is a 2009 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A follow-up to New Super Mario Bros., it was first released in Australia, North America, and Europe in November 2009, followed by Japan a month later. It was released on the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2016, though only in Europe, Australia and Japan. A port in high definition resolution for the Nvidia Shield TV was released only in China in December 2017. Like other side-scrolling Super Mario games, the player controls Mario as he travels eight worlds and fights Bowser's army to save Princess Peach. New Super Mario Bros. Wii was the first Super Mario game to feature simultaneous cooperative multiplayer gameplay; up to four people can play in cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, taking control of Mario as well as Luigi and two Toads, Yellow Toad and Blue Toad. The game also introduced "Super Guide", which allows the player to watch a computer-controlled character complete a level.
Shigeru Miyamoto had desired to create a Super Mario game with cooperative multiplayer since the series' conception. After failed attempts to integrate cooperative multiplayer into Super Mario 64 due to hardware limitations, he was able to fully explore the concept with the advent of the Wii and its more advanced hardware capabilities. Following the critical and commercial success of New Super Mario Bros., Miyamoto looked to create a follow-up which would also serve as a staple game for its console and achieve similar levels of success. Additionally, after developing it and feeling in retrospect that it was not as challenging as he hoped, Miyamoto designed New Super Mario Bros. Wii with the intent of both higher level of challenge for players who desired one and accessibility for players of all skill levels. Features such as Super Guide and the ability to enter a floating bubble on command and opt out of doing a certain part of a level were added to cater to beginners, whereas other details, such as an award for not prompting the Super Guide block to appear in any level, were added to provide a layer of difficulty. Shiho Fujii and Ryo Nagamatsu composed the game's soundtrack, whereas Koji Kondo, the series' regular composer, served as sound adviser.
The game was announced following a slight drop in profits, with Nintendo hoping its release would help to rejuvenate sales of the Wii. New Super Mario Bros. Wii was both critically and commercially successful, receiving particular praise for the introduction of its multiplayer aspect, while its gameplay and level design were also praised, although some critics were disappointed by its lack of innovation compared to its predecessor and previous Super Mario titles. It received several honors, including the Best Wii Game award from the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, IGN, and GameTrailers, and is the fourth-best-selling game for the Wii as of March 2021, having sold 30.32 million copies worldwide. In 2012, it was followed by New Super Mario Bros. 2 for the Nintendo 3DS and New Super Mario Bros. U for the Wii U.
Gameplay
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a 2.5D side-scrolling platformer; although it plays out in 2D, most of the in-game characters and objects are 3D polygonal renderings on 2D backgrounds. In single-player mode, the player controls Mario and must complete various levels, which are filled with enemies, obstacles, and helpful items. The player must maneuver Mario to a large flag pole at the end of each stage to progress."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.10 The game can be played with the Wii Remote held horizontally, or vertically with the Wii Nunchuk attached. Mario can run, jump, and perform additional moves returning from New Super Mario Bros. such as wall kicks, ground pounds, and double and triple jumps."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.13 New Super Mario Bros. Wii frequently makes use of the Wii Remote's motion control features; the player can shake the controller to perform various actions, such as a short spin jump which kills enemies, a mid-air twirl that can be used to prolong air time, and the ability to pick up, carry, and throw certain objects. Some areas within levels, such as specific platforms, can be manipulated by standing on them and tilting the Wii Remote. Certain levels are set underwater, where the player must swim to traverse the level."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.14
The player can collect gold coins to earn extra lives. Levels contain power-ups encased in floating blocks that help the player: The Super Mushroom allows Mario to take one extra hit, and increases Mario's height. The Fire Flower lets Mario shoot fireballs at enemies. The Super Star gives the player temporary invincibility and increases his running speed. The Mini Mushroom, which reappears from New Super Mario Bros., causes Mario to shrink in size, letting him jump higher, run on water, and fit through small spaces, but does not allow the player to take an extra hit from enemies or other obstacles before losing a life."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.16 New power-ups include the Propeller Suit, which allows Mario to fly for a short time by shaking the Wii Remote; the Ice Flower, which gives Mario the ability to shoot balls of ice which freeze enemies into large ice blocks that can be lifted and thrown; and the Penguin Suit, which functions like the Ice Flower while also allowing the player to slide along the ground and across water, as well as giving them tighter control on ice and in water. Yoshi appears in certain levels and can eat, swallow, and spit enemies and objects, and flutter for a period of time.
