More 30 second reviews.
Mario Kart DS (DS)
It’s the same old classic Mario Kart gameplay, but the DS version improves it by having loads of tracks (16 new ones plus 16 classic ones from previous versions), a lot of choices in characters and vehicles, and online play. There’s a wide variety of different layouts and obstacles among the tracks, too, so it’s never the same race twice.
It’s a little bit frustrating in that online competition often involves a ‘snaking’ technique that’s difficult to pull off — if your thumbs aren’t up to it, you’d better get used to second or third place. The blue shell item seems a bit unfair, too — it can knock you from the lead back into third place by nothing more than the sheer luck of the person who got it. It’s still fun just to try, though.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)
I wasn’t sure whether the gameplay in this one would be more like Super Mario Brothers or the original Donkey Kongs, and surprisingly, it’s both and neither. It’s like DK in that it’s on a smaller scale, with a particular goal to reach and some familiar elements like the hammer, but it’s also more like SMB in how you can move and fight enemies, but it’s also more puzzle-based than either of them were.
It’s kind of fun, but also a little too easy (so far) and looks like it could be fairly short. (On the other hand, considering how many unfinished games I have lined up, a shorter one might not be so bad…)
Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time (DS)
It’s apparently more of the same of the previous game (M&L: Superstar Saga) on the GBA, but I didn’t play the first one so that’s fine with me. It’s great anyways, combining RPGish stats and items with some reflex-testing action in the combat screens and while moving around, all done in the Mario universe style.