Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Super Mario Advance delivers two classic experiences in one cartridge, seamlessly weaving together Super Mario Bros. 2 and the arcade favorite Mario Bros. In the Super Mario Bros. 2 portion, players will find all the familiar running, jumping, and veggie-flinging action that made the original a hit, now enhanced with fresh challenges. From the moment you pick your favorite plumber or princess, you’re propelled into Dream Land with intuitive controls and a generous level of responsiveness.

The game’s additions breathe new life into the Super Mario Bros. 2 formula. New enemies test your reflexes, while larger items and revamped level designs encourage exploration. The introduction of 100 red ace coins sprinkled throughout the adventure adds a satisfying collectible hunt—five coins per stage grant an extra life once gathered, rewarding thorough playstyles and adding longevity to each level.

Following the main quest, Super Mario Advance unlocks the Yoshi Challenge mode, a tough but rewarding gauntlet where two hidden Yoshi eggs must be found in each stage without losing a life. This high-stakes challenge pushes veteran players to master the game’s mechanics. Meanwhile, the updated Mario Bros. arcade mode offers cooperative or competitive play, letting friends team up to clear sewers of critters or slug it out for high scores and coin supremacy.

Graphics

On the Game Boy Advance, Super Mario Advance’s visuals pop with vibrant colors and crisp sprites. The hardware’s increased palette brings out the detail in each character and backdrop, transforming the once-humble NES look into something more lively. Levels in Super Mario Bros. 2 feel richer and more inviting, with smooth parallax scrolling and background elements that reinforce the dreamlike setting.

The newly added voice clips lend personality to Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach, enhancing the retro feel without overwhelming the action. Simple sound bites punctuate key moments—jumping, landing, or collecting an ace coin—with satisfying feedback. Menus and UI elements have been polished as well, ensuring that item selection and map navigation remain clear and user-friendly even in the heat of a frantic run.

In the Mario Bros. mode, familiar pipes, conveyor belts, and enemy designs have been faithfully recreated with sharper outlines and bolder colors. Each level’s layout is immediately recognizable yet refreshed, providing an arcade-perfect backdrop for frenetic multiplayer sessions. Animations are fluid, from the plucky shuffle of the turtles to the frantic scuttle of the crabs, making every onscreen encounter feel alive.

Story

Super Mario Bros. 2’s narrative remains delightfully simple: pluck veggies, defeat the Vegetable Kingdom’s foes, and topple the sinister Wart. The dream motif allows for whimsical level designs and a cast of quirky enemies. While the tale is not the main draw, it’s charmingly presented and gives context to the varied environments you’ll traverse.

The addition of Robirdo, a robotic take on Birdo, offers a fresh boss encounter at the climax. This mechanic tweaks a classic showdown by introducing new attack patterns and weaknesses, ensuring even series veterans must rethink their strategies. Story beats are delivered with short, punchy cut-ins rather than lengthy exposition, keeping the pace brisk and player focus squarely on the action.

Though Mario Bros. contains minimal story beyond “clear the level of pests,” its premise of two plumbers battling underground creatures offers just enough framework to drive cooperative and competitive play. This arcade staple’s repeat-play incentive stems more from its gameplay loop and score chase than narrative depth, but both games together create a satisfying variety of objectives and motivations.

Overall Experience

Super Mario Advance is a stellar package for fans of classic platformers and arcade action alike. The value proposition is clear: two full games, each with unique twists, for one accessible price. Whether you’re revisiting childhood favorites or discovering them for the first time, the collection’s blend of content ensures dozens of hours of engagement.

Replayability soars thanks to the ace coin hunts, Yoshi Challenge, and Mario Bros. high-score battles. Casual players can breeze through the main quest, while completionists will find ample challenges in hidden collectibles and perfect playthrough demands. The multiplayer component especially shines when played with friends, transforming solo nostalgia into shared excitement.

Overall, Super Mario Advance stands as a shining example of how to remaster and repackage classic titles for a handheld system. Its tight controls, colorful presentation, and well-considered additions make for an experience that’s both familiar and refreshingly new. For anyone seeking a portable dose of Mario charm, this game is an easy recommendation.