A two page review of Super Mario Advance for the Game Boy Advance, originally published in GBX UK Magazines first issue back in July 2001. “Can the moustachioed maestro still thrill? Ian dons the dungarees and jumps to it…”
“If Only NSMBU Were as “New” as It Touts To Be” New Super Mario Bros. U (NSMBU) is the fourteenth installment into the Super Mario series. Let that sink in for a moment. Fourteenth. There are eight other Mario Bros. games and three other New Super Mario Bros. games. With that many Mario games floating … Read more
“Not exactly a rehash, but not exactly the gold standard for the Mario series either.” Rehash. That’s a popular word for those who don’t care for the Mario series and more broadly, Nintendo. Change too little and the game is a rehash. Change too much and the game is ruined. Nintendo constantly has to walk … Read more
“Game, Set, Mario” Tennis is a sport that is popular and known all around the world. Fans love watching their favorite players hit that green and white ball back and forth and back and forth in a seemingly endless rally. However, tennis hasn’t reached baseball, football, or basketball levels of popularity in the United States. … Read more
“I am happy to be stuck with you.” There was much trepidation from fans when the project formerly known as Super Mario RPG 2 was turned into Paper Mario. How would the new paper aesthetic affect the game? How would the elimination of having three party members in battle change the gameplay? It turned out … Read more
“Lazy gameplay and online coupled with extensive unlockables” The sixth generation had Mario playing almost every single mainstream sport there was (sorry, no cricket or bowling): Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (golf), Mario Power Tennis (tennis), Super Mario Strikers (soccer), Mario Superstar Baseball (baseball), and Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (basketball). Some of these games have been predecessors … Read more
“If it ain’t broke, make it better.” Review in Brief Game: The latest retro-style Mario 2D platformer. Good: Strong level design; stronger world map design than recent releases; interesting new power-ups and level features. Bad: No killer app or uniquely distinguishing feature; borrows far too much (basically everything) from its predecessors; sorely outdated. Verdict: As … Read more
Perhaps it’s fitting that a game based on a vacuum cleaner is a bit of a chore to play. I promise, contrary to popular belief, that I really do want to like a 3DS game. While I find the traditional “Guess DDJ’s score” topics to be amusing, I’m dying for Nintendo to release a 3DS … Read more
“Obligatory and uninspired.” I’ve been earnestly racking my brain trying to figure out what went wrong with Super Mario 3D Land. I’m by no means one of those people that think the series has generally stagnated; Super Mario Galaxy 2 is, in my opinion, one of the greatest games ever made, and even New Super … Read more
Review in Brief Game: Another handheld instalment into the Mario Kart franchise, this game takes some great leaps in certain aspects, and stumbles in other efforts. Play Time: 5-10 Hours of offline, nearly unlimited online play. Good: Great course variety, engaging online play, catchy musical score, addition of gliding, and subtle graphics. Bad: Lack of … Read more