Mean Machines 13

Cite as: Mean Machines 13
Original: https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-13
sha256: 40e0667dd28661bd43875e36b5035f40817290749ff06517c9afa425bb570009
Archived: https://archive.org/download/mean-machines-13/Mean%20Machines%20%2313_text.pdf
Accessed: 2026-10-26
Licence: © EMAP; scan hosted by the Internet Archive
Credit: Four-page Nintendo review, with the comment signed "JULIAN" (Julian Rignall); the issue's contents credits the four-page "Mario History" to him. Scan in the Internet Archive item "mean-machines-13".
Notes: UK review, printed pp. 56-59 (PDF pp. 56-59 of the searchable text PDF). The review box on p. 59 gives "PRICE: £39.99", "RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER", and marks the game "MEGA GAME"; the ratings are Presentation 92%, Graphics 95%, Sound 95%, Playability 98%, Lastability 96%, Overall 98%. The issue is cover-dated October 1991, so the printed "November" is the coming UK release. The July 1991 issue (mean-machines-magazine-10) says the same: it will be "released over here in early November".

Cited on

Mean Machines, a British magazine, wrote in July 1991 that the game would come out in Britain in early November, and its review in the October 1991 issue gives the release as November.	`p. 59, review box`	Magazine
The game has eight worlds, which the North American manual calls the eight kingdoms of the Mushroom World. A Koopa Kid guards each world, and Bowser waits at the end of World 8.	`p. 56p. 56`	Manual
On the map screen the player picks the next level by walking to its panel and pressing A. Some paths are blocked until an item clears them, such as a hammer for a pile of rocks, and items Mario has collected can be used there before a level. Enemies roam the map, and meeting one starts a fight that wins another item. A mini-fortress stands partway through each world.	`p. 58p. 58p. 58`	Magazine
Mean Machines scored it 98% overall; its reviewer Julian called it the finest video game he had played.	`p. 59, scoresp. 57`	Magazine