I grab the box from under my bed, dusting off the blue paper. It’s a new game for the GameCube—The New Super Mario Bros. The packaging is shiny and colorful, with Mario in his usual red overalls and green hat. I carefully peel back the tape, revealing the CD inside. The label says “New Super Mario Bros.” in big letters.

I place it on my bed and start unpacking. Inside the box are a couple of small posters for the game—Mario with his head slightly tilted to one side, looking like he just got done eating a mushroom. I lay them out flat next to the GameCube.

I notice some stickers too. They’re little stars in different colors. I pick up a blue star and stick it on my bedroom door. It’s sticky but not too much; just enough for now.

Next, there’s a manual. The cover shows Mario and Luigi riding a giant turtle shell. I flip through the pages—maps of all the levels, instructions on how to play, and tips for beating Bowser. Each page is printed with bright colors that make my eyes go wide. There are even some puzzles in the manual!

I set everything aside and look at the GameCube. It’s sitting there patiently, waiting to be hooked up. I plug it into the TV and turn on both systems. The screen fills with Mario’s iconic logo—red, white, and blue—and the sound of familiar music starts playing.

Now, all that’s left is to pop in the disc and start my adventure.