Reviews (31)

Nothing delivers pure nostalgic gaming bliss like the NES
What else is there to say that already hasn't been said? The 8-bit NES is and always will be one of the greatest systems ever put out. Its graphics may look dated to some, but solid gameplay was always the NES's strongest quality, and so it truly stands the test of time amongst the newer next generation systems.

[Instead of writing a regular review, I thought I'd make a list of all the best games on the system so that people new to the NES would know what to try out.(Any title with a series of #s such as '1-4' indicates that there is more than one game of that title)]

BEST NES GAMES (in no particular order):
-Super Mario Bros. 1-3, Duck Hunt, Zelda 1-2, Metroid, Final Fantasy, Donkey Kong Classics, Contra, Super C, Castlevania 1-3, Mega Man 1-6, Double Dragon 1-3, Mike Tyson's Punch Out, Ninja Gaiden 1-3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1-3, 1942, 1943, Guerilla War, Shadowgate, Startropics 1-2, Sky Shark, Image Fight, Legendary Wings, Life Force, Monster Party, Milon's Secret Castle, Strider, Journey To Silius, Blaster Master, Bomberman 1-3, Adventures Of Lolo 1-3, Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle, Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout, Tetris 1-2, Dr. Mario, Battle Toads, Battle Toads & Double Dragon, Guardian Legend, Kabuki Quantum Fighter, Faxanadu, Goonies II, Rescue Rangers, Duck Tales 1-2, Bionic Commando, Paperboy, Kung Fu, Fester's Quest, Clash At Demonhead, Blades Of Steel, Excite Bike, Pro Wrestling, Adventures Of Dino Riki, Skate Or Die 1-2, Kirby's Adventure, Bubble Bobble, River City Ransom, Powerblade 1-2, Dragon Warrior 1-4, Guantlet 1-2, Rampage, Adventure Island 1-3, Double Dribble, Rad Racer, Metal Gear 1-2, Kid Icarus, Little Nemo Dream Master, Crystalis, Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu, Batman 1-2, Bucky O'Hare, Samarai Pizza Cats, Dig Dug 1-2, Snake Rattle 'N Roll, Rainbow Islands, Phantom Fighter, and Shadow Ninja

[Also, I should point out some of the worst games on the system as well, so that people know what to avoid at all costs. Or you could play them just for a good laugh (not worth it).]

WORST NES GAMES (in no particular order):
-Fun House, Terminator, Alien 3, Athena, Bible Adventures, Super Pitfall, Hudson Hawk, Renegade, Chubby Cherub, Mighty Bomb Jack, M.U.S.C.L.E., Where's Waldo, Total Recall, Fist Of The North Star, The Legend Of Kage, Muppet Adventure, Bad Street Brawler, Barbie, Gilligan's Island, Tag Team Pro Wrestling, X-Men, Adventures Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes Of The Lance, Deadly Towers, California Raisins, Pictionary, Taboo: The Sixth Sense, Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves, Wall Street Kid, Yo! Noid, Trolls On Treasure Island, Back To The Future 1-3, Wayne's World, Sunday Funday, and The Incredible Crash Dummies

There you have it. I've made a list of most (if not all) the best NES games that I recommend checking out, and a list of terrible games that should be locked away in a sewage waste facility. Fortunately, the good definitely outweighs the bad. I hope this helps anyone who is looking to get started on an NES game collection, or anyone who is just looking for something else to play.

THE 3RD BEST SYSTEM!!!!!
Ok.My first system ever was NES.Most people think that this system is stupid becouse its old, but its actually a great system nomatter what they say.I admit it has terable picture(this is why it only got four stars)but you just can't beat it.Well you can beat it but only with N64 or game cube but thats it.The games are great like mario or star wars.The one I got from my cousin was not in good shape.but it still works.I got another one called sega genesis and it broke but the NES(NES is older)is still around.Plus its cheap nowadays.Moral get NES if you want cheap entertainment.I mean it i like this system which is amazing since the new systems are out.I dont no what else to say so see ya.Wes

Features

• Nintendo game system originally released in 1991
• Multiple scrolling background
• Stereo sound
• Internal memory
• For 1 or 2 players

Reviews (51)

One of the best systems in history, to say the least
Continuing on the success of the classic NES, Nintendo decided to make a 16-bit system that would turn into the other 16-bit system's (Sega Genesis) biggest rival. The name of that system is the Super Nintendo.

