| INFO | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Super Mario Bros. Deluxe |
| Developer(s) | Nintendo R&D4 |
| Genre | Platformer |
| Platform(s) |   |
| Release date | 1985-09-13 |
Note: this review also applies to the 1999 remaster for the Game Boy Color, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe.
The first thing that comes to people's minds when somebody utters the word "video game" (well, at least back in the 80s and 90s) is probably a certain moustache-wielding Italian plumber in red overalls, jumping around and stomping on things while rushing to rescue his beloved princess (is it Pauline, Peach or Daisy this time, Mario? Boy, these Latinos are such womanizers). Those were happier days, when you could make millions with a gameplay that could be summarized in a napkin.
The premise of this side-scrolling platformer is pretty simple: get to the end of each level. There are eight worlds, with four maps each (the last one a "dungeon" where you'll face the final boss, Bowser). Some take place by day, others by night, some underwater, some underground, but they are all on the small side. You character can run and jump with enviable agility. A mushroom power-up will make him bigger and allow him to withstand one more hit before dying. A fire flower will grant you the power to throw fire balls to kill enemies, which you can defeat otherwise by landing on their heads (not the ones with spikes, mind you). There is a countdown, so you better hurry!
Actually finishing the levels isn't as easy as it sounds, because they're filled with platforms that require precision jumping, and gaps that lead to your doom. The enemies have something to say, too, and seem to be carefully placed to piss you off. There are other gameplay peculiarities, such as platforms that work like the plates of a scale (one goes down, the other goes up), or the labyrinths of the dungeon levels, where you need to take the correct path. It's trial and error.
And that's the main issue I've got with this game: the concept is that you must die many times until getting things right. Memorization is key, as enemies and obstacles are always in the same places. A good playthrough feels like rehearsing and then executing a piano song. You'll need lots of "digital" ability too to make up for the bothersome controls, the most irritating factor of all being the main character's inertia. I've played this for years, and I still don't get things right.
I don't want to speak ill of this classic, but Mario's control scheme, added up to the physics, the camera (you can't retrace your steps if you miss something), the enemy placement, result in a gaming experience that often feels frustrating. Kids back then were made of tougher stuff I guess. After all, it would be over in half an hour otherwise. But after dying again and again in the same section, focused on learning the correct sequence of movements and running out of patience, I can't help but wonder if it's supposed to feel that way. That's the problem with old games, you know. As they were short, they had to compensate with increased difficulty, so it would take you weeks to master.
There's no wisdom to gain, no vital quest in this, only losing lives and retrying until you get the "GAME OVER". You may try to find all the secrets and improve your best scores, but that's it. Not that I can complain for a game of its age. But there's no freedom—only a single correct way of playing through it. And despite YouTube being filled with aces who enjoy this and perform incredible stunts, either in the original maps or new community-made ones, I wanted something more than just muscle memory.
On the technical aspect, the graphics are nice for 1985—colorful and the refresh rate feels smooth. The music... Well, you're humming it right now, so what can I probably say?
In 1999, an improved version was released for the GBC. Apart from the basically untouched main game, it added a multiplayer mode, new challenges, unlockables (including the true Super Mario Bros. 2, also known outside Japan as The Lost Levels, and gallery pics), minigames... You can add half a point to the final score if you're gonna play this release.
To conclude, I will say that revisiting this game proved to me that I had more patience, and way more free time, as a child. And that makes me feel sad.
Playing
This one's been bundled and re-released so many times I've lost count (like the Super Mario All-Stars package for SNES). Look for it in your favorite Nintendo store.