Super Mario Bros!!!

Super Mario is perhaps one of the biggest icons of the video game industry. His image graces countless magazines and merchandise. His music his also very recognizable. I mean who doesn't know Super Mario? He was after all part of the movement that put video games back in the map in the 1980's. Not only that but Super Mario Bros was the Nintendo Entertainment system's best selling video game of all time.

The story of the game is that Bowser Koopa (the main antagonist) has kidnapped Princess Toadstool. Its up to our plumber turned hero Mario to rescue her from Bowser and a horde of Koopa Troopas. You would have to go through eight worlds of four levels each to win the game.

The Gameplay

The game is fairly simple. You play as Mario for player 1 and Luigi for player 2 but there is not much difference. You simply have to jump over obstacles and pits and stomp on Koopa Troopas. You can collect various powerups throughout the game. Red mushrooms enable Mario to grow and be able to break bricks. The fireflower enables Mario to hurl fireballs at opponents. The star makes Mario invincible for a short period of time. The green mushroom is an extra life for Mario. You can also gain more lives by collecting 100 coins. The game also has points but they do not impact the game. During the 1980's getting high scores was the rage.The game also includes an element called warp zones. These are hidden and once you find them, you can advance levels without going through them. The way to lose a life is to run out of time, get hit by Koopa Troopas of fall into pits. Once you finish the game you can play the whole thing again at a harder level.

Pros

-The game is very simple. The "A" button is jump and "B" is fire. It's not complicated unlike today's game.

-The game is of average difficulty. It's not too easy that you can waltz through. It's not so hard that you can't beat it and have to resort to cheats.-There is variety in opponents. They come in all shapes and sizes. You have a lot from the goomba to the hammer brothers.

-The game can now be saved. The old game did not have a backup feature. Imagine if you went all the way to the final stage and ran out of lives. What a disappointment!-The game is very fun and engaging.

-The game is good for hours of enjoyment!

Cons

-The graphics are dated. This is good for people who played the original because of nostalgia but bad for new players because they want better graphics.-The ending is a disappointment! After going through 32 stages, you get greeted with a lame ending.

-The game doesn't have much replay value. Once it's done, you merely have an option to play an almost identical game with a harder setting and slightly different enemies.-The end of each level is repetitive. How many times do I need a Toad thanking me for rescuing them and telling me that the princess is in another castle?

-There is not much difference between Mario and Luigi. They are brothers not identical twins!

Price

The game costs 500 Wii points. That's pretty reasonable for a classic of this stature.

The Verdict

Super Mario was one of the games I enjoyed most growing up. It was one of the more complex games available during the time. Most games that were available simply had a few stages that repeated i.e. Donkey Kong.What is characteristic about Mario games is the fun factor. They are very simple and engaging as well. Sometimes simplicity is the best way to go. The game doesn't have dozens of commands and combinations you have to memorize as well.

I am not happy about the direction video games have gone today. They are too complex and try too hard to be too real as possible. I have to memorize a litany of commands and it frustrates me to lose winnable situations simply by pressing wrong commands. The game makers focus too much on graphics and sounds. This is not a movie folks. These are video games!I personally recall the Saturday mornings I spent playing the game. I was hooked to it instantly. The Saturday mornings turned to Saturdays and then Weekends. Sometimes I forgot to do homework and this upset the folks. The game is very addictive.

I am glad Nintendo decided to re-issue these games for the Wii. By now many of vintage Nintendo systems are already decommissioned. I am also glad that they retained its original look and feel. Nostalgia indeed!

© TheChosen1 Review is published in other sites under the same name

-Previously published in Ciao and Dooyoo
-The NES version of the game is the best selling game for the NES according to Wikipedia