When it comes down to it, Nintendo's Mario is a lot like Disney's Mickey Mouse. Much more than a videogame character, the ubiquitous plumber is a symbol that is recognized around the world, from dive bars to the sometimes hallowed halls of government. Like Mickey, he's cute, beloved and heroic, and most of all, he's an energetic character full of alacrity. Just when you think he's down and defeated -- boom, deus ex machina -- he's got another gear, courtesy of you, the unflagging gamer.

Since there's no Nintendo equivalent of Disney World -- yet -- Mario videogames will have to suffice. While Super Mario Galaxy is the unparalleled space ride of the year, it's the Mario Party series of games that feels like a breathless day at a wondrous amusement park. There's so much to do, so much to see together with others, I feel like I've had a full day's outing with pals after playing for just an hour or two. But can Mario Party, often so full of virtual vigor on the TV screen, survive shrinking down to the Nintendo DS Lite? Can the two backlit, 3-inch screens open up a new world that feels large, immersive and real? And, can the small-screened sensation breathe life back into a series that has had at least 10 iterations over the years, some of which were pretty crappy (why, oh, why did Mario Party Advance for the GameBoy Advance ever see the light of day?).

The answer, generally, is: Hell, yes. The game begins with a crowd loudly and proudly shouting 'Mario Party!' After some cheesy game show theme music that Drew Carey from 'The Price Is Right' would love, you're invited to play one of five modes: Story, Party, Mini-game, Puzzle or Multiplayer. You're also asked to test the microphone, which in my case meant raising my voice about three inches away from the DS to get it to register (that mic was never the hottest thing about the system).

In Story mode, here's the plot: A sparkly crystal falls magically from the sky. Coincidentally, you're lured to Bowser's Castle with promises of a mea culpa for past sins and free eats -- what looks like a feast worthy of the Satyricon. But the dastardly bastard traps you and your friends in a cage, using a sky crystal to shrink you down to miniscule size and then throw you to a far-off land. And it's not a peaceful place, either. You have to stop a toothy, violent piranha plant that wants to eat you whole in the cheerful, hippie-ish caterpillar Wiggler's garden. If you capture the most stars in the garden, you'll take on that brutal, fanged vegetation, which looks like it's straight out of Roger Corman's 'Little Shop of Horrors.'

Amid some seemingly placid flora, you'll play as Yoshi versus Mario and his friends on a colorful game board. Rolling virtual dice to move ahead, you'll be diverted to play any of a mammoth 70+ mini-games -- either one-on-one, one-versus-three, or two-versus-two -- in which the DS pairs you up with one of the characters against whom you're playing on the big board. One specious challenge includes a mini-game in which you have to blow out candles using the microphone. I blew so hard, my eardrum rang triumphantly and ached for some time after (no, I don't smoke cigarettes). But I gotta win, right? So I gotta blow. (It is possible to shut off the games that require blowing into the microphone. But I wanted to say I played and won honestly -- so, I blew and blew.) The one problematic mini-game I found on the boards involved throwing a cherry farther than my competitors. You're supposed to wind up by drawing a circle on the touch-screen as quickly as Sonic in a rush. I found that moving the stylus back and forth worked just as well. But sometimes, the cherry wouldn't be thrown at all: a little rain on my party.

In single-player mode against the cartridge's artificial intelligence, I felt the game was too forgiving. I started out last and ended up in second place because Mario stole stars from Wario, knocking him into last place. Also, before each mini-game, there's a practice mode for to perfect your craft, whether it's climbing up a pipe, breaking through ice and hitting a button repeatedly to open a door, winning a boat race, or blowing out the aforementioned candles. If I hadn't practiced, I surely would have placed last in most of the mini-games.

I was disappointed to find there is no Wi-Fi online play in Mario Party DS. This was originally touted to be a part of the game, and I looked forward to playing with friends or strangers far and wide. Not having that functionality certainly makes the game less worthy and less essential than it could have been. Still, the online multiplayer is a frantic hoot, a m&eacure;lange of muttering, ball-busting, bitching and occasional screaming for up to four players on one DS card.

Despite the lack of Wi-Fi online play, the game somewhat makes up for things with a nice nod to old-school gamers in the single-player Puzzle mode. Here, you can play Mario-themed versions of Tetris, Columns and Puyo-Puyo. These are quick, casual and worthy additions to a game already packed with features. And they boast some additions to make you feel as though you're still in Marioland. For instance, in the Tetris-like Mario's Puzzle Party, the menacingly wry blockhead Thwomp will on occasion help you smash down blocks until they're wafer-thin so you can score more points.

After playing Mario Party DS on the small screen, I actually feel it's a game best suited for that medium. If the next version has Wi-Fi online play, I don't think I'll go back to playing Mario Party on the Wii. There's something comforting about having the Nintendo gang at the ready in my backpack or pocket. For a guy who had no brothers and sisters growing up, whose relatives were too busy trying to make ends meet to play games, having animated friends nearby is a vital boon. I imagine they're in there biding time, at the ready even when they're not switched on -- tiny, animated jumping beans just itching to compete.

This review was based on a retail copy provided by the publisher.