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A brand new Mario platform adventure hits Wii on 20th November, when New Super Mario Bros. Wii launches across South Africa. With eight all-new worlds to explore – each one playable in three game modes, and a bunch of new moves and power-ups to deploy, you won’t want to put this one down!

And for the first time in the history of the Mario series, up to four players can experience the action at the same time, playing as Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad or Blue Toad. Work with or against your fellow players to race to the end of each level, overcoming obstacles, using power-ups, defeating enemies and having a lot of fun along the way.

Play the main mode on your own or with friends, aiming to complete all levels co-operatively, following a classic Mario plot of rescuing Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser. In Free Mode and Coin Battle Mode, on the other hand, you can leave the friendliness behind and compete with each other either to reach the goal at the end of the stage or reach this goal with the most coins.

The multiplayer action opens up a whole host of new moves and gameplay possibilities and it’s up to you whether to help or hinder other players. One player can, for example, jump on the head of another to jump higher to help them reach a tricky area, or pick up and carry another player. Alternatively, if you’re feeling malevolent, you can use the same trick to force a player to collide with an enemy or throw them down a hole.

Alongside the usual mushroom and fire flower power-ups, an ice flower has been added that enables you to freeze enemies to defeat them or use them as platforms. Arguably the most exciting new items in the game, however, are the Propeller Mushroom, which gives Mario and co. the ability to fly, and the Penguin Suit, which allows you to slide on your belly across surfaces at great speed. Mastering the use of these items is the key to reaching hidden areas and beating your rivals to the end of the level. Players can even ride Yoshis through the crazy and imaginative levels, using their tongues to swallow enemies – or their fellow players!

Motion control elements are a major part of the fun, and add even more strategic depth to multiplayer gameplay. Tilting the Wii Remote, for example, can change the angle of special platforms to gain access to a particular area of the level, or to force other players into danger zones. Or to change the direction of the beam from a lamp to light up different areas of the screen – which, again, can be used to strategically help or hinder other players. Shaking the Wii Remote is another way of interacting with level elements, such as screws on platforms that raise and lower them, as well as enabling you to fly when wearing the Propeller Suit.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is also the first Nintendo game to feature Super Guide, a dynamic help system, which allows you to access a mode where you can watch a computer controlled Luigi complete a level if you are stuck. The best thing about this mode is that at anytime, you are free to jump into the action you’re watching on screen to continue the level!