Mario's Time Machine

"This game is terribly underrated."

I've seen plenty of reviews outside and inside of GameFAQs that trash this game for no reason other than that it's a deviance from the other Mario games; obviously these people A) were not around when the game came out, B) have no thirst for knowledge at all, or C) were never young and eager in the first place.

Storyline: 10/10

Bowser steals several items of historical significance, and it is up to Mario to return them to their rightful places. Really, how is this much different from the other Mario games? The princess is captured and it's up to Mario to save her. Except in this game, Mario has to return more than one item that have much more place in history than a princess of a nonexistent kingdom, plus he has a time machine to work with! This game kept me busy for hours upon hours, sitting up late at night and trying to soak up all the information in this masterpiece. Knowledge was being thrust into my brain like a firehose aimed at a teacup.

Gameplay: 8/10

Nothing particularly special here, but the play control isn't horrible as in some games that I've played. Believe me, this is no kiddy game here. You have a limited amount of information to work with to get those crucial years and launch back in the time machine; once you arrive in the time period, you must deduce exactly where you are and where you should return this precious artifact to. Believe me, the satisfaction of completing an objective parallels no other event in any other game.

Graphics: 8/10

The same rustic graphics as in any other SNES Mario game; beautiful and nostalgic at the same time.

Replay Value: 7/10

Some people play this game once and remember all of their history lesson, but others keep coming back for more and more knowledge. Really, I know several people who cheated on the AP World History exam using this game and gotten fours and fives! OK, not really, but I'm sure it's possible if you could sneak a Super Nintendo into the examination hall.

Soundtrack: 9/10

It almost seems that this game pulls off the classic Mario soundtrack with even more gusto and nostalgia than the others ones. Beautiful, fitting, and all-around a great listen.

Overall: 8/10

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I suggest you go to your local classic video gaming store (or eBay) and pick this game up for yourself. This game gets the Twisted Stamp of Approval, 100%.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/09/02, Updated 03/09/02