I don't like the fact that you have to die several times in order to activate this feature. Yes, I know the designers want to discourage people from abusing it, but I still imagine it will become a great inconvenience for many ailing players who simply want to get on with the game.

I'm guessing the Super Guide box will spawn at the last checkpoint location the player has passed (like the item boxes in NSMB DS) and so, at least, redundancies pertaining to its execution will be minimized.

And yes, this feature only serves to highlight the redundant nature of the "game over" concept. Really, by today's standards the only thing it does is send the player back to the beginning of the level - and isn't that kind of inhibitive design the very thing this new feature is meant to ameliorate?

This is an awesome feature that will TRULY create bridge titles that appeal to both new and experienced gamers.

I'm really excited about this feature and I'm glad that level designers will be making levels more challenging.

I'm anticipating this feature being used in the next Zelda. Now the dungeon designers can truly set out to stump us with formidable, mind-bending puzzles. Zelda games can be hard again for old school fans like me. Can't wait!

Amen, brother.

What you have to rememeber though is that the "casual gamer" plays for a different reason. So they might just want to get through the level. And if you wait too long (and 8 might be too long), they will turn off the machine and never play again.

Mike from Morgantown

Why do people complain about game overs?

game overs need to exist because otherwise, you can't lose the game.

Game Overs do not make you lose.

More importantly, why is losing necessary?

Losing makes it scarier to, say fall down and die in the game creating more excitement. Arcade games are like that, you play so that you can stay in the bgame longer, you do not want to fall down or run into that goomba, because then you will get closer to game over. It makes games more addicting. In mario, game over without saving is just something that you want to avoid, and therefore avoiding obstales is more exciting.

Game Overs were necessary before the advent of saving games.  They gave you motivation to try harder.  Now, as game design has evolved and there are other ways of motivating the player, Game Overs are just a nuisance.

I agree on Game Over being unnecessary. It just something that irritates me, especially in some RPG's were you have to see a game over screen, go back to the title screen, load and make your way to whereever you died.
Retry >>>>> Game Over.

If the only effect of a game over is presenting you with the option to leave the game altogether or continue from where you left, then it's a useless nuisance.

Bring back the player to last checkpoint or wherever you want, and lose the game over concept for good.