Nintendo responds to Mario sequelitis criticism

Nintendo has responded to recent criticism that it has begun churning out Mario games at too frequent a pace.

Company president Satoru Iwata explained that the past logic of releasing one 2D Mario per Nintendo system would still continue - probably.

"We only create a New Super Mario Bros. title one per platform," Iwata told Kotaku. "I think we'll probably go ahead and continue at that pace.

"That being said, that's probably Miyamoto's choice, so I can't give you a 100 per cent guarantee that that's the pace we'll continue at."

Super Mario 3D Land arrived last Christmas to a sparkling reception. But there was quieter applause for 2D platforming effort New Super Mario Bros. 2, which launched last week.

The plumber will barely be able to catch his breath before New Super Mario Bros. U arrives next, due sometime within the vague Wii U launch window.

"I believe the two titles are unique enough that I wouldn't say that I'm super-worried that people are going to be confused."

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo company president

"These are two very unique and separate titles," Iwata said of New Super Mario Bros. 2 and U. "We have a Mario you can play in the palm of your hand and a Mario you can play seated in front of your TV."

"I believe the two titles are unique enough that I wouldn't say that I'm super-worried that people are going to be confused."

New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be the first Mario title to ever receive paid-for DLC - but Iwata was quick to reassure gamers that the upcoming extra content would not be levels cut from the main game.

"Our goal is to create DLC in such a way that consumers do not feel that they have been cheated or deceived. Now I believe there are people out there, readers, who have are worried about that, and we just want to ensure them that we have that in mind and want them to know that that's not what we are planning on doing," he concluded.