Ask anyone to name a single video game character and chances are they will say Mario. Super Mario Bros is now available on the Virtual Console for 500 Wii Points and I have taken the time to step back in this ancient world to relive some of gamings be...
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Goombas and Koopas. Piranhas and turtle shells. Mushrooms and flowers. Ring a bell? Thanks to the 1987 cult phenomenon hit, Super Mario Bros, those names and many more have become the trademark of video games for three generations, most notable of which being a stocky italian plumber named Mario Mario. While his first appearance was on a barrel rolling, ape infested game named Donkey Kong, and second a less than stellar Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros has always been considered our lasagne loving heroes finest game to date.
While recent Mario games have evolved with technology, improving upon the quality two fold every time, its tough to go back to Marios roots and look at him without a judging glance. In truth, Super Mario Bros hasnt aged particularly well and does suffer from some clipping issues. Where as the newly released DS title, New Super Mario Bros evolved from this game and gave us something fresh and exciting; the classic appears dated and repetitive. But the essence of these reviews is not to comment on what is, but what was, so for a title back in the early days of the home console market, Super Mario Bros is one of the greatest to ever grace our silver screens.
Story goes somewhat like this and youve most likely heard something similar a thousand times before. The Princess has been kidnapped by a giant Koopa named Bowser and Mario has the task of rescuing the fair maiden. He must travel across 8 worlds, each with 4 other vastly different levels that are littered with Goombas and Koopas. The final confrontation between you and Bowser comes down to a bridge, a lava pit, a switch and a hell lot of fireballs.
A few things from this game have held true all the way up to recent Mario adventures. The first is the mushroom that would turn little Mario into an enormous behemoth. Well, not so much, but it did double his height. The second is the Flower that would allow Mario to throw fireballs at his opponents. Marios signature jump is also in the game, an ability that has lived on for generations. He wasnt called Jump Man in Donkey Kong for no reason.
Visually the game is comparable to anything you used to play on your calculators at school. Playing this game on a 40inch television is not recommended unless you change it’s viewing aspect as clipping will occur and enemies will seem to fade from the screen only to suddenly and randomly reappear. The sound is pleasing and wont make your ears bleed from annoyance like Toe Jam. Signature Mario themes make this a pleasant game to play if only just to listen to those memorable tunes.
When it comes down to it all you really want to know is if Super Mario Bros. is worth a download. I think it is. Its still fun today and while being incredibly short will bring back a lot of nostalgic memories which in turn will hopefully prepare you for Marios upcoming adventure way up in the sky. If you already own Super Mario Bros. on the NES, however, I would recommend sticking to the cartridge.
6 Mushrooms out of 8
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