!!Viewers who are {{just here for|Godzilla}} JustForFun/{{Bowsette}} and other Super Crown fan-characters can read more on [[JustForFun/{{Bowsette}} their own page]].
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* [[SugarWiki/AwesomeArt Awesome Art]]: Thanks to the transition to HD graphics, ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' has noticeably [[ArtEvolution more vibrant and detailed backgrounds]] than its predecessors, from the frosted sand dunes in Layer Cake Desert to the schools of Cheep-Cheeps swimming in the distance of Sparkling Waters. Special mention goes to Painted Swampland, a gorgeous level with unique aesthetics inspired by Creator/VincentVanGogh's ''Art/TheStarryNight''.
* [[AwesomeBosses/VideoGames Awesome Bosses]]: The final boss, from a design-standpoint. It's a very climatic fight against a Giant Bowser and Bowser Jr. team-up, where you have to steal Jr.'s Clown Car to crash it into Giant Bowser, making it a sort of mix between the final bosses of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1'', and the Bowser Jr. levels from ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'', it's a pretty nice fight and a far cry from the simpler rehash from ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' that ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' had. The (all-new) epic battle music that accompanies it is pretty good as well.
* [[Awesome/VideoGameLevels Awesome: Video Game Levels]]:
** [[BeanstalkParody Skyward Stalk]] is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Mario climbs a beanstalk [[LevelInTheClouds into the sky]]. The sheer creativity of the premise combined with the disappearing leaf platforms and hordes of enemies make it one of the game's most memorable levels.
** [[SlippySlideyIceWorld Spinning Star Sky]] features [[SceneryPorn gorgeous backgrounds]] and the titular gimmick: a bunch of giant stars that spin whenever Mario and co. jump on them. It's simple, but the way the stars are utilized makes for a surprisingly creative and engaging level.
** [[ArtCourse Painted Pipeworks]] and its Superstar Road equivalents are well-remembered for their unique environment (a swamp styled in the vein of Creator/VincentVanGogh) that strays away from the usual ''Mario'' biomes.
** Superstar Road-2: Run For It! It's an incredibly fun challenge of racing the P-switches' time limit over coins turned into brick blocks. There's very little room for error and you'll likely suffer several deaths on a few first tries, but you'll have a blast doing it.
* BaseBreakingCharacter: Peachette in ''Deluxe''. Some see her as one of the most ridiculous, confusing and unnecessary characters to exist in the series, with many fans arguing that if Nintendo wanted a princess-type character without making Peach playable, they could've simply made Daisy or Rosalina playable instead of making a new character/power up from scratch (especially since the former had previously appeared in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun''). Additionally, because the plot of the game revolves around Bowser actually occupying Peach's Castle, minor tweaks to the narrative could have justified Peach's playable status - even if they only applied in a playthrough using her. Others though, love the sheer bizarreness of the concept and considers Peachette to be a cute and unique addition to the game, as well as a clever way to make Peach playable in some form without changing the game's story. The fact that her existence would inadvertently lead to the infamous [[JustForFun/{{Bowsette}} Super Crown]] trend hasn't helped her case.
* BreatherBoss: Boss Sumo Bro. As long as you keep hitting the platforms he's on until you're able to hit him, you probably won't take any damage at all. You can even knock him down immediately after he recovers.
* BreatherLevel:
** [[spoiler: Superstar Road-9/Follow That Shell!, while still tricky in its own right, is a breath of fresh air to players, especially if they had just finished [[ThatOneLevel/SuperMarioBros Pendulum Castle]].]]
** And [[spoiler: Hammerswing Caverns (9-4). It's not exactly easy, but it comes right after [[ThatOneLevel Run for It and Swim For Your Life!]].]]
* DiscreditedMeme: In early January of 2019, [[https://youtu.be/lp-SE1PdOvk?t=16 the official New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe website]] confirmed that the Super Crown power-up can only work canonically with Toadette, not only [[{{Jossed}} disconfirming]] the possibility of [[JustForFun/{{Bowsette}} the Super Crown working on Bowser]], but at the same time, the possibility of working on any other character. It seems that Creator/{{Nintendo}} has had enough of that meme. Unsurprisingly, given that the ambiguity of the Super Crown was what kickstarted the whole meme to start with, the Bowsette trend would experience a sharp decline as a result of Nintendo killing that ambiguity.
* EpilepticTrees: The ability for Toadette to transform into a Princess Peach lookalike named Peachette. This has led people to wonder if Peach is an evolved Toad or if Toads are simply larval humans in the Mario universe. There's also the theory that the Super Crown was made in case Peach needed a body double while she was out, willingly or [[DamselInDistress otherwise]].
