Best of 2012: #10 - New Super Mario Bros U

New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U is #10 in our Best of 2012.

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Undoubtedly, many will be surprised by the inclusion of New Super Mario Bros. U on our top 10 list for 2012. Why was it not showered with the universal adoration that so many other titles on our list have--especially considering that mainline "Mario" games have always been synonymous with top-notch platforming?

Perhaps we've been Mario'd out. The Wii U game launched mere months after New Super Mario Bros. 2 for 3DS--a game that was rote and by-the-numbers. We've had a Mario game every year since 2009--how can franchise annualization possibly lead to innovation?

Couple franchise fatigue with an overall tepid response to Wii U, and it's no wonder many have ignored Mario U as a serious contender. It's unfortunate that many won't ever play Nintendo's latest, considering it truly is the greatest 2D Mario game since Yoshi's Island. Mario U is the decades-late sequel to Super Mario World, a game that would have existed sooner had 3D games not sidetracked the Mario franchise. Not only does the game retain what made the classic games so beloved, but it adds meaningful innovations and surprises. (How often can you say that a Mario game has terrific bosses?)

Mario U puts aside gimmicks that typically accompany launch software, and simply offers an excellent 2D platforming game. Its simple design statement is not only refreshing, but has us curious to see what Nintendo will do with a Mario game that's meant to showcase the Wii U GamePad is an innovative, meaningful way.


The Shacknews Best of 2012 Awards were determined by ballot voting across the entire Shacknews staff. Andrew, Ozzie, and Steve voted for New Super Mario Bros. U, earning it 90 points and a tie for the 10th place position on our list. The Shacknews Community chose the game as the 2nd Best Wii Game of 2012. Stay tuned all week as we reveal all our winners.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 21, 2013 12:00 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Best of 2012: #10 - New Super Mario Bros U.

    New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U is #10 in our Best of 2012.

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      January 21, 2013 12:08 PM

      [deleted]

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        January 21, 2013 12:10 PM

        [deleted]

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        January 21, 2013 12:10 PM

        It's a tie for #10 between the two.

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        January 21, 2013 12:10 PM

        Two games earned our 10th place position in a tie. There are no other ties on the list, though.

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          January 21, 2013 12:20 PM

          [deleted]

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            January 21, 2013 12:32 PM

            Well, if you REALLY want to be technical about it. :P

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              January 21, 2013 12:36 PM

              Shacknews: We took the top 10, and made it an 11.

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                January 21, 2013 12:43 PM

                It's how the votes fell. It's not like it was a cop out and we said "We can't decide. Include both."

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                  January 21, 2013 12:48 PM

                  I don't see it as a cop out, but people are just used to game sites being too damn proper and having someone who acts as a tie breaker in this kind of thing.

                  Ultimately I think it's fine, as long as you explain why there was a tie.

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                  January 21, 2013 1:02 PM

                  [deleted]

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                  January 21, 2013 1:16 PM

                  I have no problem with having a tie. Out of interest, would you have had a tie if you found votes came in and there were two games in the #1 position?

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                    January 21, 2013 1:44 PM

                    Yes. We run a weighted scale. We asked everyone to vote for up to 10 games, with the idea that the weighted system would eliminate ties at the higher levels. But there is no sense in having a system if you don't stick to it.

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                      January 21, 2013 5:10 PM

                      no sense in having a system if you don't stick to it.
                      Broken system produces obviously broken result. Decision? Rather than have someone take ownership and make the tough call, just stick to said broken result.

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                        January 21, 2013 7:54 PM

                        Why does it need to be 10...I mean these lists are generally purely subjective and usually the interesting part is more how the result was arrived at (kind of like how review scores are stupid bullshit that sperglords will demand and obsess over IMHO and the actual review text is the only interesting part of any review).

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                January 21, 2013 2:42 PM

                It goes to eleven!

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      January 21, 2013 1:40 PM

      I've been meaning to play this and this just reminded me that I need to do that, so I will here.

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        January 21, 2013 9:02 PM

        I decided to play through more than the first two levels (I kept forgetting to save before and I kept playing those two over and over and had a slightly negative impression of it)...and now I'm feeling more positive about it. I'm the guy who enjoyed NSMB2...so for me I'm going to like any solid platformer...but I am liking this one for as much as that might or might not mean.

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      January 21, 2013 8:48 PM

      Nintendo's still got it! When I get a Wii U I'll play this right away.

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