The Super Nintendo had everything going for it back in the good old days. The system was more powerful than the Sega Genesis and it was capable of producing the best graphics ever at the time, great sound, music, and the list goes on. The controllers are designed very well, with four main buttons instead of just two (like the NES), two extra buttons on top for more precision in certain games, and a directional pad. Of course it also has a Start and Select button.

But what really makes a system a bad or good one, is its games. The Super Nintendo has a spectacular library of games that all breeds of video game fans can enjoy to the fullest. It has great racing titles (Super Mario Kart, F-Zero, Biker Mice From Mars, etc.), arguably the greatest collection ever of RPGs (Legend of Zelda, Breath of Fire series, Super Mario RPG, Final Fantasy series, etc.), hard-hitting fighting titles (Street Fighter II and Turbo, World Heroes series, Mortal Kombat series, etc.), puzzle games to challenge the mind (the Tetris series among others), some of the most classic platformers of all time, or action/adventure games (Super Metroid, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Contry series, etc.), and of course, great sports games (NBA Jam series, Side Pocket, and TONS of baseball, football, hockey, basketball, and fishing games).

The games I listed are just a few of what I think are some of the best ones available, but there are literally hundreds of other great games that were made.

I don't have a single complaint about the Super Nintendo. If you want to own one of the best, if not THE best video game system of all time, do yourself a favor and purchase the Super Nintendo while you still can!

Why not to get the Snes: Um.....
The Super Nintendo is the best system on Earth. My second favorite is the GameCube. I love the Snes and the one thing I hate that people say is that they don't like it because the graphics are bad. First of all the graphics aren't bad. We are just very spoiled by systems with amazing graphics and overwhelming technical capabilities. The system itself is very fun and with the right games, two friends can have a great time playing the oldies of the video game world. The games I would recommend are: Mega Man X (1p), Goof Troop (2p), Mario Kart (2p), Mario All-Stars (2p), Donkey Kong (doesn't matter which one for they are all good, 2p) Yoshi's Island (1p), and Star Fox (1p). The controllers are good for the games and have buttons in the right places. The Snes controllers have no control stick and instead have a D-pad. This really isn't much of a down though because the games do not require one. I recommend the original Snes controllers. Why not to get the Snes? No idea. The only reason is that, sometimes, they are sold at outrageous prices like one hundred dollars and that is, in my opinion, insane. The most that I would pay for a Snes is forty bucks. Go try Half or eBay to get better prices. There are also other great games and great systems but if you are reading this, get a Snes. You won't regret it and if you do, please give me the Snes and I will return it to its rightful owner. Now go out there and buy a Super Nintendo! Enjoy!

Editorial Review

Nintendo first dabbled in video games during the industry's early years of the mid-'70s. Generations of successful gaming console releases through the years led to the much-hyped 1996 launch of Nintendo 64, a system that represented a giant evolutionary leap in video game technology. Within the first three days of launch, hundreds of thousands of gamers hunkered down with Mario 64, considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever created. Even today, the system's excellent design continues to host an ever-expanding library of breakthrough games.

Nintendo 64's popularity among younger gamers is no surprise. Well-respected games featuring such long-lived and much-loved personalities as Mario (of arcade classic Donkey Kong fame), Zelda, and Banjo-Kazooie are easy to learn and offer enormous replay value. But times are a' changin' and the system's ever-growing library of titles has expanded into every genre of games imaginable, including games better-suited for older gamers. In fact, some of the most acclaimed--in some cases, groundbreaking--games available on any platform today are packed onto N64's old-school cartridges.

Under the system's hood, its appeal to the young certainly didn't produce a less mature gaming machine. On the contrary, the 64-bit system boasts impressive graphics, stereo sound, and numerous accessory enhancements, including a high-resolution pack that boosts graphics to awe-inspiring resolutions.

