Archive: 7th March 2006: Super Princess Peach / Eurogamer
“Viewed through one lens of the great telescope of personal truth, the Mario series is the shining star of the games industry; a cherished intellectual property that Nintendo isn’t afraid to have fun with. As comfortable expanded and re-imagined in the joyful Mario & Luigi titles as it is as disposable family entertainment in Mario Party, the Mario series will always be a vital and magical part of gaming.Through the other lens, which has dirt on it, the Mario series is a smelly rock of astronaut poop; an intellectual property long past its sell by date, which Nintendo would rather milk endlessly than face up to a desperate need for new ideas. Mario and chums shoehorn themselves into increasingly obscure genres in an attempt to remain relevant, with Mario now well acquainted with everything from soccer balls to baseball bats. With the only fat Italian-American that the average person wants to see swinging a baseball bat being Tony Soprano, the Mario series is increasingly redundant.”
I probably side with the latter view, when it comes down to it. Even if I do love most of the Mario games… Actually, having said that, Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is probably one of the worst games I’ve played in ages.
Anyway, this is a bright and cheery platformer with absolutely no challenge until the STUPID BASTARD HARD FINAL BOSS. It’s also made by Tose, and looks pretty much exactly the same as the Starfy games (and is probably quite similar in general, but I’ve never played them. I’m guessing.) If you want a Tose game on the DS I suggest you go for Dragon Quest: Rocket Slime, though.