I stand in line at the game store with my friends. Everyone has been talking about this new game all week. They say it’s got these cool new levels and a multiplayer mode that lets four players play together on one screen! Finally, we get to the front. The store clerk scans our cards and hands us our shiny new cartridges. I can’t wait to get home and see how much better this one is than the old ones.

I rush through the door to my living room, setting down the game case next to the TV. My fingers fly over the buttons as I choose the U mode. Four screens pop up, each with a different character. Luigi, Mario, Yoshi, and Waluigi are all here! I pick Mario because he’s always been my favorite.

I press Start and am immediately in the castle. The music starts playing—a mix of old favorites and new songs. As soon as the level ends, a portal appears before me. Inside is an ice world with snow-covered pipes and sliding slopes. I speed down them, collecting stars as fast as I can.

Next up is Bowser’s stage. He’s here to fight again, but now there are power-ups that change my abilities. A blue star makes me bigger, a yellow one slows time, and red ones give me a fire breath. I use all of these to blast past him, hitting the flagpole and winning.

The game is full of surprises—hidden areas, secret paths, and tricky bosses. It’s hours before I’m done playing. My fingers are tired from pressing so many buttons, but my mind is buzzing with excitement over what else this game might hold.