Action/Platformer
October 1985 (Nintendo)
I’m guessing that a lot of people are going to think that I’m starting with Super Mario Bros. because it’s Nintendo’s flagship franchise. But in fact, I’m starting with it because Super Mario Bros. came as one of the packages with the US NES release.
By today’s standards this is a pretty good game. By the 1985 standards it’s amazing. But I’m looking at the game as one people will play today, not in 1985.
The one thing that has always bothered me about this game is that you can’t go backward. Miss a mushroom and you’re out of luck. Accidentally knock it backwards and you’re out of luck. In a word, it sucks.
That being said, it’s also one of the things I like about this game. You have to get things right the first time and can’t go back and correct yourself. There are other one time chances to do things as well, such as shooting falling goombas with fireballs.
It's a good thing I knew what I was doing. The first time I wasn't so lucky.
Speaking of doing things right, Mario is full of little secrets. Most of them aren’t so secret anymore though. One of these is the warp zones. Part of the reason I like them so much is that it sort of makes up for the fact that you can’t save since it’s possible to warp to any world in the game. Still have to go to the beginning of the world, but it’s a lot better than we’ll get without a code for a long time.
The first time I went to this warp zone I thought I’d gotten myself into a no win situation. Can’t go left to get back to the main part of the game. Piranha plants coming out of the pipes. Thankfully they disappear and the warp zone takes its place.
The multiplayer could be better though. It is nice to be able to share a game with a friend1. The only problem is that one player keeps playing until Mario dies2. If I’d designed the game I would have traded who was playing either when a player dies or when a level is completed. But I guess it could be a problem either way. It’s the battle between getting into a groove and getting to keep it, and having the potential to not let your friend play for an hour because you’re really good.
Notice how you can step on the plants under water? I have a feeling that in a few years someone will forget that.
Just like with every game known to man, the water levels suck. At least here it’s possible to swim along the top of the water and just get through the level. For the most part anyway. You won’t get any coins that way or anything, but for people who really can’t swim in video games that might be worth it.
One interesting thing to note is that fireballs work underwater. That’s good, because besides growing it’s the only powerup you get. So maybe it’s not traditional fire. Could be an oil based fire, I’m pretty sure that could burn in water. In any case they tell you not to ut out oil fires with water. Either way you get to keep your weapon. And in a strange way, it can be easier to use since you can conceivably get to every part of the screen.
I wish I could save my progress. But that’s something that couldn’t happen yet. I guess we’ll just have to make due with knowing that you can get to the start of every world with the warp zones and live with the fact that it’s the best that can be done without cheating.
- If you’re lucky you can share a game with a wife. [↩]
- It’s Nintnedo, so you don’t really die. But I’m saying that anyway. [↩]
I am still amazed at how good Super Mario Bros. is when you compare it to other NES platformers even made a few years later. Truly set the golden standard.