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New Super Mario Bros Wii as hard as Contra? photo

Of course I want New Super Mario Bros Wii -- what good retro fan wouldn't? It looks pretty, it's sidescrolling, I can play it multiplayer, there's lots of Yoshi. The list of reasons go on. And perhaps I expect to be able to breeze through it, since it's a Wii game and most Wii games aren't that hard. Right?

Perhaps wrong, if MTV Multiplayer has anything to say on the matter. They got some time with the later levels in the game, and had some interesting comments to share on its difficulty:

You remember those ghost house levels from "Super Mario World" where you had to stay on the moving platform and it slowly chugged past ghosts and other obstacles? Ok, imagine that, but turn the platform into a slavering bone dragon and speed it up by about 3 times. Oh, and throw on three other homicidal friends who would rather jump on your head than let you make a perfectly timed jump. I went in expecting instant success, I left with zero lives and a lower sense of self worth.

I'm not sure I'd go as far as to compare that kind of difficulty to Contra, but hey, it could be possible. When I think of hard now, I think of being endlessly punished in games like I Wanna Be The Guy. This sounds challenging, but manageable with practice, just like the good old NES days. I personally am really looking forward to it when it hits next month. What do you think about this? Would you welcome that sort of challenge?


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55 comments | showing # 1 to 50

GEMPadre036's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:42
GEMPadre036
Yes. Yes I would.
Operative20's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:48
Operative20
I hope this is true, I could always use a genuine, retro challenge. But what makes me confused is that I thought they weren't going to make this game too hard...ya know... for the*whispers* casuals?
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:49
Tubatic
For Mario, yes please.
Mista Smegheneghan's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:49
Mista Smegheneghan
Damn. Now it sounds appealing.
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:49
Artemus
Yeah! I can not wait for this! Finally my dream of playing a true Super Mario Bros. game co-op with a friend has come true! And then some... Insane 4 player hectic, fun to boot!
If what MTV Multiplayer states, concerning the challenge, to be true this game will be nothing short of epic!
Let's hope... =)
Dangsterr's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:51
Dangsterr
If it's as hard as contra we need a nintendo code....
HEL105's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:51
HEL105
That's the best game-related news I've read all day. This game should be tons of fun!
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:51
EternalDeathSlayer
This game has always sounded appealing. It's a 2D Mario game.

What more could a gamer ask for in life?
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:52
SephirothX
this is odd because i heard the E3 demo of this game was pathetically easy
grafkhun's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:53
grafkhun
Wasn't planning on getting it anyways, this hasn't changed my mind, although I am glad it isn't going to be a cakewalk.
FistfulOAwesome's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:55
FistfulOAwesome
I'm not sure, but I think the MTV guy primarily found the game hard because of the other players, and not because of the game itself. He mentions more on his post about the "Super Guide", but it still sounds like the primary reason for the game to be hard is that your friends/family are dicks.

Also, Retro game is a little off, isn't it? What, just cause it's a platformer? Are we really claiming that that's a retro game? 4 player-Mario sounds new (and awesome) to me.
bobyoko's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:58
bobyoko
please nintendo don't let this be as easy as new smb on ds.
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:58
pedrovay2003
GOOD. I want a hard Mario game. Gamers are soft this generation, and New Super Mario Bros. on the DS was horribly easy.
Primo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 18:58
Primo
YES
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:00
Xzyliac
This could actually give weight to the argument that as games have tried to appeal to the casual audience and new gamers we've grown soft.

I too read and thought it just sounds like the old days when you had to practice. Only now I'm practicing with friends! :)
Jonathan Holmes's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:06
Jonathan Holmes
I hope it's not as hard as Lost Levels. That would be a little too hard.

Either way, I'm sold. If what I played at E3 09 was any indication, NSMB Wii is Mario game I've been waiting for since 1996.
soberbandana's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:07
soberbandana
Well I hope that by appeasing the casual audience with "Demo play", it will allow Nintendo to make their games hard again and not lose a lot of money. NSMB and Mario Galaxy were just too easy and thus a lot less enjoyable.
ace of knaves's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:15
ace of knaves
I'm trying to want the game, and this does help. As long as it's not difficult just because of the dickishness of your friends.
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:19
pedrovay2003
...Okay, I agree with Holmes. Lost Levels still puts me into the fetal position every time I play it. I've only beaten it twice, and that was warping.
GamesAreArt's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:20
GamesAreArt
Soberbandana did you get ALL the stars in Mario Galaxy/Finish all the levels in NSMB. Because some of those levels where devilish.
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:25
Magnalon
This game's difficulty was a joke from what I played at E3.