Start your library with Goldeneye 007, Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, and Star Wars: Episode One Racer--these titles represent a decent start to any N64 cartridge library.

Editorial Review

Though it looks like a toy, don't be fooled: the Nintendo GameCube is a powerful video game console that rightly deserves its place among the other next-generation game systems. In fact, its playful, appealing design and small size (the unit is a not-quite-cubed 6 inches) aren't the only features that set it apart from the others.

For starters, Nintendo has quite clearly made this a game-only machine. It doesn't try to play your CD collection, run your movies, read your e-mail, or store your MP3 files. The company has concentrated its efforts on games. All the prelaunch titles we've seen play smoothly, with bright, fast graphics and great sound. Nintendo says its engineers have removed traditional bottlenecks that have, in the past, slowed down processing. New components designed by IBM and MoSys, as well as a large-capacity secondary memory cache, keep instructions moving through the system's microprocessor (MPU) at peak levels. In English: the GameCube is optimized to push speed up while pushing costs down; hence its position at the lower end of the price spectrum.

The GameCube is the first Nintendo video game system to use a disc-based medium rather than cartridges for its games. Moving the software to disc media generally means lower development costs for the publishers, which, in turn, trickles down to the consumer not only in price, but also in availability and quality, as it's then easier to try out untested game ideas (Pikmin, anyone?). While most other systems likewise have their games stored on discs, the GameCube's 3-inch format is smaller than everyone else's, and is so designed to fit in a shirt pocket as much as to deter would-be software pirates.

Of course, the main advantage of the GameCube is that it's the home field of one of the world's premier game designers: Nintendo. While powerhouses Electronic Arts and Sega make games for all systems (including this one), you can play Nintendo games only on a Nintendo system. And Nintendo, you might recall, has been hitting them out of the park since it started with Donkey Kong. In fact, here's a roll call of characters and series you won't find on the other consoles: Mario, Legend of Zelda, Perfect Dark, Metroid, Kirby, and, of course, Pokémon. A few names that the GameCube will share with the other guys: Madden, Tony Hawk, Sonic, Batman, and Star Wars.

The system also comes with four built-in controller ports, so you can easily plug in extra controllers and let friends join in for the multiplayer games--it's even got a built-in handle so you can easily move it to a friend's house. It comes with two memory card slots for saving your progress through games, and there's the capacity for future expansion into the world of online gaming.

In short, the GameCube isn't an all-in-one entertainment system, and neither is it the most powerful of the modern video game consoles. But for video game enthusiasts who want to stick with their favorite characters, its value cannot be beat. --Porter B. Hall

Unit Specifications

• MPU (Microprocessor Unit): 485 MHz custom IBM PowerPC Gekko
• Graphics Processor: 162 MHz custom ATI/Nintendo Flipper
• Texture-Read Bandwidth: 10.4 GB per second (peak)
• Main Memory Bandwidth: 2.6 GB per second (peak)
• Pixel Depth: 24-bit color, 24-bit Z buffer
• Sound Processor: 81 MHz custom Macronix 16-bit DSP
• Sound Performance: 64 simultaneous channels, ADPCM encoding
• Polygon Performance: 6 to 12 million polygons per second (peak)
• System Memory: 40 MB
• Main Memory: 24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM
• Disc Drive: 128 ms CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) system
• Data Transfer Speed: 16 Mbps to 25 Mbps
• Media: 3-inch, 1.5 GB capacity disc
• Controller Ports: Four
• Memory Card Slots: Two
• Audio-Video Output: Analog and digital
• Dimensions: 4.3 by 5.9 by 6.3 inches (height by width by depth)

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: March 2003. As theworld's smallest video-game platform, the Game Boy Advance SP is also the first to use a built-in rechargeable battery.

Many decried the original Game Boy Advance's reflective LCD screen and its reliance on external light sources. The Game Boy Advance SP's main feature--optional backlighting--fixes this complaint nicely, but it's the wealth of other features that makes this system so surprisingly good.

