JasonP27: it was me!
--------------------
Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii is brilliant. Calling this game a hack is both fitting and an injustice. At its very core, the game is a hack of course, of New Super Mario Bros Wii. However this game is much more than a simple hack. It's a new entry into the New Super Mario Bros series just as any other. In fact, I've found Newer to be better in many ways than New Super Mario Bros U.
Newer Team takes what Nintendo has created and expanded it to such a degree that it feels like a completely new game. A completely new 2D Super Mario World-style map system, upgraded with graphics worthy of the Wii, has been executed with great care. The worlds, all inter-connected, feel like one big world made of many parts. You can tell a lot of planning has gone into the design of each world and how they connect to each other, even down to the music transition.
Which brings me to my next point of review, the music. The music of Newer is so good I have been listening to the soundtrack in my car. It is comprised of both completely original tracks, and remixed favorites of the Mario universe. The quality of the original compositions are, for lack of a better word, very Mario-esque. I couldn't tell the difference between which songs were originals and which were remixes.
There are some new sound effects as well, for some of the new enemies. Both the new enemies and their respective sound effects fit into the game very well. Again, had you never played New Super Mario Bros Wii, you'd never know these enemies and sound effects weren't part of the original game. The use of enemies in Worlds and levels is very focused. Enemies are not spammed throughout the game. Likewise, levels are not spammed with enemies. There is a very good balance of enemies, puzzles, and other challenges and rewards from the beginning of the game, to the end.
The game controls just as the original game: there's an option to plug in a Nunchuk for analog stick control, and even added Classic Controller support, but this game plays best with a Wii Remote.
New to the game is the touted "classic NES mechanic" which will make many a Mario fan happy. Despite being completely awesome, it isn't overused. It feels right at home in the game and that's all I will say on that, for now.
The game is challenging but not too hard for the average Mario gamer. Compared to the original game, the difficulty is about the same, for a time, but it gets harder sooner. It will take several hours to get to the final boss, and then you'll want to return to any missed levels to experience them and collect all the star coins. Star Coins are worth collecting on your first go through, however, for reasons I will not divulge at this time.
Much to the chagrin of the level designers, multiplayer remains intact and works well. Don't expect any level to play great with 4 players, as even the original game wasn't always so friendly to more than 2 players. The question is, does that affect the quality of the single player experience? The answer to that is, no, absolutely not. I played through the entirety of Newer, by myself, and enjoyed every minute of it.
THE VERDICT
Technically speaking, the game is a spectacle. Three and a half years of work really shows. The quality of everything, from the music, graphics, level design, and coding, all blends together to make what is, in my honest opinion, the best New Super Mario Bros game to date.
Rating
out of 10
8.5 - Presentation
Slick new menus, great level design, and a wonderful world, are all presented in a way that feels like previous Mario games and a new game at the same time. Lack of any real story, while not affecting the fun of the game, does affect Presentation score.
9 - Graphics
3D characters, 2D and 3D backgrounds, occasional lighting effects, just like the original. In respect to the new models and re-textures, everything looks as good or better than the original. The tilesets and new effects are beautiful.
9.5 - Sound
The soundtrack has some great remixed favorites and some great new additions which are sure to get stuck in your head, much like Mario songs have done over the years.
9.5 - Gameplay
Awesome new additions to the gameplay give this "hack" a fresh new feel. Level design works great for both single player and multiplayer romps, meaning fun for you and your friends, or if you don't have any friends, you and your 9 year old nephew.
9.5 - Lasting Appeal
This game is fun. That's all you need to make you come back and play it again and again. I've played most every level more than three times, some more than a dozen times (7-3 is my favorite), and I find myself wanting to go back and play it some more.
9.5 - OVERALL (out of 10, not an average)
Awesome!
--------------------
wow, I would never think about that. The game itself seems awesome! 
for awesomeness!
