New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a 2.5D platform video game for Nintendo Switch. The game contains 164 courses, including courses from New Super Mario Bros. U and the New Super Luigi U expansion. Several voice clips are reused from Mario Kart Wii and Mario Super Sluggers. Princess Peach is held captive in her castle by Bowser, Bowser Jr., and the Koopalings who invade and use a giant mechanical arm to throw Mario, Luigi, and two Toads far away. Mario and friends must now travel across this new land returning to Peach’s castle in order to save her.

On the way, they encounter seven Koopalings each controlling their own worlds, plus Kamek, Nabbit, Bowser Jr., and many minor enemies like Goomba. By conquering them, they get closer to Peach’s castle, which has been transformed into an evil reflection of Bowser. By stopping Bowser, the castle returns to normal. As the heroes celebrate, Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings attempt to escape, leaving Bowser behind. He manages to jump up onto the airship, but his weight causes it to crash, and they are forced to flee on Bowser Jr.’s Koopa Clown Car.

New Super Mario Bros. U iterates on the gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. Wii with new features and levels. The objective of each level is to reach the goal flag at the end of each level while avoiding enemies and hazards. The game can be controlled either using Wii U Pro Controllers, Wii Remotes, or Off-TV Play using the Wii U GamePad, where the game can be played solely on the GamePad’s screen. Four players each using a controller play as a different character, being Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad. In the “Boost Mode” feature, a fifth player using the Wii U GamePad can interact with the environment, such as putting blocks down that can be stepped on or stunning enemies by holding down on them. 

Certain game modes also allow players to play their own custom Mii characters. Bowser, Boom Boom, the Koopalings, Kamek, and Bowser Jr., appear as the game’s main villains. Nabbit is a new antagonist who is chased after stealing an item from Red Toad. Once Nabbit is caught, Toad rewards the item to the player. Along with returning elements such as Ice Flowers and Yoshis, the flying squirrel is a new power-up that allows players to glide across long distances or slowly descend down vertical paths and cling to the side of the walls. 

Additionally, Baby Yoshis are an item that can be carried by a player, with each baby Yoshi having a special ability dependent on its color, such as inflating in midair or illuminating dark areas. Some older power-ups also have new abilities, such as the Mini Mushroom now allowing players to run up walls. New Super Mario Bros. U features one large map containing all the game’s worlds and levels, similar to that of Super Mario World. Some levels have multiple exits that lead to the different areas on the map.