At first look, you might think the SP is a sleek travel alarm clock. When closed, it's just as tall and deep as the original GBA, but only half as wide. Due to its clamshell design, the screen is always protected from everyday scratches. A small button in the center of the console turns on the backlighting element for use in low-light situations, like in a moving car.

The SP comes with a well-designed power adapter that recharges a built-in battery; its prongs fold in for easier storage. Our informal tests found that it takes about four hours to fully charge (you can even play it while it's plugged in and charging), and the battery lasts about 11 hours with the backlighting constantly on--your results may vary. Using the backlighting less often will conserve battery power.

Withseparately sold cables , you can connect the Game Boy Advance SP to other GBAsfor multiplayer gaming (above) or to theNintendo GameCube (below) to access secret levels, exchange data, or use other specialfeatures that vary from game to game.

The quality of the backlighting is very good. It's bright and clear when looking directly at it, but degraded from other angles. This is only a problem for friends who are watching the screen from over your shoulder.

But size, power, and affordability do not come without trade offs. There's no headphone jack here, though Nintendo promises an adapter. The system isn't very loud at its highest volume, and the sound can be turned down to socially acceptable levels. The L and R shoulder buttons are a fraction of the size they were on the GBA, and thus are harder to hit. Also, the reduced size of the SP is slightly less comfortable for adult hands than the GBA, but perhaps more comfortable for smaller hands. The cartridge port placement on the lower part of the console is fine for GBA games, since they are flush with the console body, but older Game Boy Color carts will stick out in a way that takes some getting used to.

Open it up and the hinge will seek out a preferred, pre-set angle (about 150 degrees), though you can open it a bit wider or narrower for your own comfort. The hinge stands up well to lateral pressure, and over all, the SP seems just as rugged as its predecessor--which has proven to be very rugged, indeed. --Porter B. Hall

Unit Specifications

• CPU: 32-Bit ARM with embedded memory
• Memory: 32 KB with 96 KB VRAM (in CPU), 256 KB WRAM (external of CPU)
• Screen: 2.9-inch reflective TFT color LCD
• Display Size: 1.6 by 2.4 inches (40.8 by 61.2 mm)
• Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels in a wide-screen aspect ratio
• Colors: 511 simultaneous colors from a palette of 32,768
• Software: Fully compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color game paks
• Light Source: Front light integrated with LCD
• Size (closed): 3.3 by 3.23 by .96 inch
• Weight: Approximately 5 ounces
• Power Supply: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Battery Life: 10 hours continuous play with light on; 18 hours with light off; 3 hours recharging

Reviews (34)

Aesthetically Upgraded, But No Other Improvements
It's fun to see your favorite games, movies, shows or books "updated" (sometimes even if it's done badly) because it hints at their versatility and lasting appeal. The Super Mario Brothers series certainly doesn't need something like Super Mario All-Stars to prove its lasting appeal, but seeing Super Mario Brothers, Super Mario Brothers 2, and Super Mario Brothers 3 together on one game cartridge with the visual and audio embellishments of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System is very nice for fans of these classic games. The addition of Super Mario Brothers: The Lost Levels is a welcome treat to American audiences, as they've likely never seen this challenging Japanese release in the style of the original Super Mario Brothers.

For the other three games, the gameplay, story, and characters' abilities are exactly the same as in the now-familiar orignals with only the addition of (as I mentioned) improved graphics and sound. To be honest, however, I wish there HAD been more changes in the games. When this game came out, Super Mario World had already been released and the purpose of All-Stars was, presumably, to allow fans of these previous games to experience them on the (then) new SNES system and to provide a somewhat more consistent Super Mario Brothers experience.

The challenge of "updating" the games seems to have been handled in a particularly uninspired way, however. Aside from making the graphics look more "bubbly" and the music more appealing, there's no real difference from the originals. The appearance of all the characters and settings remain inconsistent from game to game as well as vastly inconsistent with the (then) newly released Super Mario World. Why not update all the characters, buildings, and backdrops (and perhaps some of the character abilities) to how they appear in Super Mario World? Although there certainly isn't any real problem with simply making things prettier (aside from leaving somewhat vast, unexplained gaps in the Mario Brothers story), wouldn't it have been cool to REALLY see how the gameplay would have changed had those original games been CREATED for the SNES?

