Positive Video Game Perspectives on the Rise

The Wall Street Journal recently ran another article (this time a published an opinion column) that criticizing those who are fueling the anti-video game sentiments. He bucks this trend and rides a different bandwagon: one that offers insight into the benefits of playing videogames, channeling energy, intelligence, and as a result, learning through the medium.

DS: New Super Mario Bros. Impressions

The gift my brother sent me via UPS arrived today, and to my surprise, I unwrapped New Super Mario Bros. for my DS! Now I could finally see what all the fuss was about.

Upon booting into the game, I was greeted with refined Nintendo-esque graphics, playful music, and a clean, intuitive menu. After you give “Mario Game” a click and pick a file, you are sent straight into the typical Mario plot (about a twenty second
skit) and onto the famous World Map, now in a startlingly fun and adventurous 3D layout with life and movement.

While I have only played the first few “boards” in World 1, I have to say, I am feeling the nostalgia of the Super Nintendo days, and surprisingly, Super Mario Bros. 3 for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. The ambience of the game is very reminiscent of the latter, and the hierarchy of castles is structured like Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo console.

The controls were rather surprising, however. Mario is controlled via the D-Pad and Y & B buttons (default), but his movement onscreen is much lighter than in previous installments, and his jump appears alarmingly high (though I suspect it is only due to the 3D engine and DS screen size). But make no mistake: sending this immortal plumber through board after board is an absolutely effortless and pleasing sensation — one Nintendo has been known to produce for years. I look forward to spending some nice, air-conditioned time with this sucker throughout the next few weeks.