This game is probably one of the first games most people bought with their DS's. The first 3-D mario game, originally out for the N64 in 1996, makes a more or less direct port to the DS, which really does show how fast technology has moved since it first premiered. This is another game a lot of people put up as one of the greatest ever and it's not hard to see why. The game itself looks fantastic, lots of bright, fun colours, the characters are already legendary and the gameplay is very absorbing. The levels are huge and diverse, with Mario sliding down a snowy mountain, diving to see a sunken ship and shooting himself out of a cannon! The story is very simple, but the thing that drives the game are all the things I've just described.
There are differences though, and with this new DS version you can now control Wario, Yoshi and Luigi in the game, as well as Mario. There are also new and more powerful power-ups, like the ability to turn Mario into an inflatable balloon, which make some of the harder sections a little easier.
Overall this is an absolute must buy for everyone with a DS, it will not disappoint, truly a 5 star game!