There's been a lot of hubbub about the "Demo Play" mode in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wii. This optional mode reportedly will allow the game to take over for the player, getting them through tough areas they'd been having trouble with. 

This is an interesting approach to games, especially for casual players looking for "fun" rather than "frustration." Playing through an early preview of Twisted Pixel's upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade game 'Splosion Man this week, we've seen another approach to getting players through those tough spots. One that ends in, of all things, a bit of humiliation. 

After I had been dying a lot, the game was called to action. 

"You've died a lot," it told me. "You can now choose 'Way of the Coward' from the pause menu to skip to the next level."

Slightly ashamed, but ready to move on, I did. The results were... unexpected. 

Upon firing up the next level, I noticed something... different about 'Splosion Man. Upon further inspection, I noticed what it was -- he was now wearing a pink tutu. Not only did I choose to swallow my pride and skip a level that I was having difficult with, but I now was being humuliated by being forced to wear... this:

I suppose that's what I get, and I'll take it like a man. But I'm probably going to think twice about choosing "Way of the Coward" the next time I'm sucking it up. I'm not quite sure 'Splosion Man's able to pull of that particular look. 

'Splosion Man is set to hit Xbox LIVE Arcade this summer; check back next week for our hands-on and game play details. Sans tutu, of course.