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The addition of Mario's water cannon isn't just the gimmick that it first appears to be - as you hover over gaps, save yourself from ill-timed jumps, and hose down enemies while running in furious little circles, you'll soon start to wonder how Mario ever lived without it. The only big gaffe is the primitive and occasionally adversarial camera; it requires too much babysitting, and most of your deaths will be a direct result of its poor tracking.
The graphics are beautiful. Awesome water effects, mesmerizing mirrors and delightfully animated boss beasts abound, but textures don't look so hot when you're zoomed up close. The game's citrus-flavored island theme isn't as colorfully varied as a Mario world should be; the enemies aren't the same you're used to, and lots of levels end up looking like the same Corona commercial. We look forward to the day Mario returns to the Mushroom Kingdom.
