Nintendo does not have much of a history in the world of Downloadable Content (known here on out as DLC). In fact, it was only a few years ago that Nintendo began offering any DLC at all. It is even more recently that Nintendo has offered the less-preferred kind of DLC known as 'Paid DLC'. There are gamers who are hesitant to spend extra money on titles they have already purchased. This I would think is a rather natural reaction. You really need to prove to your audience that the bonus content is worth their time and money. There's a saying, "Go Big or Go Home"… and I can proudly proclaim that with
New Super Luigi U, Nintendo has gone big.
Now do not get me wrong, the level packs within New Super Mario Bros. 2 were a nice addition. You had your main game which was packed full as expected and additional Coin Rush level packs could be purchased. I never was very into that kind of extra content and thus it felt unnecessary for me. New Super Luigi U goes beyond the call. Out now, New Super Luigi U sells for $19.99 on the Nintendo eShop and it requires the purchaser to own New Super Mario Bros. U first. The two games share the same world map and other assets and the DLC is added to this. So when you want to play New Super Luigi U, you will need to pop in your copy of NSMBU first. In August there will be a retail version of the game to be sold at $29.99. It is an interesting move which had this reviewer torn. I wanted to wait for the boxed version so that I would have the game self-contained. Still, the idea that I could get 82 new mario-style levels right now was all too enticing to hold off on.
Upon first boot I found that the cutscenes and story have been slightly altered so that Luigi's bloated-brother was but a memory. In fact, when wanting to play some 4-player multi-player you will find him replaced with Nabbit, the rabbit-thief from the original game. I will mention more on the multiplayer later.
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Don't look down Luigi... Don't... Look... Down...The game will feel very familiar at first. You will hear the same music, see the same overworld, and enjoy the same control-scheme you already know and love. However, the moment you jump into World 1-1 you will find that you are not in Kansas anymore. All the levels in this game are remixed. They are not just simple placement swaps though… every level is re-crafted for a new purpose… Luigi play. You will find that the levels are much more difficult. This is done through a few means. First you play as Luigi. He's going to be much more slippery than Mario and have more inertia to overcome from a standstill. The Mario series has always been known for precision platforming and so it takes some getting used to here, even if you have played as Luigi in past titles. The levels are also much shorter than normal. Do not get me wrong, they still each contain three Star Coins to collect and discover. The reason shorter levels equals more challenging gameplay is because each level only provides you 100 seconds to complete. The moment a level begins you hear that taunting tone which signifies "Dude, you're almost out of time!" There was one level in the final world that actually has rising lava as well. I found myself racing the clock and the lava and it was over before I knew it. I had no idea how I beat it on the first try as I had many close calls but I just speed-ran through it due to my nervousness and when it was all over I was shocked.
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A Close CallI was incredibly torn on this aspect of the game. On the one hand, I was totally digging the sense of urgency. It really lights a fire under your butt. I found myself sprinting through levels to ensure I can reach that goal post I so desired but I also am not stopping to smell any roses in the process. Time has always been a factor in the Mario games but never really to such a degree. I can appreciate the change of pace but I secretly wished that once you beat the final castle the game would remove this restriction so I could spend more time exploring for coins and trying different things. I enjoy the secrets aspect of the Mario series and while this game is definitely secrets-a-plenty, I did not feel like I had enough time to explore. I do not necessarily fault the game for it since the game creators are trying something different, but it just did not fully resonate with me. However...
As I made my way through the worlds I found that despite the constant adrenalin rush and perpetual motion the game forces me into, there was something redeeming going on… the level design. While the worlds all have their level-circles all in the same place, the levels themselves were constantly unique and engaging. Some were incredibly hard and some were over really quickly. It felt like a mixed bag despite everything having that wonderful Nintendo design and polish. It was not until I made my way into the second-to-last world, the Meringue Clouds, that I seemed to really 'get it' in terms of level design. My original concerns kind of dissipated. Maybe it was because of the time I had spent with the game in general but by then I saw charming new ideas like the Three-Headed Block Snake and I just fully appreciated the game. I saw the value this title holds. The game is a good game well before this point but it took a while for it to become a great game. Much like Luigi's slow start while running, the game had that inertia to overcome with me. When I finally got going, I lost the weird feeling I originally had inside me. Luigi really makes a name for himself and I would love to see a future with more fleshed out levels/concepts based on Luigi. When I would go back to find coins I had missed or secret exits I knew were there somewhere… It was so gratifying to discover them and/or succeed in pulling off the tense maneuvers necessary to achieve my goals.
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What a precious commodity...I do have to say this about the very last level… so please avert your eyes if you do not want to hear about it. Skip to the final paragraph after the next photo. The ending is very similar to the end battle in the Mario variety of this game but I will tell you this… Luigi's physics make it indeed one of the hardest levels ever in Mario Bros history. It was the only level so hard that I was screaming obscenities aloud. Baby Bowser continues to get in your way and there is a ton of lava to fall into. It is tough but with persistence it can be completed. I died a lot and that led me to discover that after a certain amount of deaths, you are forced to change into Nabbit. This is the game's version of the help block I suppose. I chose to die instantly and then back out so I could play through another level and reset this stupid design. I should not be forced into help mode. Nintendo should know better than that. In the end I was able to learn the intricacies of the final level and I could probably beat it much easier now. Just that initial shock of the level discovery is more challenging than many other levels I have ever encountered. It felt great to complete it though. Beating the game does unlock a unique bonus which I will not detail here. I am actually really pleased with this bonus but I probably will not attempt to utilize it until I have fully found all coins and found ever exit.
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Where's Gob Bluth when you need him?In conclusion, the assets are the same… the music is the same… the map is the same… but those end up being quite minor flaws in the end. Frankly this might even feel down right weird to you at first. I assure you though the feeling passes. The price is right and the value is substantial enough to warrant it. You get an often neglected character getting his moment to shine with his own special physics. These physics change up the gameplay, adds tension, and provides a refreshing-newness to an aging title. It will be a smart buy for those Wii U owners looking to extend their purchase from the past eight or so months, but it will also be smart for anyone buying their first Wii U and Mario game in the distant future. Lets hope Luigi gets to show off his brave side a bit more in the future.
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