Lego's new Super Mario series changes the way you play with Lego

The toy company has partnered with Nintendo to come up with a range of Lego playsets that replicate the platform game style of Super Mario. Photos: Lego

“It’s Lego Mario time!”, my Lego Mario figure tells me as I press the 'on' button at the back of it.

Wait, Lego Mario talks? Well, yes. You see, Lego Mario isn’t a conventional Lego mini-figure. I’d hesitate to call it ‘mini’, in fact, as it is at least four times the size of a conventional Lego mini-figure. There are little mini-LCD screens for his eyes and mouth, and a little screen on his belly that shows your scores and Mario’s reaction to various movements, colours and little barcodes called ‘action tags’ in the game.