New Super Mario Bros. U offers classic side-scrolling Mario action with a polished, vibrantly colorful presentation. While familiar in many ways to fans of the series, the levels present fun challenges and clever twists, particularly in later stages. The inclusion of multiplayer adds a chaotic dimension to the experience, and the Boost Rush mode delivers fast-paced thrills. Yet, New Super Mario Bros. U doesn't revolutionize the formula, offering a solid but ultimately safe entry in the beloved Mario franchise.

Yes, the NSMB shtick was getting tired by this point & it did feel like Nintendo was just kinda going through the motions. But a solid 2D Mario is still a solid 2D Mario. Sick of the series by this point or not, NSMBU is, at the end of the day, still inoffensive. The level design’s still entertaining, the world map is even more expansive, baby Yoshis' abilities added a fresh twist to the formula & everything looks, plays, feels & sounds as you’d expect. Feels recycled? Sure. But definitely not bad.

In the ever-expanding tapestry of the video game universe, "New Super Mario Bros. U" emerges as a paradoxical blend of nostalgia and modernity, a Sisyphean endeavor encapsulating both the zenith of platforming joy and the nadir of creative stagnation. This iteration, while donning the vibrant hues of innovation and the sleek mantle of HD graphics, paradoxically ventures not into the uncharted wilds of imagination but rather treads the well-worn paths of its ancestors, a shadow chasing the eternal sunlight of its predecessors.

At its core, the game is a meticulously polished mirror, reflecting the radiant joys of past adventures while simultaneously revealing the smudges of redundancy that mar its surface. It is akin to a grand symphony orchestra playing a composition of unparalleled beauty, yet one cannot shake the feeling that this symphony has been performed one time too many, the notes, though flawless, lacking the vibrant spark of originality.

The introduction of the Wii U's gamepad was poised as Icarus' wings, promising to elevate the series to unprecedented heights. However, this innovation serves more as a waxen appendage, melting under the scrutiny of expectation, revealing that the game, much like Icarus, flies too close to the sun of its glorious past, ultimately to plummet into the sea of familiarity.

The cooperative gameplay, a potential crucible for forging new experiences, instead becomes a theatre where the ghosts of past mechanics play out the same old dramas. It is as if the game stands at the edge of a precipice, gazing out into the vast possibilities of creation, only to retreat into the safety of the familiar, a ship that never sets sail for fear of the stormy seas of innovation.

Yet, within this critique lies a paradoxical acknowledgement: "New Super Mario Bros. U" is not inherently flawed. Its sin is not one of incompetence but of complacency. It is a meticulously crafted piece of artistry, a Sistine Chapel ceiling painted with the same brushstrokes for the umpteenth time. The craftsmanship is undeniable, the joy palpable, yet one cannot help but mourn for what might have been, for the paths untraveled, for the adventures not taken.

In the grand narrative of the Mario franchise, "New Super Mario Bros. U" will be remembered not as a flawed gem, but as a testament to the series' enduring legacy and its struggle to reinvent itself. It is a game that simultaneously embraces its heritage and is ensnared by it, a lighthouse that shines brightly yet illuminates the same stretch of shore. In its reflection, we see not just the game itself, but the challenge of innovation in the face of success, the delicate dance between honoring the past and forging the future.

DAMN! This game was great. Definitely the best New SMB game so far. I'd chalk most of that up to not only the great level design and music, which is par for the course, really, but also due to the new wing-suit power up. It just feels like such a more natural evolution of the tanooki leaf and feather/cape, and it just works really well within the levels to provide an easier run while still being very skill based. Especially if you get the bundle with Luigi U, one of my favorite things I've come across on impulse in a long time. Really sorry I missed out on it when it first came out.

Expect a review for Luigi U in a few days, but that game is REALLY hard so far. Kinda surprised they sold it by itself, tbh. It seems like they almost expected you to beat NSMBU first with the skill level that even the first world demands.