Recently Gamesindustry.biz asked Reggie Fils-Aime “are we getting too much Mario? Is there a danger in using Nintendo’s IP too much?” 

Reggie’s response ” I would say categorically, no. And that’s because our developers, starting with Mr. Miyamoto and going through the entire EAD development organization, they understand the power of our franchises, and they understand that the only reason these franchises have the power that they do is that they have to make sure that each subsequent edition is unique, different and offers something new. They know that if they don’t do that, we’ll kill the golden goose that lays the golden egg. So it’s something they are highly cognizant of, and even the executives on the business side, we hold that IP very dearly to make sure that every edition in the series is foundationally sound.”

This holds true for New Super Mario Bros U.  New Super Mario Bros U is the same in name and concept but the game itself has lots of new features.  In the trailer below you will see the Mario and many things we are familiar with in a Mario game.  But in addition to the familiar, you will also see new modes, Boost Mode, Boost Rush Mode and Challenge Mode, and you will also see new power ups, like the squirrel suit.  In Boost Rush mode you will have up to four players playing with Wii Remotes and a fifth person manning the tablet.  The fifth person in Boost Mode does not control a character on screen but is capable of making blocks appear out of thin air to either help or hinder a players progress through the level (hopefully you are using the blocks for the latter).  Boost Rush mode adds to the regular Boost Mode by adding an auto-scrolling screen that speeds up as you collect coins, which will obviously increase the difficulty and hopefully your skills as well.  Challenge Mode is the mode that interested me the most.  Nintendo has explained that Challenge Mode will feature challenges, obviously, like finishing a level in a particular time or finishing a level without touching the ground.  Yes Nintendo pumps out Mario games like there is no tomorrow but with each entry in the series you are not just getting a vanilla Mario game, you get the same Mario with a some new and unique twists.  Check out the New Super Mario Bros U trailer below!