So Mario is 25 years old and has never looked in finer health. While we mortals all lose our verve with age, ongoing video game characters are blessed with numerous refreshes, rehashes and all the latest mod-cons. While I’m feeling decidedly 8 bit these days, Mario has never looked better and is resplendent in 3D. For my money the Mario Galaxy games are the plumber’s greatest adventures yet, but what do I know, I never had an N64 or a Gamecube.

As Sonic the Hedgehog passes n-n-n-nineteen years of age and even Lara Croft has been with us for nearly 15 years, I’m starting to wonder if we should have more game characters that age along with us, the players? Ms Croft may only inhabit memory chips, but maybe she would need a spot of silicon to keep her fabulous figure after a decade or two of jumping around? Or maybe Sonic could slow down his manic pace and go for a blue rinse as he gets into his dotage while Mario’s belly could continue to grow as he ditches the Mediterranean diet and eats a few more pizzas (with extra mushrooms of course) than he should? After all, he deserves it.

After 50 years service we could give these characters a gold clock and they could go off to enjoy their retirement where there will be no more evil doctors, ghouls, ghosts or hideous fiery traps tormenting them. I can see it now – “Not-so-super Mario” will certainly make us feel a whole lot better about our creaking old bodies. James Bond or Sherlock Holmes have reversed the aging process on the silver screen, but it would make a pleasant change to see a protagonist in a video game get older, wiser and more wrinkled as time passes.

Perhaps there are some characters that have aged, either within one game or across multiple titles, but I struggle to think of them. Maybe you know better?

iBlast Moki (iPad) - For us it’s our first killer iPad app that we can’t put down. It’s responsible for about 80% of the finger prints on the new office iPad.

Toejam and Earl (Wii and Megadrive) - Was playing it on the Wii, but it’s time to brave the loft and go find the Megadrive itself and get properly stuck in.

Angry Birds (iPhone) - Just starting to kick the addiction. Still get the shakes if I don’t get my fix, but the stint in rehab helped. A little.

Modnation Racers (PS3) - Mario Kart watch out, Modnation Racers is just as fun but with astounding track and character edit options.

Need for Speed Shift (iPad) - The iPad pushed to the limit and we like what we see.