Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

For: Nintendo DS

From: Alphadream/Nintendo

Mario and Luigi's video game discography is legendarily long, but no game in the canon has ever done more for the Mushroom Kingdom mythos than the brilliantly funny and technically spectacular "Superstar Saga" did two years ago. "Partners in Time" is as direct a sequel as one could want, giving us more of everything that made the original special while leaving well enough alone whenever possible.

In "Time," aliens have invaded the kingdom, and due to events only the game itself can properly explain, Mario and Luigi must now cowboy up alongside younger versions of themselves to save the day. "Saga" required some fancy buttonwork in order to control two brothers at once, and the acrobatics only increase with a second set of brothers (and some new abilities) to harness.

Fortunately, Alphadream makes it easy. "Time" is a marvelously deep action RPG, combining first-rate turn-based battles with the kind of action expected from a "Mario" game, but it never once trades accessibility for depth or vice versa. The touch screen wisely takes a powder, but the second screen proves a valuable tool for viewing maps, managing inventory and being in two places at once when the brothers need to split.

The phenomenal gameplay is matched by a narrative that's funny, smart and engrossing. Mario's story-deficient action games could learn from "Time:" The Mushroom Kingdom has been steadily expanding for more than 20 years now, and it's about time Nintendo took full advantage of such a fantastically original universe.

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Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X

For: PSP

From: Capcom

Capcom has never been one to pass up a chance to repackage and rehash its library of hits, and nobody is subject to heavier rotation than Mega Man, who now has the distinct honor of being repackaged and rehashed at roughly the same time.

In the repackaging corner: "Mega Man X Collection," which compiles the original six "Mega Man X" games that first appeared on the Super Nintendo and PlayStation between 1993 and 2001. The "X" games follow the formula set forth by the first batch of "Mega Man" games - 2D sidescroller, eight or so bosses - and are responsible for, among other things, the introduction of melee combat and the presently popular Mega Man Zero character. The games' aren't as consistently inspired as the original series, but they're polished and reliably fun, and " Collection" does a stellar job of emulating all six games. Throw in a "MM"-themed kart racing game - never before released in the U.S. - and the $30 price tag becomes a bargain for fans of the series.

"Maverick Hunter X" isn't exactly a brand-new game, either - it's a remake of the original "MMX," blessed with an impressive visual makeover, some slight level modifications and voice acting that should be terrible but isn't. The game remains fundamentally unchanged after 13 years - hardly bad news, given its lasting popularity - and it's largely the same game you can own for less in "Collection." But beating "MHX" rewards you with both a 30-minute animated backstory and the chance to play as Mega Man's cult-favorite archrival, Vile. Those two exclusives alone are all this game needs to command an audience.

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(Billy O'Keefe writes video game and DVD reviews for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.)

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© 2006, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

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