New Super Mario Bros. 2

With little in the way of ‘new’ ideas, New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a solid if a not all too safe entry in the plumber’s repertoire, lacking the spark of imagination and sheer joy conjured up by his 3D Land outing.

Sure, there are some throughly enjoyable moments to be had, and at times a little of that Mario brilliance shines through too. But it's overshadowed by a real lack of imagination in its level design, which makes New Super Mario Bros. 2 little more than a retread of past glories. A fun, and sometimes challenging retread in parts, but a retread nonetheless.

Tight controls, thoughtful level design, and a wealth of variety over the game’s nine worlds are definitely call backs to other popular Mario titles of the past, but once again blend nostalgia with a dose of new that ultimately feels fresh enough to make a bid for your time. Nobody does first party like Nintendo, and the use of 3D in the title is subtlety eloquent.