During the September anniversary of Nintendo's rotund red-clad mascot, two new Mario-starring DS games will hit the market. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is the first basketball game featuring Mario's extended family of characters, and was developed Square-Enix. Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis is the sequel to the GBA game, and remixes a lot of old-school Nintendo lore for a new adventure that rekindles the old rivalry between the plumber and the ape. Keep an eye out for these two--september is turning into a big month for Mario and the DS.
What birthday gift do you give the
video game icon who has everything? In September, Nintendo superstar
Mario(TM) celebrates his birthday; in his honor, Nintendo releases two new
Mario games for Nintendo DS(TM). Incidentally, Mario isn't revealing his
exact age, but let's just say he's been around the block -- and through the
pipe -- a few times.
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On Sept. 13, Mario(TM) Hoops 3-on-3 brings a fast-moving basketball game
to the Nintendo DS hand-held gaming system with all the crazy power-ups
players have come to expect from Mario sports games. Two weeks later, Mario's
longtime nemesis, Donkey Kong(R), causes trouble again in Mario vs. Donkey
Kong(TM) 2: March of the Minis, a game complete with a special appearance by
Mario's first love, Pauline.
"Like Mario himself, Nintendo DS keeps going strong," says George
Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and
corporate communications. "Our September releases kick off a flurry of great
DS games that continues through the holiday season. Happy birthday, boss."
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 puts the ball back in players' hands. Using the stylus
and touch screen of Nintendo DS, players can execute special passes and cool
dribbles as they play through tournaments to unlock new characters, courts and
features. It's regular three-on-three basketball, with the crazy Nintendo
twist of stars and shells that players can use against their opponents. Best
of all, each character has his or her own signature move that players execute
by tapping out a special symbol on the touch screen twice. Watch out for huge
dunks and alley-oops.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis brings Mario's original
nemesis back in contact with his first love. Pauline, the original heroine
from the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game, makes her triumphant return after
25 years in retirement. And just as before, Donkey Kong goes nuts and kidnaps
her. But this time, it's up to a legion of Mini Mario toys to save the day.
Players use the touch screen to guide the Mini Marios as they make their way
to the top of an amusement park to rescue Pauline. Players can design their
own level maps and share them with others via Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection,
Nintendo's wireless gaming service.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Rated E for Everyone, will be available at retail
Sept. 13. For more information about the game, visit www.mariohoops.com.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Rated E for Everyone, launches
Sept. 27. For more information about the game, visit www.mariovsdk.com.
The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment,
Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and
software for its Nintendo DS(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance and Nintendo
GameCube(TM) systems, and upcoming Wii(TM) console. Since 1983, Nintendo has
sold nearly 2.2 billion video games and more than 375 million hardware units
globally, and has created industry icons like Mario(TM), Donkey Kong(R),
Metroid(R), Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(R). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of
America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's
operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo,
visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com
