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Controversial 8-bit Mario clone Giana Sisters bounces unexpectedly onto App Store

Sisters and brothers

Controversial 8-bit Mario clone Giana Sisters bounces unexpectedly onto App Store

Here's a bit of history, in case you're not quite as old as I am – or in the event that you are as old, but you didn't spend your youth sat in front of 8-bit home computers.

Back in the good old days, Nintendo wasn't keen on the idea of home computers, and never allowed its games to appear on the likes of the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga or Amstrad CPC. So owners of these awesome systems never got to take part in the Super Mario Bros phenomenon – at least, until Time Warp Productions released The Great Giana Sisters in 1987.

Essentially, this was a direct clone of Super Mario Bros, trading the plumber brothers for two punk sisters. But the bouncy platform game was much the same, until publisher Rainbow Arts was forced to withdraw the title from sale almost immediately after Nintendo's hungry lawyers descended on it.

Therefore, The Great Giana Sisters has become one of retro game collectors' most prized possessions, and now it's suddenly and unexpectedly appeared on iPhone. This latest adaptation (there have been several over the years, once Nintendo chilled out a bit) appears to be a licensed production from Bad Monkee, and adds in a whopping 80 new levels alongside the fully revamped graphics.

32 of the original retro levels are also included, along with Facebook Connect and two control methods (touch and classic).

Indeed, it seems Nintendo is much more relaxed about Giana Sisters games these days, but if you're a die-hard retro head you probably shouldn't waste too much time bouncing your way over to the App Store – just in case. Plant one on the App Store button below to get there quicker.

Spanner Spencer
Spanner Spencer
Yes. Spanner's his real name, and he's already heard that joke you just thought of. Although Spanner's not very good, he's quite fast, and that seems to be enough to keep him in a regular supply of free games and away from the depressing world of real work.