New Super Mario Bros.

 DS
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 910 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 767 out of 910
  2. Mixed: 117 out of 910
  3. Negative: 26 out of 910
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  1. Victory
    Dec 11, 2012
    6
    It's alright, that pretty much sums it up for me. I've tried playing it but I just get bored and can't finish it. Which is a first for a Mario game, having played them all to death.

    This is just standard, nothing exciting at all. Which is a shame for a "glorious return" to the roots.
  2. SpazzyGoose
    Jan 5, 2015
    6
    this game is OK. there is not very much things special about it. although not terrible just not as good as sonic , Pokemon , zelda and stuff like that. the story line is is boring , the game play is simple and just every thing about it is adequate.
  3. Yushy
    Mar 16, 2018
    6
    - 6.5 -

    Il mio primo gioco di super mario, ed uno dei miei primissimi giochi, ai tempi per me era una meraviglia (6-7 anni), ma a pensarci ora, diciamo che è un po calato di aspettativa, cioè, paragonandolo agli altri giochi di Super Mario, questo non è poi così incredibile, anzi, forse è uno dei più banali, non-innovativi, giochi della serie.
  4. BeeSting1
    Nov 26, 2021
    6
    Good

    - graphics are good for the ds - a lot of rehashed platforming from SMB and smw series. There are some new twists and platforming obstacles as well. Bad - only firefire power up. Mega mushroom is kinda boring. Shell power is useless. Mini mushroom is interesting but not enough of it. - the wall jump distance is inconsistent with the running speed. - I should be    Good

    - graphics are good for the ds

    - a lot of rehashed platforming from SMB and smw series. There are some new twists and platforming obstacles as well.

    Bad

    - only firefire power up. Mega mushroom is kinda boring. Shell power is useless. Mini mushroom is interesting but not enough of it.

    - the wall jump distance is inconsistent with the running speed.

    - I should be allowed to save any time in the overworld, not only between castles.

