Super Mario Bros Review

By: Logan Manfredi

" An 8-bit titan that will stand the test of time."

Overview
        Super Mario Bros is the classic game. Countless iterations across numerous generations have made it the single most recognizable video game in pop culture. From arcade bars to jail-broken iPhones, Mario is everywhere, but how many people have really played the game? Sure world 1-1 is iconic, and I've personally played it probably ten thousand times, but it wasn't until recently that I dove in and experienced what the game had to offer. Immediately in world two, the game springs open, difficulty spikes up, and new enemies with entirely new patterns begin to test the players on the fly decision making. Even now, almost 35 years later, the level design and ramping difficulty are near perfectly paced and result in an outstanding platformer.

Example of variety in levels.

Currently available with the Nintendo Switch online service the game is more accessible than ever and should be played by every fan of the plumber. The version on Switch is a kinder experience than the original NES or arcade cabinet, but I think it's the ideal way to experience the game. The main addition being the ability to create save states at any point in time while playing. Now I know some people might say "That breaks the game," or "that's not how its meant to be played," while I agree with them somewhat I enjoy Save States because I feel they give the player the option to adjust difficulty without taking away from the game. Save states are as good or as bad as the player makes them, I used them to save before each world, or if I had a specific place, I wanted a clip from. This made getting through the game much easier because I wouldn't have to restart from 1-1 when I ran out of lives rather just the start of the world. Doing so did make the game more accessible, but didn't change any of the design choices or challenges I had to overcome. The diversity in levels even in the same world is years before it's time, and gives the player the feeling of always wanting to see what's next. The end of the game is as tricky as any platformer and will test a player's skill and patience to this day, which helps make it one of the most satisfying games I ever completed.

                                            "Seriously where did that block come from?!"

The Details
        There is a rhythm to Super Mario Bros that when found gives one the most satisfying gameplay experiences ever. This is accomplished by the brilliant level design and pacing of the developers. Each mechanic is so perfectly fine-tuned and complementary to it's accompanying features that the game feels like an instrument to be played. A few worlds in the player discovers an entirely new feel for the game. No longer needing to stop before the next enemy or imposing jump the gameplay becomes fluid and much more fast-paced. Moments like the bridge full of swarming fish reveal the rhythm I mentioned before and capture the brilliance of design perfectly. Panic would be a pleasant way to describe how I felt the first time I had to cross what I call the fish bridge.

I totally didn't die there

Fish come flying from every direction, and so fast that if you stop you'll succumb to the swarm. The momentum and pattern of the fish are designed perfectly in that it forces the player the move before they think and get past the obstacle using their new Mario sixth sense. The effect is made possible by the brilliant level design where the fish themselves and the stage around them force the player into taking the correct path, and when done correctly feels incredibly rewarding. Moments like this are abundant in the game and are a large part of why I think it's one of the greatest games of all times. 

Secrets like this Warp Zone and hidden vine are abundant.

My Favorite Thing
  My absolute favorite thing about this game is the ramping difficulty and the sense of accomplishment it makes the player feel simply by progressing in the game. From world 1-2 the game begins to test the player's decision making with a few moving platforms and new enemy types such as the Piranha plant hiding in the pipe. Easy enough to figure out on the first or second try, the real reason they are there is to teach the player the mechanic before testing them on a similar, but more advanced obstacle later on. Mechanics like this allows for the magic moment of seeing a daunting task in the game and knowing that you can get past it. This attention to detail in level design and difficulty has set a standard in the video game industry that many strive to match to this day. Never in the eight worlds is the player faced with a mechanic they weren’t first taught in a more manageable fashion, and that’s one of the key reasons this game is and will always be a classic.

Exept for the water levels, they are evil.

In the end
        A shining pillar of video game history, Super Mario Bros, laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most popular gaming genres in existence. Giants of the industry refer to it as "the reason they got into gaming," and the game has been enjoyed by countless people of all walks of life. To this day, it remains a fun and rewarding platformer and offers an exciting insight into the birth of the industry as a whole. With numerous iterations available across a wide range of platforms, there is no reason to skip this game. My advice to you the player is this, take your time with it and save Princess Peach. All eight worlds of this game have so much to offer it would be a shame to stop before getting the full experience. If you have not played this game, I highly recommend it.

Super Mario Bros for NES gets 5 out of 5snails.