NOT
Short
A skilled player can play from level 1-1 to the end of the game with all star coins collected and all exits found in 8 hours. If doing a speed run and ignoring the collecting, a skilled player could probably beat this game in under 4 hours. Super Luigi isn’t meant to be a long-winded game, but due to being designed around a 100 second time limit, the game just feels really short.
Recycled Elements
New Super Luigi U recycles at least 50% of NSMBU. The level backgrounds are the same, world maps are laid out exactly the same and the music is exactly the same. In fact, Nintendo has been using much of the same music for 2D Mario games since the original New Super Mario Bros (2006). I find the recycled music to be stale and repetitive instead of nostalgic. If Nintendo wants to continue to reuse music, I feel they should draw more broadly from the Mario series instead of only borrowing from the original New Super Mario Bros.
As much as I love Mario games, I’m starting to get tired of the New Super Mario Bros. formula. New Super Luigi U is the fifth entry in the NSMB series, and it really feels like the fifth game. I’m beginning to develop franchise fatigue. I really wanted to love this game because I’m a huge fan of Luigi, but I often found myself skipping levels and running straight to the flag instead of searching for star coins. The series is getting stale, and I hope Nintendo either gives the NSMB series a rest for now or makes the next entry feel fresh. The more I played Super Luigi, the more enthusiasm I lost.
Local Multiplayer Only
Playing Super Luigi with friends can be great fun. It’s still fun to grief my friends and family by throwing them into pits and by placing inconvenient boost mode blocks. I do wish that I could do this with my cousins many states away, though. Nintendo continues to ignore the importance of online play in the current gaming ecosystem. Gamers love local co-op, but gamers also love online play. Please, Nintendo. We like options.
Verdict
New Super Luigi U is an expansion of New Super Mario Bros. U, and it shows. I found myself growing tired of the NSMB formula as I played through this title, but the unique level designs kept me somewhat interested. If you’re looking for more of the same with some novel platforming puzzles, Super Luigi will fit your needs. If you were hoping for something new and exciting from the New Super Mario Bros., you may want to give this a pass.
[Editor’s Note: New Super Luigi U was reviewed on the Nintendo Wii U platform. A download code was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
