New Super Mario Bros. U to get additional courses after launch

Wii U launch game New Super Mario Bros. U will get additional downloadable courses after the game launches, much like recently released Nintendo 3DS game New Super Mario Bros. 2, according to the latest Iwata Asks Q&A.

"We're trying to think of ways of play that are different from New Super Mario Bros. 2, but we haven't made anything yet! " game designer Takashi Tezuka tells Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. "The mechanism for adding courses is already there, so please stand by for an update on what they'll be like," adds New Super Mario Bros. U planner Daiki Iwamoto.

The full Iwata Asks interview touches on the creation of New Super Mario Bros. U, which started development in the form of course design before the concept of the GamePad had been finalized. The introduction of the GamePad led to some gameplay experiments that worked better than others, the game's creators say, with the ability to spawn blocks with the touchscreen one of their greater successes.

The developers say that New Super Mario Bros. U's Challenge Mode may offer the series' greatest challenges. While the testers at Nintendo of Japan's Mario Club found the game "a little challenging," their North American counterparts found some levels initially impossible.

"We can't clear this!" director Masataka Takemoto recalls Nintendo of America testers saying.

Iwata Oh, the lineup of master testers in America waved the white flag?

Asuke Yeah. We got an email saying, "Can this really be cleared?"

Iwata They thought it was a mistake in game design.

Takemoto Yeah. So I sent a video to America proving that it can be cleared.

Asuke Then the next day we got a reply saying, "Sorry. We did it." (laughs)

For more on the creation of New Super Mario Bros. U and some helpful tips on how to beat the game's two-player Boost Mode levels solo, read the latest Iwata Asks.

New Super Mario Bros. U will be released in North America on Nov. 18, in Europe and Australia on Nov. 30.