Find Your Escape in Nintendo's Super Mario World: Super Advance 2

Feb. 11, 2002--The Game Boy Advance portable game system and Super Mario Advance video game topped the sales charts in 2001, selling through nearly 5 million hardware units and more than 1.2 million software units respectively. Poised to carry this momentum through 2002, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 launches today with a suggested retail price of $29.95.

Built pixel-by-pixel to recreate all 96 levels from the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System mega-hit Super Mario World, the new Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 will ignite a gaming frenzy, as the 11-year old classic designed by Shigeru Miyamoto is reborn.

"The hand-held video game category is hotter than ever with software unit sales representing 23 percent of the market," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America Inc. "With the design updates in our new Super Mario World game, coupled with the lower price point of Game Boy Advance, fans won't be able to resist the fun and appeal of portable gaming."

Considered one of the most influential titles in video game history, 1991's Super Mario World offered everything a video game player could want from an action adventure game with 96 levels to explore across nine vast worlds. Mario befriends a new pal, Yoshi, who helps the grateful plumber navigate through each of the stages. Mario even learns to glide with a new cape. Yet something or someone was missing. Now with Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, Luigi joins his brother Mario to kick some Koopa shell and save Princess Peach from Bowser and his minions.

Players now have the choice to play as Luigi, offering a compelling variation on the original game, as different brothers have different strengths. Luigi can jump higher and glide farther, creating a unique approach to completing a level. Players must strategically decide which brother will be the best to complete different levels and defeat certain enemies.

Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 is also compatible with Super Mario Advance, allowing players with either cartridge to team up with three other friends and play the original Mario Bros. arcade game in multi-player, multi-pak action.

Launching simultaneously with the game, the official Super Mario World web site (www.gameboy.com/smw) offers a complete travel guide to Dinosaur Island, including secret game tips, movies and much more. Adventurous visitors can search the site for hidden Stars and enter the Dinosaur Island Sweepstakes.

For more information about Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 or other Nintendo products, visit the company's web site, www.nintendo.com, or www.gameboyadvance.com.

SOURCE Businesswire