The only difficult part is trying to not get stomped on by your 3 teammates.

HYPE MACHINE STRIKES AGAIN!
mrplow8's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:30
mrplow8
I don't know if I trust MTV Multiplayer. They probably just suck at games. But if it really is that hard, then good. Considering Nintendo won't add online play because they're dicks, and all my friends have horrible taste in games and won't play good games with me when I buy them, I'm most likely going to end up playing this by myself most of the time. So it'd better at least be challenging.
LoopholeJumper's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:30
LoopholeJumper
@Magnalon:

Oh yes, because you played a short demo, you know everything about this game. Go find something else to whine about.

The thing is, the Wii has plenty of "real" games. I have a nice collection of them. The media's obsession with casual and hardcore descriptions is disgusting.
Roager's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:36
Roager
@Holmes

Dude, Lost Levels kicked ass. If we had more mario that was that hard, I'd be like schoolgirl-giddy plus ten.
flabzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:43
flabzilla
I always liked the difficulty curve in Mario games, they can be difficult if you want them to be or really easy, it's up to you weather you want to use the warpzones, warpstars, get every star, coin etc.
SWE3tMadness's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:44
SWE3tMadness
Alright. I suck at platforming, so I might as well have fun while humiliating myself in co-op. >.>
peachboy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:48
peachboy
if this turns out to be true, i might just have to call off the boycott.
Hcapt's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:50
Hcapt
@ operative20 -

That's a myth in my experience. If anything, I would say the hardcore are the most opposed to tough games, partially because of the completionist culture; most modern games are played to be completed. On the other hand, many of the most popular "casual" games don't even let you win; Bejeweled, Tetris, and Bubble Spinner never stop until you lose.

The idea behind casual games is that they are quick, short, addictive games with simple controls and little story. In other words, arcade games. And arcade games are the toughest games out there. So no, casual games are not inherently easy games.
lem's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 19:56
lem
I reckon there is a chance for this game to have hard section as isn't this the game that's going to debut nintendo's "demo mode" or whatever that when activated plays the game for you.

Seems pointless having that included if it's not going to have some hard sections (at least hard for what people refer to as soft gamers now).
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:04
Magnalon
@LoopholeJumper

You're really negative on just about everything that doesn't 100% suit your needs.

I was simply saying that my 45 minute session with a Nintendo representative indicated to me that the game's difficulty is NOT hard. Like many others above have stated, the actual difficulty is gained by playing with 3 other friends, and having to manage while they stomp on your heads.

Did I insult your precious Wii? No: I didn't. The Wii has tons of excellent challenging games. From what I've seen, this is one of the former, but not the latter. And there's nothing WRONG with that: you shouldn't feel slighted by it just because a game is easy. I REALLY enjoyed New Super Mario Brothers DS, despite how easy it was.
FistfulOAwesome's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:05
FistfulOAwesome
I gotta go with Hcapt. A lot of Wii Sports Resort's games are either tough in the later levels (Swordplay anything), or are really hard to score high on (Archery, Power Cruising). That's about as "Casual" as games get.

Another example: Anyone play the DS game Big Bang Mini? The main mode is rather easy (especially when you get an upgrade that allows you to shoot insta-killing fireballs at no cost) and not replayable (aside from the bosses). But near the end you unlock something called Challenge Mode, and that game is tough as hell (especially after 300,000 points) and feels like an Atari (i.e. Arcade) game. It's also far more fun than the main game, and the only reason I don't consider it a wasted purchase. I like to try to beat my score during commercial breaks.

Also, SMB2 (JPN) is overrated. I played that game, and it is not a platformer. It's Braid's granddaddy: A puzzle game disguised as a platformer. You can't run through the levels like in other SMB games (even 2 US let you do this to an extent (i.e. when you weren't looking for keys)). Hell, sometimes that screws you from being able to beat a level (2-2). I like it, but given the option I'd play SMB every time (because it's an action game).
pmhgrwx's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:06
pmhgrwx
Contra really isnt very hard...
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:07
Magnalon
@Loophole Jumper

Also: WE MUST NEVER SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT HYPED FIRST PARTY TITLES! EVERYONE MUST BUY THEM AMIRITE!?
Dao2-SKP's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:08
Dao2-SKP
@ lem - but image how much fun it would be if you could activate demo mode for one player then the other 3 of you try to fuck him up ;p or if thats too easy 2v2 or 3v1!
TheOGB's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:13
TheOGB
Mario? Challenging?