At any rate, Super Mario All-Stars is STILL a great game, even if only for its aesthetic enhancements to these already-entertaining games, the addition of those challenging "lost levels" and the fact that you won't have to haul out your old NES system to play them.

Awesome compilation game, certainly worth buying
...In 1994, Nintendo released Super Mario All-Stars, a compilation game. The game had four individual games on one cartridge - Super Mario 1, 2, 3, and Lost Levels. Read on for some PROS and CONS for this title.

PROS
-Four awesome games on one cartridge
-Games have revamped graphics and sound
-You can save your progress in any game, meaning you can play almost any level any time you want, provided you've gotten there at least once
-We finally get the ORIGINAL SUPER MARIO BROS 2! It's here under the name Lost Levels (read my Super Mario Bros. 2 NES review for all the details on this)

CONS
-Don't get me wrong, I like the revamped graphics, but I would've liked to also see the unadulterated originals. These updated graphics detract from the nostalgia value
-The Lost Levels is the only completely new game for American players. If you have the three NES Marios already, you probably won't get as big a kick from this game as someone who has never played them before

Overall, this game (or is it games?) is excellent. If you own a Super Nintendo, this is a worthwhile buy - enough said.

Reviews (9)

SNES' best ever
Secrets of Evermore is still one of the best games I have ever played since I beat it ten years ago. There are only 2 characters in the game: a boy and his dog. You travel through four different worlds using magic spells created by mixing ingredients. While traveling through worlds, your dog changes from a big pitbull to a greyhound to a poodle to a flying toaster.I strongly reccomend to an adventure game fan because the storyline is great, the bosses are badass, the weapons are cool and are not too hard to upgrade, and the worlds are fun. You can also trade in some locations.This game is absolutely amazing so I give a shout to the makers.

This is why they cancled Secret of Mana 2?
I have to say, I'm not impressed. I would have much rather have gotten Secret of Mana 2 rather than this. Not recomended.

Square needs to put this out on PS IMMEDIATELY
Only FFIX and Chrono Trigger are better RPGs.

Instead of clogging you with a bunch of characters, some clearly inferior to others, you get two: a boy and his dog. The dog is a powerhouse, and the boy can do magic. This is the best magic system ever; you but your ingredients and you can keep casting the spell as long as you have the right stuff.

Leveling-up is not too terribly difficult, and you have a nice stratgeic capability deciding which weapon is the right one for the job.

Plus: CRUSH, the greatest spell ever.

Reviews (12)

Zombies Ate My Other SNES Games!
Well, I bought this game along with other SNES games like Super Metroid, Lord Of The Rings, Mario Kart, Clock Tower, Final Fantasy 5, Rock N Roll Racing, A Link To The Past, Super Ghouls And Ghosts, F-Zero and Super Return Of Jedi, and this one is, by far, my favorite among those.
Why? Well, at first I thought it was a horror game, but then I realized it was a funny game, but full of hilarious zombies (among other funny enemies), with two hilarious characters, and a very happy soundtrack. So, it's great for everyone, this is a family game. Don't let the title fool you.
Your business here is to, along many levels (about 50), rescue people who are in danger because of the monsters who are killing everyone (there's no blood in the game, when you kill the zombies, they're just buried and when zombies kill the victims, they turn into ghosts). You get passwords as you beat the levels, don't miss them or you'll have to start the game all over again.
This game isn't very hard, but it requires some practice in the more advanced levels. I haven't beaten it yet, but I'm laughing a lot with this title. Buy it, it's the best SNES game I've ever played!

I wish Zombies ate MY neighbors
I've just recently become interested in the video games of my childhood again, and, while I thought of a lot of games long forgotton, Zombies Ate My Neighbors was one of my personal favorites. It seems that the premise of the game is terribly simple, but the game is challenging and fun.

There are 55 levels in the game, each one increasing in difficulty, and any horror movie character you could ever imagine. They try to attack your neighbors as you run around frantically, shooting at them with a water gun.