* EvenBetterSequel: [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks Sameness]] aside, a number of fans consider it to be better than its [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii Wii predecessor]] because it manages to be better designed for 4-player co-op, yet is more challenging in single player due to the addition of Single Player Challenges. New features such as a 3D World map reminiscent of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' with branching levels, the return of Baby Yoshis, and new playable characters Nabbit and Peachette (on ''Deluxe'') were generally well received. It's also generally considered to be much better than its [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2 3DS predecessor]] by virtue of adding new gameplay features and modes instead of only a coin-collecting gimmick and not reusing as many graphical assets or [[RecycledSoundtrack music]] as that game, as well as providing a better alternative to said game's Coin Rush in its more challenging and more featured Boost Rush mode. All in all, despite the criticisms of stagnation, it's considered by a number of fans to be the best in the whole ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' sub-series in terms of pure design, other than lacking [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 various unique bosses, enemies, and obstacles the first game had]].
* FanNickname: ''New VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 3]]'', for various reasons.
* GameBreaker:
** The P-Acorn seems to scream this, since it's the Flying Squirrel power-up but with unlimited air boosting. Its usefulness takes a hit in Co-op, though, since the four players will inevitably get in each other's way.
** Bubble Baby Yoshis can turn just about every enemy into bubbles, ''even Boos'', filled with coins or even power-ups, and said bubbles can even be used as a temporary bouncing platform. This feature, combined with the floating ability of the flying squirrel power-up, can make it very easy to perform speed-runs.
** Surprisingly, the Super Star powerup has its place. It's invaluable for quickly catching Nabbit in most levels, as the speed boost and invincibility make it much faster to capture him.
* GoddamnedBats:
** Bony Beetles, which are a cross between a Dry Bones and a Buzzy Beetle. Not so bad, right? But, [[Videogame/SuperMarioWorld like before]], every few seconds, they'll pull in their heads and pop out some spikes, temporarily turning them into TheSpiny. And when they reassemble? They do so with spikes, stopping you from stomping them immediately. When you're trying to maneuver around them, it's likely that you'll be hit a few times.
** Sledge Bros. While they're only in one level, said level features moving platforms that you can be crushed between. What do they do? Create a minor earthquake when they jump, stunning you temporarily and putting you in danger of being squashed by said platforms.
* HilariousInHindsight: The [[DinosaursAreDragons Bubble Baby Yoshis]] that blow out bubbles to instantly defeat enemies or turn them into items. Where else have we [[VideoGame/BubbleBobble seen cute small dino dragons]] using bubbles to defeat their foes?
* ItsEasySoItSucks: The reception to almost every boss, especially the final boss (if you abuse its weakness to fireballs instead of attacking him with the Koopa Clown Car). Any Koopaling can be easily defeated if the player just chases after its shell and immediately jumps on it, immediately crippling its pattern. Boom Boom doesn't even have a shell chasing pattern and can be defeated by repeatedly {{Goomba Stomp}}ing him.
* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: The main complaint about this game is that while it is considered to be an EvenBetterSequel to ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' in certain respects, it's still pretty similar to it.
** Despite it shaping up to have its own identity, this game gets called out for not bringing out "the full potential of the Wii U" (i.e. not pushing its graphical capabilities to the limit like ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' later did, instead being graphically similar to ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' but in HD, with its significantly more detailed backgrounds being the most noticeable difference).
** Many fans were upset that the Yellow and Blue Toad returned as players 3 and 4 [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii again]] instead of other characters, such as Wario and Waluigi, or [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2 Peach]]. This has been somewhat alleviated with ''Deluxe'' with Peachette, though not completely because she's ''not'' Peach (nor Daisy, for that matter) and due to [[BaseBreakingCharacter various other reasons]]. It would later be completely alleviated on both ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'', which feature Peach, Daisy, and Toadette as well as various other playable characters.
** Complaints about how the [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 Koopalings and Boom-Boom]] are returning, stating that they aren't new and have been rehashed, particularly because the Koopalings had already made their big comeback in ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii''. How they are the only bosses in the game besides Bowser and Bowser Jr. (and Kamek and a Sumo Bro, once each), Pom-Pom doesn't appear to make them more varied, and the game lacks the unique bosses [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 the first game]] had (and is one of the reasons why many [[FirstInstallmentWins consider it to be the best]]) doesn't help matters.
** Quite a few music tracks and assets are recycled from ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'', though not to the extreme extent of ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2''.
** When the game was eventually ported to the Nintendo Switch as ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe'' it got this reaction from fans who had already played it, even from those who consider it an EvenBetterSequel to ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' instead of what happened with ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'', given that it's mostly the exact same game (other than being able to play with any character in single player, adding Peachette, and removing the Boost Mode) and would have liked to see a brand new installment in the series instead of an UpdatedRerelease, as for 10 years after its release, it remained the last ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' and even full-fledged 2D ''Mario'' game overall. Porting it also unfortunately contributed to the perception and subsequent reputation that ''all'' ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' games are [[YMMV/NewSuperMarioBros rehashed]], which started with ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'', and is the only one that can be truly called a flat-out complete rehash due to its complete lack of significant changes or improvements, with ''U'' being only partially rehashed. These fans wishes would ''finally'' be answered with the announcement and release of the all-new ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'' in June 2023 and October 2023 respectively, [[SequelGap almost 11 years]] after ''U'''s original release.
