, get this game.

dasiey
kid, 8 years old
 
i can not get on it

magz1027
kid, 11 years old
 
GREAT GAME!
This game is a lot like other Mario games, but more fun! This game is really fun and good for kids who've never really played Mario before. In my opinion, you should buy it! So do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SuperMario958
teen, 13 years old
 
NEW Super Mario Bros. Wii
This game brings the fun of the old game and adds amazing graphics to the story. The violence in this game is on the classic Mario violence its just cartoonish and fun. I recommend this game to everyone who owns a Wii, it's a very fun experience.

DPNorman
kid, 13 years old
 
Very fun, clever, and challenging
This game is as fun as any Mario game should be. Like the game before it it is a sidescrolling platformer and 3d gameplay is not in this game. However thats not to say that it isnt fun. This game is very fun. As with all Mario games you have to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser and his various friends who have planned a nice little kidnapping of the princess for the umpteenth time, and as usual its Mario's job to save her. Dont you think Mario would just at least be a bit annoyed at the fact that Peach is constantly being stolen? Anyways you collect various items and your goal is to get to the flag to the next level before the time runs out. Like most other Mario games you have several suits to wear such as a suit that enables you to fly, a penguin suit, and a suit that allows you to throw fireballs. Also like most other Mario games you defeat your enemies by jumping on top of them and they will die. There is no violence in this game, as its all very cartoony and there's no blood or anything. The game looks good, though not great, but it looks like a Mario game should. The controls work almost perfectly. Holding the wii remote on its side and using the D pad to move your character was a clever idea and works well. You can play the game alone, or other people can join you on your quest to discover where Bowser has hid Peach. Its relatively new for Mario games to allow multiple people to play the single player game, but this game allows it and it works. The only issue is that you will accidentally jump on your friends a LOT to the point at which you should count on it. The playable characters in the game are Mario, Luigi, and two different kinds of toads. Also there are some levels where you can ride on top of Yoshi and use him to defeat enemies and get to the next level, but the game could have used just a tad more of Yoshi in my opinion. The levels were clever. They had you doing a lot of different things, and so the game wasnt boring. I liked this game and although it isnt quite perfect, its definitely worth buying.

CSMfan958
teen, 13 years old
 
New Super Mario Bros. WII
New Super Mario Bros. is a very addicting game. I will sometimes stay up to midnight playing it. The game does have the classic mario violence like jumping on koopas and bowser, but its nothing violent for kids over 6. There is nothing else to say about this game other than its alot like the original and has a very fun story line. I would recommend this for any Mario fan over 6.

rockybug
parent of 6 year old
 
we love it
perfect for my 6 year old

OhioPest
parent of 6 year old
 
MY at the time 5 year old picked up his level of play after a week.
A little bit of a learning curve for a 5 year old but after about a week he was more than adept at the skills needed to play.

SuperMarioGirl
kid, 12 years old
 
Even Adults are Excited
New Super Mario Bros Wii is one of the best Mario game on the planet. It's such a fun game to play, especially when you can be Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Toadette. You can play with family and friends and have a great time. No violence except Mario is able to throw fireballs at anyone and kill them. Really the only bad thing about this game is that its$49.99.

Super Mario
kid, 10 years old
 
Way Easy
I beat it so many times. I have all the levels from 1-1 to 9-8! I just wanna say, It's fun and epic.

DisneyFan213
teen, 14 years old
 
This is a great game for kids.

ALGLTG09
kid, 13 years old
 
Fun!
I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!!!! it's amazing!!!! it's VERY addicting! and your kids WILL get into fights, but my friend and i finally said, instead of yelling, laugh, and then you start to laugh at yourself that you were going to fight over a VIDEO GAME!

cornrox
kid, 11 years old
 
any kid will love it
I think anybody can play this- as long as they can grip the remote! i played this at my cousins house and i loved it! Really fun!

pinkkittyninja
kid, 13 years old
 
Great party game!!! :)
I REALLY liked this game! I have the DS version and when I learned that this came out too I went to Target as soon as i could! the game is fun, challenging, and unique! (kind of.) The plot is the same as always... Peach gets kidnapped again. When I played it I absolutely LOVED super Luigi Guide! There were soo many hard levels and super luigi guide was what i NEEDED! Even though it could spoil you and make you too lazy to do it on your own, Super Luigi Guide was a LOT of help! Multiplayer mode was also awesome! They also added two modes, coin battle and free play, and i enjoyed those with my family and friends! The gameplay was pretty hard! I couldn't get past many boss levels without the help of super luigi guide, and i got really frustrated at the tv. Multiplayer was probably my most favorite feature. You can pick your friends up and carry them towards hard parts, or just throw them into lava. Anyway I think it's one of my all time favorite mario games. Well, i give it a 9.0 out of 10 and i think you should really buy it! Well, I hope this review helped! Ciao!

Noahsmom2000
parent of 11 year old
 
Mario lives again!
I was thrilled to see this game come out. It's one that myself and my almost ten year old son can play together.It's not difficult to grasp the game and how to do the actions but it does get more difficult as the levels go on.

SingleMomOf2Boys
parent of 5 and 7 year old
 
Frustrating for young ones
While the controls are generally easy to master, my youngest gets very frustrated with the game because he can't "do" a lot of the things his older brother can on this game. This can often times lead to fighting between my boys because the older one is able to play a lot faster and better than the younger one and doesn't like to wait for the little one to "catch up." For ages 6 and up, when the hand-eye coordination is a little bit better, this game is a tremendous amount of good, clean fun.

Tchickenboybo3 ...
teen, 17 years old
 
Its a Me Mario! this is the perfixed game for ever one! :) :D :)
its heavenly! its perfixed in ever way its wondifull game! it has wondifull lively Worlds with Brilent designs and Power ups worlds and Nacher isperd desgin and Gameplay. it is interactife delight that shode be cherished and A joy for any one of Any Age and its wondifull a perfixed Master peace one of my Favert games and i play a lot of games its a realy good one! a ture classic and it its to hard for u... u can skip that Levil if u lose it 8 times but if u dont whait to u can play it Any way and Play throe ur selfe and Coltioning the 3 big conits is the only way to Unlocke a evera Levil in the 9th Bones world this game is perfixed for any Age and Ginder if u have a Wii u need this game if u dont have a Wii Plz git one with this game its Heavenly awsome perfixed! :) :D :) Wondifull joy i play it all the time! i love it all my freands Love it one of the Best games of all times! IM not kidding :) :D :) ITS HEAVENLY AND PERFIXED! its wondifull for ever one its perfixed in ever way i cant say a Nuff good thangs about it! its perfixed! :) :D :) PLZ KOWN im not saying this game is only for Kids its Wondifull Good for ever one i love it infintly and its one of my favert games is not about win or Loseing its about haveing a good time and Playing this game is a joy this game is Heavenly and perfixed for ever one! :) :D :) :) :D :)

readthereview_B23
teen, 13 years old
 
Just fine
Good game. Fun but it gets boring after a while.

USDD
kid, 11 years old
 
For kids, but not young ones
Awesome

drweegee
kid, 10 years old
 
Never too young to play this game!
First i thought this game was gonna be great,but I was WRONG!This game is....Perfection!!!.

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