You can play a single player game, or team up with a friend, which I highly recommend- it gets things done faster, and you get killed less.

There is a version of this game for both SNES and Sega Genesis, and both are great games, but I prefer the Sega Genesis version. Either way, it's a great game, and you'll be glad you played it. I definately recommend this game to anyone who enjoys video games.

Reviews (1)

Reviews (1)

An average Capcom-Disney game
The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse is one of the many games that Capcom made that had Disney characters during the "Nintendo vs. Sega" era. In this game, you play as Mickey who is on a quest to rescue Pluto from "Big Bad" Pete.

As you progress through the game, you get outfits that give Mickey a wide range of new abilities. When Mickey gets the magician's outfit, he can attack enemies with magic. The firefighter's outfit lets him spray water using a fire hose to do various things like moving blocks. The mountaineer's outfit gives Mickey access to using a grappling hook to swing off of certain objects.

At certain points in the game, Mickey can purchase items such as a larger capacity of magic and water or more health.

Reviews (7)

This butchered everything related to Mario!
I am a diehard fan of Nintendo and Mario is possibly my favorite Nintendo character next to Link. But when they released THIS I can't believe at the age of 8-years-old I used to waste my time with such crap! The music is HORRID, the graphics SUCK, and the mouse is nothing more but a stupid piece of s**t that doesn't even work as good as a REAL computer mouse. You can't even animate the stuff accurately and it's all just too glitchy! A piece of crap indeed that REALLY makes my favorite game icon, Mario look BAD! If they were going to make this trash, then they shouldn't have put him on the game cover and they should have given it a different title! Seriously! "Mario Paint" is a CRAPTASTIC experience! Don't waste your time with pure BOREDOM!

It is like,SO awesome...
This game is one of the best ever!The ONLY bad thing 'bout it is the fact that (this is a problem for me,Maybe not for you!)the mouse works horribly!(Mine is 12 years old.)I can make my own music.Make my own cartoons.Just about everything!Let's take a look at the quality...

gameplay,4/5

family friendlyness,2400/5

Difficulty?/5

etc.

A good game for when it was made...
[BEFORE I BEGIN THIS REVIEW, I MUST MAKE A STATEMENT - YOU NEED THE SUPER NINTENDO MOUSE TO PLAY THIS GAME.]

In 1992, Nintendo released Mario Paint. This was basically their take on the "paint" program found on most computers, but with a lot of fun extras. Read on for my opinions.

Graphics: It depends on what you draw. N/A

Play Control: The mouse is a bit tricky to use at first. It comes with a hard mouse pad, since most players usually have their controller in or around their lap. This is a good idea, but as another reviewer stated, the mouse is flawed. 3/5

Challenge: What challenge? It's a painting game! There's the little bug-swatting mini-game which is kind of challenging, but I can't give the entire game a challenge rating based on a single feature. N/A

Theme/Fun: It was very nice to have a program that let game players take a wildly different approach. You could draw, animate, and even make music! If you could dream it, you could (almost always) do it with this game. Unfortunately, it is a severely flawed game in many ways. YOU CAN ONLY SAVE A SINGLE PICTURE/SONG/ANIMATION, AND IT TAKES AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME TO SAVE IT! What a rip! But the worst thing? It's on a console, not a computer, meaning you CAN'T PRINT YOUR WORK! Essentially, the drawing portions of this game are a poor man's Adobe Photoshop. 3/5

Sound/Music: The game has sounds that go along with the tools, and background music you can play if you like. None of the sounds or songs are too great though. 3/5

Storyline: What storyline? N/A

Originality: Basically Nintendo just tried to take a classic computer concept, and make it better. They did so, but now the game is horribly outdated. There has been talk about a similar title for the Gamecube, but chances are it may never see the light of day. 2.75/5

Replay Value: You can do a lot with this game if you've got a creative mind. Unfortunately, just about everything on here you can do with a typical PC in the modern age. If anything, it's little kids who will get the biggest kick out of this game. 3.5/5