* MemeticMutation:
** The Super Crown being used on other characters from ''Mario'' and other franchises to transform them into princesses. The most popular of these transformations was JustForFun/{{Bowsette}}, thanks to a [[http://twitter.com/ayyk92/status/1042465252221181954 comic]] drawn by [=Ayyk92=]. [[https://imgur.com/gallery/yLbrMWD Not even]] ''[[Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia Frank Reynolds]]'' is immune to this treatment.
** Asking where Blue Toad went[[note]]The most common answer to this is that he's busy [[AssistCharacter assisting Princess Daisy with her special moves]] in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. What had ''actually'' happened was that he's in the game and can be chosen, but he and Yellow Toad cannot be on the screen together since you have to choose one or the other.[[/note]].
* OlderThanTheyThink:
** Some players think Mario was the first character who wore a flying squirrel suit to glide, but he's not. In ''VideoGame/{{Tomba}} 2: The Evil Swine Return'', released in 1999, the title character got to wear one.
** While Toadette turning into Peach using a crown in ''Deluxe'' was a surprise, ''VideoGame/SuperMario64DS'' also had hat items that transformed characters into Mario, Luigi, or Wario.
** One of Peach's subjects turning into a lookalike is new, but Bowser's minions have been doing it since the first ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1''. In their case, though, Fake Bowsers don't usually have a tell-tale sign ([[VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels Blue Bowser]] and the [[VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand Tail Bowsers]] are exceptions, though).
** This isn't Toadette's first time as a playable character in a ''Mario'' platformer. That honor goes to her tenure in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun''.
** This also isn't the first time Toadette [[spoiler:gets a kiss from Peach after rescuing her. That too had happened in ''Super Mario Run''.]]
** In terms of physical releases, a disc containing both the regular game and ''VideoGame/NewSuperLuigiU'' came along before the Nintendo Switch ''Deluxe'' version did the same thing in cartridge form. The main difference was that the disc was exclusive to a Wii U bundle, while ''Deluxe'' is a regular retail release.
** The protagonist being ejected from the building and having to make their way back there to face the villain is the inciting incident not just for this game, but also for ''VideoGame/WarioLandII'' [[spoiler:if the player doesn't wake Wario up before Captain Syrup's lackeys lift him from his bed and toss him out of his own castle]].
* ScrappyMechanic: ''Deluxe'' features the Super Crown, which can only be used by Toadette but still shows up in the Red Mushroom House prize pool even if you aren’t playing as her. This not only potentially replaces a useful power-up in a Mushroom House with something completely worthless, but they also clog up your inventory and cannot be trashed (though you can at least replace them with something when your inventory gets full).
* SequelDifficultySpike: People expecting the game to be as easy as [[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii its predecessor]] are in for a rude awakening; the game is ''much'' less forgiving after the first world, and it only gets harder from there. Granted, you can still hoard lives and [[GameBreaker P-Acorns]] to combat this, but doing the platforming and puzzles the way they were intended will test your skills and patience, especially some of the Star Coin placements.
* SurpriseDifficulty: If you've played the other games, the fairly high difficulty contrasting the cute themes probably won't surprise you anymore. The challenges, on the other hand, take things to a new level.
* ThatOneBoss: With most bosses, this can be avoided, as you can stun-lock them, but a few bosses can become this if you fight them the normal way.
** Wendy, if only for summoning her rings above her head to prevent you from charging in to jump on her. Once you get past that, she's not too bad.
** Iggy isn't too hard, but he's rather difficult to stun-lock, and his unpredictable pattern will get some people (Sometimes he pops out of the ''same pipe he just went into'')). Not to mention, if he summons a Magmaargh on either side of you, [[YouAreAlreadyDead you're pretty screwed]].
** Roy, for wielding a '''double-sided''' Bullet Bill cannon. The moving platforms don't do much to help.
** Kamek, without a doubt. Probably the first thing that comes to mind is this: ''[[NoSell He can't be stunlocked]]''. He also [[GetBackHereBoss teleports every time you get close to him]] if you're not fast enough. His attacks also turn the fight into relative BulletHell and turn the ground into ''Donut Blocks''. And if you end the battle standing on one of those Donut Blocks, [[KaizoTrap it]] ''[[KaizoTrap will]]'' [[KaizoTrap drop you into the bottomless pit]], and it ''will'' cost you a life.
