Author: Trafficblast

New Super Mario Bros. U was a somewhat unappreciated Wii U launch title, but with its Switch remaster nearly out in the wild, will the platformer find a new lease on life? Is it a worthy addition to the Switch’s growing catalogue of exclusive games? Will Mario finally save Princess Peach? The answers to all these questions and more can be found in our review roundup below.

Our own New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe review says “Deluxe is well worth playing, especially if you didn’t get a chance to play NSMBU on Wii U.” Be sure to check out the full review, or check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic for a wider view of critics’ views on the game.

• Game: New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Developer / Publisher: Nintendo
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch
• Release date: January 11
• Price: US $60 / £50 / AU $80

GameSpot — 7/10

“Despite its aging formula, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is still a great entry in the series, with its typically tight platforming and both accessibility and depth to spare. While it can feel a bit stale for those who have been round the Mushroom Kingdom one too many times before, Deluxe is well worth playing, especially if you didn’t get a chance to play NSMBU on Wii U.” — Oscar Dayus [Full review]

GamesRadar+ — 4.5/5

“If you get into a habit of doing that quick save, it’s not too inconvenient and it’s such a small niggle for a game that is so utterly wonderful. With New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe the year of Nintendo Switch games is off to an incredibly strong start.” — Sam Loveridge [Full review]

Game Informer — 8.5/10

“With so many stages to explore and master, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a terrific way to experience this game again or for the first time. Toadette is a good addition for less-experienced players, and she makes some of the star coins easier to reach. While I’m disappointed that this release doesn’t include more additions to the original package, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is still a great game at its core.” — Brian Shea [Full review]

IGN — 8.0/10

“New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a broadly approachable and feature-rich platforming game. Toadette is a welcome addition to the roster for those after a more forgiving way to tackle some of the more challenging levels, and the inclusion of the New Super Luigi U mode extends its lifespan substantially. While there are a number of other Nintendo Switch games within the genre that outdo New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe in various different ways, it nonetheless remains a highly enjoyable platforming package as a whole.” — Tristan Ogilvie [Full review]

The Guardian — 3/5

“The further you delve into New Super Mario Bros U, the more rewarding it becomes. Its final worlds hold some of its best levels, and there are plenty of fun secrets to enliven the second or third attempt at a level. But it’s hard to summon the motivation to devote that much time to it. It’s typically well-made and enjoyable, but next to the best of the Mario series, it’s unmemorable.” — Keza MacDonald [Full review]

The most famous dinosaur in the Mushroom Kingdom is gearing up to star in a new game on Nintendo Switch. It’s Yoshi’s Crafted World, a colorful platformer that’s set to release on March 29. But you don’t have to wait that long to lock down your copy. You can already pre-order Yoshi’s Crafted World from a number of retailers. Here’s what to expect from the game and where you can find it.

Yoshi’s Crafted World kicks off when Kamek and Baby Bowser try to steal a powerful gem-infused stone. Unfortunately for them, the gems become scattered across the land, leaving Yoshi to collect them. Thus begins your adventure through a world made from craft items like cardboard, paper cups, and construction paper.

Each level is strewn with collectibles like coins and Poochy Pups, and can be flipped around and played through backwards once you reach the end. As you play, you’ll collect costumes you can dress Yoshi in to add a layer of protection. A second player can join in for couch co-op using a second Joy-Con, and the game has a Mellow mode that makes it easier to play for young kids and newcomers.

No Pre-Order Bonus or Special Editions

So far, no retailers have announced any pre-order bonuses for Yoshi’s Crafted World. And unlike many games these days, no special editions seem to be planned, either. That might be a bummer for collectors, but at least it makes it easy to choose which version to buy.

At the time of this writing, Amazon has the best pre-order price for Yoshi’s Crafted World, but you can also find it at several other retailers.

Ready at Dawn, the studio behind The Order: 1886 and the God of War PSP games, is staffing up in preparation for development on a new triple-A game. According to the announcement released on its Twitter, it’s seeking a wide variety of positions across design, engineering, and programming.

The RAD careers page lists two separate projects these positions could be working on: continuing to support Lone Echo for its ongoing partnership with Oculus Rift, and “a new AAA third-person action console title, based on a brand new original IP.”

The replies from fans to its tweet are largely hoping for a sequel to The Order, but the mention of an entirely new IP makes that unlikely. The Order: 1886 took place in a steampunk Victorian London and centered around the legendary Knights of the Round Table. While it got some credit for its world-building, reviews were mixed on GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

“It is, at best, perfectly playable, and lovely to look at and listen to,” critic Kevin VanOrd said in GameSpot’s review. “But it is also the face of mediocrity and missed opportunities. A bad game can make a case for itself. A boring one is harder to forgive.”

Lone Echo, by comparison, was much better received. The virtual reality project was an Oculus exclusive, but it received generally positive reviews on Metacritic as a VR showpiece.