    - boss fights were repetitive. And not creative.    … Expand
  5. ntBagel
    Apr 23, 2022
    6
    New super Mario bros. DS, a return to the Mario 2d platforming series. The game starts out really strong with well design levels catchy music that fits the tone and a fresh start to a new Mario franchise. playing further into the game the levels become either more boring or have not very fun gimmicks. For example the snake block levels felt slow but also unfair. I still have fun with theNew super Mario bros. DS, a return to the Mario 2d platforming series. The game starts out really strong with well design levels catchy music that fits the tone and a fresh start to a new Mario franchise. playing further into the game the levels become either more boring or have not very fun gimmicks. For example the snake block levels felt slow but also unfair. I still have fun with the rest of the game but it felt very "OK" after the first few worlds. the music became repetitive because it is always bubbly which was fine in the first world but the other worlds songs have the same vibe. This makes the worlds feel less unique. Also the bosses get a little repetitive besides the castle ones which I enjoy but I don't like battling bowser jr. 20 times. on to a high note the levels are for the most part designed very well. This game was made to be played single player which allowed it to try things that you couldn't do in the Wii version. one thing I have mixed feelings about is the new powerups. the mini mushroom is fun to use but doesn't show up much and is only used for secrets. The blue shell I absolutely hate it has killed me more than helped and lastly the mega mushroom is cool the first time but a little underwhelming every other time I use it. Also the fire flower feels as good as ever in this game and added some quality of life changes such as fireballs being able to go up stairs which I like. It might seem like I disliked this game but I actually enjoyed playing through it. It seems like a fun game to play on a road trip or to just pop it in and finish a world. which is why im going to give is a 6/10 (good)… Expand
  6. Smg7
    Jun 29, 2023
    6
    It's alright i guess the controls are good and the levels look cool, i like that this game has unique bosses and not just the koopa kids. But the game feels a bit too easy and it's not really too memorable
  7. TKSwiz
    Jul 15, 2023
    6
    This game isn't bad by any means, but it really doesn't live up to the standard set by pretty much every 2D Mario game that came before it. It lacks the wacky creativity of Super Mario Bros. 3, the sense of wonder and adventure in Super Mario World, the originality of Super Mario Bros. 2 (which is still a great game despite being not originally being a Mario game), and the groundbreakingThis game isn't bad by any means, but it really doesn't live up to the standard set by pretty much every 2D Mario game that came before it. It lacks the wacky creativity of Super Mario Bros. 3, the sense of wonder and adventure in Super Mario World, the originality of Super Mario Bros. 2 (which is still a great game despite being not originally being a Mario game), and the groundbreaking innovation of the original Super Mario Bros. This game has some new ideas, but a lot of them are wasted by being severely underutilized. Take the Mega Mushroom, for example. It seems like the game was designed around this power-up for a few levels in the beginning, and then they just kinda forgot about it after that. The mini mushroom is good for some secrets but that's about it. The blue shell is admittedly pretty fun, and probably the best and most unique aspect of the game. But compared to the Tanooki suit or the cape, it feels quite unessential to the game experience. The level design is nothing too special most of the time, and nothing really sticks out in my memory. I did enjoy the two hidden worlds as a concept, but i found their levels to mostly be just ok. The mini-games are definitely a fun time-waster, and it is honestly probably the part of the game that has the most replay value. Overall, I found this game to be decent, but not up to snuff with the prior entries in line of 2D Mario games.… Expand
  8. GaryW
    May 28, 2008
    5
    Easily the weakest mario platform game ever made. Severly overrated tat, how many people are still playing it I wonder? To even compare it to Supermario world or Mario 64 is a joke. The fun factor has been replaced by frustrating level design youll go from a piss easy level to a solid in one in the space of one move, much of the jumping requires pinpoint accuracy, this wouldnt be so bad Easily the weakest mario platform game ever made. Severly overrated tat, how many people are still playing it I wonder? To even compare it to Supermario world or Mario 64 is a joke. The fun factor has been replaced by frustrating level design youll go from a piss easy level to a solid in one in the space of one move, much of the jumping requires pinpoint accuracy, this wouldnt be so bad if Mario didnt take another three steps after youve stopped him running, or if you could save when you wanted. Considering the game is supposed to be portable the save system is appaling. Youll spend half an hour doing one frustratingly poorly designed level only to find you cant save and you have to trudge to the next castle to save ! Nice going Nintendo ! I find it really shocking that people have so severly overrated this game, you cant even fly in it ! Do yourself a faovur and get mario64 ds instead, its VASTLY superior, or get yoshis island and supermario world on the GBA.… Expand
  9. sparriskrigaren
    Sep 28, 2011
    5
    It's an OK game, but nothing more. Maybe if it had been released in the mid 90's it would have been great, but now it feels really dated. The levels are kind of repetitive, the bosses are boring and one of my biggest problems with this game are the power-ups. One of the things that made Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World great were the innovative and fun power ups! The power-ups inIt's an OK game, but nothing more. Maybe if it had been released in the mid 90's it would have been great, but now it feels really dated. The levels are kind of repetitive, the bosses are boring and one of my biggest problems with this game are the power-ups. One of the things that made Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World great were the innovative and fun power ups! The power-ups in this game don't make it for me, they're kind of dull and unimaginative. That's the whole problem, the game feels very unimaginative. It's like reimagining the first Super Mario Bros game, which wasn't that fun to begin with.… Expand
  10. SuperKurzacz
    Jan 2, 2013
    5
    This Mario game is so so good not as good as I thought it would be
  11. dingythingy
    Mar 10, 2013
    5
    Apart from the graphics, this game is alright. It's pretty similar to the original Super Mario Bros. (Which is what it's supposed be like). At the same time, it's not that new as well. It has a few new enemies, objects and power-ups but it's not new enough. The new power-ups are the mini mushroom (Which allows you to run on water and get through small gaps) the mega mushroom (Which allowsApart from the graphics, this game is alright. It's pretty similar to the original Super Mario Bros. (Which is what it's supposed be like). At the same time, it's not that new as well. It has a few new enemies, objects and power-ups but it's not new enough. The new power-ups are the mini mushroom (Which allows you to run on water and get through small gaps) the mega mushroom (Which allows you destroy anything except walls for a short amount of time) and the shell (Which allows you to defend yourself and act like a koopa in it's shell.) It also has a multiplayer mode and a minigame mode. So Overall, this game is good but not new enough.… Expand
  12. wariothelegend
    Jul 18, 2016
    5
    If your playing one of Mario platforming games for the first time, I think your going to like this little adventure. If not, you'll be disappointed, as there is nothing to offer in this game that newer Mario games can't do better. Not to mention the boss battles are underwhelming. I mean, even MORE underwhelming than most Mario games.

    For a casual pick-up-and-play, it's not so bad. But    If your playing one of Mario platforming games for the first time, I think your going to like this little adventure. If not, you'll be disappointed, as there is nothing to offer in this game that newer Mario games can't do better. Not to mention the boss battles are underwhelming. I mean, even MORE underwhelming than most Mario games.

