Consider this gaming's greatest tragedy. Mafia had one of the great gripping and riveting storylines set in a fascinating setting of the 1930s big crime mobster era, in an open sand-box style reminsicent of Grand Theft Auto III. Originally a PC game, Mafia was ported to the Xbox and Playstation 2 consoles - sounds like a winner, huh? The legacy of this game is a sad and forgettable one as this piece of gaming lore is sullied with some of the most busted and hideously executed gameplay ever in a modern video game. It is indeed one of those games that "could have been" - and it surely could have - stood with the likes of GTA 3.

     Mafia had that potential. It had the story: a classic tale of a fictional Depression era big city named Lost Heaven about a cab driver named Tommy Angelo who slowly but steadily gets his life turned inside out as he is sucked into the disillusioned life of crime in the Salieri family. You readers out there understand I'm sure, that this has that "could have been" game...but what went wrong? Well, for starters, apparently the original PC version of the game was actually quite good, with far better visuals and gameplay, but I've never personally played it, only the ported version here for Xbox. And a word about "ports" for a moment; I feel many critics only seem to use the word "port" to describe a game that was transfered poorly, I just get a negative vibe when I hear that phrase, and you know what...it couldn't be more negative here.

     While Mafia does many things very well, even when it was ported, there is pretty much no way to overcome the horrendously mangled control. Punching or beating an enemy street-tough with a bat works well enough, but aiming any sort of gun is a mess. It's like having a death wish! You use the little black button on the controller to aim your weapon (which is awkward unto itself), but it doesn't work, it sort of just straightens you out, but doesn't actually make your enemy the focal point, as it claims to do! So what's the point of it then?! It doesn't do anything!

     Even if you're lucky enough to get a good shot off, I doubt you'll actually kill the enemy. On one of the missions, I snuck in the back of a motel to save my partner in crime. Having played this mission before at a previous time, I knew there was a goon hiding in the bathroom, so I swung open the door, and took a shot, but...nothing happened. I shot him again, unloaded almost a whole clip, and this enemy didn't flinch! What's going on! Why don't he die?! The hit detection in this game is despicable! It doesn't even exist it seems! So, ten bullets later, he's finally dead, but I almost am too. Then other bad guys heard our leaded exchange, so they come running and I was ganged up on. And I already am down to like 51 Health - after fighting just one typical bad guy. Aiming from a distance is just as annoying, and ultimately you'll realize your pistols are total gahbidge. Stick to the Tommy Gun, it fares a little better, otherwise, it's over.

     I can't tell you how many times that I've been down to 4 Health and still had plenty of mission to go; it's a bad and frustrating place to be. Many of the missions aren't terribly hard, but the gameplay mechanics are so butchered, the odds are so stacked against you, you can barely get through it! Also, Health packs, rarely seen, only replenish 30 health! Why such an odd number? Not 50? Or all of your health? But 30. So, when you're down to 4 Health, or up to 34 with a useless health pack, picking off mobsters from a distance is a total disaster - it's a chore!

     These simple fundamental gameplay mechanics of aiming, and hit detection continue to plague Mafia until the very end. But also, the animation is fairly stiff as well. I was playing a mission and I got shot once by a bad guy and it drained 18 health! What game does that? 18 for one shot! Was it a headshot? I couldn't tell, the characters move so stiffly you can't tell where you are hit, or tell if ever hit at all!

     Many of missions are very long also - too long for their own good. Just when things seem like they are over, there's another part to it to complete, and it's annoying. Also, too much driving. Too much driving in this game! I know this game wanted to push a sort of car culture, which is admirable, but there's too much in this game. You'll spend ALOT of your time just getting from Point A to Point B, and then because all the missions go on forever, Point C and D, E, F, G...X, Y, Z. And would you believe it, there are TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS?! That's right, you could get pulled over by a cop in this game if you run red lights! You could out run them, but why do we need to do that at all?! It's absurd! They ticket you and you pay them off, but there isn't any money in this game anyway, so what's the point of it? It's just time consuming. Again, an admirable idea that wasn't executed well. That is a continuous trend in this game, good ideas gone bad.

