Mario never gets old.
I have searched all of the titles on DSiware currently, and until they come out with a proper platforming game or an RPG style, this will continue to be my favorite game on this particular platform.
This game is a puzzle game where you control small robots called Mini-Marios on their adventure to save Pauline, the original damsel in distress from the game Donkey Kong, from Donkey Kong, the original antagonist from said game.
You control the minis (You start with Mario and can unlock more by beating levels from the first secret world) by arranging various items on the touch screen with your stylus, so they can reach the goal. Items include arrangeable blocks, ledges to raise and lower, doors to open and shut, keys to unlock the goal in certain levels, hammers to smash enemies, blocks to make appear and vanish, springboards to bounce on, ladders to climb, and coins to collect, while avoiding enemies such as Shy Guy, Pirhana Plant, Snifit, DK Robots, and Flaming Guys, plus the ever present spikes.
The advantages are, 92 normal levels (Four normal worlds, four harder plus worlds, and the two secret worlds), and 8 boss levels, for a total of one hundred levels. You can also make your own levels to send to friends or out on the Nintendo Wi-Fi (DS Internet). The levels on Wi-Fi are currently in the thousands, so you have a virtually endless supply.
Disadvantages are the lack of playable Luigi, no scary custom level themes such as basement or castle, and the lack of any reward for beating the final level in secret world 2, all of which are minor and easily overlooked. The biggest complaint about the game is the inability to control the minis by stopping them or turning them around, but that just makes the game a better challenge. I do wish they could have found a way to bring back the classic Donkey Kong game style levels, but many have been released that are just as good on Wi-Fi.
My overall estimate is that this is a fun game with a long story, medium to hard challenge, and nearly unlimited replayability if you have continued access to Wi-Fi. If they had a few more templates or a purpose for the hard levels besides just playing them the game could be better, but as it is this is the current best DSi game. Totally worth 800 DSi points ($8).
9.5/10