The watery world of Nebulus is in trouble: a collection of towers have appeared, and they must be toppled. This can be accomplished by guiding your frog/cabbage/pea character to the top of each one in turn. The twist is that the towers are scaled on the outside, meaning the levels wind around to the top. Lifts and staircases help your ascension, as do pathways that lead straight through to the other side of the tower. These can also be used to escape from the nasties, in case your fireballs aren't enough to see them off. Taking a hit or missing your step will see you falling to a lower level, but you have to be careful not to fall into the sea.

The princess has-- oh, you guessed. Well, what is new is the adventure. Eight worlds of eight new 2D platform-leaping, koopa-stomping action featuring Mario and his seemingly endless quest to rescue Peach. Seriously, get a clamp or something. Gamewise the levels are similar to the original SMB, with emphasis on walking right and little to do with vertical motion. However, in Yoshi's Island style, each level has its own special gimmicks with moving scenery and unique enemies. Stylistically, it is unusual with 3D "sprites" that dance to the background music and the occasional camera effect. Its major unique Mario point is the Mega Mushroom, turning the plumber into a screen-sized bringer of stompy justice able to smash through pipes.

In ancient Japan, the demon warlord Kigai has kidnapped the princess Koto for use in a ceremony to revive his power and allow himself and his army to take over the world. Up to two simultaneous players can take on the roles of handgun-toting ninja, advancing through the castles and caverns in a linear fashion. Progress will be impeded by legions of samurai, archers, mechanical monsters and other such cannon fodder, as well as the occasional giant warrior or fire-breathing dragon boss.