Remember Super Mario Bros. on the original NES - Nintendo Entertainment System? The one with the games that looked like 8-track tapes that you had to blow air into to get the dust out when it wouldn't work? Ah those were the days, when all you had to do was pass 10 or so levels to rescue the princess and life seemed so much simpler. Just hearing that original Mario tune gives my generation a happy little chill up our spine. It's a classic, and one that is constantly being revived.

Fast-forward fifteen years. It's 8:47 am, and I'm stuck in a room full of strangers (not the most attractive or fashionable bunch might I add), and it's promising to be a very long day. I sit impatiently amid the whispers and shuffling of newspaper and magazine pages. A voice on the intercom incorrectly pronounces a list of ethnic names as each yells "Here." If you haven't guessed it by now, I've been summoned to jury duty.

Here I am, held hostage in a stuffy room full of people with poor cell phone etiquette. I try to read my book, but with all the conversations around me it's impossible to concentrate. I peek into my bag to see what else might entertain me, and there, nearly forgotten in a side pocket, is my very handy, very dandy and very pink Nintendo DS.

My very own compact world of adventure and entertainment. It's lightweight, stylish and hours of fun. The DS isn't just any hand-held game console; it's the past brought to the present. Anyone who appreciates the classics will love the DS. And the best part is that virtually any game is DS compatible, from old to new to unconventional, to educational, basic and timeless even old Sega games.

Nintendo caters to the fashion conscious gamer offering a wide array of cool and trendy colors and designs to choose from as well as matching carrying cases making it easy to find one that's fits your style. Not only does this tiny piece of graphically superior entertainment offer a plethora of new and fun games to choose from, it also offers those original games you grew up loving-this time around with even better visuals. There is even an outlet for your headphones for minimal disturbance if you find yourself in a room with many strangers and no buffer zone; jury duty being one.

And if that isn't enough, the DS lets you play any Gameboy-compatible game. And there are plenty to choose from, many being original games reformatted for the DS. There are countless games available for the Nintendo DS, for a complete list you can visit http://www.nintendo.com/games/guide.

The point is that the DS is ideal for all ages with games for all tastes. I do however recommend the one game that has the perfect mixture of past and present to tantalize all of the senses. The New Super Mario Bros. has all the familiar aspects you remember with some exciting new twists.

It's that same old 2D side-scroller we all know and love, with 8 amusing, colorful and fun worlds that are really challenging and full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. This time around Mario can shrink into a tiny little dot and jump really high, grow into a giant and stomp over everything and still have time to save the princess. With a world full of snow and ice, a world full of bats and vultures, giant caterpillars and gyrating mushrooms Mario takes you on a magical adventure to the original soundtrack revived and refurbished. And although you might think that since you are playing on a small hand-held console the tiny screen might not be satisfying or somehow unsatisfactory you will be pleasantly surprised. I assure you, you will never feel like you are being shortchanged.

And so as I wile away the hours, hoping to be dismissed from jury duty, I spend my afternoon with Mario as he guides me through a world of extraordinary adventure.

"It's-a so nice!" - Mario

By: Lucky Clover