    For a casual pick-up-and-play, it's not so bad. But if you want a New Super Mario Bros. like Super Mario Bros. 3 and/or Super Mario World, I'd recommend "New Super Mario Bros. Wii".    … Expand
  13. JasonH
    Dec 18, 2008
    4
    So I'm giving it this rating based both on my enjoyment level, and the huge letdown this game turned out for me. I was expecting a game along the lines of super mario world, with tons of secrets, powerups, yoshis, strange and odd worlds, and just a ton of fun. Instead, we got a game with 3D graphics (I thought it was worse, since a lot of the artistic magic seemed to dissapear (and So I'm giving it this rating based both on my enjoyment level, and the huge letdown this game turned out for me. I was expecting a game along the lines of super mario world, with tons of secrets, powerups, yoshis, strange and odd worlds, and just a ton of fun. Instead, we got a game with 3D graphics (I thought it was worse, since a lot of the artistic magic seemed to dissapear (and little mario kind of looks like a bunch of polygons)), NO yoshis, power ups that weren't very diverse (in that 3 alter size, and the rest are mostly for increasing offenseive abilities. However, I think the WORST part of this game, was the lack of intersting worlds (you have forest, you have desert, you have ice, and I really can't remember the others, since they must have been a bore) and the very linear progression mario makes through the map (the only deviations are short, and usually lead back to the same path). Finnally, this game really has no replay value. The only thing you have to look forward to, are playing a couple of levels you most likely missed, and collecting three coins per stage, which is just tedious and irritating. So yeah, it's a boring, it's short, it doesn't take advantage of the DS capabilities (you can click on a power up... whoopdedo...) but isn't anywhere near as fun, or as deep as the original. Like a said, a huge letdown.… Expand
  14. Dream_Imp_Luna
    May 21, 2019
    4
    [OBJECTIVE QUALITY REVIEW]
    This reiteration of Mario into 2d isn't a BAD one and thus isn't a BAD game, by any means, but even though it was impressive for its time especially when then compared to later entries of essentially the same name, this is still slightly disappointing and lacking somewhat in content when we actually stop and question the game itself.
    It is impressive that a    [OBJECTIVE QUALITY REVIEW]
    This reiteration of Mario into 2d isn't a BAD one and thus isn't a BAD game, by any means, but even though it was impressive for its time especially when then compared to later entries of essentially the same name, this is still slightly disappointing and lacking somewhat in content when we actually stop and question the game itself.

    It is impressive that a new Powerups were introduced into the game - especially those as the Mega and Mini Mushrooms that certainly allowed players to alter the experience in a fun and exciting way, and let's not forget the Koopa Shell Powerup that allows for Koopa Shell-style movement across the levels as well as pummeling enemies and breaking down obstacles along the way - but although there are certainly more new power ups than in later titles, there wasn't actually that many powerups to go off of, and that in itself is disappointing for some players who would've loved to have a large variety of powerups at their arsenal.

    The levels are unsatisfyingly generic even for what it was at the time; I actually found myself getting bored at times, more often than not in fact, just trying to push through the levels that don't really have that much variety in them anyway.

    The controls are also a bit shoddy and slippery even for its game theme; these controls, along with more questionable enemy hitboxes, actually goes as far as making combo stomping much more difficult, especially on an emulator where gameplay is slow, than previous Mario titles, where it was relatively easy to a degree if not easily executed.

    The soundtrack, however, is actually quite strong even for what the sub-series is now; some of the tracks are very melodic, and the graphics are also quite strong even for the limited hardware of the DS, especially with the true 2d sprites, which some are actually very colorful and beautiful, unlike the next installment NSMBW, which actually had somewhat questionable/ugly graphics.

    Overall, more, especially much more, could've been put into the design of the game as a whole, especially being New Super Mario Bros. That's not to say, however, that it needed much improvement much less was a bad game in any way at all; the game actually fulfills its bare minimum requirements for that New Super Mario Bros.-gamestyle quota, but it could've easily used more, and again, especially much more, with better, more fun and exciting level design, probably more powerups, tighter and thus and otherwise better controls, and an overall more fun experience.

    As one of two last notes, although the wireless multiplayer would be fun in theory and still actually can be, this is weighed down by the mediocre level design, and along with all its other problems, would actually make the multiplayer little to not satisfying, and your partner would likely quit after only a short time if they were in the same position as me, due to boredom or something else.

    Personally, the game was only slightly satisfying for me, and would get a lower to mid mixed rating at best. I've experienced some of if not all the same problems with gameplay fun as the objective review exhibits, and although this personally would get a decent rating, this is only a mediocre title that, while quite well executed, had fully plenty of room for improvement and could've used a lot more in the long run, especially with the later titles getting even fewer over time. What a crying shame for what was genuinely once quite a fun, diverse franchise.    … Expand
  15. eton_gameer
    Aug 5, 2023
    0
    best 2d mario game around‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best DS Game of 2006
1
#1 Most Discussed DS Game of 2006
1
#1 Most Shared DS Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 65
  3. Negative: 0 out of 65
  1. IGN
    95
    Before New Super Mario Bros. entered my life, "Yoshi's Island" was, to me, the greatest platformer ever created. That title may now have to go to New Super Mario Bros.
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  2. GamerFeed
    90
    The kind of game that makes hardcore Nintendo fans get on their knees and weep in sheer joy over the eighty new levels of new 2D Mario action...The visuals come in scorching hot, with gorgeous 3D bringing the old school into a new school setting. Sprinkle in some minigames and multiplayer modes, and you have a system seller.
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  3. GameBrink
    91
    While it lasts, it’s some of the best platforming to date and features what I consider to be the best Nintendo DS graphics to date. While it’s a shame the new power-ups are frills and the length of the main game is ridiculously short, it’s hard not to recommend it.
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