Matt Slagle (AP)

Nintendo has reunited its video game superstars with ``Mario vs. Donkey Kong.''

This new Game Boy Advance exclusive harkens back to the simpler days of gaming _ but simple doesn't mean easy.

You might think this is an action game, and it certainly has lots of finger flexing battles between two of the biggest game characters from the 1980s. But don't be fooled: Behind this action facade lurks a challenging puzzle game.

You play as pudgy Italian plumber Mario in a quest to retrieve miniature Mario toys from the greedy clutches of chest-thumping Donkey Kong.

While watching television one night, the overzealous ape spies a commercial for ``Mini-Mario'' dolls. Due to popular demand, stores are all sold out.

What's a primate to do? If you're Donkey Kong, you pillage the doll-making facility and run off with a sack of factory fresh Mini-Marios.

As Mario, you'll traverse dozens of zany levels to retrieve the dolls, one by one.

The game eases you in with levels that sport short jumps, casual rope climbs and straightforward monster tossing.

The game's true puzzle-solving nature soon becomes evident.

Sometimes, you'll have to figure out how to get from one area to another by stomping on a series of colored bumpers.

It's trickier than it sounds. Jumping on a yellow bumper causes red floors to vanish, while landing on a red bumper has the reverse effect. Hitting the right bumpers in the right order isn't easy, especially considering you're up against a timer.

The graphics were colorful and crisp on my backlit Game Boy Advance SP, and Mario has a detailed appearance to show off some fancy new moves.

One of my favorites? Doing a handstand to block falling objects. And that's not all: A few extra taps of the controller sends Mario from handstand into a high-flying, twirling leap.

After you beat Donkey Kong and rescue the Mini-Marios, there are bonus, unlockable levels which make this game considerable longer than expected.

Each of the six worlds is split into six levels, and each level has two sections, ending with a showdown with the big, angry ape.

Finishing the regular game unlocks six bonus worlds, each with six levels. On top of that, there are even expert levels, but you'll have to collect the three gift-wrapped presents found in each level to play them.

Suffice it to say, there's an awful lot of doll collecting to be done, making this $35, E-rated game a good value.

The central joy of the Game Boy Advance is its portability. If you're like me, though, be mindful when playing this one in public. It had me shouting in victory and defeat.

Often, I couldn't help myself from screaming after falling into the same pit of spikes for the umpteenth time or after having barely defeated Donkey Kong with only a few shreds of life left.

There's no fancy three-dimensional graphics or cinematic touches found in many new games. With its fine test of brain and brawn, ``Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' does just fine without them.

4 stars out of 5.

___

On the Net:

Nintendo