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Question: how do you follow up a game that's considered by many to be one of the all-time classic video games, and that has sold a record figure of over 15 million copies worldwide?

Answer: you just take the basic gameplay and improve it!

And this is what Nintendo has done with Super Mario Bros. 2. The end result is a game of classic proportions; a game that's so addictive, each copy should come with a government health warning!

Before you start thinking. "Oh God, Rignall's gone off his rocker," hear me out and I'll explain...

Super Mario Bros. 2 is a scrolling platform game that features seven worlds, each split into four long levels. The objective is simply to reah the end of the last world and destroy the creature that resides there. To do this, you need to run the gauntlet of a myriad of weird and wonderful creatures and destroy the little boss on every level.

Each world has its own theme, which include glassy landscapes, icy wastes and deserts and there is an immense variety of baddies and items to kill and use - far more than Super Mario Bros. 1.

At the start of a game you choose one of four characters: Mario, Luigi, Toad or Princess Mushroom. Each has his or her special abilities: Mario is a good all-rounder who is strong, jumps well and is a fast runner; Luigi is slower, has the same strength, but can leap tall buildings in a single bound (well nearly); Toad is slow and isn't a good jumper, but is very strong, and the Princess is slow and weak, but can float for a second and a half!

A new twist to Mario II is that the characters can pick up and carry objects. The landscapes are scattered with vegetation, and these can be pulled up, roots and all and bunged at a baddie. Characters can also leap onto the back of a marauding creature, pick it up and hurl it at his chums to kill them all!

Some flowers conceal items, like extra lives, clocks, bombs and rockets (which take you to other parts of the level). Magic potions are dropped to open secret rooms where power-up mushrooms and coins are found.

Naturally, there are more secret rooms, short cuts and warps than you can shake a mushroom at - but you have to find them first!

What makes Super Mario Bros. 2 so great is its playability. It packs in a multitude of surprises and unusual features, and combines it with challenging and unbelievably addictive gameplay. The difficulty level is set exactly right, allowing you to get just a little bit further every go, but with seven big and tough worlds to conquer, there's more than just a fortnight's play here - we're talking months to discover all the secrets of Super Mario Bros. 2.

The graphics and sound are also good, with humorous and nicely animated sprites (watch a character's expression as he or she pulls up a veg), jolly soundtracks and decent spot effects.

Super Mario Bros. 2 is simply brilliant - you'd be a twerp if you miss it.

A stunning sequel which oozes class and playability. The best Nintendo game yet released - miss it at your peril.