New Super Bros. U Deluxe Nintendo Switch Review

The Wii U was one of Nintendo's biggest failures but despite this, the system has some strong exclusives and New Super Mario Bros. U was not one of them. Given the Nintendo Switch's large success Nintendo decided to release the title for the Nintendo Switch with all the DLC, gameplay tweaks, a new character, and powerup. While the changes definitely improve the experience New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe still remains a weak installment in the 2D platforming franchise.

New Super Mario Bros. U starts off the same, with Mario, Luigi, Nabbit, and Yellow Toad joined by newcomer Toadette eating dinner. Bowser invades the Mushroom Kingdom, forces everyone from the castle, and now our heroes must save Princess Peach from Bowser. What follows is an extensive adventure through multiple worlds as Mario and his friends attempt to return to the Mushroom Kingdom. But don't expect the same adventure, with new options available to players.

Toadette serves as the game's easy mode, with no slippery inertia of Mario or Luigi. Toadette can swim with a lot more precision, not requiring the player to constantly input the action button to float or move and is rewarded with 3-Ups instead of 1-Ups for each green mushroom she consumes. However, the biggest addition to Toadette is the ability to use the Super Crown and become Peachette.

This hybrid-toad version of Peach is much more versatile and can fly. Similar to Peach from Super Smash Bros. Melee Toadette can launch herself into the air for quick escapes while plummeting and for getting those hard to reach star coins. It's definitely a great way to 100% the game without having to endure hundreds of deaths.

Nabbit, who was previously only available in Super Luigi U, can be played in the main game. This character, like Peachette, is another easy-mode character that is immune to damage and will simply return to the game if fallen into a pit. It's a great way for those who need that extra helping hand to get through the game. Of course, players don't need to use these characters and can play through New Super Mario Bros. U's standard difficulty using the original characters.

New Super Luigi U is available, offering an alternate story to the game's campaign. Players journey through remixed levels that are shorter but take advantage of Luigi's unique higher jumps. The 100-second dash to the finish line is a good challenge for veterans of the series.

Despite all of these additions and changes New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe still falls short from the other games in the series. Nothing really stands out and those who played the original game won't find enough changes here to warrant a new purchase. Even when the game first released it didn't offer a lot of new changes to the New Super Mario formula and felt more like an expansion from the Wii release. Toadette is entertaining but those who wish to play as the traditional cast of characters will find the same experience from the Wii U. 

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe does have a lot of content and provides a lot of accessible means for gamers of all skill levels to enjoy. The extensive amount of unlockables and the inclusion of past DLC provides nearly 60 hours of content to experience. However, compared to past entries within the series New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe plays like a quickly developed exclusive title, like when it first launched for the Wii U, then a fully realized title. Those looking for a 2D Mario adventure for their Nintendo Switch will find a lot of value with New Super Bros. U Deluxe but for everyone else it's a pass.
 

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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