[Teuthida]

/me laughs at Penguin's sadness.

Well, date is TBA 2005.

I think this impressions thread would fittingly begin with the first 2D sequel to a Mario platformer since 1991 (or 1996 if you count Yoshi's Island as a Mario game). While I usually love seeing what the stylus can add to old formulas, in this case, I'm glad Nintendo didn't go overboard with the control scheme. Rather, the controls are perfect in this game. You guys that have been waiting for a new classic are going to love it. It incorporates all the stuff you love about the old games, like Super Mushrooms, "?" Blocks, bricks, Goombas, Koopas, shell carrying, coins, mushroom towers, dank castles, Thwomps, and the Nintendo rep even mentioned the Tanooki Suit!

As for the versus mode, it's terrific. Mario and Luigi race to the end, and can interact with each other in tons of ways--Mario Kart-esque items like the Lightning Bolt (which shrinks the opponent to a miniscule size, they can barely jump at all). There are also Warp Blocks that warped your opponent to you (you want to hit these when you're behind, but never in the lead), and blocks changed from green to red, and could only be hit by that particular brother. In the demo, items were stored in the bottom screen, and you tap them to use them. Not a particularly novel concept, but when the rest of the game is this good, who cares?

Keep your eyes on this one, it's going to be great.