Classic NES Series: Super Mario Bros

The graphics and controls are the same ... no embellishments or "lost zones" or challenge modes ... just straight up classic MARIO and LUIGI in their first adventure back in the NES days. It's a very nice port, and I like the ability to take it with me on the road in my SP. It also brings back memories when I hook it up to the TV and get to see it normal size!

I've kind of gone off about paying $20 for Donkey Kong, Ice Climber, and Excite Bike (why not a compilation of those on ONE cart - especially when you can get the e-reader versions for $5). But this one is well worth it because you have many levels to play, and the ability to play 2 player! This is still a fun game, and I can't believe how instantly likeable it still is even after playing all the latest! Cute, simple, and fun! Any age can enjoy it! Highly reccommended - not just for nostalgia freaks. Though they will get a kick out of the perfect replica packaging - from the instructions, the cart, and the box -- it all looks old school! Trademark classic 80s game that helped build an empire around Italian plumbers attacking mushrooms! Wow!


The game that singlehandedly saved the videogaming industry   June 27, 2004
Mike London (Oxford, UK)
15 out of 21 found this review helpful

Arguable the single most important videogame in history, SUPER MARIO BROTHERS, along with the Nintendo Entertainment System (hereafter referred to as the NES) singlehandedly resurrected the video game industry after the historic crash of 1983-1984. Rather than reviewing the game itself, which has been done many times, I think many people may find the history how of this revolutionary title came to the videogame industry's rescue very interesting; I know I do. I draw much of this information from various websites, one very good one in particular; unfortunately, I can't really plug them due to Amazon's policies. Email me if you want the websites.

By 1983, the gaming industry, in existence for a mere twelve years, had risen to an astonishing 3.2 billion dollar industry. Atari spearheaded the industry, which introduced its first console in 1977 (Atari Video Computer System), and since had grown to hold two thirds of the entire market. However, in 1984 all this would end with a thunderous crash. This concise overview will show you the history of the home consol crash and how SUPER MARIO BROTHERS came to the rescue.

In 1976, Warner Communications bought Atari for $28 million from the company's founder, Nolan Bushnell. Over the next two years, Atari, suffering major production problems and Bushnell's bizarre management, lost Warner millions. Bushnell and Warner's CEO fought, and in 1978 Bushnell was forced to leave. Warner totally revamped the working style, and in 1979-1980, produced twelve new titles. However, Atari was still dragging down Warner's stock. Struggling to gain the market share, Atari made the smartest move they possible could have; in 1980, they began licensing arcade games, the first being SPACE INVADERS. Over the next two years, Atari overtook the market, bringing in over half of Warner's overall profits.

However, very significant problems would totally destroy the infant industry. In 1981, Atari released PAC MAN on the VCS, and, because it was such a huge arcade hit, quickly became a bestseller. Unfortunately, the quality was very low. This was a major blow to the company's image, with fans and critics alike extremely disappointed.

Another major stumble was one of video games' most infamous games, ET. Warner bought the rights from Spielberg for twenty one million dollars. Atari, expecting the game to be as big a hit as the movie, which was the highest grossing film at that point, purportedly made more ET cartridges than there were consoles themselves. ET proved to be a huge flop, nearly breaking Atari.

By 1983, Atari was in serious trouble. Suing Activision (which was disgruntled Atari employees who broke off and formed their own company) and Imagic, the two leading third party developers, Atari tried to gain control over its software catalogue. Atari lost the suits. Third party developers began popping up overnight, and the industry becomes saturated with very low-quality products. (One of the most controversial is CUSTER'S REVENGE by Mystique, where the goal is to rape a Native American woman while avoiding being shot by arrows.) The third-party developers went bankrupt; these cartridges were heavily discounted, and the major companies couldn't compete. Another factor is the home computer market, that was just starting to come alive in 1984. With an increasing amount of computer games and low prices, people started buying these over the consoles.

All these factors lead to the crash of 1984. In 1983 alone, Atari lost $356 million ($2 million daily). Warner sold Atari to Jack Tramiel, former head of Commodore. The video game industry died, with no major American corporation coming anywhere near it. Enter Nintendo.

A little history here will be highly illuminating as well. What many people don't realise is Nintendo is a very old company, founded in 1889 (yes, you read that right) as a playing card company. It became Japan's largest playing card company, and was very successful. In the 1960s, they moved away from the cards and got into the game and toy markets. (A very interesting sidenote: during that same decade, Nintendo's president opened up a `special hotel' rented `by the hour.' Supposedly, the married president was one of the hotel's top customers). In the 1970s and early 1980s, the company scored significant points with big arcade hits and the Game and Watch product line. In 1983, Nintendo released the Famicom (Family Computer). It was a massive hit in Japan. In 1983, Nintendo went to Atari because they wanted to release the Famicon to the American market. Do to complications I won't go into, the deal fail through. In 1984 they were looking to broaden their market share.

