After a long wait Mario and Luigi are finally back and time hasn't changed a thing it seems...

Whether it's Captain Lou Albano "Doing the Mario" or Bob Hoskins taking the character to entirely new dimensions, poor old Mario Mario has had a lot to put up with throughout the years. Still, if the demand and performance of NEW Super Mario Bros is anything to go by in Japan and North America, it seems gamers still can't get enough of the pint-sized plumber.

The first Mario Bros title since Super Mario World debuted on the SNES back in 1991, NEW Super Mario Bros finds itself with a legion of fans expectations surrounding the game, anticipation that typically hypes the game out of all proportions and ultimately leaves nothing but disappointment. Coming from a series that has produced some of the finest gaming experiences in the history of videogames, can NEW Super Mario Bros re-establish Mario in a world full of Sam Fisher's, Master Chief's and Pikachu's?

In typical Mario tradition, NEW Super Mario Bros once again finds Bowser up to his usual tricks, kidnapping Princess Peach and well that's about it really. Of course along the way Bowser Jr pops up to thwart your progress, along with a cast of all-new boss characters (much to the dismay of those hoping for the Koopalings), but ultimately it's classic Mario material - a theme that runs throughout the entire game.

Takashi Tezuka has wisely decided against straying too far away from what fans expect from a Mario Bros game, amalgamating different aspects from across the series and introducing a handful of new ideas in the process. Ultimately it's a Mario game and one that largely fails to make use of the DS capabilities, which could be grounds for some disappointment, but for those crying out for the return of Mario Bros after a long time in the wilderness, then NEW Super Mario Bros gives you everything you could possibly wish for.

Staged over 80 different levels across eight worlds, NEW Super Mario Bros sees the return of the world map made popular by the likes of Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World. In true Mario tradition, branching paths and secret stages are littered throughout the game; however, strangely the game makes such paths much more defined then in previous titles, and as such there's less significance on the secrets that immortalised the likes of the Star Road or Magic Whistles.

Taking control of Mario for the very first time is a slightly daunting experience, simply because it's been so long. Initially you'll question whether things have changed, whether the level designs are up to scratch, whether Mario jumps slightly differently to before; but after a short few minutes it all comes flooding back to you, and before you know it you're hooked all over again - Mario is still as good as he was 15 years ago!

It's immediately evident that Tezuka-san has approached NEW Super Mario Bros with a great deal of respect towards the former games in the series, as such fans will instantly recognise the little nods, such as being able to jump above the screen on one of the game's early stages (although there's no hidden warp pipes this time around) or leaping onto the flagpole at the end of every stage (complete with fireworks). The return of the Hammer Bros will also keep the Mario fanatics happy, moving across the world board in a similar manner to Super Mario Bros 3, challenging the player to a bout whenever Mario and the Hammer Bros share the same spot.

More purposefully the team have also been able to unify the very different styles of pre-Mario 64 and post-Mario 64 titles into the same game; enemies such as the Skeeters and Moneybags join more established characters such as Goombas and Koopa Troopas, resulting in a sense of continuity largely abscent in the Mario timeline.

Obviously Tezuka-san and his team have had to incorporate a handful of new ideas and concepts; otherwise we'd all look a little hypocritical moaning about the state of innovation in games and then waxing lyrical about the return of Mario. To this extent NEW Super Mario Bros makes a welcome return to the assortment of Power-Ups that have defined the series, though maybe not quite up to the lofty standards set by the Tanooki Suit.

The wall jump from Mario 64 is perhaps the single best introduction to NEW Super Mario Bros, an essential skill to master, granting skilled players the last ditch ability to defy death when slipping down a hole or accessing secretive hidden areas. Also returning from Mario 64, and to a certain extent replacing the spin jump, is the ground pound; along with the satisfaction of flipping Mario in the hop, skip and flip triple jump - it's hard to explain, but it just feels so right.

