Game: Super Mario Bros.
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Famicom
Release date: 1985
My question to anyone who owns a Famicom (or an NES) but doesn't own a copy of this game: What on earth is wrong with you? I know a large number of "must own" titles were released for Nintendo's first world-conquering console, but this one is the granddaddy of them all, and no Famicom/NES collection is complete without it. There are countless good reasons for that, of course, with the main one being that the game is supremely playable (and enjoyable) thanks to Shigeru Miyamoto and company's masterful programming--which makes all of the running and jumping and everything else in Super Mario Bros. feel so sublime--and level design. (Anna Anthropy, aka auntie pixelante, expertly expounds on the latter abilities in this blog post, by the way.) There's more behind the game's must-own status than that, though, or at least there is for me. I believe that another reason so many people have been enamored by Mario's first console outing over the years is how surreal it is. I mean, it's a bit like playing a dream, isn't it? A bizarre dream, admittedly, but a dream nonetheless. How else would you describe a game in which a mustachioed plumber battles walking mushrooms and flying turtles and once in a while plucks a flower from the ground that allows him to shoot bouncing balls of fire on his way to rescuing a princess named Peach?
See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts
All true statements. And that article by Auntie Pixelante is AMAZING! She's so cerebral.
ReplyDeleteYes, auntie pixelante's article is amazing. I love it when she talks about game design.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I wasn't even going to write about this one because what's left to be said about it, really? Still, I had to follow the rules I set out for myself :P
Doh! I just noticed -- thanks to the peerless Drew Mackie -- that my link to his recent blog post about SMB's weirdness was wonky. Sorry about that! It's fixed now, though :)
ReplyDeleteMy excuse for never owning it - I've got the All Stars version for my SNES, will that do? :)
ReplyDeleteI've only played a slightly tarted-up version of this on Super Mario All-Stars on my SNES but it certainly was and still is a fantastic game! :)
ReplyDeleteKimimi: Super Mario All-Stars is a half-acceptable replacement, I guess :P I say that because I'm not much of a fan of All-Stars. I know that's crazy, but it's true. Even if I did like All-Stars, though, that game's box has nothing on this one, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteHey there, Simon! Like I said to Kimimi, the All-Stars version is OK, but I really do think the original version is preferable. You've really never played that version? If so, go download it and play it via emulation, if you have to. It really *should* be experienced...
ReplyDeleteYou certainly can't beat an iconic illustration like that! What makes you not a fan of All Stars if you don't mind me asking?
ReplyDeleteI've just never much cared for the updated graphics, Kimimi. To me, the original, 8-bit graphics were much more appealing. I know a LOT of people who prefer the graphics of the All-Stars versions, though, so I'm probably a bit of a freak in this regard :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair comment, they definitely don't "fit" the way the original 8bit graphics do. I couldn't really tell you why :S
ReplyDeleteYeah, I understand what you're saying, Kimimi. I actually don't completely hate the graphics of the All-Stars versions of SMB 2/USA and SMB 3, by the way (although I still prefer the originals). For some reason, though, I really don't like the overhauled graphics of the first SMB in All-Stars.
ReplyDeleteI`m with you on the SMB All Stars version, Bryan. The original 8 bit version just can`t be beat. It just doesn`t feel like I`m playing SMB (or 2 or 3) when I use the SFC version. The only plus it has is the save feature.
ReplyDeleteAh, someone who agrees with me. Thanks, Sean! Anyway, yes, I agree with you--the All-Stars versions just don't 'feel' the same, let alone look the same. The save option is a good one, though, as is the ability to have all games on one cart.
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