1985, Nintendo announced the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System. They release SUPER MARIO BROTHERS in Japan, scoring a huge hit. In 1986, the NES comes full throttle into the American market, quickly becoming the biggest selling console ever, largely because of this title. The NES owes much of its success to SUPER MARIO BROTHERS. Coming prepacked with the console, there are an estimated 40 million copies of SMB in existence, making it the highest selling video game ever.

Unparalleled, SMB blew open the doors to the videogaming world. With rich palettes of colour, eight four level worlds, spot-on play control, and expert level design, SMB was a much longer game than most of Atari's products and was a game unlike any other at that time. SMB also had the benefit of being very simple to grasp; run, jump, and fire. It was also the first side-sroller as we know it, though Atari's PITFALL set up the concept. Also, it's one of the best. Without SMB, NES wouldn't have been nearly as big a hit.

In the end, Nintendo came at the industry's key moment. With a powerful new console and a very well-designed game, Nintendo resurrected video gaming. With its phenomenal success of the NES and this game, the video game industry once again took off, becoming one of the world's most significant economical contributors.

And we very largely have this game to thank for it.


Mario : From The Beginning   June 13, 2004
Michael Kerner (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

When I look at older video games, they always seem to grab me when I least expect, time after time. It really is nothing new, but something to really grasp on. That comes with the case of the original Nintendo games, and the original taste of the Mario Brothers. It has been a great feeling, time and time again. The duo of Mario & Luigi, has been known as one of the most successful video games of all time. The original Super Mario Brothers made it into full stream 20 years ago in the arcades, and then it made it fully on the first supersystem, the Nintendo Entertainment System. Arguably, the games still ring out bells very well, as well as welcoming newcomers to the plumber light again, and again from the warp pipe.

Super Mario Brothers, the 1985 video game returns to the Game Boy Advance. Only the second time this game returns to the system, the previous one was just for the earlier Game Boy Color system. The games graphics are really old school, and a little bland, compared to the later Mario Brothers games, but this cartridge was designed for it, as a way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NES. The other downside is that many people may not want this one, because they might be hooked on the recent Super Mario 3. The game features the same 8 different worlds from the original Super Mario Brothers, without any hidden bonuses or surprises. As you play, you will encounter the same enemies, Bowser, goombas, and koopa troopas and a whole lot more than meets the eye. Still, I thought it would've been a better move to reissue it with the same graphics feel from the Super Mario All-Stars from 1993, but not what Nintendo created years earlier. All in all, the game still remains addictive as earlier eras in the video game world, and that is nothing to sneeze at.

I honestly suggest this game, only if you haven't played the original one from the NES system, or the Super Mario Bros. Deluxe from the Game Boy Color. The game still proved that it launched a whole new way to play video games, and that so many games have been influenced on these plumbers' pipes, Mario and Luigi.


Your'e Getting Ripped Off   June 20, 2005
P. Dufault (Massachusetts)
9 out of 17 found this review helpful

For roughly the same price, you could get Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, it plays on all Game Boy systems, and has everythign this game has plus a lot more. Does this game have Super Mario Bros. 2 hidden in it? No. Does it have a calendar? No. Mini games? No. You're much better off with Mario Bros. Deluxe.


Dont hate me for hating Mario   September 11, 2004
C. Smith (NC, USA)
8 out of 17 found this review helpful

I will most likely get many "NO's" for "was this review helpful?" because of my negative review and I hate to be the oddball of the bunch, but please hear me out before voting "NO."

I was a Mario fanatic during my freshman year of highschool. Playing Mario Brothers for hours on end. I would leave the console on at night (there was no saving Marios progress) only to have to start over the next day because mom turned off the console... she just didnt understand, "I made it all the way to world 5-3!!!" Mario was a huge success for its time!!! There was nothing better!!! So, feeling nostalgic, I picked up a copy for my gameboy advance.

After a few hours of gameplay, I was done with it. In this day and age where games of the same price can be so much more entertaining... why did I blow my money on Mario? Its not that I expected cutting edge graphics, or changing the game (why change a classic. I would have been able to make it thru to the end if they just added one feature... just one. A simple thing like a save game feature would have given it 3 stars from me.

This is a perfect example of Nintendo recycling old games and making a bundle. No thought process went into this... it was an old idea repackaged. One thing this did for me, is made me appreciate the advancement in the video game industry. In a day and age when reviewers complain about games being too repetitive, Mario does not deserve a good review... even from those of us who grew up with PAC MAN and GALAGA.

I will agree that when Mario first hit the streets, it was the greatest thing out there. However at this point and time, Mario is definitly showing his age. Think to yourself... if this game was released today... for the first time ever.... would it truely deserve 4+ stars?