Nintendo sees Mario-red for the holidays

By Geoff Duncan October 21, 2010

Nintendo is hoping to expand the universe of Nintendo gamers—and tap into shoppers’ pocketbooks—with new Nintendo DSi XL and Wii product bundles, along with a new Wii Remote that integrates Nintendo’s MotionPlus sensor technology. ANd those product bundles sport a bright, festive Mario-red color to make the products stand out from the crowd

“Whether shoppers want to add a cool new look to their gaming setup or expand their supply of controllers with an exciting game, Nintendo offers a great value for the holidays,” said Nintendo America’s PR director Marc Franklin, in a statment. “For anyone who is still on the fence about whether to join the world of video games, we’re offering many fun, easy, economical ways to get involved.”

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First up, existing Wii owners might want to check out the new Wii Remote Plus, which integrates the Wii MotionPlus sensor into a standard Wii remote—without that awkward, lumpy add-on at the end. The remove offers all the enhanced motion sensing of the MotionPlus unit and, going forward, will be the default Wii controller that ships with Wii consoles. However, folks looking to supplement an existing Wii can pick them up separately for a suggested price of $39.99.

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Folks new to the Nintendo gaming world might be intrigued by two new product bundles Nintendo has put together for the holidays—and they’re both bright red to honor the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. (Yes, that’s right: 25 years. If Mario were a child, he’d be all grown up, out of school, have some tattoos and piercings, and be living in your basement by now.)

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The Red Nintendo DSi SL bundle features a red NIntendo XL DSi with three Mario-themed graphics: the unit is pre-loaded with Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters and Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock and ships with Mario Kart DS. The bundle—available only while supplies last—has a suggested price of $179.99.

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Finally, Nintendo is also shipping a Mario-red Nintendo Wii console bundle, featuring both a red Wii console and a red Wii Motion Plus controller and nunchuck extension, along with New Super Mario Bros. Wii and standard console content like Wii Sports. Again, the red bundle is only available “while supplies last,” and it carries a suggested price of $199.99.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Gaming

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The flagpole is knocked away in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

While I’m only partway through Super Mario Bros. Wonder, I’m already utterly in love with the game.

As our glowing review outlined, it’s a highly polished 2D platformer that’s approachable for anyone to play and elicits a joyous and vibrant sense of wonder. But for me, what makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder special aren't so much the wild Wonder effects or elephant transformations. It's the subtle touches. These elements might not be immediately noticeable or relevant to most, but they all work together to create an experience that’s a step above most other platformers.
Changes enhance enjoyment
Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t afraid to show that it’s different from previous Mario games through small moments and changes. One instance that illustrates this early on is in one of the first Bowser Jr. fights. It starts like all his New Super Mario Bros. boss fights do, with him getting in his shell and spinning toward Mario. At first, I was disappointed that Nintendo was just doing the same thing again, but after the first hit, that changed. Bowser Jr. activates a Wonder effect and changes in size for the following two stages of his fight. It's a moment of surprise that subverts my expectations, which are based on decades of Mario games. This is a small moment and reference that many Super Mario Bros. Wonder players probably won’t even internalize. Still, it is a smart way to show how the platformer differs from what came before.

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How to play Super Mario Bros. Wonder online with friends

Jumping to the flag in Super Mario Bros Wonder

If you've got a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, Super Mario Bros. Wonder features a wide variety of online multiplayer functionalities, including the ability to see other players around the world playing alongside you and to lay down standees for them to use for revival in their own games. But more importantly, the game offers full-fledged online multiplayer with friends, allowing you to connect and explore the overworld and individual stages together as if you were seated on the same couch! You can even engage in races against your pals by hitting the Race Block at the beginning of many stages. Here's how to get started playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder online with friends.

Gaming

Super Mario Bros. Wonder Search Party: Pipe Park walkthrough

Pipe Park in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is home to so many creative levels teeming with unique gameplay mechanics that we've never seen in the Mario franchise, but it also features some of the most challenging head-scratchers in the series' history. As you make your way through the game's various worlds, you'll come across Search Party stages, which task you with finding extraordinarily well-hidden Wonder Tokens within a small, but densely packed area. One of the toughest of these trials is the Pipe Park level in Sunbaked Desert. If you're struggling to round up all of the hidden Wonder Tokens in this stage, we'll give you the details below so you can add another Wonder Seed to your collection.
Wonder Token No. 1
Head to the very top left of the level. There is a pipe here that you can push to grant you enough height to jump over the partially off-screen pipe on the left. You'll find the first Wonder Token on the other side.

Wonder Token No. 2
Return to the beginning of the level and go down the sixth pipe from the left. This pipe leads you to a new room. There is a hidden pipe located on the left on the bottom floor here, which will take you to the forefront of the room and allow you to pick up the second Wonder Token.