Welcome back, Mr. Mario. How I have missed you.

New Super Mario Bros has found its way to my Nintendo DS and I love it, truly love it. It’s 2D platforming glory with a 3D twist – and it’s starring Mario. How can I not love it?

From the first level to the last, it’s good game design and wondrous gameplay. Our Italian plumber-hero jumps on goomba’s heads, throws fireballs, becomes a truly Super Super Mario, gets poisoned to thumb size, swims, hunts Bowser, bounces around in a shell and generally does exactly what I want him to. New Super Mario Bros is Old Super Mario Bros with a twist of all that Mario has become over the years. Minus the flying, but to be honest I don’t really miss it.

Still, it’s not perfect. The game is huge, with lots of things to find, but completing it is a little too easy. I enjoy it nonetheless, and desperately wish for Nintendo to produce a sequel. Because this is Roots, is why I got so enthralled with videogames from the start.

[rate 5]