     The only saving grace in this game is its story and its cinematics. They are engaging and very entertaining. If you can muster the energy to play through the actual game itself and get to the cutscenes, I applaud you. It's a laborious game because of the busted gameplay mechanics. A game shouldn't be this frustrating. In the end, Mafia is a mess, and it's a shame. It could have been great, but to its credit, it has a few good qualities, but you'll be hardpressed to find them, I know I was. Mafia is rated M for Mature, but it's more like it is rated M for, "Man, this game is a chore."

-Kurt L.

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     Around the time of its release, few people ever heard of the Elder Scrolls. When most people think of RPGs, they're first thought is usually the Final Fantasy genre, which is respectively (yet arguably) role playing perfection. But, being Final Fantasy are story driven linear experiences where the player is confined to simply taking on the role of a predetermined character. This is where the Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind makes a drastic change for RPGs. The Elder Scrolls III is a completely immersive role playing game. Each player begins their adventure by creating their own unique character from a decent list of races with their own unique abilities, choose skills that cater to the player's liking, and then players are free to do whatever they please in a truly beautifully crafted open world environment. Quite a big change from the constricting design of most RPG's, no?

     The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is a very story driven, yet free roaming game. Upon completing the character creation process, the player is given the start of the main chain of quests that will advance the story. One could complete this main story from start to finish, but it would be a difficult task being your character wouldn't have gotten the chance to level up. This is where the unique quality of the game truly shines. Instead of simply playing the game's main story, the Elder Scrolls III encourages players to explore the world they've been literally thrown into. Players can join guilds such as a Fighter's Guild geared towards melee combatants, Mage's guild that favors magic users, Thieves Guild for stealthy rogues, and even Assassin's Guilds for those with a true blood lust. Each of these guilds has their own story line, and numerous quests to complete. These quests bring you around the world, help you earn gold, and season your skills so you can advance your level. These guilds aren't a requirement, players can freely roam the world and still progress their character, and there are plenty of other side quests to tinker around with. The concept of choice is really the main focus of the Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind's play style. The game is yours, and its progression is completely up to you. If a quest is too hard, or you don't care for the guild you've associated yourself with, the player can simply move on to something else.

     Another interesting twist to the Elder Scrolls III is the game mechanics. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind successfully combines two gaming perspectives, a third person view and a first person view. By pushing in the right thumb stick, players can switch between the two. While roaming the world someone might prefer staying in third person but quickly switch into first person perspective for combat. Both third person and first person views have their own pros and cons. Combat is much easier in first person, but the player misses out on some character animations. The opposite can be said for third person, combat is tougher, but you have the character animations. Although admittedly, the character animations are a bit on the blocky side. Character movements are stiff while walking and running, and combat animations basically just stick to hacking and slashing. It is a stark contrast to how detailed and truly beautifully rendered the environment of Morrowind is. In terms of setting, and background graphics the Elder Scrolls III is easily one of the best looking games offered for the Xbox. The attention to detail and variety of landscape are impressive. The land of Morrowind itself is also very large. The Elder Scrolls III is by no means a short game. Players could easily spend hours exploring their new world. Getting lost in Morrowind isn't uncommon, although it can be frustrating at times, is part of what makes the game so fun. The Elder Scrolls III has an in game map to help players find their way, but the game is also packaged with a hard copy of the map that shows Morrowind in complete detail. It actually comes in handy when trying to find locations that you haven't uncovered yet, and is a time saver when trying to complete quest.

