Countdown to New Super Mario Bros.

[Smoke]

It's been over fifteen years since the last Super Mario Bros. game Super Mario Brothers 4: Super Mario World came out in Japan. To put things into perspective that was over half a lifetime ago for me. Now we're finally getting a new Super Mario Bros. aptly named "New Super Mario Bros.". If that doesn't deserve a countdown I don't know what does.

In a recent interview with Nintendo Power Magazine, Takashi Tezuka--Shigeru Miyamoto's right hand man--revealed some new information regarding the highly anticipated New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS.

In the interview Tezuka is asked who may be returning in the new game:

NP: Will we see any other beloved characters from the Mario universe, such as Yoshi, Toad, etc.? How about Bowser and the Koopalings?

TT: All of the characters you mentioned will show up except for Yoshi (laughs). Because we're trying to get back to the spirit of the original Super Mario Bros., Yoshi doesn't really fit.

This is good news as the Koopalings have been sadly out of action for some time now. Having them join in the fray will be a great plus and will also add to the boss elements of the game.

Tezuka also stated that New Super Mario Bros. will be a sort of throwback to the original NES Super Mario Bros.. Basically he feels that as Mario evolved, the games became more for the hard-core audience. He quickly clarifies that statement by saying, "That's not to say this game isn't for hard-core players, but I want to recapture the spirit of the original Super Mario Bros."

Whether this means that we will get back levels of Bullet Bills flying at us constantly or not is up in the air. But let's hope so!

He touches rather quickly on a few other subjects.

-The story is set in the Mushroom Kingdom.

-There will be no boss battles in two player mode.

-This is not a Wi-Fi compatible game.

-It will not use the microphone in any way.

-Koji Kondo (Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda musical mastermind) will be doing some of the soundtrack while the bulk will go to Asuka Ota who worked on the Yoshi Touch & Go soundtrack.

Near the end Nintendo Power asks if we will be seeing another Mario side scroller on a home console. Tezuka replies with, "The probability is not zero, but no further comment at this point." Then he just laughs.

Not to say that this game isn't going to sell like mad when it comes out anyway, but if you weren't fully decided on your purchase, you should be now.

Source: Nintendo Power Magazine

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North American release date has been set for May 7 2006.

57 Days till "M-Day".