Super Mario Advance

Much of the action in Super Mario Advance concerns lifting items to throw at enemies or carry to a special location. Instead of hopping on a Shy Guy's head, for example, Mario may need to pull a turnip from the ground and throw it at the enemy to get him out of the way. Often, characters will need to carry a key from one part of the level to another. GBA gamers choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad. Each character has a different combination of strength and agility. The Princess can jump very high and float gracefully to the ground, but if she is carrying an item she moves much more slowly and cannot leap as far. Toad can't jump as far as the others, but he can carry items without any effect on his speed or leaping ability.

Going even further back in the characters' history, Super Mario Advance also features a multiplayercompatible minigame based on the original Mario Bros. arcade game. Players will have to hop their way to the top of the screen, quickly and carefully, avoiding turtlelike Koopas and other enemies. This enhanced version of the arcade game can be played in "Classic" or "Battle" modes. In all, Nintendo makes an effort to send their best characters ahead to welcome the handheld system to their product line. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide