Good Ol' Super Mario Bros.

Advantages: Great 4-way multiplayer quality, for a platformer
Disadvantages: A lot of recycled or uninspired material

...3 years after the successful reincarnation of the classic Super Mario Bros. adventuring recipe on the DS, Nintendo brings the formula to its second most popular console, also introducing what series' creator Shigeru Miyamoto was aspiring to integrate for the past couple of decades: true co-operative multiplayer modes. The Story You might easily regard the story of New Super Mario Brothers Wii as the biggest cliché of all time. It is, after all, about rescuing princesses from a dragons' fortresses and it's been pretty much the same for every Super Mario platformer in existence... but I choose to see it a bit differently. I find the true story behind every Super Mario platformer is one of surreality & escapism. It's about being transported into a completely nonsensical world, one filled...

Magrippinho 09.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of New Super Mario Bros. (Wii)

Super Mario Bros on the Wii

Advantages: Great team playing ability
Disadvantages: None as of yet.

...This game is a timeless classic which has constantly been revised to keep it going. The New Super Mario Bros. Wii has captured all the quality of previous Mario Bros. It captures the sheer simple pleasure of running and jumping; all can be done easily with a d-pad and two buttons. The game play takes a little getting used to but once mastered its great fun. There is also the ability to share it with up to three pals. The first time a Mario game has offered proper co-op play. Keeping the play confined lends the game a more studious approach. What would be a comfortable dash with one player takes on a new light with extra players, encouraging you to work together and carefully negotiate each obstacle to keep your team?s life stock up. It is, for all intents and purposes, the very definition of a co-operative game. That...

livelylad 21.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of New Super Mario Bros. (Wii)

Mr. Strong

Advantages: Great for all ages
Disadvantages: ......

...it. -The story- The story starts with a description of MR. Strong, ?The strongest person there has ever been,? There are then some funny examples of how strong MR. Strong really is, such as ?He can throw a cannonball as far as you or I can throw a tennis ball!? and ?He can hammer nails into a wall just by tapping them with his finger.? The author then reveals the secret to MR. Strong?s strength. EGGS! He eats lots of eggs, the more he eats, the stronger he gets. (although I?m not sure your child should try this at home, they will probably become very gassy rather than super strong). There is a downside to being über strong, as is then shown to the reader. MR. Strong cannot complete simple tasks without breaking things such as, brushing his teeth, closing the door and he even knocks over a tree when he is out on a walk, as...

ILIKEMONEY 22.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Mr. Strong - Roger Hargreaves

Mr Strong

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...?Mr Strong? is number 26 in the very popular Mr Men series by Roger Hargreaves. The main character of the book, Mr Strong himself, is so strong that he can hammer nails into the wall just by tapping them with his finger! Mr Strong?s strength can be to his disadvantage, as he frequently breaks things without meaning to but one day he uses his strength to help a farmer whose field is on fire, and in doing so gains a reward which comes in very handy! There are some very funny moments in this book, such as when Mr Strong bumps into a tree and the tree trunk snaps in half. The simple, bright illustrations, which are on the right of every double page, are perfect in helping little ones understand the humour of the story. The writing, which is on the left of every double page, is very clear and nicely spread out, which I think encourages...

princesslaura 18.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Mr. Strong - Roger Hargreaves

A Super Food.

Advantages: Quick and Easy
Disadvantages: Some are nice others are bland.

...Batchelors Super Noodles The less you eat whilst working nights the better. So as a long time shift worker these are just perfect. Until a few weeks ago you could pick up 3 packets for a £1 at Tescos but now they have hiked up the price to 3 for £1.20. A 20% increase! They come in several flavours; Barbecue Beef (Very Tasty), Mild Curry (V.T), Chicken (V.T), Thai Curry (V.T), Spicy Salsa (V.T), Southern Fried Chicken (V.T). Bacon (V.T), Mushroom (Plain), Spaghetti Bolognese (Plain) Chow Mien (Plain), Sweet and Sour (Bland), Balti (Bland), Tex Mex (Bland), The taste varies and there are some that I found Very Tasty, Plain to quite Bland but in general most of the various flavours are very tasty. Cooking them could not be simpler, Just open the packet, pop it in a pan with a mug of water and cook until...