The game consists of eight worlds containing eight to ten levels each, with a secret ninth world accessible by beating the eighth world. The levels in the ninth world can be unlocked by locating hidden Star Coins in previous worlds, which serve as the main collectibles in each level. Levels are accessed via a world map that is rendered in 3D; completing a stage unlocks the next one, with multiple paths sometimes available after completing a stage. Each world contains two boss levels—a midway fortress and a castle at the end of the world—where the player battles one of the seven Koopalings. Certain worlds also contain an Airship stage in which the player battles against Bowser Jr."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.7-8 In addition to levels, there are also "Toad Houses" located across the map in which the player can play a short minigame to earn extra lives or items that can be equipped from the map screen. Map screens often have enemies roaming them in certain dedicated areas which, when encountered, initiate a "mini-boss" fight that always awards the player three mushrooms. At certain points, a Toad will appear trapped in one of the previously completed levels, and the player can choose to rescue him from a block and carry him safely to the end of the stage to earn a reward."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.21-22 Every course contains three Star Coins which are hidden in hard-to-reach areas. These can be spent on hint movies that show off tips and tricks for the game, including the locations of secrets and methods for earning extra lives.
The player begins the game with five lives, but more can be obtained through a plethora of ways including collecting items and playing minigames. Losing a life will return the player to the map, and losing all lives results in a game over, forcing the player to return from their last save point. Most levels contain a midway flag which acts as a save point for that level. Certain levels contain hidden alternative exits leading to a flag pole with a red flag. Reaching this goal opens up a path on the map that leads to a hidden area.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii features "Super Guide", a concept meant to help players who are having difficulty completing a certain level. It is the first Nintendo game to include the concept. During single-player mode, if a player dies eight times in a row in any level, a green "!" Block appears, which can be hit to allow a computer-controlled Luigi to show the player a safe path through the level without revealing any Star Coin locations or secret exits. The player may interrupt the guide at any time and take control of Luigi from that point. After Luigi completes the course, the player has the option to try the level again or skip it completely.
Multiplayer
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the first Super Mario game to feature simultaneous cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Up to four players, as either Mario, his brother Luigi, Yellow Toad, or Blue Toad, can play through levels together. Stages are completed when one player touches the flag pole; other players have a limited amount of time to grab it in pursuit before the game stops any further input from the players and focuses on the "course clear" animation.
Players can interact with each other in several ways, which can be used to either help or compete with each other; for instance, players can jump on each other's heads to reach higher places. They can also pick up and throw each other, and eat and spit each other out while riding Yoshi. If a large distance forms between two or more characters, the game's camera will compensate by panning out to show all of them at once. If the players still do not catch up, they are then dragged by the edge of the screen until they move forward faster or lose a life via a passing obstacle. If one player enters a different area of a level, such as one enclosed via a warp pipe or a door, without the other players, they will warp to the same place after a short period of time."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.18
The first player navigates the world map and selects stages."New Super Mario Bros. Wii 'Here We Go'" Instruction Booklet, p.7 Players return to the map screen if they all die before anybody respawns in the stage. If all players run out of lives and get a game over, they must restart from their last save point. If a player dies, they re-emerge in the level encased in a bubble. They can resume play when another player breaks the bubble. A player can break the bubble by touching it, or by hitting it with a fireball, ice ball, a throwable projectile (shells, ice blocks, etc.), and Yoshi's tongue. Players can also voluntarily encase themselves inside the bubble while a more skilled player traverses a difficult segment. If every character in a co-op session enters a bubble at the same time (whether through death or voluntarily), they will lose the level and must restart.
In addition to the main story mode, which can be played in either single-player or multiplayer modes, there are two dedicated multiplayer modes; "Free-for-All Mode", in which players complete courses together and compete to get the highest rank, and "Coin Battle", where they compete to collect the highest number of coins.
Plot When Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad are celebrating Princess Peach's birthday in her castle, a large cake appears. Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings emerge from the cake and trap Peach inside. The cake is loaded onto Bowser's airship, and it takes off, with Mario, Luigi, and the two Toads giving pursuit. The Toads in the castle grant them access to the new items, the Propeller Mushrooms and Penguin Suits.