Editorial Review

Nintendo 64 owners have been patiently waiting for a decentrole-playinggame, and, at long last, one has arrived in the form of the perplexingPaperMario. World-famous video game icon Mario stars in this unconventionalRPG,which was originally announced as Super Mario RPG 2. Don't be fooled by the cutesy visual exterior of this game, which borrowsheavily from the well-established Mario universe. Yep... it's the same lovableMario who dons his familiar red overalls and unkempt moustache. However, thecatch is that Mario now stubbornly appears as a two-dimensionalcharacter--despite the largely 3-D exterior gaming environments that surroundhim. When ourflat-headed friend turns around, his paper-thin presence becomes immediatelyapparent. It's a cool gimmick, but fortunately Paper Mario is far fromacut-and-paste cartoon caper.

As with most RPG titles, players must battle with several menacing enemies asthey travel from place to place on their quest. Each encounter requires gamersto strategically choose between various modes of attack. For example, Mario isparticularly handy with the hammer--thus you might opt to select hishangover-inducing hammer attack. As the adventure progresses, additionalcharacters willjoin your quest. Your ever-growing posse gives you more fighting power, aseachteam member brings new attack moves and powers worth mastering. To advancewithin the game, you'll need to pay close attention to your health meter,enemyhit points, and your ever-expanding attack options. The game starts withenemiesthat are easy to defeat, but it quickly becomes quite difficult to survivesubsequent attacks without careful planning.

Unlike most RPG games, each attack sequence is enhanced by a special actionfunction. Instead of passively sitting back and watching each attack moveoccur,the player can enhance your attack by pressing a button or moving thedirectional controller at precisely the right time. As someone who has rackedupseveral hours (and more than a few snoozes) during repetitious RPG attacksequences, the action feature is a welcome addition to break up the monotonyofmultiple attacks.

Fans of the traditional Mario games will appreciate the return of familiarcharacters, such as Princess Peach and Luigi. Perpetual baddie Bowser evenplaysa key role in this addictive adventure. Best of all, there are plenty ofhiddenareas and extras to uncover. Paper Mario may boast elements of theclassic platform gaming genre, as well as the traditional RPG--but itultimatelycuts through all expectations to deliver an experience that appeals to bothcasual and hard-core gamers. --Brett Atwood

Pros:

• Weeks of gaming due to expansive environments
• Hidden goodies to uncover
• Classic Mario gameplay mixed with traditional RPG action

• Highly addictive (prepare to lose some sleep)
• Cartoon exterior may not appeal to some hard-core gamers

Editorial Review

Six years. Six long years we’ve had to wait for a new Mario game, and finally it’s here. And even considering the ridiculously unfair expectations, Super Mario Sunshine is almost entirely as good as you’d hope and expect.

The premise of the game is that Mario’s tropical holiday is ruined when he’s stitched up by an evil look-alike for daubing graffiti all over the island. Rather conveniently, there’s a water pump waiting for him to use, which not only washes away the mess but also doubles as a handy jet pack. The jet pack aspect means that whenever you fall off something you have the chance to immediately recover. This built-in safety net means the game can afford to be far more ambitious in its level design than ever before, with massive levels filled with trampolines, tightropes, water-powered windmills, huge coral reefs, and mountains and mountains of platforms.

The whole thing looks amazing, too, with the most realistic water ever seen in a video game, and a near-infinite draw distance. On top of all this are rideable, fruit-juice-spewing Yoshis, extra water nozzles, super-hardcore platform levels where Shadow Mario nicks your jet pack, and goop-generating bosses who seem to live to make Princess Peach’s laundry a nightmare.

Reviews (390)

Luigi's Mansion - Quality, however not long
Luigi's Mansion, to put it simply, is the perfect weekend rental. The title garnered a total of ten hours of gameplay out of me, and has not been touched since. Don't get me wrong, the game wasn't bad or anything, it was just really short.

Boasting some new gameplay as opposed to the usual platformer fare, the puzzles in Luigi's Mansion, as well as bosses, were fun while they lasted. A fairly simple game, Luigi's Mansion is not something that an experienced gamer should probably buy, unless they'd just like it in a collection for some reason.

