''While online play is certainly technically possible for us, it simply wasn't the focus for us this time around. What we really wanted to do was to create something that people could experience fully while playing comfortably with others who were nearby them, and this is something we decided would be best for Pikmin and the best case for Mario here as well.
"Now that is to say the answer to this question might change in ten years time, if there's a future game where for example we don't think it's important to be able to see the face of the person you're playing with, then we might be able to focus more on some online function there. But for right now our focus is really on a comfortable play experience with people in the same room.'' Full story here
A few tidbits from the feature linked below that you might be interested to learn. Turns out the Mega Mushroom actually pops up in the very first level of the game, so you'll be able to stomp through your enemies very early on. On top of that, you'll be able to change your character at any point on the map screen. That means you can constantly flip between the quartet of all-stars as you bounce from level to level.
- the game gives a few control tips early on
- long-jump returns
- climb trees and vault off the top
- music includes flashbacks to old-school tunes, plus new tunes with a jazzy style
- music is either orchestral or sounds very close to it
- three stages of running speed
- GamePad touch screen is an assist tool to reveal, collect and break blocks and coins, freeze enemies and mess around with a floating Mario hand
- you can even use this hand to trace a pattern in sand
- the cannon box can damage coop partners
- drop-in multiplayer
- multiplayer controller support for the sideways Wii Remote, Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Wii U Pro Controller and the Classic Controller
- kick balls at enemies and at Bowser in his car as early as the first castle
- early level names include Switch Scramble Circus and Double Cherry Pass
Revealed in the latest Japanese trailer, it looks like SM3DW lets you download the ghost data of your friends level play-throughs. They'll appear in a level as their Mii, and then run the course as they did when your friend actually played. It seems this only happens once you've cleared a stage.
- Boom Boom and Pom Poms are seen riding a steam-engine train made from a Banzai Bill
- sunken ship
- return of the Bully enemies from Super Mario 64
- Koopa Troopas will pop out of their shells when stomped on
- enormous theme park in the sky, fashioned after Bowser's imag
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