Preview: 'Super Mario Advance' for new GameBoy

Platform: Nintendo's GameBoy Advance

From...

By Star Dingo

(IDG) -- Take a break from the routine of the Mushroom Kingdom and head off Subcon -- the land of dreams -- where giant radishes serve as your regicidal weapon against the nefarious plans of a bloated crown-wearing frog.

If, after all these years, the "Super Mario Brothers" universe still makes no sense to you, then fret not! "Super Mario Advance" will do absolutely nothing to clear up your confusion.

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"Super Mario Advance" is an amped-up and sized-down version of the under-appreciated NES classic "Super Mario Brothers 2." In the old NES game, you got a chance to play not only as Mario or Luigi, but Princess and Toad as well, each with his or her (or its) entirely unique set of abilities and traits. The gameplay differed from any other game in the series that came before or after -- instead of leaping on your enemies to squash them, you plucked up plants from the ground and hurled them at your unsuspecting surreal/cute foes.

We've been playing the Japanese version of "Mario Advance," which will be ported over for the American GBA launch entirely intact (except for the Japanese, of course). The game captures the look and -- more importantly -- the feel of the ol' game flawlessly. There are also a few new graphical upgrades, voices, and other surprises to sweeten the deal, including an improved full version of "Classic Mario Brothers" game Nintendo probably with a 4-player Link up mode. Check out these screens and movies from the game to whet your appetite for a helping of some good ol' fashioned of Mushroom-flavored nostalgia.

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