Super Mario Advance
Reviewed by Danielle L.
Hooray! Another Mario game! Oh wait, its just Super Mario Bros. 2 on
the Game Boy Advance. Oh well, it still has many new features from
the NES and SNES versions including better graphics, voice clips,
some weirdly placed objects, and even bigger shyguys on occasion. If
you don't happen to own Super Mario Bros. 2, or Super Mario All-Stars,
or you do but want to see the game made-over, then grab yourself a
Game Boy Advance and pop this tiny little cart in. It should be a lot of fun!
Graphics: 10 out of 10
They're really good, especially for the launch title of a new system.
The colors are very bright, and the lighting problems that were
common in previous Game Boys aren't as bad. The characters are
made-over in great detail, especially at the select-a-character
screen. The bosses are also very nice. I especially liked the
awesome backgrounds.
Music and Sound: 10 out of 10
This is absolute fantastic sound! For one thing, it has the catchy Super
Mario Bros. 2 theme songs, but the sounds are a bit clearer and sharper.
I especially liked all of the character's voice clips. The way they yell
when they go hurtling into a pit is hilarious!
Game Challenge: 8 out of 10
Well, I've played and beaten it on the NES and SNES, so it wasn't too
hard for me to beat this either. But, if you're a newcomer to this game,
you have a perfect little challenge. The game is neither too hard nor too
easy, so you can have fun with it without screaming in frustration
every other minute. The bosses are exquisitely done. Sometimes you'll
have a typical egg-throwing Birdo, other times a bomb-throwing
Mouser. Not too hard, not too easy. I still have a problem with the final
boss, Wart. The level leading up to his lair is such a good challenge,
and he's incredibly easy. Oh well, its still fun. To add more to the
challenge, there are also 5 coins you need to get in every level, kind
of like Super Mario World.
Game Play-Fun: 10 out of 10
This has been, and always will be, a terrific game. Even after you've
beaten it, you'll still enjoy it. It is one gem that Nintendo has put on
three different systems, each time bringing success. With four different
characters to choose from, you also have lots of different moves and
abilities to have fun experimenting with.
Frustration
Not really. The levels aren't too difficult, but some of the bosses are
a little hard. The last level is a little frustrating, but all in all this
game isn't too bad. Its challenging, but the challenge doesn't take
away from the fun.
Replayability: 10 out of 10
Besides the five coins in every level, there really isn't anything that
you will have to replay every level to find, but you will still want to
play this game. Even after I beat it, I still play it constantly. Its just
so much fun that you can't toss it up on some dusty shelf after you've
beaten it a thousand times. Its definitely addictive! Plus, you also have
the original Mario Bros. arcade game on the cartridge to keep you busy
even after you're sick of the land of Sub-con.
Game Value: 10 out of 10
It definitely is, as long as you don't have a previous version of this
game lying around somewhere. This game was one of my favorites on
NES, one of my favorites on SNES, and now I love it for Game Boy. You
also get Mario Bros. the arcade game, so its like two games for the
price of one!
Originality: 3 out of 10
Ummm... haven't we seen this game before? First, Nintendo ripped off
a little Japanese game called Doki Doki Panic and substituted Mario
characters in and released it as Super Mario Bros. 2 USA. Then, it was
released on Super Nintendo on the Super Mario All-Stars cartridge. And
now its a launch title for Game Boy Advance? Whatever happened to
original games? Basically, if you're a very big Mario or Nintendo fan,
you probably have an earlier version of this game, so why buy Super
Mario Advance? Well, they did change a few things: graphics, sound-clips,
item placement, enemies, etc. But that's not really enough to be original.
I'm a huge Mario fan, and I was hoping for a fully original title for launch,
but I guess we won't be getting that for awhile.
Overall: 9 out of 10
This is a great game, its not entirely original, but its still pretty cool.
With killer 32-bit graphics, great sound, and just the right amount of
challenge, this game can't be beat on a long car trip, or your math class!
(just keep it hidden under your desk with the sound turned off) If you
have $30 or $35 bucks, and you don't have a previous version of this game,
run out and get it. You won't be sorry.