I don’t know about you, but I am really looking forward to New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii. The DS version was one of the best games in the plumber platformer franchise since the SNES era, so throw in four-player “coopetition” and it’s probably going to be a good time. I enjoyed what I played at E3, and this new gameplay video, though a bit on the short side, only makes me want to play more. It seems like Mario and his pals are going to have a good amount of power-ups at their disposal in this game, and I’m digging the way the mustachioed plumbed slides on his belly in his penguin outfit. Also, those ice balls he’s using to freeze enemies are a perfect counterpoint to the fireballs Mario has had at his disposal for over two decades.

Watching this video, I was also reminded a bit of multiplayer in LittleBigPlanet, in the sense that with more than one player, things could get a little crazy—but usually in a fun way. My hope is that this game is super fun to play through alone or with other players. For years, all I wanted was a really good 2D Mario game, which is part of the reason I loved New Super Mario Bros. on the DS so much. Don’t get me wrong, Super Mario Galaxy was fantastic, but there’s something about a good two-dimensional platformer that just brings me sheer joy. New Super Mario Bros. comes out for the Wii on November 15, and despite another crowded holiday season on the horizon, I will definitely be clearing some time for it. Now all I need are three friends…