Another Super Mario Bros. Crossover Character: Sophia the Third

Although Blaster Master is one of my retro gaming blind spots, I find it hard not to get excited for the next character in Super Mario Bros. Crossover. As the YouTube video above reveals, the game’s next update adds Sophia the Third, a hovering armored tank with a laser beam and missile launchers.

Super Mario Bros. Crossover is a free Flash game that debuted in April. It lets you play the original Super Mario Bros. with other classic gaming characters, such as Link from The Legend of Zelda and Samus from Metroid. Even though Jay Pavlina coded the game from scratch, it doesn’t feel any different from the original, except that you can stab Goombas with swords and fry Bowser with spread guns.

Sophia the Third is the first vehicle to become a playable character. Not only can it hover and shoot at enemies, it can also ride along walls and ceilings. According to the forums on Exploding Rabbit, Pavlina’s website, the new version will be released around November 29. In the meantime, enjoy the current roster, which in the last update added Ryu Hayabusa. [via The Kartel]