Hotel Mario (CD-i, 1994)

"Hotel Mario"
CONSOLE: Philips CD-i
RELEASE DATE: 1994

"Hotel Mario" is yet another game that was officially licensed by Nintendo to Philips due to Nintendo's desire to have a CD-ROM console to match the Sega-CD and knock Sega out of the Japanese, European, and North American markets. This deal started in 1993 but essentially "fell through," so Nintendo did not get their own CD-ROM add-on for the SNES, but instead Philips got to keep the license to make Nintendo games on their CD-i home entertainment systems (such as 1993's "Link: The Faces of Evil," "Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon," and "Zelda's Adventure").

While Nintendo fans have given these games mixed reviews, "Hotel Mario" is actually a decent game. The game is similar to 1983's "Mario Bros." (released for the Arcade and for the Atari, then later for the Famicom/NES) whereby Mario and Luigi must clear out enemies from stages by jumping on their heads and a single hit to Mario or Luigi kills them (unless, in the case of this game, they have a Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, or Star).

The game's story is told through animated sequences (cartoons) which are reminiscent of DIC's "Super Mario Bros. Super Show" (which started back in 1989). The story involves Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach once again, but this time he uses his Koopa Kids (from "Super Mario World" in 1990-91) to build 7 "Hotels" and turn the Mushroom Kingdom into "Klub Koopa Resort." Mario and Luigi must visit all of the "Resort Hotels" and put them out of business. Each hotel consists of 10 floors (stages), the 10th one being a boss fight against one of the Koopa Kids, and the 7th Hotel has 15 Floors and a fight with Bowser on stage 15.

The gameplay, as stated earlier, is similar to "Mario Bros.," except that Mario and Luigi must go around and shut all the doors in each stage. Why? Because all the enemies in the stages are coming out of the doors! The stage is completed when all of the doors in the stage are closed. However, coins and power-ups, such as Super Mushrooms and Fire Flowers come out of the doors. Yet, Super Mushrooms are different than they are in other games- when Mario or Luigi gets one they can take an additional hit and "flash" different colors.

In the end, "Hotel Mario" is a fun game for the CD-i and makes for an interesting collector's piece for any Nintendo fan.

It is slightly difficult to play with a remote, but all things aside, I give it a solid 4/5.

Don't get me wrong this IS a good game. I like this game because it is one of the only good games AT ALL for the cd-i. Only problem is is really really stupid, especcially in the cut scenes. nuff' said.