     The game's voice work is dare I say, hit or miss. Although there is voice acting in the Elder Scrolls III, it is incredibly limited. Only a few main characters have fully vocalized lines, while the majority of the NPCs players will encounter will only have a few lines at their disposal. Only one male and female voice is available for each race, so when a character does speak there isn't much in the way of variety. Overall, players will be reading their quest objectives and character conversations. This is by no means a bad thing, in fact I feel it gives The Elder Scrolls III a more novelistic quality, but undoubtedly some gamers may be turned off by the lack of voice acting in an Xbox game.

     I could continue on for hours about the Elder Scrolls III being there is so much to cover about this outstanding example of what an RPG can be, but in the end each player must do as the game intended and explore it themselves. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind received over 50 awards, including a game of the year title. It is by no means a game that should be forgotten. The Elder Scrolls III is nothing short of epic, and is easily one of my favorite games offered on the Xbox.

Written By RB

Over and Out

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     This is the first ever Console Review! Take a look into the past with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and revisit the 16-bit era. Thank you for watching and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQhatAXBAc

-Kurt L.

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     From the gecko, this game looks and plays great. The graphics, like many SNES games of its time, showcase the power of the systems visuals. They are very well detailed with a post-apocolyptic atmosphere, along with several scary looking alien bases. Everything looks far better in this game than it did back on its NES counterparts, to no surprise, as this system has literally twice the punch. Each level looks distinct, and no two areas look alike. The bosses are also supremely detailed, and some of them are downright horror shows. Contra games have always been known for their truly vile looking hellish bosses, and this game provides many more examples of that. Needless to say, this game pleases the eye.

     The gameplay is crisp, and the heroes in this game are much more dyanmic this time around - they can carries two different weapons, and by pressing Y, you can cycle through them. Also, if in a bind, press L and R together, and then the shoot button, and your character does a wicked somersault while shooting both his guns at once - it kicks a lot of butt. Also, your heroes can climb up the sides of some walls, and hang on girders and wires. This adds to a great variety in the gameplay - and it also makes for some really cool boss battles where you gotta swing and climb from and to different places to avoid being attacked.

     And now to the point to "avoid being attacked"...it's near impossible. This is easily the most difficult game I've ever played in recent memory. Yes, Contra games are known for their intense difficulty, but there is absolutely no stopping Contra III. It is ruthless, and ultimately relentless in what it throws at you. I had always thought that those Metal Slug games were the most difficult over the top action side-scrollers, but Contra III tops them. This isn't to say that the NES Contra games were easy - they were hard too - but by comparison, they are at least managable. Thankfully, like the NES game, the famed Konami Code returns where you can enter a series of buton-pushes on the title screen and get 30 lives, and you may just need every single one of them! Sometimes I felt this game was unfairly hard, especially in the last level, where it just seems to have one boss battle after another, but, you know what? This should definitely appeal to the hardcore gamers out there, because it brings the highest of challenges, and some people, not the faint of heart, are down for it.

     Another leveler of the difficulty is the option to lower or raise it. On the option menu, you can choose "easy", "Normal", or "hard." I don't know who would want to punish themselves by playing on "hard." I played on Normal, and even Normal was HARD! To be perfectly blunt, I played Contra III with my Game Genie on and beat the game with unlimited lives, and even with that huge handicap, I still felt like I was going to run out of lives - you simply will die that often! However, like I had said, there are some gamers out there who are surely better experienced with such an extreme challenge, thus they would get a huge thrill. But I must say, depsite the fact that I was basically cheating with my Game Genie, I still had loads of fun playing through this classic SNES title. It was utterly thrilling, and I'll be back for some more (maybe on Easy this time, without Game Genie!).

     This game is a great experience, but unfortunately, it is a rather short one. It is only 6 levels long, and no, it doesn't need to be a 20 level onslaught or anything like that, but, the NES game had 8. However, the six levels are fairly decent in length, but two of them are top-down view stages (similar to the Base Levels in Contra for NES), where you run and gun through a bombed out street or dessert. These stages are unique, but aren't quite as compelling as the side-scrolling stages, however, they do showoff some impressive Mode-7 SNES techniques and have some cool controls (the L & R buttons rotate the camera view for instance). I felt that the game should have been just a bit longer, about 8-10 levels, and any added levels being side-scrolling ones, because that is Contra at its best.

