' is a video game produced by Nintendo in 1985. Universally considered a classic of the medium, was one of the first side-scrolling platform games of its kind, introducing players to huge, bright, expansive worlds that changed the way video games were created. It is sometimes referred to as when there is need to differentiate it from one of its sequels.
Game mechanics
The player takes the role of Mario, or in the case of a second player, Mario's brother Luigi. The ultimate object is to race through the Mushroom Kingdom, evade or eliminate King Bowser's forces, and save the Princess Peach.
Mario's primary attack is simply jumping on top of his enemies, which kills the mushroom traitors, Goombas, and sends the turtle soldiers known as Koopa Troopas into their shells. Mario can then kick these shells into other enemies, which conveniently dispatch them; but conversely, can also bounce back and hit him. Jumping on enough enemies in succession, or kicking a shell into enough enemies in succession (combos), double points earned with each enemy killed, eventually earning Mario a 1-up, an extra life and another chance to pass the level.
The Super Mushroom slides toward Mario. When it touches him, it disappears, causing him to earn 1000 points and double in size. Please note that these screenshots are from the Super Mario All-Stars version of the game.
Aiding him in his quest are several power-ups, including the Super Mushroom, which would turn Mario into Super Mario, doubling his size; the Fire Flower, which turns Super Mario into Fiery Mario, allowing him to throw fireballs; Starman, which gives him temporary invincibility; and the 1-up Mushroom.
Mario can be hurt if he touches an enemy. If he takes a hit from an enemy as Super Mario or Fiery Mario, he simply reverts back to regular Mario and the game continues. However, if he takes a hit as regular Mario, falls down a pit (regardless of status), or if the time clock runs out, he loses a life, and starts again. The point where Mario continues depends on how far he ran through the level before dying; either from the very beginning, or a set location approximately halfway through the level.
The game consists of eight worlds with four sub-worlds, or levels, in each. Though there are some differences as the game progresses, typically the first sub-world is a generic above-ground (overworld) level, the second takes place below ground (within a dungeon or underwater), the third is a sky level, and the fourth is a castle. At the end of each castle level, Mario fights "Bowser" (actually a lesser enemy disguised as Bowser until the final level) across a bridge over a pool of lava. Bowser may be defeated in one of two ways; either by touching the axe at the edge of the bridge (thereby dropping Bowser into the lava), or, as Fiery Mario, throwing fireballs at him to defeat him directly.
The third and sixth worlds take place at night, and all other worlds take place during the day.
After beating the game, the player is given the option to start the game again in "'Hard' Mode," where all Goombas are replaced by Buzzy Beetles (Koopa Troopa-like enemies who cannot be killed by fireballs), and all enemies walk faster. In addition, some of the elevator-style lifts are about 60% their original size. When the game is beat in "'Hard' Mode", you are presented with the same screen as when beat in original mode, and are told that you are being presented with a new quest. This "quest", however, is just "'Hard' Mode", again. The cycle goes on forever.
Popularity
The game sold approximately 40 million copies in North America alone, which still stands as a Guinness World Record. It has been estimated that this game, next to , is the List of best selling computer and video gamesof all time Although the game was popular enough on its own, this is more attributable to the popularity of the NES itself, as was most often packaged along with the console (usually in a dual cartridge with the shooting game ), just as was packaged with the Game Boy. Super Mario Bros. 3'' is often cited as the best selling game of all time, which, as far as stand-alone releases go, is likely true.
The game's popularity eventually led to dozens of sequels and spinoffs. There are three direct sequels to this game on the NES platform:
:* (this adaptation of Doki Doki Panic, an unrelated Japanese game, was originally released in the U.S. instead of the original Super Mario Bros. 2, sometimes referred to as Super Mario Bros. 2: Japanese, because the Japanese version was deemed to be too hard for North Americans. SMB2 was later released in Japan as "Super Mario USA"),
:* (originally released only in Japan as "Super Mario Bros. 2" but later released worldwide as ""), and
:*.
There was even a TV series and a movie based on the Mario series. Mario has since been known as Nintendo's mascot and is one of the most popular and recognizable video game characters of all time.
Alternate versions
As one of Nintendo's most popular games, has been rereleased and remade numerous times, ranging from an arcade version released at approximately the same time as the original NES release, to its inclusion as an unlockable game in in the GameCube game .
Vs. Super Mario Bros.
