Dr. Mario Review

Use pills to eradicate the enemy!

06/08/2002

Background/Story
Something terrible has gone wrong in the laboratories of Dr. Mario; all of the viruses are spreading too quickly. Mario must use a newly developed vitamin to destroy the deadly viruses. Dr. Mario was developed and published by Nintendo and released in October 1990.

Game Statistics

  • 2 game modes.
  • 3 difficulty settings.
  • 1-megabit cartridge.
  • 1 or 2 player modes.

Game Design
Inspired by Tetris, Dr. Mario is an addictive puzzle game that will keep you hooked for a long time. In this game, viruses are scattered throughout each level. The goal, of course, is to eliminate them. Viruses can be destroyed with vitamins of identical colour. As virus pieces fall down they must be strategically placed. If four or more vitamins of identical colour are stacked in a vertical or horizontal row they will disappear. If a virus is caught in a row or column, it will disappear. Once all of the viruses are gone, the level has been completed. If your vitamin bottle fills up, your game is over. As you progress through the game, the speed of the pills increases as well as the number of viruses in the level. I 2-player mode in this game is quite entertaining as well. The goal is to eliminate all the viruses before your opponent does or to cause our opponent's vitamin bottle to fill up. In multiplayer mode, eliminating two or mode rows or columns at once will cause your opponent to receive junk blocks. Junk blocks are random vitamin pieces the will land in random places. They will cause havoc to your opponents. Dr. Mario is a very addictive game; every fan of puzzle games should try this game out.

Graphics
This game's visuals are very good for what they are. The large Dr. Mario and virus sprites are look great. All of the game pieces are easy to distinguish and never hinder game play. Backgrounds are a simple checkerboard patterns. Dr. Mario's graphics are simple and effective. What more should you expect from a puzzle game.

Sound
This game has some nice tunes. Each of the three game play songs have some excellent toe-tapping beats. However, three game play songs just don't cut it. Sound effects in this game are respectable sounds can be heard for almost every event and action in the game. The audio doesn't overly impress, but it does get the job done.

Control
Puzzle games must have excellent control. This game is no exception. The A button and B buttons rotate the vitamins clockwise and counterclockwise respectively. The control pad is used to move vitamins around. As the game speed increases, the vitamins must be moved and flipped very quickly. This game's controls are very responsive. The only thing that will prevent the gamer from placing a vitamin in a specific location is his/her own ability to react to the game speed.

Satisfaction
This is a very fun game, especially for puzzle fans. Tetris fans will love the game speed and action. For those gamers who hate puzzle games without question, nothing will change; you will not like this game. It's a shame.

Replay Value/Game Length
This game does not contain any real goals or quests to complete. It is a simple addictive puzzle game. If you like this game you will be playing it for many hours. The multiplayer mode adds to the replay value.

Overall
Dr. Mario is one of those great puzzle games from the past that everyone should have the privilege of playing at least once.

Game Design 8.4
 Mechanics 9.0
 Innovation 9.0
 Originality 9.0
 Extras 5.0
 Depth 10
Graphics 8.0
 Character/Animation 8.0
 Environment 8.0
 Framerate 8.0
Sound 7.0
 Music 6.0
 Sound FX/Voice 8.0
Control 9.3
 During Play 9.5
 Menus 9.0
 Functionality 9.5
Satisfaction 9.0
 Challenge 9.0
 Fun-Factor 9.0
Replay Value/Game Length 9.0
Multiplayer 8.0
FINAL SCORE 8.4

Review by Player Guy Forever

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