Sign me up!
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:14
Magnalon
@Fistful, Hcapt
Yep! Peggle is another INSANELY hard "casual" game. Some of the later challenges are harder than Demon's Souls.
Springsteen's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:31
Springsteen
Oh man, I came in here precisely not to hear from Demon's Souls. Thanks Magnalon. The nightmares will start all over again.

Seriously, THAT is a hard game. The developers went a little too far to make it unsettling. There isn't a single moment in which I can fell fine and relax, there's always s heavy sense of dread and even when you clear a room and lays back for a while, the tense environment strangles your poor heart as it recalls when it was possible to run back to Kakariko Village's warmth, comfy realm from the Shadow Temple.

On-topic, YES! YES! YES! Although difficulty should be at least somewhat optional. I found the balance in Super Mario galaxy almost flawless. I've finished the game with all stars with both mario and Luigi and, boy oh boy, was that a blissful gaming experience. I remember watching Yahtzee's review as I played it and feeling sorry for the fact that he couldn't see how good the game was. And kinda thinking he was a douchebag clamoring for attention and feeding the Nintendo-hating famished crowd, but then again, it was all the rage back then.
CocoJambo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:45
CocoJambo
Dude, you played like, the first level?
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:50
Magnalon
@Coco
If you're referring to me, I played all 10 multiplayer levels at the show, which were grabbed from various points of the game.
GohanGVO's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:58
GohanGVO
Before you balk at me linking to Kotaku, here is what Stephen Totilo has to say of the game and Super Guide (the official name of "kind code"):

http://kotaku.com/5374432/kind-code-demo-shows-new-super-mario-bros-on-auto+pilot

tl;dr

Levels are designed to be harder.

Only can turn on Super Guide if you die 8 times in a level
Resets every level.
Will not reveal secrets and shortcuts.
Only can active it at the beginning of a level.
Can jump into the game at any time once Super Guide is on; once it's off, you cannot turn it back on in that level (unless you start the level again).
GohanGVO's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 20:59
GohanGVO
Only can ACTIVATE it at the beginning of a level.

Can jump into the LEVEL at any time once Super Guide is on.

Epic fail on my part.
soberbandana's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 21:06
soberbandana
@ GamesAreArt: It's a good point... I did not come even close to getting all the stars in Mario Galaxy and some of the NSMB levels were really hard (those were the ones I enjoyed the best). I guess you can find challenge in these games if you look hard enough. But compared to games like Super mario sunshine or SMW (which I completed 100%... 5 years after I first played it because it was so awesome) they are quite easy.
I still like the games Nintendo makes but I miss the challenge of the old marios. The video game reflexes that I wasted all that time on cultivating as a kid are getting rusty :(
Triple Up's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 21:17
Triple Up
If it's true, this could actually make me regain hope in this game. SMG was a pushover, and I've had no interest in this because I figured it would be the same, but without the graphics, gravity and etc. that made Galaxy great. Now I want to try it out!
ErigBurger's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 21:37
ErigBurger
I doubt this very, very much. I mean, I hope so. Contra for the NES is waaaay too hard for me. It's not challenging, it's downright sadistic and CRUEL. And seeing how Nintendo games seem to get easier and easier... I'm dubious, to say the least.
smackifilia's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 22:02
smackifilia
"FUCK YES," I growl through clenched teeth.
ohno's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 22:51
ohno
I wonder how bad the griefing is, and if it has anything to do with how hard the game might be.
ohno's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 22:53
ohno
...which was basically answered for me. Oops.
rawnewdlz's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/08/2009 23:04
rawnewdlz
I say, "DOUBLE DARE!" ...physical challenge even.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2009 00:28
Dan CiTi
I Wanna Be The Guy =/= difficult

Demon's Souls, Bayonetta = actual difficulty

Glad to see a new, console 2D Mario has a high difficulty level, hopefully a good difficulty curve too.
NihonTiger90's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/09/2009 02:27
NihonTiger90
I would enjoy this a lot. :)
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