If there was a game that should have been a pack-in title instead of Mario’s Tennis, then Mario Clash is definitely the perfect title for the job. It shows off the Virtual Boy’s 3D really well (even starting with a lovely cutscene with many layers of clouds), is short and sweet and repayable. It would have been a far better first impression than Mario’s Tennis.

Mario Clash is a sequel to the original Mario Bros. arcade game, where you have to use koopa shells to eliminate all memories on each level. The levels are small boxes, so you can see everything happening at once, with two floors at the front and two at the back. The layout changes slightly for each level, with more enemies being introduced as the game goes on.

Some enemies need to be attacked from the side, but most can only be attacked from the opposing platform, aiming towards or away from the camera. The 3D works well to help you judge the timing of your throw, and it’s nice to come up with new tactics for each enemy. That said, the game starts adding loads of enemies and it’s very difficult, although you can start from any level you want to practice. It’s a really fun game.

Fun

This is really Miyamoto’s Mario Bros vs. game with Mario beset on all sides by zipping Koopas. Besides moving from platform to platform, you can step back into the screen to dodge flying shells and other turtle-derived schrapnel.

Super Play #33

Remake or remaster?

It’s surprising that a port or remake of this was never a minigame in a 3DS Mario game or released on the eShop. A WarioWare Microgame was based on it in the first WarioWare and WarioWare Gold.