Anytime Mario decides to grace us with his pudgy presence, yours truly always ends up as happy as a fat kid in a candy store and I am certain I am not alone. Mario has been synonymous with gaming and has stood the test of time for many years and will no doubt continue the trend for many years to come. His latest adventure, an incredible trip down nostalgia lane, is Nintendo Wii’s biggest title this year and fortunately, for Wii owners, also one of its best in its lifespan.

The game follows the familiar story line of Princess Peach getting kidnapped by the evil Koopas (honestly…Mario should give her a security system for Christmas). When Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad (really Nintendo…2 different colored Toads) are celebrating Princess Peach’s birthday in her castle, a large cake rolls in and immediately the devious Bowser JR. and the Koopalings pop out and throw the cake on top of Peach, trapping her inside. The cake is pitched onto Bowser’s airship and thus our story begins.

As a kid (as well as many others) some of my fondest memories in gaming featured Mario so I was thrilled when hearing that this title returned to its traditional routes. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that Mario belongs in the 3rd dimension; it’s just a breath of fresh air when Nintendo decided to take it old school.

The graphics are subtle and beautiful and the gameplay is spot on. There are some minor quirks but overall the experience is pretty flawless and never truly hinders gameplay. My only quam about the gameplay is the exclusion of online multiplayer. In an age where online has come to be expected in all titles, it blows my mind that the big N decided against it. New Super Mario has a phenomenal multiplayer aspect and I truly wish Nintendo exploited it. It’s a frantic, amazing experience that is matched by none other this holiday season. If you can find friends, the game is an absolute blast but if you don’t have any friends or only 1 wiimote, the game still hits the mark. Single player in this pivotal holiday title is very good too so don’t be scared away by its multiplayer offerings. The game still provides awe inspiring experience if you care to go solo.

Graphically speaking the title still provides some of Wii’s best visuals (I’m talking style here) and has that Nintendo charm we have all grown to love. The game features a 2-D backdrop with 3-D characters and a bevy of “expected” environments. You will see snow levels, cave levels and also desert levels. The new suits are also an amazing addition and you will instantly fall in love with the new ones.

If you’re still on the fence about getting this Mario title because it looks as though it is just a “supped up” version of a great DS title, I urge you, buy this game. It’s a fantastic return to Mario’s roots and will keep us all busy for years to come. You will enjoy this game, trust me.

Overall Gameonnintendo Score: 9.1 out of 10