Demonstrated as far back as 2004 and perhaps the Power-Up that defines NEW Super Mario Bros most easily is the size-growing properties of the MEGA Mushroom, although unfortunately its execution falls far short of what was originally promised and ultimately leaves it feeling cheaper then it could have been. Whereas earlier trailers hinted that both Mario and enemies alike could grow in size, bringing an interesting new dynamic to the action, the final implementation simply sees Mario grow in size and challenged to destroy as much as the environment as possible, which ultimately translates to bonus 1UP's after a set amount of time. Given the Power-Up's magnitude the initial impression is impressive; however, watching Mario run away from a Goomba who had inadvertently grabbed hold of a MEGA Mushroom was one of the defining aspects when we first saw the game in action, and to realise all of this has missed the final cut is a considerable disappointment.

Joining the MEGA Mushroom in Mario's new repertoire of tricks is the Blue Shell, turning the plumbing protagonist into the arch-enemy as he gains the tricks of a Koopa Troopa. By building up enough speed Mario will jump into the shell and whiz around the stage, destroying anything he comes into contact with, but at the risk of spinning completely out of control. Although it doesn't grab your attention as much as the MEGA Mushroom, the Blue Shell seems to serve more of a valid purpose within the overall game.

Perhaps as an alternative method to introduce the size-shifting dynamics hinted at in earlier demonstrations, NEW Super Mario Bros also features a Mini Mushroom, which yes you've guessed it shrinks Mario down to half-pint sized proportions. The effect isn't quite the same as seeing a Goomba fill up the screen, but fortunately it does grant Mario abilities that literally add a new dimension to the gameplay. Because of his miniature stature Mario skips along the water surface as though it was solid ground; whilst leaping high into the air, falling gently to the ground and also gaining access to secretive mini-pipes throughout the game.

The defining aspect of a platformer is its level design, and given Mario's heritage Tezuka-san and his team can be happy that NEW Super Mario Bros sits comfortably with such iconic contemporaries, bringing back the timeless Haunted House stages, Bowser Castles, scrolling stages, coins in difficult to reach places and desperate dashes. The skill of true dexterity and precision is one largely missing with the demise of the 2D platfomer; running through the level, triple bouncing and flipping along in the process, picking up a shell and launching it into a line of Goombas to get a 1UP is the videogame equivalent of nirvana - it's pure perfection.

Despite the lavish, yet justified, praise for largely sticking to the same old formula, we can't help but feel that NEW Super Mario Bros sticks a little too close to the rulebook in places, particularly when it comes to the game's visuals. Laying 3D characters atop traditional 2D backgrounds results in an accomplished style, but one that doesn't exactly look like 15 years in the making. Disappointingly the backdrops and the worlds in which the game is set just don't feel as timeless as previous games in the series. Despite the criticisms there are a handful of nice touches, particularly in terms of little details such as the sumptious animation on the Bros triple jump.

Arguably the biggest disappointment is the game's soundtrack, where Asuka Ota and Hajime Wakai (under the supervision of the legendary Koji Kondo) have largely decided to mess around with Kondo-san enduring score. Mario themes have rightfully filtered through into mainstream circles - you don't have to be a videogame nut to instantly recognise the Super Mario theme tune - so it comes as quite a shock to find the classic piece missing when you first start the game. Instead a new score fails to capture the same feelings that Kondo-san has invoked over the last 20 years. Admittedly there are new arrangements of some classic tracks, and certain stages such as those underground and Toad Houses mercifully have the appropriate tracks; however, ultimately you're left with a soundtrack that should have taken the same approach as the rest of the game.

Although a Mario Bros game by title, NEW Super Mario Bros isn't perhaps the return to Mario and Luigi action that some were hoping for. Instead of traditional co-op, multiplayer takes the form of five special stages that require players to lay claim to the most amount of Power Stars. It's a cross between the original Mario Bros and Super Mario Bros, as the twosome compete against each other, bouncing on each other's heads, desperately scrambling for as many coins as possible. In addition NEW Super Mario Bros also features a selection of mini-games that have largely been lifted from Super Mario 64 DS, almost as a cursory attempt to make some use of the stylus and touch screen.