Every Nintendo console ever released so far has launched with a game starring everyone's favourite mustachioed Italian plumber, Mario. Thanks to this latest version, the GBA will be no exception. It may looks like a simple conversion, but I guarantee there is a lot more to this game than meets the eye.
Mario Advance is heavily based on Nintendo's NES sequel Super Mario Bros 2. While Super Mario Bros 2 may be seen by many as the black sheep of the Mario family, when you have a series as great as Mario's is, you know even the least acclaimed game has to be brilliant fun. Because SMB2 was not originally a Mario game at all, but rather an Arabian-set game called Doki Doki Panic, the gameplay is a little different from the usual Mario fare. Instead of jumping on enemies' heads to destroy them, he can get a helpful ride from them to help reach higher places. Plants can be pulled out of the ground to reveal fruit that can be thrown at the bad guys, or other useful items, and the ever deadly POW blocks will also be returning for the party.
At the beginning of the game, players can choose from Mario, Luigi, Peach or Toad, all with differing abilities. Other characters from the original game also seem to be back, including pink, egg-spitting dinosaur Birdo and giant rodent Mouser. But... the game doesn't seem to be a straight conversion. Far from it, in fact. Mario and co can now pick up and use some neat new items for a start. Also notice the enemies. Giant Shyguys, anyone? They weren't there before. New levels are also a distinct possibility.
Being made way back in the day when multiplayer gaming wasn't so popular, SMB2 never had a two-player mode. Fortunately, for Super Mario Advance, Nintendo have included the classic arcade game Mario Bros, complete with more levels than ever before and up to a four player link-up. The object is simply to destroy as many of the nasties that appear from the pipes in the arena as possible to get a high score. To spice it up a little, players can also jump on each others' heads, or even pick up and throw their opponents to stop them from squishing that crucial Shell-Creeper. And yes, this part can be played with only one player, and from the looks of it you'll get to fight Bowser too!
Neither section of the game is simply a conversion, so this looks likely to be a highly entertaining and - crucially - somewhat original adventure. Whether you've played SMB2 or Mario Bros in their previous forms before or not, you don't want to miss this. Even if you're not a Mario fan, you may just be surprised...
 
  
  
 
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