If you grew up in the awesome 90s, these names will probably be very familiar to you: Mario, Luigi, Bowser and Princess Peach.

That's right; we're talking about the characters from everybody's favourite video game series 'Super Mario'.

And if you're a die-hard fan of the Italian brothers, we have some extremely good news for you!

A dream come true for Mario fans

Earlier this year, LEGO announced that they will be working together with Nintendo to launch several interactive 'Super Mario' playsets.

And the good news is, it's coming to tear your bank account a new one Malaysia very soon!

The are 16 playsets in total, and once you collect them all, you would be able to build an entire 'Super Mario' level in real life; from Mario's house to Bowser's infamous castle.

The highlight of them all is none other than the Super Mario Starter Course, which is the main component of the series.

The starter course, which retails for RM259.90, features an interactive Mario figure that collects coins in real-life game levels you create with the LEGO components.

And just like the video game, the goal is simple: you move the interactive Mario the Start Pipe to the Goal Pole.

How difficult the level is going to be is entirely up to you, as the difficulty increases when you add more bricks and expansion sets.

The AAA battery-powered Mario interactive figure features LCD screens in his eyes, mouth and belly to display a wide variety of instant reactions to movement, as it is equipped with an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

And yes, it also comes with a built-in speaker to play the sounds we're all too familiar with.

We feel the Mario figure is worth all the money already.

Build your own adventures

Once you're done going through the starter course, this is when the expansion kits come into play (and when your bank account yells "Yamete!!").

Together with Super Mario Starter Course, LEGO will also be releasing other expansion packs so that you can expand your 'Super Mario' playground.

All sets come with their own series of unique challenges and characters for fans to play with, or to play against friends.

In addition to the Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set (RM149.90) and Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set (RM479.90) announced in April, the Expansion Set line-up includes:

• Guarded Fortress Expansion Set (RM239.90)
• Mario’s House & Yoshi Expansion Set (RM149.90)
• Toad’s Treasure Hunt Expansion Set (RM329.90)
• Desert Pokey Expansion Set (RM99.90)
• Whomp’s Lava Trouble Expansion Set (RM94.90)
• Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set (RM149.90)
• Thwomp Drop Expansion Set (RM199.90)
• King Boo and the Haunted Yard Expansion Set (RM269.90)

Not only that, just like the video games, you can power up your Mario with a series of Power-Up Packs that each reveal new features and powers to help boost gameplay: like the Fire Mario we all love, the Cat Mario and Builder Mario, to name a few.

If you feel like you still have some extra money left in the bank to spend, you can also purchase the blind bag Character Packs.

Each pack will contain a buildable character and action tag to play with – it could be a Paragoomba, Fuzzy, Spiny, Buzzy Beetle, Bullet Bill, Bob-omb, Eep Cheep, Blooper, Urchin or Peepa!

Like most things these days, all the LEGO Super Mario playsets are controlled by a new app that lets you keep track of scores to encourage rebuilding, display building instructions with suggested ways to build and play and a digital reminder that yes, you've just spent your entire retirement fund on all these sets.

So, if your bank account is ready, the LEGO Super Mario playsets will be available in Malaysia on 1 August 2020, which gives you ample time to get permission from your S/O to buy the sets.

You can also pre-order the Super Mario Starter Course by clicking here.