** Ludwig, for being tough to stunlock like Iggy and for turning the fight into BulletHell, ''especially'' on his last hit point.
* ThatOneLevel:
** Superstar Road-2, to others, qualifies as ThatOneLevel instead because of the necessity for constant running, the precision timing needed for the last couple of switches, and having to [[TrialAndErrorGameplay memorize the level]] to avoid death.
** Swaying Ghost House due to how puzzling it is, ''especially'' its secret exit.
** Red-Hot Elevator Ride. The premise is that you're on an elevator in a tower filling with lava, and you can tilt the controller to move the elevator. Goombas, Bob-ombs, Bowser Amps and para-coins fill the level. There's a problem, though: ''The elevator shuts down if anything other than Mario lands on it.'' That means you'll be preoccupied getting rid of Goombas, Bob-ombs, and even ''coins'' so you can keep moving through the level.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:
** The consolidation of Yellow Toad and Blue Toad into a single "Toad" slot in the ''Deluxe'' version means that if you play the ''NSMBU'' part with four players, one of you will ''have'' to use an easier character (either Toadette or Nabbit). In ''NSLU'', ''two'' of you will need to use them, since Mario isn't playable in it. ''And'' many of the power-ups you get from blocks or toad houses will be Super Crowns that only Toadette can use.
** Also in ''Deluxe'', the jump buttons are now shared with the spin jump/[[FanNickname Twirl]], which can be performed by pressing A/B Button in mid-air, just like in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'', however; while it works well in that game due to being touch-based and all of the character's actions can be controlled with a one-handed tap, in this game that's not the case, the change is unnecessary, and can lead to accidental jumps. It's still possible to spin with the L Button and R Button buttons, and the behavior can be temporally disabled by holding the Left Stick down for three seconds on the title screen while pressing the L Button and R Button buttons at the same time, but there's ''no'' way to disable it permanently.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Bowser taking over Peach's castle and remaking it in his image, while not an original concept (''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has that honor), was an interesting idea for the game's conflict, particularly since the location remained in Peach's Castle instead of moving to various other locations, but ultimately wasn't as utilized as much as people wished it was, especially compared to how ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'' handled its similar premise. Peach's Castle being [[DisappointingLastLevel the shortest world in the entire game]] doesn't help. And that doesn't stop there. The only major battles fought in Peach's Castle are the two-part Bowser face-off in "The Final Battle"; the first part of the castle level doesn't even '''have a boss!''' (Despite the castle music playing.) To add on further, one might assume that it'll be somewhat of a more corrupted World 1 in the past ''NSMB'' games taking place at night, and having much tougher enemies along the way. ''Nope.'' It's just another volcano-like world with fiery-based levels, only difference is that there's the original World 1 setting and Peach's Castle in the background. Oh, and did we forget to mention there's no Tower levels? It would've been nice to have the Peach's Castle world mini-boss be a rematch against the Koopalings (albeit under tougher conditions), another fight against Kamek, or even Bowser Jr. (as a homage to the original ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1'').
* UnderusedGameMechanic: The Boost Mode and the ability to touch everything by using the Wii U [=GamePad=] was [[https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wiiu/nsmbu/0/5/ intended]] by the developers to be a complete game changer, but in practice a player can fully complete the game without ever using it and is nowhere the game changer they thought it could be. Both abilities to touch things and create blocks are entirely unavailable when playing solo and even in multiplayer it is not any better than just jumping or stunning enemies with a normal power-up and Boost Blocks are not any better than using the Bubbles as platforms. Tellingly, it was completely dropped from the UpdatedRerelease, with many players not even noticing it being gone. Future games dropped it as well, with only ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' featuring the ability to touch the elements in a much more varied way, all while not touting it as major feature either.
* UnexpectedCharacter:
** We're so used to fighting Boom Boom at every tower level, and we know for sure we'll fight Kamek later on. So who would've thought that the boss of Screwtop Tower, would be the '''Boss Sumo Bro.?''' He doesn't even appear on the top of his tower on the world map! (He briefly appears there after his defeat, however.)
** Toadette in ''Deluxe'' manages to do this twice in a row. One, she replaces Blue Toad from the roster. Two, she can use a new power-up to transform into a Peach look-a-like with a different play style.
* VindicatedByHistory: At launch the game was written off by many for the perceived over-saturation of ''New Super Mario Bros.'' games in 2012 and their lack of innovation alongside ''New Super Mario Bros. 2'', and for being perceived as a poor choice of launch title for the UsefulNotes/WiiU, since it didn't make full use of the system's capabilities. However, as time went on, many fans began to overlook the unfortunate circumstances of its release and admire the game for [[EvenBetterSequel its own merits]]. The re-release on Switch in 2019 was therefore much better received, complaints about Wii U ports being mostly the same on Switch aside from players that had already played the original.
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