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Dr. Mario Express Review


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On 01/09/2010 at 11:39 AM by Lukasz Balicki

A bite-sized Dr. Mario for your DSi is what the doctor ordered.
RECOMMENDATION:

If you want a cheap Dr. Mario experience that will always be on your DSi for a short session then this is recommended.

Dr. Mario is one of the most classic puzzle titles ever released. Originally debuting on the NES, Dr. Mario was one of the titles that pioneered the match the same color style of gameplay that is prevalent in puzzle games today. The DSiWare release of Dr. Mario is actually a bite-sized version of Dr. Mario Online Rx, which was released on WiiWare in 2008.

Dr. Mario Express retains the same classic gameplay formula introduced many years ago. In the game you have to eliminate all the different colored viruses in the field that looks like a medicine bottle. To eliminate them, pills drop down and you simply have to match four of the same color touching the virus. Just like most other puzzle games, you lose if your field becomes filled and another pill can't be dropped into the field.

Since, this is a game in the "express" series, the game is intended for a quick fix and unfortunately there is a lack of gameplay modes, which was personally disappointing. In the game you can only play the single player mode and a vs. CPU mode. Without a multiplayer mode, the game felt a little too thin. I also think that this does affect the total longevity of the game, however being Dr. Mario, there is undoubted replay value thanks to its simple puzzle game formula.

Being that the game is based on Dr. Mario Online Rx, the presentation found in Dr. Mario Express is very similar. The two songs in the game, "Fever" and "Chill" are exactly the same as the versions found in Dr. Mario Online Rx. The graphics are slightly scaled down but are in the same style.

Ultimately, Dr. Mario Express is a good game. It retains the classic gameplay and it's a great short-term pickup-and-play title. The two main issues are the lack of modes and lack of multiplayer. If you own a DSi and love Dr. Mario, this game provides a nice quick fix on the go.

Review Policy

In our reviews, we'll try not to bore you with minutiae of a game. Instead, we'll outline what makes the game good or bad, and focus on telling you whether or not it is worth your time as opposed to what button makes you jump.

We use a five-star rating system with intervals of .5. Below is an outline of what each score generally means:


All games that receive this score are standout games in their genre. All players should seek a way to play this game. While the score doesn't equate to perfection, it's the best any game could conceivably do.


These are above-average games that most players should consider purchasing. Nearly everyone will enjoy the game and given the proper audience, some may even love these games.


This is our middle-of-the-road ranking. Titles that receive three stars may not make a strong impression on the reviewer in either direction. These games may have some faults and some strong points but they average out to be a modest title that is at least worthy of rental for most.


Games that are awarded two stars are below average titles. Good ideas may be present, but execution is poor and many issues hinder the experience.


Though functional, a game that receives this score has major issues. There are little to no redeeming qualities and should be avoided by nearly all players.


A game that gets this score is fundamentally broken and should be avoided by everyone.


 

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