Maximus-Qualitus 11.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Batchelors Super Noodles

Super Galaxies of Fun

Advantages: Full of fun, especially for children
Disadvantages: Missing some traditional Mario cast-members

...Nintendo's flagship series makes its way to the Wii, with "Super Mario Galaxy". It's always a challenge to find a household that won't benefit from a Mario game, given their guaranteed appeal to children and kids-at-heart, and "Galaxy" makes that challenge harder with joyous gameplay that should also entice gamers looking for more mature video-game experiences. The Story The Mushroom Kingdom is in merry colours as it prepares for the Stardust Festival: A celebration coinciding with the mysterious comet that fills the skies every one hundred years, causing a star shower as impressive as it is peculiar. Princess Peach invites our hero Mario over and he predictably arrives just in time to see the Princess doing what she does best: get kidnapped. To be fair, there's not much you can do when the kidnapper uproots the whole...

Magrippinho 15.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Fairly Super Mario Homage

Advantages: A very different and playable Mario game, with nods to the classics
Disadvantages: Not entirely original, sometimes frustrating

...Welcome to my second Wii game review. Only a couple of weeks ago I purchased Super Mario Galaxy secondhand, very curious about what it was like to play (and what all the fuss was about). I had since found out that the game is being held up as "one of the greatest games ever made", with reviews giving it nearly unanimous perfect scores, and Nintendo fanboys and fangirls creaming their pants. So here is my take on Super Mario Galaxy. OVERVIEW The game takes place in a 3D universe, where Mario visits different "galaxies" to retrieve various stars. The game is divided into six rooms, with five "galaxies" in each room. Each galaxy comprises of five levels, with extra levels that act as side-quests. There are also "hidden" levels in other parts of the game, which are accessed by performing specific tasks. Collecting stars in...

Headdy 13.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Super Show!

Advantages: Teaches letter and word recognition, fun to watch, updates classic stories
Disadvantages: Annoying songs throughout!

...Since becoming a mum, I've become more familiar with children's television shows than I ever cared to be. I'm happy that Harry favours more of the traditional shows such as Fireman Sam, Postman Pat, Bob the Builder and Noddy, but occasionally he stumbles across a more modern show that he falls in love with. Sky television channel Nick Jnr airs an original American show called "Super Why" a few times a day, and its become a regular watch for us, and is often found on our Sky Plus recording list as well! Super Why is a show aimed at toddlers aged from around 3 years old, and encourages the learning of reading and recognising letters and words through interactive stories. It's an interesting concept, and one I've finally gotten my head around after quite a few watches. Although the show started in America, it's been dubbed for English...

mummy2harry 25.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Super Why

Trebor Extra Strong Gum - Peppermint

Advantages: Fresh, Minty, Cheap, 10 Pieces, Soft
Disadvantages: Doesnt Last Forever

...Trebor are known for their ever popular Extra Strong Mints, but they have recently converted their winning formula into a chewing gum with the same Extra Strong branding. I came across this brand of chewing gum in my local newsagents and immediately realised that it was a new product. Since buying the product I have seen this gum advertised on the television, something I don?t remember seeing with the Extra Strong Mint. Trebor Extra Strong peppermint gum comes in a package of approximately 2.5inches long by 1.5cm in width. The packet looks small in comparison to the other products in the shop by the chewing gum pellets look of average size. The packaging itself replicates that of the Extra Strong Mint, infact I think it?s almost identical. A green arrow goes from right to left across the packet and red 5 pointed star is placed in...

carysb 31.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Trebor Extra Strong Gum

Mr Strong and the Flood

Advantages: Fun story
Disadvantages: Small writing

...Mr Strong and the flood is a book in the new story library from the Mr Men collection. Mr Strong is a square shape with little arms and is red in colour and he wears a green bowler hat. THE STORY The beginning of the story tells us how strong Mr Strong is, he put his Wellingtons on and pulled so hard that he put his foot right through the bottom and he pushed his umbrella up so hard that it turned inside out! It also goes on to tell us what he does when he breaks his front door handle. We then go on to read how Mr Strong goes out for a walk in the rain and tells us that it has been raining for nearly a whole week. As Mr Strong is out on his walk he meets Farmer Field who is very worried as his sheep are all stuck out in the field which is surrounded by rain water. How will Mr Strong help Farmer Fields??? MY OPINION...

sewbizzie 14.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Mr Strong and the Flood - Roger Hargreaves