More Mario! (Super Mario Advance (GBA))

Member Name: Stalin

Product:	Super Mario Advance (GBA)
Date:	05/07/01 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Classic Mario gameplay, Fun multiplayer, Original Mario arcade game included

Disadvantages: Different style may not suit some, Could be short lived, Quite tough

Having sampled the delights of Mario DX on the GBC, I was only too eager to see what Mario game would be released with the GBA. I was a little disappointed when I found out that it was going to be a conversion of Mario 2, probably the weakest title in the series. However, being the fan I am, I went out and bought it anyway. And a good thing too!

Having never really played the original, I can enjoy this updated version to the fullest degree. The style of the game is rather different to any other Mario game, which some may like and others may not. I personally think that it is a refreshing change. It is quite a tough game, with a lot of pixel-perfect platform jumping required, and this can become a little frustrating if you don't persevere. The levels are nearly identical to the NES original, however a couple of new bits added are the enormous enemies which - when thrown - give you a heart, and the new similarly large vegetables. They don't really change how the game is played, however.

The graphics have been touched up a little, and whilst they do not push the GBA hardware to its limit, they are crisp, clean and attractive. All the classic musical scores have been converted, which do not sound great through the GBA's poxy speaker, but are still very memorable. Also new are character voices, which I have to say are excellent, and do not grate on your nerves at all.

Also included in this game pak is the original Mario arcade game. This is a single screen affair, where you must clear each level by removing all the enemies. This is fairly repetitive in single player, but an absolute hoot in multiplayer, where all the players are on screen at once, and it is a battle to eliminate the other players. This only requires one game pak too.

Mario DX had a lot of little extras that helped the game last, like a challenge mode. This doesn't really have anything like that, which is a bit of a shame. As a result, this game could be
quite short lived for those with the skills to beat the single player, or those without the drive to keep trying.

Summary: