New Super Mario Bros

Say what you want about Nintendo's recent lack of success in the console department, but if there's one thing and only one thing that Nintendo does right, it's handheld gaming. Back in the day, they've offered us everything from Tetris to Pokemon, and of course, Mario. Now, the Italian Plumber that defined the platforming genre twice has returned for another handheld adventure. How does it hold up?

Gameplay is solid, the regular Mario platforming that has held up to competitors so many times over the years. Level design is varied and interesting and the power ups are quirky and fun. Everything we've come to expect from Mario (such as jumping on turtles and bashing their heads in), included with some new surprises (eating a Giant Mushroom and morphing into a gargantuan Plumber that trashes the stage) makes for a fun experience – the right dash of nostalgia mixed in with 'hey, this is new!' There are no stretches in the game which feel overly tedious, although that might be my gamer mentality talking. A more casual player might have some trouble in certain aspects, but the game has a tendency to load you with extra lives such that you can get the correct way to do things down pat. Be warned, the control isn't as tight as one would like, and it could lead to some cheap deaths. Still, it's a relatively minor issue.

In terms of presentation, the 3D handling of a 2D platformer makes for a crisp and clear graphics, comparable to Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64. The stages themselves are bright and colourful, a welcome diversion from the increasing tendency of game developers to create their entire worlds in varying shades of gray. Sound and music are decent, but nothing really stands out.

There's not much in the way of replay value, unless you want to run around and get 100% completion of the Star Coins and stuff. There are several mini-games that work as fun distractions, but in the end the real meat of the game lies in the platforming action.

Overall, New Super Mario Bros. is a fun little gem. I wouldn't call it a system seller, but if you own a DS, this should be one of your top priorities to grab in the coming months.

By: Jonathan Lau