Written by Bernard Julius Paje
Title: Super Mario Bros.
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: Free with Switch Online Subscription
For gamers, there is always that one game that they consider really special to them. It could be the first game they ever played. Or the first game they considered very innovative because of its mechanics and level design. Or the first game they considered to have the most memorable soundtrack. Or even the first game that made them say, "Games are awesome, and I want to play them for as long as I live." For yours truly, there in one game that describes all of the above: The original Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (or the Family Computer, as it is more famously known here in the Pearl of the Orient).
Super Mario Bros. is, if I had to describe it in just one word, perfect. At a time when games were literally single screen experiences (like Galaga, Battle City or even the original Mario Bros.) this game was a true innovation. With a total of 32 stages (8 worlds with 4 stages each) it was definitely the biggest game of its time. It is truly a masterpiece in game and level design, with various themed stages (like day/night, underground, underwater and castle areas) and a diverse cast of enemies. The sound effects and music of this game were also cutting edge at the time, improving the generic beeps and dings video games were known for tenfold. The limitations of technology back then do not hold the game back at all: The graphics and music of this game were a definite step up in quality compared to all of games that came out before it.
Being the first adventure/platform game ever, it set the standard for the gaming industry to follow for future games. The clever 'tutorial' in World 1-1 (which practically forces you to get the Mushroom that made you grow) enabled you to understand that there are power ups you can get from Question Mark blocks. The controls are simple to learn (since there were only two buttons at the time) and the elements they used in-game made sense (maybe I can enter those pipes, or climb that beanstalk that just grew up). It is also probably the first game that 'broke the fourth wall' in a sense because you can actually walk over the heads-up display area at the top of the screen (where the score, time and number of coins are displayed). This game really shows how much of a genius Shigeru Miyamoto, the main designer of the game and the 'father' of Mario, truly is!
If you are one of the lucky few to get a NES Classic Mini (or Famicom Mini) then you now own the best modern console to play this game on (for me). If you have a 3DS or Wii U you can also buy the game there via the Virtual Console. Of course, if you have access to the original NES/Famicom and a copy of the original cartridge then play the game there for the most authentic experience possible. If you have not played this game yet, do yourself a favor and play (and finish) it at least once. You will not regret it!
REVIEW SCORE: 10/10
For gamers, there is always that one game that they consider really special to them. It could be the first game they ever played. Or the first game they considered very innovative because of its mechanics and level design. Or the first game they considered to have the most memorable soundtrack. Or even the first game that made them say, "Games are awesome, and I want to play them for as long as I live." For yours truly, there in one game that describes all of the above: The original Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (or the Family Computer, as it is more famously known here in the Pearl of the Orient).
Super Mario Bros. is, if I had to describe it in just one word, perfect. At a time when games were literally single screen experiences (like Galaga, Battle City or even the original Mario Bros.) this game was a true innovation. With a total of 32 stages (8 worlds with 4 stages each) it was definitely the biggest game of its time. It is truly a masterpiece in game and level design, with various themed stages (like day/night, underground, underwater and castle areas) and a diverse cast of enemies. The sound effects and music of this game were also cutting edge at the time, improving the generic beeps and dings video games were known for tenfold. The limitations of technology back then do not hold the game back at all: The graphics and music of this game were a definite step up in quality compared to all of games that came out before it.
Being the first adventure/platform game ever, it set the standard for the gaming industry to follow for future games. The clever 'tutorial' in World 1-1 (which practically forces you to get the Mushroom that made you grow) enabled you to understand that there are power ups you can get from Question Mark blocks. The controls are simple to learn (since there were only two buttons at the time) and the elements they used in-game made sense (maybe I can enter those pipes, or climb that beanstalk that just grew up). It is also probably the first game that 'broke the fourth wall' in a sense because you can actually walk over the heads-up display area at the top of the screen (where the score, time and number of coins are displayed). This game really shows how much of a genius Shigeru Miyamoto, the main designer of the game and the 'father' of Mario, truly is!
If you are one of the lucky few to get a NES Classic Mini (or Famicom Mini) then you now own the best modern console to play this game on (for me). If you have a 3DS or Wii U you can also buy the game there via the Virtual Console. Of course, if you have access to the original NES/Famicom and a copy of the original cartridge then play the game there for the most authentic experience possible. If you have not played this game yet, do yourself a favor and play (and finish) it at least once. You will not regret it!
REVIEW SCORE: 10/10
How five year old me would have reviewed the game back in 1986: The graphics of this game are SO AWESOME! The music is so catchy I literally want to dance to it (I'll let the timer go below 100 so I can dance to it even faster)! The various secrets (like the Warp Zones, second quest mode and infinite lives trick) are SO COOL! I am going to talk to all my friends about this at school and tell them how much fun this game is! I am going to play this game until I am 6 years old and will not do any of my homework!* I give this game 100 out of 10, yay!
*Just kidding... Don't do this kids!
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