     Overall, Contra III is a fantastic experience on the Super Nintendo. Yes, it has an incredible challenge, and if you're up for it, then by all means, go in guns blazing! However, it is fairly short, but, the action never stops, and it thrills from beginning to end. I personally still prefer the original Contra for the NES, just something about that game I liked better. That isn't a knock to Contra III, because it is really awesome as well. I reccomend playing it for sure, and if tracking down an SNES cartridge for it fares to be a difficult venture for you, then it is also avaialble on the Wii's Virtual Console - but be forewarned, you can't use Game Genie!! - ah, like you folks will need it! Go give 'em hell! And one more thing, this game, like any NES Contra game, Contra III should definitely be played with two-players, though it is still a blast of course as a solo adventure. Either way, go in there and kick-butt! Just don't forget about that Konami Code.

-Kurt L.

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     I remember when I first got this game. It was definitely one of the most memorable Christmas's I've ever had. It was Christmas day of 1993, and I didn't have a Super Nintendo at this point yet (which I didn't get until around 1995). I had always been an NES kid, and still am to this day! I remember getting the NES Advantage joystick (which is awesome!), the original Metroid and of course, Kirby's Adventure. I got these games brand new back in the day, and I recall that they came in some really cool looking boxes. I fondly remember the big blue box of Kirby, and the bright yellow box of Metroid - why, oh why did I throw those boxes away?! I guess as a kid, you didn't realize how cool it would be to hang on to those vintage game boxes. I must digress. Anyway, I remember playing these games on my little 13 inch dial TV in my bedroom, and I was instantly hooked. I had been a fan of Kirby because I had his Gameboy game Kirby's Dream Land, released a year earlier in 1992. But this NES game, bigger and better in every way, just blew me away.

     It's 17 years later, in 2010, and I still play Kirby's Adventure to this day. Why? Well, I love my vintage games, it's a big hobby of mine. And it's also the fond childhood memories keeping this game going strong, but it's also that this game was and is incredibly good! Kirby, the lovable pink-puff, had a simple yet great gameplay hook: he could suck in enemies with his vacuum strength mouth, swallow them, and absorb their powers! By now, that is a Kirby staple, but in 1993, it was being done for the first time - Kirby could not absorb powers in Kirby's Dream Land for Gameboy. This wonderful gameplay mechanic made the game instantly classic, as their were a ton of different powers you could absorb: the beam (my personal favorite), cutter, sword, parasol, bomb, spark, fireball, ice, freeze, laser, wheel, the very rare UFO, and a few others. A ton of variety available to the player, and it really adds to your choice of strategy and to the amount of replayability to this game.

     Kirby's Adventure is one of the best NES games for more than just its gameplay mechanics alone. It's level design, graphics, sound effects, music, and its humor, enhance the games overall charm. It has seven uniquely designed worlds, filled with tons of levels in each, with some great and varied bosses - including an epic final boss battle! The graphics are vibrant and colorful, and really pushed the 8-bits to their limit. The sound effects and music are all now Kirby franchise staples, and simply just classic. From beginning to end, this game is a joy to play.

     I wholeheartedly reccomend Kirby's Adventure to any gaming fan out there. And while it may not be quite as good as Kirby Super Star (1996) for the SNES, it still is the closest to perfect a game can get. Kirby's Adventure is definitely one of the Top 10 best NES games of all-time, and indeed, for a long time now, has been on my list as of one my favorite games ever. If you can track down a cartridge for it on the NES, then by all means, play it there. However, it is also available in perfectly playable form on the Wii's Virtual Console. Play it and you'll see why for yourself! This is vintage gaming at its best.

-Kurt L.

