New Super Mario Bros. 2

New Super Mario Bros. 2 builds on the successful formula of 2D Mario platformers that Nintendo had been refining on handhelds since the days of the Game Boy Advance, adding one central motif: coins. The game literally floods the player with gold, counting it with an obsession unprecedented in the series, and also offers a special Coin Rush mode, focused purely on collecting as many coins as possible as fast as possible across three randomly assembled levels, whose results can be compared with other players via StreetPass. It also brings back proven power-ups such as the Fire Flower and the Tanooki Suit, which allows a brief flight and transformation into a statue, now joined by a new gold version that automatically turns blocks and enemies into coins while running, and the level design remains true to the series' classic style - a linear progression through worlds full of jumps, enemies, and hidden blocks.

The game also offers local cooperative multiplayer for up to four players, where worlds can be tackled together while collecting coins in cooperation or in mutual rivalry for the highest total. The level design alternates classic ground stages with underground passages, water sections, deserts, and Bowser Jr.'s airships, so despite recycling proven series elements it offers solid variety in environments, enemies, and final boss fights against Bowser. On the 3DS, the game uses the stereoscopic 3D effect mainly to emphasize scene depth and to better judge distances when jumping; the graphics are clean and technically flawless, while the music offers traditional melodies accompanied by several new arrangements.

The contemporary reception was more lukewarm than for other entries in the series - reviewers praised its precision and playability but also pointed out that the game doesn't take many risks and essentially repeats an already established formula, this time motivated mainly by the hunt for coins. Viewed today, it's a reliable, well-polished platformer, ideal for short gaming sessions on the go, though without the ambition to push the genre any further.