Classic Game of the Month: December 2011

Super Mario Brothers

Ah yes, what better game to start this section than one of the first and best received Nintendo console games: Super Mario Bros? Being a child of the 90’s, SMB wasn’t my first game…actually, I didn’t even own the game until 2009 and didn’t beat it until March 12, 2010. But I digress; let’s dive in to why this game was such a huge hit and a timeless fan favorite!

History

Released by Nintendo November 17, 1985, SMB revived the idea of home gaming after the Video Game Crash during the Atari era. Back then, Arcades were the only things worth playing and with Mario on the title, Nintendo was able to bridge the gap from Mario’s arcade history to the world of gaming consoles. Packaged the NES on its release, the game was a huge hit.

SMB Title Screen

Gameplay

So why did Super Mario Bros. set the standard for side-scroller platforms and spawn over 5 sequels? Because it’s so simple! …and yet so difficult. The game is user friendly so anyone of any gaming background can pick it up and get the hang of it in just a few hours. And yet, the game has a significant increase in difficulty as the levels role on to please any die-hard gamer.

The goal of each level is to have Mario (or his younger brother Luigi in 2 player mode) reach the flag pole at the end of the level while collecting coins and power ups and avoiding enemies and bottomless pits. Easier said than done because even the 3 lives you start with and the extralives picked up along the way usually aren’t enough to get through in one try. Finally, Bowser encounters at every 4^th level put our heroes to the test until they can finally save the Princess. And if that’s not tough enough, who can forget the constant reminders after each of the first 7 castles that “Our Princess is in another castle”. I know I for one was jumping for joy the first time I defeated Bowser in the final level and saved Princess Toadstool.

Recap

World 1-1 (The first level, Duh!)

Any self-respecting videogamer has at least a basic knowledge of what Super Mario Bros. was all about. If that doesn’t prove its title as being one of the most influential games of all time, then do me a favor and imagine a world if that game never existed… Yeah, that’s what I though.

Thanks for reading this month’s edition of OWNAGE’s “Classic Game of the Month”.  Stay tuned for other updates around the site and check back in next month for the game.

Further Reading

http://www.mariowiki.com/Super_Mario_Bros. -- Further facts and details about the game.

http://smbhq.com/games/retro/smb/index.html -- The Super Mario Headquater’s article of the game

http://themushroomkingdom.net/games/smb -- Find tips and glitches as well as plenty of pictures and downloads about the game