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     When it comes to vintage gaming, there are a few games that stand out in my mind. Whether it is because they're outstanding examples of what early video games could be, strong sentimental value, or even a combination of both, I take great joy in looking back at some classics for review purposes. This couldn't be truer than with the SNES smash hit, Super Mario World.

     I remember when I got my first taste of the new Super Mario adventure, and the SNES's flag ship. I was a young nerd at the time, and was on a shopping trip with my parents to our local mall. Being ridiculously bored as we wondered from store to store, something caught my eye. It was a display, nay, a saving grace...like a beacon of hope was Nintendo's brand new Super Nintendo Entertainment System just waiting for anyone to walk up and try it out. I couldn't resist, and the game was obviously the focus of this review, Super Mario World. Upon playing it, I was blown away. With its beautiful graphics, great musical themes, and Mario's spinning jumps I was hooked. Needless to say, I knew what I was getting for Christmas that year.

     Anyway, that's enough reminiscing for now. Its time to get down to business, and discuss how revolutionary Super Mario World really is. Being that Super Mario World was packaged with the SNES, for many of us who owned the system it was our first game for it. In its hay day, Super Mario World was the perfect game to highlight what the new SNES could do. Featuring better 16bit graphics, sounds, and a freakishly new looking controller with 4 action buttons (A,B,X, and Y) and two bumper buttons, allowed major advancements to be made to the beloved Super Mario Bros franchise.

     This time around, Mario and Luigi's epic adventure to rescue the Princess Toadstool from the clutches of Bowser takes them deeper into the Super Mario universe. For the first time, Super Mario World brings players away from the Mushroom Kingdom and puts them into a place called Dinosaur Land...and no The Super Mario Bros aren't trapped in Jurassic Park. Many of the typical Bowser Baddies return in Super Mario World like the goombas and Koopalings who are Bowser's little brat children that originally were featured in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. We are also introduced to a brand new character that would go on to have his own success on the Nintendo platforms. Being that Dinosaur Land is home to many types of creatures, Mario and Luigi are able to make a new friend in that lovable green dinosaur, Yoshi. After finding Yoshi, the Mario Bros could ride him throughout each level (except for boss castles), and Yoshi could eat almost anything that gets in their way. Similar to the power ups that would grant Mario and Luigi special abilities, Yoshi too could gain new skills by eating different colored Koopa shells. As for the rest of the game play, it is what you would expect from the Super Mario Bros. Players will jump from platform to platform, while collecting coins and power ups as they progress through each level. Thanks to the new 16bit graphic generator, there are plenty of new and unique challenges in Super Mario World. For example, new players to the game can play through each level and progress straight to the end of the game to face Bowser. But for those who have really put their time into Super Mario World will know about the many different secret level exits that makes the game much longer than it would first appear. No matter how you play Super Mario World, there is a level of difficulty suitable for everyone.

     Since its release in 1991 Super Mario World has gone on to sell over 20 million copies making it one of the best selling games of all time. Many of the game's legendary moments have become some of the iconic images associated with the Super Nintendo itself. Despite being a familiar story of a gigantic evil snapping turtle and its offspring kidnapping a Princess leaving two plumbers to save the day, Super Mario World remains a timeless classic. It has seen countless re-releases for Nintendo's Gameboy Advanced, and more recently is being offered over the Wii virtual console. No matter the system, it is a game that must be added to any collection. It is pure clean fun, and anyone can enjoy it.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     Many changes were made for the new version of the highly competitive MGO. For starters, graphics and game mechanics have been upgraded to fully utilize what the power house of a system, the Sony Playstation 3, can do. It goes without saying that level designs are much larger, and have much more detail than their Ps2 counter parts. At the start of each match, players will also be able to pick their own musical themes that are unlocked from progressing through the main story of MGS4: Guns of the Patriots. There are a wide variety of themes to choose from, varying from musical scores from the early NES Metal Gear games right through to boss themes featured in the main story of MGS4. Although there is something for everyone to like, there is also the option of keeping the music turned off which is allows the player to keep their hearing honed into their surroundings. Having the music turned off is especially effective when trying to make sure an enemy isn't sneaking up behind you, or listening for near by fire fights while trying to find a better vantage point. There are also more match types including, death match, team death match, Stealth missions, base bombings, and capture missions just to name a few. During certain match types, certain players will be randomly selected to play as one of the legendary characters from the franchise. Those without buying the expansions will be able to play a Solid Snake only, but with the expansions the character lists include Raiden, Meryl, Johnny, Vamp, Mai Ling, and Liquid. These characters have their own unique set of abilities, and are better than your typical PMC.

