When the first New Super Mario Bros. game was released for the DS in 2006, I was disenchanted by the whole experience. It was a solid title, but I thought that it was over-hyped because it was the first 2D Mario title in years. But as the years went by, I finally saw its appeal. The game wasn't about breaking new ground in design; it was about reliving an era where games were all about fun. In that aspect, the game was fantastic. It was this simple idea that made New Super Mario Bros. a multi-million seller worldwide. Now, Nintendo hopes to strike lightning again with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and they were able to surpass my expectations and more.

As is tradition with Mario games, Peach has been kidnapped yet again, but what's really cool this time is that she gets kidnapped by Bowser Jr. and the Koopa Kids, who are making their first appearance in a Mario game since 2003's Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance. Right from the start, you realize that this game is brimming with nostalgic value. However, there is more to New Super Mario Bros. Wii than just nostalgia. The game is extremely successful at creating a superb platforming experience that you won't find anywhere else.

If you have played Mario games before, then this shouldn't be a foreign concept. The goal is to reach the end of the level. But the path to the finish line is filled with obstacles, enemies, and other paths to discover. Ever since Super Mario Bros. was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, the formula has seen improvements and additions that made the experience familiar, but with enough elements to keep it both challenging and fresh. New Super Mario Bros. Wii pays tribute to these games by borrowing many of the elements seen in past games, such as the red coin challenge from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, the ability to store items from Super Mario Bros. 3, being able to pick up items and enemies from Super Mario Bros. 2, and even the classic Mario Bros. Arcade game sees representation in the form of POW blocks.

You would think that having all of these elements in one game would create a "jack of all trades, master of none" title, but the game is so well designed that all of these elements fit well. Despite being borrowed from past titles, it manages to create a game that always feels fresh even after long hours of play. Returning from the DS game are the star coins. Each level has three of them to collect, with some in plain sight and others that are very well hidden. They are then used to unlock hint videos where you learn to perform new tricks, find hidden passageways, and get lots of extra lives.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii amazes in its level design. One of the complaints I had with New Super Mario Bros. on the DS was that the levels felt too straightforward and simple. This has been remedied in the Wii version, and I can easily say that these are some of the best designed levels I have ever seen in a Mario game. Even if the worlds feel a tad cliché, the levels are very imaginative. It's this dedication to the level design that raises the level of challenge in the game. It is not impossible to beat, and once you figure out how to save your items and gain more lives, it shouldn't be a problem. There are moments in which your patience will be tested, and you will feel glad that the difficulty wasn't sacrificed for the sake of accessibility while you curse the designers for their unrelenting obstacles.

The levels can be accessed through a world map with different paths to take. Each map has different Toad houses that are presented in a similar manner to Super Mario Bros. 3. They give players the opportunity to earn new items by playing a matching mini-game, earn more lives by shooting themselves out of a cannon and popping balloons, and earn rare items. In addition to Toad houses, enemies also roam the maps. If you bump into them, a single-screen battle startsI as you try to collect balloons and rescue a Toad. Needless to say, there is a lot to do in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Ghost houses return from Super Mario World as they litter the worlds. Finally, there are a fortress level and a castle level in each world, where you can face off against that level's Koopa Kid.

As if that wasn't enough, sometimes a Toad will scream for help on the level-select screen. When you go the level he is in, the Toad will be hidden in one of the level's question-mark blocks. When you find him, you must carry him to the end of the level. This becomes a challenge because when you are carrying the Toad you can't attack or use your items. You must drop the Toad in order to attack enemies. On top of that, the little guy is vulnerable to enemy attacks. Two hits and he is defeated, forcing the player to restart the level. This is both very challenging and fun, but it can get frustrating when the Toad is on one of the harder levels. It may feel like padding in order to extend the game's life, but when you partake in this mission you will see the levels through a whole new set of eyes. What was once an easy level to conquer suddenly becomes harder due to both your vulnerability and your duty to protect the Toad.

Items have always been crucial in an enjoyable Mario experience, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii is definitely no exception. The iconic Mario items make an appearance, such as the Super Mushroom, the Starman and the Fire Flower. The title also adds two new items; the Penguin Suit and the Propeller Mushroom. The Penguin Suit, reminiscent of the Frog Suit in Super Mario Bros. 3, allows the characters to fire snow balls, freezing their enemies and allowing players to pick them up, and swim quickly in water. The Propeller Mushroom makes Mario take flight when you shake the Wii Remote. The Ice Flower from Super Mario Galaxy makes an appearance, performing the same actions as the Penguin Suit sans the swimming.

The biggest addition to New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the opportunity to play with up to three other players. When three other players join they will get to play as Luigi or one of two Toads (yellow and blue). There's no need to create a separate file for multiplayer gaming as you can easily add or drop players from the main menu. All the previous levels can be replayed in multiplayer and you can continue the rest of the adventure as well. This process is incredibly smooth and easy. No one should have issues trying to get a four-player adventure started.

Multiplayer easily adds a lot of value to an already phenomenal game. It also helps that the designers implemented multiplayer in a clever manner, never truly ruining the overall game. If a player stays behind, instead of locking the screen, the camera pans back for a wider view of the level, allowing players to catch up and keep moving without feeling the need to go back and get a player. The only downside to multiplayer is that it can get pretty chaotic when you have four players running around, jumping into each other, but this is something that can be remedied by the players themselves. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is flexible enough that multiplayer can be played as both a cooperative and competitive affair. It's up to the players to decide how to play the game.

In addition to the adventure mode, there are two multiplayer modes. Free-For-All has the player competing for points without worrying about rules. Coin Battle is a competitive mode where players try to collect the most coins possible while they play through the level.

Another important implementation to the Mario franchise is Super Guide, a somewhat controversial addition to games in general. What Super Guide does is show you how to beat a level if you are having trouble. After dying eight times on a level in single-player, a green block will appear at the starting point. When you hit it, Super Guide is activated and an AI-controlled Luigi will complete the level for you. Those fearing that this will ruin the game's challenge shouldn't fear. Like I already said, this only happens if you die eight times. While New Super Mario Bros. Wii is more challenging than its DS iteration, it is not impossible to beat. This is one of those games where levels can be beaten with a lot of practice. It's more than likely that players will realize how to beat a level before they even get to see the Super Guide block.

Unfortunately, despite some excellence in overall game design, there are some small flaws. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is played with the Wii Remote on its side, simulating playing Mario games on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The traditional controls work fantastically, with the level of ease you would expect in a Mario title. Unfortunately, Nintendo added some motion control. On some platforms you can tilt the Wii Remote in order to raise or lower it and reach new levels. In order to pick up an item, enemy, or another player, you must stand beside it, press the 1 button and shake the remote. Mario also does a spin jump when you shake the Wii Remote, which is how you use the Propeller Mushroom. With two other buttons on the Wii Remote itself, Nintendo could have mapped a couple of those actions on them. The shaking feels repetitive and a tad disruptive. The game also offers the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as an alternative setup.

Despite this, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a must own for anyone who enjoys classic gaming. Cynics may say that the game isn't truly new due to how it borrows elements from past Mario games, creating very little new content of its own. But this just reassures gamers that the Mario franchise has seen some incredible innovations, innovations that still impress after all these years. All of these classic assets along with the great multiplayer make New Super Mario Bros. Wii a triumph in game design and fun. Whatever you do, don't miss out on this amazing game.