Just a few days ago, Nintendo released a new Coin Rush level pack for New Super Mario Bros 2. This pack (known as the Gold Classics pack) consists of lengthy levels made up of remakes of stages from past Mario games, with content from Super Mario Bros 1 and 3 mixed in to the standard New Super Mario Bros 2 formula. Don't have this yet? What the hell are you waiting for, it's free until January 2013!
But how good are these levels? Well here's my review of them. Now of course, it's a bit different from my usual format, since New Super Mario Bros 2 level packs generally introduce a lot of new graphics or music to comment on and most other rating factors are pretty much irrelevant to them... but here's my thoughts on the pack anyway:
First up, originality!
Originality/Original Content
Surprisingly, this pack does pretty well in the original content Yes, many of the areas are remakes. Level 1 is a mix of 1-1 and 1-2 from the original Super Mario Bros, Level 2 is a mix of SMB 3's 1-1 and 1-5 and Level 3 is Super Mario Bros 1's 1-4 mixed with the first level from New Super Mario Bros.
But that's just scratching the surface, there is a TON of depth in these levels, a ton of hidden things to find and rooms to explore and even a secret exit or too. For example, in the second level there's literally three whole alternate paths you can find and explore that have you passing through a stage from the original Mario Bros (the one bundled as a mini game in the Super Mario Advance series), a secret second story on top of the cave system and even a secret path leading under the flagpole to a secret exit complete with giant coins falling from the sky.
And that's not all! You also have a whole ton of neat ways to get cash, with Gold Mushrooms and coins popping out of pipes when you destroy enemies, Gold Flowers hidden in blocks (there's at least FOUR in this level pack alone).
Add in some Gold Rings, secrets and other bonuses, and there's a lot of new content to find in these remakes.
Difficulty
What difficulty? Well, I guess you could count the coin rush formula as difficult, since you get no continues and have to start over the minute you die... but these aren't hard levels.
In fact, you start to realise here how easy SMB 1's levels actually were, and how about 90% of the difficulty came from a brutal two hits and you're dead system, no save points, no flight capable items and none of the improved physics from later titles. With Raccoon and Gold Mario, 1-1/1-2/1-4 become an absolute joke.
Above: You can kill Bowser in one hit with the Gold Flower
But difficulty doesn't matter that much here, the whole fun of the pack is to collect all the coins and find all the bonuses.
Replay Value
Finally, this level pack has quite a bit of replay value, with lots to see and do and all kinds of secrets and stuff to find. Sure, you won't be stuck at any particular level and need help reaching the end, but that's not the purpose. The purpose is to see if you can find all the Gold Mushrooms, find the secret exit, enter the bonus rooms and get as much money as Mario can carry.
And the max total of 30 000 coins is very, very possible. It's not easy, it's not something you'll reach as easily as in the Gold Rush pack, and it doesn't rely on any tricks, but it's possible with enough time and effort and most of the coins and Gold Mushrooms collected.
Replay value for the pack is pretty good.
Value for 'Money'
It's free. Really, you can't get fairer than that.
Conclusion
The Gold Classics Pack is a great set of free levels for New Super Mario Bros 2, and is well worth downloading. The level design is good, there's a lot of replay value, and best of all, it's free! So if you don't like the whole thing, you can at least rest happy knowing you haven't lost anything by downloading it!
Get it now!
But how good are these levels? Well here's my review of them. Now of course, it's a bit different from my usual format, since New Super Mario Bros 2 level packs generally introduce a lot of new graphics or music to comment on and most other rating factors are pretty much irrelevant to them... but here's my thoughts on the pack anyway:
First up, originality!
Originality/Original Content
Surprisingly, this pack does pretty well in the original content Yes, many of the areas are remakes. Level 1 is a mix of 1-1 and 1-2 from the original Super Mario Bros, Level 2 is a mix of SMB 3's 1-1 and 1-5 and Level 3 is Super Mario Bros 1's 1-4 mixed with the first level from New Super Mario Bros.
But that's just scratching the surface, there is a TON of depth in these levels, a ton of hidden things to find and rooms to explore and even a secret exit or too. For example, in the second level there's literally three whole alternate paths you can find and explore that have you passing through a stage from the original Mario Bros (the one bundled as a mini game in the Super Mario Advance series), a secret second story on top of the cave system and even a secret path leading under the flagpole to a secret exit complete with giant coins falling from the sky.
And that's not all! You also have a whole ton of neat ways to get cash, with Gold Mushrooms and coins popping out of pipes when you destroy enemies, Gold Flowers hidden in blocks (there's at least FOUR in this level pack alone).
Add in some Gold Rings, secrets and other bonuses, and there's a lot of new content to find in these remakes.
Difficulty
What difficulty? Well, I guess you could count the coin rush formula as difficult, since you get no continues and have to start over the minute you die... but these aren't hard levels.
In fact, you start to realise here how easy SMB 1's levels actually were, and how about 90% of the difficulty came from a brutal two hits and you're dead system, no save points, no flight capable items and none of the improved physics from later titles. With Raccoon and Gold Mario, 1-1/1-2/1-4 become an absolute joke.
Above: You can kill Bowser in one hit with the Gold Flower
But difficulty doesn't matter that much here, the whole fun of the pack is to collect all the coins and find all the bonuses.
Replay Value
Finally, this level pack has quite a bit of replay value, with lots to see and do and all kinds of secrets and stuff to find. Sure, you won't be stuck at any particular level and need help reaching the end, but that's not the purpose. The purpose is to see if you can find all the Gold Mushrooms, find the secret exit, enter the bonus rooms and get as much money as Mario can carry.
And the max total of 30 000 coins is very, very possible. It's not easy, it's not something you'll reach as easily as in the Gold Rush pack, and it doesn't rely on any tricks, but it's possible with enough time and effort and most of the coins and Gold Mushrooms collected.
Replay value for the pack is pretty good.
Value for 'Money'
It's free. Really, you can't get fairer than that.
Conclusion
The Gold Classics Pack is a great set of free levels for New Super Mario Bros 2, and is well worth downloading. The level design is good, there's a lot of replay value, and best of all, it's free! So if you don't like the whole thing, you can at least rest happy knowing you haven't lost anything by downloading it!
Get it now!