NAME: Super Mario All-Stars
SYSTEM: Super NES
MAKER: Nintendo
PRODUCER: Shigeru Miyamoto
GENRE: Compilation

GRAPHICS: 6. Better than the NES classics, still kind of dated
MUSIC: 9. The remixes sound a lot better
FUN: 7. The Lost Levels is really frusterating, but SMB3 is awesome
REPLAY: 9. Playing over and over is the only way to beat them all.
DIFFICULTY: 9. The first three games are hard and even maddening at times
ENDING: N/A. (Haven't seen them all yet)
STORYLINE: 3. Nothing new here...
MULTIPLAYER: 5. The normal turn-takers Mario games are known for, but SMB3's Battles are OK
ORIGINALITY: 1. It's a compilation, so who can complain...?
REALISM: 4. What did you expect?
CONTROL: 7. You'll either love it or you'll hate it
MATURITY: 6. Classics that jaded gamers appreciate

Hailed by EGM as the best game of all time, SMAS is a collection of some very deserving 
games. However, I don't fully agree. Yeah, they're good. Yeah, they're nostalgic. Yeah, 
they're outdated. I know some of you are going to kill me for this, but I'm starting to 
regret buying it. The only game I really think is outstanding is... well, let me take these 
on one at a time. SMB1: Although it's the grandaddy of all games, it's just that; old, and 
probably having congestive heart failure. It's a relic of the "good old days." SMB1-- The 
Lost Levels: Nothing more than SMB1 with a difficulty boost and the ability to play as 
Luigi. Completely worthless in my book. SMB2: It's a step up from SMB1, but it can get 
very, VERY difficult. Don't play before operating heavy machinery. SMB3: The leader of the 
pack. This game would almost be worth the cover price... if it wasn't double that of the 
NES version. Considering the nostalgia factor, I'd say this would be a good buy for anyone 
who's never played the NES games. Everyone else, beware.

OVERALL: ****** 60%

Reviewed on 11/19/1998