     Perhaps the biggest change to MGO is the ability to create your own PMC character. Upon completing the lengthy application process to create your game account, each player is given one character slot for free in which they will create their new in game personality. If you want more than one character, you'll have to pay almost 7 bucks for another character slot. Players will be able to select their face from a pretty mediocre list of predetermined looks. Non-expansion players are limited to only male characters, so if you are a female Metal Gear fan you'll have to plop down some extra cash to make a female avatar. Character voices are also customizable, but after they've been selected voices and faces are permanent and can't be changed. The coolest part of having your own character is easily the gear selection. Upon creating a new character, gear selection is basic and the player is limited to only a few selections. However by playing and earning reward points, players can buy new gear which is all completely customizable. With a little work, each character can obtain their own unique look to match their gamer's personality.

     Being that the main hero of the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Solid Snake is a legendary solider who has devoted years of his life training his skills, don't expect your PMC to be able to do everything that Old Snake can do. Each player will be able to select a maximum of four skills to begin with, and there are a large variety of skills to choose from. They vary from assault rifles, handguns, shotguns, blades, CQC, and numerous passive SOP (Sons of the Patriots) skills. There are many more, and each player will be able to develop and hone their own play style. These skills are advanced by utilizing your selected talents in combat, but as they advance they will take up more of your maximum four slots. A maxed out assault rifle mastery will take up three of those four slots. Although you can swap out your skills at anytime before entering a match, it is important to find out what works best for you, and remember you'll have to sacrifice skills that don't fit into your play style.

     Despite all of its advancements, the new MGO isn't without its flaws. Although a highly addictive multiplayer mode, the game is designed with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots options to remain intact. This means some players will have Auto-Aim activated. Although this is highly frowned upon in the MGO community, there is no stopping some from using it and gaining an unfair advantage. Joining into matches can also be a slow, and agonizing process as the game's Auto-matchmaking mode only allows you to play with other competitors close to your same level and skill caps. Although the auto-matchmaking works incredibly well at putting you with people around your own capabilities, it is flawed in the fact that if there is no one around your level playing at that time you are stuck in prolonged wait times. One unforeseen problem with the auto-matchmaking is one that comes into play with any online game, and it is unfortunately the human element. Being that one is forced to play with the same levels, people will frequently re-encounter many of the same players as they progress around the same rate. This can be a great thing, allowing people to make friend in the gaming community, but if you are continually grouped with other players you dislike can be a major turn off to an other wise outstanding gaming experience. Although the human element is something that shouldn't be held against the game itself, it is something anyone looking to branch out into the online realm should be aware of. Metal Gear Online can be a cheater's paradise, and there are plenty of hidden glitches that people can take advantage of. 

     Overall, Metal Gear Online is one of the most rewarding online gaming experiences on the Sony Playstation 3. The fact that it comes packaged for free with easily the best game on the system makes it all the better. Although MGO isn't perfect, I think anyone who has played it will agree that it is highly addictive. Its has earned a devote following for a reason, and should be played at least once to anyone who owns Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     In 1990, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade game was release for the NES under the title The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game. Now even though there were some distinct changes made to the NES port, like some new boss battles and slightly duller graphics, TMNT 2: The Arcade game easily held its own to become one of the best titles released for the Nintendo Entertainment System platform. In the early 90s, no young boy disliked the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and for the gaming youths at the time the Arcade game was eons easier than the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game featured on the same system. That's not to say TMNT 2: The Arcade Game doesn't have its own challenges.

