mario.jpgJust when you thought the beloved plumber Mario might be nearing the twilight of his more-than quarter-century career, Nintendo comes out with a game for the Wii that pumps new life into two retro video game genres.

“Super Paper Mario” (Rated E, $49.99) combines the charm and action of an ’80s side-scroller with the depth and creativity of a solid role-playing game.

This hybrid of sorts of “Super Mario Bros.” and “Paper Mario” features an elaborate and well-written back story that’s explained in detail during a rather long opening sequence.

Here’s the quick version: The villainous Count Bleck captures Princess Peach and forces her to marry the spiked-shell turtle Bowser, which creates a rift of dark energy.

Mario and his friends must gather eight “pure hearts” to restore the universe to its normal state. continue reading…

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