Nintendo is diving headfirst into DLC with it’s first batch of add-on content for New Super Mario Bros. 2 (out of three batches announced so far).
Instead of writing a full review, since this is just DLC, I’m going to give you my take on all three packs and why you should (or shouldn’t be interested). This first batch of add-on Coin Rush levels contains three “packs”, each with three set levels (unlike the random levels in standard Coin Rush mode). Each pack cost $2.50 (making the full batch $7.50) and it took 4 blocks of memory to download all three packs. It took about 10 seconds to download the content using my home wi-fi connection.
Gold Rush Pack
The Gold Rush Pack is probably the most useless of the three packs, and can be completely skipped if you’ve already collected one million coins. This pack is loaded with coins, rings, gold flowers, and gold mushrooms. This is by far the easiest way to collect coins, so if you are still trying to plug away at one million, it’s worth a shot. The levels themselves are designed well enough, but the only level that really stood out was the third one in the pack.
Coin Challenge Pack A
What makes Coin Challenge Pack A unique is the fact that it will post high scores for the five highest coins totals at the game’s Official Website. The downside is that the website does not display any information about which user got each high score, making the feature virtually useless. However, this pack has several redeeming qualities in the level design itself. These levels are designed with speed in mind, and they are perfectly tuned for coin hunting. This pack is worth a download for those want want to experience more and are looking for a little challenge.
Nerve-Wrack Pack
Out of the three content packs added with this first batch of DLC, the Nerve-Wrack Pack is arguably the strongest and the most fun, especially for experienced aficionados of the Mario franchise. These levels will test your nerves and patience, and are not for those who just want to casually stroll through a few new levels. Every object, brick, item, and enemy serves a purpose in these stages, and just completing all three levels is a feat in itself. Its times like these when I wish Nintendo would have just made a few of the standard levels slightly more difficult, although it’s understandable that they are trying to cater to a broad demographic, so offering these extra-difficult levels as post-release content is still welcome. Here’s hoping Nintendo includes another set of extra-difficult levels when the next round of DLC launches later this month.