     Being that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is as its title claims, an Arcade game, the game mechanics are pretty simple. Fight and kick your way through each level...and that's it. There is no Mario style platforming, and no puzzle solving. Each level design is beautifully rendered with their own set of traps, but for the most part all you have to do is survive wave after wave of foot clan, and make them pay for kidnapping April O'Neil. This more forward approach to the Turtles was a welcome change, and felt more like the Cartoon than the original NES Turtles game. But, being it is an NES game the Turtles don't have a ton of variety to their move set. They'll walk, jump, use their weapons to attack, and by pressing A and B together will do a stronger special attack. Although the action is fun, the constant button mashing can get a bit repetitive being that TMNT 2: The Arcade Game is actually pretty lengthy. Players could easily dedicate a couple of hours to the game, and the game's lasting appeal speaks for itself. Many years after the games release, it still remains a staple for vintage players and can be enjoyed by all ages. Xbox Live has also released a version of the Arcade classic that features the original boss battles, and the return of the 4 player Co-op (online and local), but despite a valiant attempt fails to capture the essence of the original.

     The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are by no means strangers in the gaming universe, and TMNT2: The Arcade Game had some of the most iconic images that come to mind when thinking of the NES platform. Although the graphics were superior for its Arcade system counterpart, the NES port featured some of the best looking graphics and music that can be found on the system. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game has earned its title as a classic, and will remain a favorite as long as vintage gaming exists.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     While this new iteration of the classic side-scrolling Mario platformer has been updated, it certainly does not abandon what made it great originally. The levels are rather familiar, which is a good thing - grass lands, water stages, castles, ice worlds, desserts, forests, and the fire and brimstone of Bowser's world. The levels are beautifully detailed and really showcase the capabilities for the DS. It practically looks like what a side-scroller would be if it were made for the Nintendo 64 - needless to say, these handheld systems really have come a long way from the days of the 8-bit monochrome Gameboy.

     This game harkens back to the days of the original Super Mario Bros. (1985) for the NES. It has a lot of the same controls, which are impeccable, and some of the same powerups - like fire power for instance. However, there are also many new innovations like the Tiny Mushroom that transforms Mario into an itty-bitty version of himself and can run across water and go into equally small pipes. The coolest power up is the Mega Mushroom which transforms Mario into a giant, encompassing almost half of the entire screen, and he can mash anything in his path until the power wears off, but it is a thrilling few moments while it does last. It is definitely one of most refreshing innovations in recent years - indeed, a welcome one.

     Of course, with all DS games, there is the use of the dual screens, and in New Super Mario Bros., the bottom touch-screen is not heavily implemented, but is functional enough. It is primarily used for selecting worlds, and it shows a basic map while playing in any given level, and you are also able to store a backup powerup down there, and when necessary, give it a tap and use that stored power. It comes in rather handy, and the bottom screen isn't over-used by any stretch - the focus of the action is the top screen.

     A quick word about the bottom-screen once again: there are also a number of mini-games packaged within the cartridge that are fun little diversions that are very stylus friendly! They are definitely worth checking out as well.

     The challenge level in this game is similar to any other Mario game, where it gradually builds as the game progresses, but never becomes insurmountable. I will say that Level 8 is fairly challenging though, and while the concensus seems that the Wii iteration of New Super Mario Bros. is very hard, I have found it to be quite the contrary - the DS game poses more of a challenge.

