History Of Mario: 2003-04

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There was no brand new platformer in these years but Mario fans had a lot to be happy about with the return of Mario Kart and two brilliant RPGs. Meanwhile, over in the US, Nintendo fans were celebrating the launch of an all-new handheld console by returning to Mario's glory days in Mario 64 DS.

Mario Kart: Double Dash

2003
Considering Nintendo had released a Mario Kart title on the SNES, N64 and GBA, it was only a matter of time before one would surface
on the GameCube. However, few people would have predicted that the game, which eventually came to be known as Mario Kart: Double Dash, would totally change the classic Mario Kart formula by introducing two-person karts. While arguments raged among GameCube owners as to whether this made it the best or worst Mario Kart game yet, GBA players were left considerably happier with the release of the fantastic RPG, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.

Superstar Saga was a fantastic RPG game created especially for the GBA. A sequel of sorts to Super Mario RPG, it contained one of the most engrossing plots ever featured in a Mario game and also offered something unique that not many other games of its ilk have managed to achieve. While many other games try to be funny, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga actually succeeds. Be prepared to split your sides while playing it.
With colourful graphics, a deep storyline, a detailed turn-based combat system and more laughs than the Chuckle Brothers on helium, Superstar Saga is one of those classic Mario titles that we have no hesitation in recommending to man, woman or beast. Though obviously dogs won't get most of the jokes in it.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Year: 2003. Format: GBA
The third Mario RPG game (after Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario), Mario & Luigi is an underrated gem that enthralled anyone lucky enough to play it. With an intricately constructed plot, some genuinely hilarious cut-scenes and animations, and an interesting battle system, it's a little disappointing that the game didn't get as much attention as it deserved. It still managed to shift a million copies worldwide, but a game as engrossing as this deserved so much more. If you see this in the shops, pick it up. You'll thank us for it.

Mario Kart: Double Dash

Mario Kart: Double Dash
Year: 2003 Format: GameCube
Despite the criticism of Double Dash's dual-racer setup, it had many good points. The graphics were among the best on the Cube, with extremely colourful stages and detailed characters. Speaking of the characters, the number of available drivers was also hugely improved. While previous Mario Kart titles all had eight characters, Double Dash had 20 to choose from.

2004
This was the year that the DS launched in the US. It was much-boasted that the DS had graphical abilities that surpassed those of the N64, so there was naturally only one game to launch the handheld with - an enhanced remake of the N64's big launch game, Super Mario 64.

As well as sharper graphics, Super Mario 64 DS added three new playable characters (Luigi, Wario and Yoshi) and chucked another 30 stars into the main game, bringing the total to 150.

Of course UK gamers would have to wait until the following year for DS to be released and so had to be content with some Mario sports games (Mario Power Tennis and Mario Golf: Advance Tour), Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door and the first Mario Vs Donkey Kong game. That will do.

Mario Vs Donkey Kong

Mario Vs Donkey Kong
Year 2004: Format: GBA
Something of a sequel to the 1994 Game Boy Donkey Kong game, Mario Vs Donkey Kong offered classic platformer gameplay, and saw Mario attempting to recover the Mini Mario toys that had been stolen by the big ape. Much like the Donkey Kong game on the Game Boy, Mario can perform handstands, backflips and the like to progress through each level.

Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door

Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door
Year 2004. Format: GameCube
The sequel to Paper Mario (and the fourth Mario RPG) is widely considered to be one of the GameCube's finest titles, however much like Paper Mario suffered by being released near the N64's death, dwindling GameCube sales meant that not as many people experienced this incredible title. While most games with lengthy dialogue cutscenes would have you cursing and throwing your controller at the screen in impatience, The Thousand-Year Door was so well-scripted and emotionally stimulating that each one was simply a charm to sit through. Much like most Mario RPGs, this is an underrated gem and one well worth snapping up.

Super Mario 64 DS

Super Mario 64 DS
Year 2004 (US). Format: DS
As enjoyable as Super Mario 64 DS' main adventure was, it was the wide selection of touch screen minigames that gathered the most attention from gamers. Since touch screen gaming was a completely new concept, minigames such as Sort Or 'Splode (where you had to drag Bob-ombs into their correct area) and Bob-omb Squad (the infamous slingshot game which saw you pulling back the string with the stylus) were excellent ways to show gamers the experiences that could be had playing Nintendo's new handheld.

Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Mario Golf: Advance Tour (GBA)
Year: 2004. Format: GBA
In most Mario sports games you play as the plumber from the off but in Mario Golf: Advance Tour's story mode you take control of Neil or Ella and have to earn the right to play against Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom all-stars by winning tournaments and climbing the ranks of the Mario golf club.

Mario Power Tennis

Mario Power Tennis (GameCube)
Year: 2004. Format: GameCube
Mario Tennis was a fine N64 sports game and this GameCube update was good fun but the action was slightly broken up by the over the top power shots. It was updated for Wii under the new Play Control label but the controls were slightly iffy.

Super Mario Ball

Super Mario Ball
Year: 2004. Format: GBA
A pinball game with a story to tell, this one sees Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach as usual but Mario has a novel way of saving her. He uses a machine that squeezes him into a ball and gets stuck into some pinball action. Sadly the pinball wasn't much fun - not one of the plumber's finest moments.

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