For the family game, this doesn't do too badly, although the fifty dollar price tag isn't justifiable. A good game for teaching parents and small children to play a game, I'd recommend Pikmin as a puzzle game over this, and Mario Sunshine as a Mario game above this.

Three stars justifies the good quality, as well as super short playtime. Try renting it before buying it.

Great holdover for fans until Mario Sunshine comes
It seems like this game was put together quickly by Nintendo just to hold off fans until marios next appearance. The idea isnt original and it is fairly short. It isnt fairly challenging and in the few parts it is, the game is frustrating. People have been saying that it takes them 5-6 hours to beat the games. Two things: thats a lie and anyone who times how long it takes the beat a game has no life. Im guessing it took me about 10 hours without a guide. With a guide you can get it done in eight.
The final battlevs bowser is great and the game is very entertaining on a whole. despite these mistakes, the game is perfect. Great graphics and its addicting game play will make you crave for more. People have been saying the game has no replay value, but it does. As soon as I finished the game, I wanted to play again. The idea of a whole new mansion is great. This should be a buy for any die hard mario fan and at least a rental for any gc owner.

Features

• Build and run a farm while building and living a successful life
• A brand new Harvest Moon world with 40 new characters
• Revived marriage system, the ability to raise a child
• 6 chapters of your life spanning 30 years
• For 1 player

Reviews (162)

50 percent sim, 50 percent RPG, 100 percent incredible...
A few days ago, I had some extra money from a few eBay sales that I intended to spend on a GameCube game. I was stuck between Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, and Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. After reading a few reviews, I chose the latter.

And I was certainly impressed. I had played Harvest Moon for the SNES, but this game adds incredible depth that surpasses it and stands on its own.

The game is incredibly easy to get into.You've inherited your father's old farm (and you work alongside his old friend), and its your job to make it into something successful and profitable. To this end, you till the land, grow crops and trees, raise animals, sell their products to raise money, upgrade your facilities...the whole nine yards. Context-sensitive buttons and simple tutorials bring even new players up to speed, so that you'll be harvesting turnips in no time!

But what really makes this game an RPG, and not just a simulation, is the friendship/relationship system. The town of Forget Me Not valley is around you, complete with a colorful cast of characters, including another farmer, an innkeeper, a traveling salesman, an orphaned grandchild, a hippie-like musician, a mad scientist, and even a hobo! Becoming friends with these people has its own rewards, none of which I will spoil for you.

Contrary to the SNES Harvest Moon's gift-giving frenzy to woo girls, romance in A Wonderful Life is also nicely handled. Yes, you'll have to give gifts to one or more of the three romantic prospects to gain their favor, but there are quite a few skits and scenes that fill in their backstory, and will enhance your relationship even further. Each of these girls have their own taste, and their own way they prefer being courted. There's even scenes that take place for jilted girls should you involve yourself in a love triangle...

Did I mention the cattle and crop cross-feeding system? Or the dairy processing options? The realistic weather system? The beautiful presentation of Forget-Me-Not valley? You can't go wrong with this game, unless you prefer more action and violence in your RPG's, in which case I can't help you. But if you're looking for a nice, lengthy RPG with many available paths and good depth, this is the game for you. I wholeheartedly recommend it. And so would many Amazon.com customers, based on the sales ranking of this game.

This Game Rocks!
This game really expands and adds a lot of new features on to the other Harvest Moon games. In the other games you only play for one or two years, which if you have nothing better to do besides play, goes fast. In this new game you can play for six chapters, which is thirty years.
There are so many types of animals in the game. Normally you can only have cows, chickens and a horse, but in this game you can raise sheep, goats, and ducks in addition to the other animals. You also can have a pet dog and cat.
Another great new feature is that you can cross breed plants. You can mix watermelons with potatoes, and carrots with strawberries. The possobilities are endless.
To continue into the 2nd chapter you have to get married. There are three women to choose from, Celia, Nami and Muffy.
You also get to start a family. Your son will look like your wife.
This game is great. I reccomed it, and the Game Boy Advance version highly. Two thumbs up, 5 stars.

Editorial Review