As a lover of classic video games, one tends to get nervous when newer iterations of classic series get made. With the recent release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and the launch party at the Nintendo World Store, though, you thankfully got the impression that Nintendo was trying to put the game in its proper historical perspective and not forgetting about the older fans which made the Mario franchise an enduring favorite all over the world.
From a gameplay standpoint, first of all, New Super Mario Bros. Wii should appeal to hardcore Mario fans. After all, it keeps the 2-D format alive, and the advent of wall jumps realistically is a positive advance (more so than, say, a squirt gun à la Super Mario Sunshine). Plus, NSMBW reinstates the Koopa Kids as baddies. No offense, Baby Bowser, but seven kids with seven different personalities is better than one.
Better yet, though, were some of the other festivities outside of the game's release that tugged at the nostalgia strings. While most of the Wii playstations featured the new game on the block, a section of the machines rotated between the original Super Mario Bros. trilogy and Super Mario World. In addition, the organizers set up a tent for a mini Mario museum with lots of Mario collectibles inside, such as game cartridges, lunchboxes, sweaters, sheets, costumes and even Super Mario Bros. bath products. Touches like a television running old commercials for Mario series games and the entrance to the tent shaped like a pipe were also appreciated.
While of course this event catered to young kids, it was fun for big kids alike, and reaffirmed the belief that Nintendo is not only very capable of pushing units, but pleasing its loyal fans.
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