25 years ago, a video game was released alongside a video game console. That video game console was the Nintendo Entertainment System and the video game, which has since become a global success played and loved by tens of millions of people, was Super Mario Bros., the spiritual sequel to the hit arcade game. For the many that haven't played it, there's no doubt whatsoever that another rather important part of the game - its theme tune - is instantly recognisable to anyone. Regardless, the game has become a phenomenon and it's no surprise that, in some shape or form, it has graced nearly every video game console there is.

After the release of Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1988, the name seemed to fade, replaced by the likes of Super Mario World and the new series of 3D Super Mario platformers. The games were still hugely successful, but it seemed as though the Super Mario Bros. name was done and dusted. That was back when nobody could have anticipated the success of the Nintendo DS and Nintendo's new casual market. New Super Mario Bros. remains one of the handheld's best-selling, highest-ranking titles and proves to the non-believers that the Super Mario Bros. name is well and truly alive once more. Following that, we find ourselves, four years later, with the Super Mario Bros. name back where it belongs: on a Nintendo home console.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is undoubtedly an amalgamation of the best bits of all preceding Super Mario Bros. titles. Not only that, it cleverly lifts from other Super Mario titles as well. When you start the game, you're greeted with an invitation to Princess Peach's castle (á la Super Mario 64) to celebrate her birthday. During your celebrations, a cake is rolled into the room: however, this is no ordinary cake, as it is a cake filled with pesky Koopalings (returning from Super Mario World) who swiftly whisk the Princess away on Bowser Jr.'s airship (first seen in Super Mario Bros. 3). We're sixty seconds into the game and already Nintendo have awarded us with three lovely homages to the series.

From here, it's difficult to know exactly where to start in terms of the gameplay. When you start off in World 1, you'll see the new world map for the first time. Even a map such as that for World 1, which is one of the simplest maps in the entire game, is so much more dynamic than even those from its DS predecessor. Throughout the game, you'll find maps that not only go from left to right, but that also go up and down, onto various different levels, and even some that get bigger the further you get into the stages. Not only that, but there are so many secret exits this time around that you might end up spending as much time trying to find them as you do going through the main game itself.


Never mind all the new features of the world maps, though: you want to wait and see what's new in the levels themselves. It's not so much about the rolling hills and the clouds that you can move with a spin jump; it's more about the little things that use the Wii Remote so brilliantly. Some levels include metal platforms that tilt whichever way you tilt the Wii Remote, giving you access to higher or lower areas that you wouldn't normally be able to get to without a little help (but more on the multiplayer later). Others, mainly underground levels, include floats with twistable lights on: when it's pitch-black, you'll be able to twist the Wii Remote to twist the lights as well. Not only is the Wii Remote cause to bring in new little features, though, it's also great reason to bring an old move back from the grave: shake it and Mario will perform a good old spin jump.