Do you miss the original “Mario” games that you used to play on the first Nintendo, but are bored of the simplistic actions that are used in the game? There is now a way to make Mario a little more entertaining for the kid inside us all. “Mari0,” spelled with a zero instead of the letter “o,” is an 8-bit creation that takes the original “Mario” and adds a few different features to the game to make it more fun for everyone.

This version of “Mario,” which combines elements from the game “Portal,” has a customization mode for your character. Changing things on your avatar is limited, but it helps to keep track of who your guy is while you play.

The game play is a bit complicated when you first start playing, but that is mainly because the game is on the computer and you have to play with the keyboard and mouse. In order to play this way, you have one hand on the keyboard to move, jump, interact, and more. Your other hand is on the mouse controlling the portal gun so you can shoot portals to help you navigate through the game.

I took a few minutes to get the basic idea of what you can do with the level editor. For this, the key word is basic. The level editor seems like it can be loads of fun for those that want to take the time to build a level, and depending on the complexity of the level will take more or less time to create. There are many tiles you can use to add objects to the level you are working on. Plus, there are four sub categories in the tiles. Also, there are “Super Mario Brothers” tiles that consist of blocks, scenery, decoration, and even a few odd objects like coins or clouds that you can walk on. There is a section of tiles that come from Portal and a section that consists of any custom items you can find or create. Lastly, there is a section that is for characters like Goomba and Koopa.

One last thing in the level editor that I think is worth mentioning is the category for all the maps on “Mario.” There are even portal maps that come with the game itself, adding more then just small aspects of the more modern day game of “Portal.”

I can go on more about this amazing game, but I don’t want to give away all the fun things there are to do in it.

Producer: stabyourself.net
Platform: 8-bit for PC/Mac