One of the most legendary games around (Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA))

Member Name: jennikitten

Product:	Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA)
Date:	07/10/09 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's mario!

Disadvantages: None

The ultimate classic Super Mario game, this version is a re-release. Or even a re-re-release, since the original came out on the original Nintendo console in the 1980s! Then it got re-released on the Super Nintendo in the early 1990s, and then this handheld version was released a few years after that.

Well, they certainly got their money out of it! But this game is such a legend that it deserves to pass down through generations. Indeed, it's available in yet another form on the Wii Shop, where you can buy retro games using points.

The game itself hasn't really been altered though. The story is very simple - the princess (she wasn't called Peach in those days) has been stolen by baddies! Our heroes, Mario and Luigi, must rescue her by going through various worlds and completing challenges along the way. Now it must be said - this game doesn't really test your brain very much. It's a true, old-school platformer. You move from left to right across screens, jumping over obstacles and killing enemies in order to progress.

There are various items, for example coins, which give you extra lives when you collect 100. There are also items which transform Mario or Luigi and give them special powers, such as the ability to float, or turn into a statue, or throw fireballs. As you progress, the items get more interesting; for example in the water world, you can get a frog suit which makes Mario/Luigi look and jump like a frog.

Many of the levels have 'cheats', when you can discover hidden things about the level which make it less linear. These aren't essential to the game, but do useful things like give you extra lives, coins etc.

Each world is displayed on a 2D map, and you move along to the level you want (it is restricted based on what you've completed though), and complete it to return to the map and follow the next stage. There are also things that aren't levels, for example the mushroom house where you can open a chest for a free item, etc. Items you collect out of levels are stored on your 'belt', which is accessed on any world map.

At the end of each map, you hit the castle (all maps have halfway dungeon points too), which is where you fight a boss. Each follows the same requirements - you have to hit him or her three times - but they get progressively harder at the game goes on. Finally, you face Bowser himself.

This game has almost endless playability, with eight worlds, two player mode and a few mini games thrown in. Not to mention that the later levels are actually very hard - how games used to be!!

The controls are quite simple - just use the direction pad and A and B buttons to move and use items in your surroundings. This game does require pretty good timing and co-ordination though, so it might make younger children frustrated. I first played this game when I was about 7, and I could get maybe halfway through without much difficulty.

Overall, this is one of the first games I ever played and it still has playability value. I wouldn't buy it on the GameBoy Advance because that's pretty outdated now, but as I said it's still available to buy via the Wii, and I'm sure if you did want a retro version it's very cheap on ebay or Amazon.

Summary: A great 2D platformer that's stood the test of time