Well, another console launch, another Mario game. If the title of the game seems a little odd to you, dont worry, youre not alone. I have no idea why they couldnt have just called it Super Mario DS, but, obviously, that name is reserved for another ga...
As you boot up the game, just like in the N64 version, youll see Marios head, and you can also chose Yoshi. But this time, you can use the touch screen to move an outline of his face around the screen, pull certain lines etc and even draw your own images to manipulate! Brilliant! Although you cant save these images, it definitely is quite a novel tech-demo idea, and I can only hope we see plenty of this bought to us in the future, maybe even with a save option.
The main game itself is a bit of a double-edged-sword. Sure, its fun to play, but, for those who played the original then theres not much else you havent seen. You start the game off with Yoshi, instead of the more familiar Mario. An interesting move made by the Nintendo team, but a very good move none-the-less. In the first world, instead of picking up King Bomb-Omb and throwing him thrice, you swallow the Bomb-Ombs he throws at you and spit then right back at him. Little touches like this are found throughout the game and really add just that little bit more to an already great game.
Now, onto the dual screens. The action takes place on the top screen while the touch screen displays a map and is also used as analogue control. Sadly, this is where the game chokes somewhat. Using the touch screen requires skill and patience while the d-pad control scheme just doesnt have the precision that was evident in the original.
Lets move off the negative, and onto the positive. The BIG positive. The Mini-games. This is where SM64DS shines. In most games, mini-games offer a small break from the action of the main game, but here, they really do steal the show. You start out with only a few mini-games, but before long, youll capture all the illusive coloured rabbits, and youll be playing away at all 36 the game has to offer, from playing blackjack, to rolling a snowball down a hill and dodging those pesky penguins, to drawing trampolines on the screen to keep Mario up in the air. But the best mini-game in my opinion would have to be Bomb-Omb Squad- a game thatll have even your most cynical friends convinced. You use the stylus to pull back on a novelty-sized sling shot to hit those damn Bomb-Ombs falling from the sky and killing your flowers. Yes, youll obsess over your flowers from being blown up. Why the forces of evil would want to destroy your garden is beyond me but its fun so Im not complaining. Multiplayer is another new addition to the game. Up to four players can battle it out over the wireless network to see who is the superior Yoshi. You all start out as different coloured Yoshis, but you can collect the different caps throughout the level. And, you all dont need a copy of the game- just go to download play and youre set! Of course, what would multiplayer be without back talking? Well, this game would be nowhere without it. All in all, this is a brilliant game- probably the best DS release title. Youd be doing yourself a favor to pick this one up. And if you havent played the original, add 3 to the score.
Visuals
The visuals in this game are simply stunning. Theyre beautiful for a handheld and Id even go as far as saying that the game looks better than its predecessor.
Sound
The music is pretty much the same as the original. But thats not necessarily a bad thing, depending on whether the music annoys you or not. Certainly for me, it still hits the spot, and the DSs surround sound is wonderfully used, and using the headphones is just as good when you want to play with the sound on in a noisy place, or alternatively, a quiet place.
Gameplay
Seeing as the original was the flagship title for the N64, and seeing as it originally sold millions, then the Gameplay cant have gone off that much. And it hasnt. Its all still there, all in its Marioy glory. And with the inclusion of the extra characters, it dont really get much better, in terms of Gameplay, than this.
Plus: More Gameplay than you can poke a stick at, brilliant characters, mini-games.
Minus: Screwy control scheme.
It's Black, Back Again.
If these aren't the coolest graphics...
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