     What I wasn't too fond of was that two of the games eight worlds are only attainable through secret paths in each of their respective preceding levels. Level 4 is only reachable through a secret in Level 3, and Level 7 is found by way of a secret in Level 6. This is the first time, in my recollection, that two of any Mario games worlds are so secretive. Through my first playthrough of the game, I never knew of the secret paths and ended up playing a game that was only six worlds long - still a lengthy adventure - but I was missing out on some signficiant Mario time without Levels 4 and 7. Fortunately, I was able to find out the way to get those levels, and they were great, but that shouldn't have been done in the first place. I felt it was an odd choice, though, I suppose it provides incentive for further playthroughs - which it clearly did. In any case, the game has tremendous replayability anyway because it is such a fine example of great Mario gaming.

     In the end, New Super Mario Bros. is one of the best games for the Nintendo DS. It has essentially all of the winning elements of a classic Mario game, and indeed deserves a place among the immensely popular and successful franchise. It brings many new things to the table, and also serves up many classic concepts as well. What I like is that this game marked the triumphant return of the side-scrolling Mario platformer to the 21st century, and set the stage with its new 2D/3Dish format that recalls and embraces the past while confidently beckoning the future. This is a game to be played and played again.

-Kurt L.

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     Now lets get something straight right out of the gate here, I've never been a huge fan of The Sims. But, over the last decade since The Sims originally debuted it is almost impossible for someone not to have tinkered around with the anti-climatic simulation in some shape or form. With that said, I put my reservations about the franchise aside and picked up a copy of The Sims 3. Upon playing the newest addition of the Sims universe, I found myself quite surprised at how different The Sims 3 actually is while it still maintains all of the elements that made the game famous.

     Players will begin by creating their virtual counter part with a ton of new customizable options. With a more detailed face creator, each person will be able to successfully render themselves in the Sims 3, although the process is very time consuming. There are also a large variety of clothing options which they too can be customized by selecting different colors, and patterns. One of the more interesting points of creating your Sim is the return of traits from the Sims 2, however there are a ton of more traits to choose from like making your Sim heroic, a kleptomaniac, the perfect lover, you get the idea. There's something for everyone. The player can even decided what their Sims' favorite color is, music style, and what their life goals will be. All these elements make the Sims 3 much more personal than previous Sims games. As time goes on, your Sims will also age, your children will grow up, and eventually all Sims will pass on. However the original starting characteristics like appearance, and traits will be passed down as the family tree grows.

     After the character creations process is over and done with, players will be able to move into or build the house of their dreams...with the allotted cash allowed for starting a new game. As you would expect, this process is no different than any other Sims out on the market. You'll pick the décor you find suitable and arrange it just so, or you can stick with the preexisting furniture that comes when buying the house. By this point for an action fan like myself, the excitement is abounding. Anyway, after getting your Sim settled in to their new surroundings it time to get them a job. The Sims 3 offers a few new ways to find work, which ties into the biggest change to the franchise overall. Purists of the franchise can still check their news papers or log onto a computer to get their Sim off the unemployment line, or those who are feeling more adventurous can take their Sim for a little stroll around the open town in which they live. That's right, players are no longer confined to the household and don't have to pay for a Hot Date expansion to have a night on the town. At any time, your Sims can freely move about their larger surroundings to find a job, catch a movie, or stop in at a café for a quick lunch with no loading time. This open ended environment gives new freedom to your Sims and with their free will often go out to explore on their own. One doesn't have to do much, and the artificial intelligence takes over. Just sitting back and watch your sims go through their daily lives on their own can actually be pretty entertaining. But, with these new strides in the franchise there are still the same dull moments. For numerous hours at a time, your Sim will be off to work or school depending on their age. As with the other games, there isn't a ton to do while your sim is making some cash. Sure you can decide whether to talk to co-workers or slack off, but for those few hours your stuck looking at the outside of a building...YAWN.

     When it was all said and done, the Sims 3 is a great step forward for the franchise. Undoubtedly as time goes on, this game will attract more and more people and in turn there will be another onslaught of expansions for fans to buy. Although this game isn't exactly the perfect game, it was still enjoyable for even skeptics. It is easily one of the better Sims games on the market.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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