The first of these alternate versions, , is nearly a separate game in its own right. This game, one of several games made for Nintendo's NES-based arcade cabinet, the Nintendo Vs. Unisystem (and its variant, the Nintendo Vs. Dualsystem), is based loosely on , and has identical gameplay. The stages are different, however; the first stages are subtly different, with small differences like the omission of 1-up mushrooms or other hidden items, but later stages are changed entirely. (Many of these later, changed stages later appeared in the Japanese The Lost Levels Super Mario Bros. 2.) These changes have a net effect of making much more difficult than the original
As with many older arcade games, it isn't clear when this game was released; while the arcade boards themselves are stamped 198 list the game as having been released in 1986.
All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros.
is a version of Super Mario Bros. with graphics based upon a radio show, called 'All Night Nippo', that was very popular in Japan in 1986. It was released for the Famicom Disk System.
The game, which was only released in Japan, was a special promotional version that was given away by the Japanese radio station 'All Night Nippon' in raffles in 198. The game borrows levels from , (Japanese version), and The enemies and the mushroom retainers at the end of Bowser's forts are replaced with Japanese music idols, famous recording artists, and DJs, as well as other people related to 'All Night Nippon.' It was published by Fuji TV, the same company that published (which was later remade into , a.k.a. ).
Super Mario All-Stars
In 1993, released an enhanced SNES compilation, titled , of all of the games released for the NES and Famicom. The version of included in the compilation had improved graphics, redrawn to match the SNES's greater graphical capabilities and a save game feature. Several glitches from the original NES release were also fixed.
This compilation also includes later games, including , the North American/European (known as in Japan), and the Japanese (known as in North America and Europe). A later version of this compilation, sold only as a bundle with the SNES, also includes .
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
It was later released with additional features (but not enhanced graphics) for the Game Boy Color as .
Classic NES rerelease
The NES version of was re-released in 2004 on the Game Boy Advance as part of the Classic NES Series.
In early 2004, Nintendo rereleased the game on the Game Boy Advance in Japan as part of their Famicom Minis collection and in the U.S. as part of the Classic NES Serie . Unlike previous re-releases, these versions contain no graphical updates. Differences between this and the original are that the screen images appear a bit squashed, due to the smaller Game Boy Advance screen, and the high score is saved to the cartridge. In 2005, Nintendo released this game again for the GBA as part of its 20th Anniversary with a special edition, selling approximately 876,000 units.
Other versions
Super Mario Bros. is one of the NES games featured in the Gamecube game . However, Nintendo has yet to release an official means of unlocking it and most likely never will. Currently the only known way to unlock the game is by using the Action Replay.
Minus World
There exists a method to reach Minus World. This level is sometimes claimed to be a myth but it does exist, although it can be difficult to reach. It is only accessible by performing a certain jumping trick in Level 1-2 at the pipe that leads to the end of the level. This trick allows Mario to move through the wall to where the level's warp zone is located. There, the first pipe leads to the Minus World, but only if the game doesn't scroll to show all the pipes; in which case, the pipes revert to their default locations. (Incidently, the second pipe leads to World 5 if reached in time.)
Minus World is an infinite water level (with a layout similar to that of Levels 2-2 and 7-2) and was not an intentionally designed level but the result of a coding glitch. Once Minus World is reached, it is impossible to escape, and Mario is destined to die by running out of time (assuming he survives the standard water-level obstacles as well). The reason for this is because the pipe at the end of the level leads to the very beginning, instead of dry land, and therefore, the level loops, or repeats itself. The name was created by a glitch, and since it is not a normal level, the name is literally -1, creating the effect of -1.
World 36 in the Japanese Famicom Disk System version of the game is considerably different and has three levels, after which the player is returned to the title screen as though he or she completed the game. This glitch has been fixed in the remake.
Current world record
The current world record time for this game has been set by Trevor Seguin and Andrew Gardikis with times of 5 minutes and 9 seconds. These claims have been confirmed by Twin Galaxies, and a video is available at SDA. These are both only a few seconds slower than the fastest known tool-assisted speedrun, which currently measures at just under 5 minutes.
The Great Giana Sisters
For a very brief period Rainbow Arts published Great Giana Sisters for the Commodore 64 and Commodore Amiga (with a ZX Spectrum version complete and due imminently), a clone of Super Mario Bros so similar to the original that Nintendo halted its production with legal action.
