Franchise is what a video game company is all about. When you think of the worlds most recognized figure in terms of entertainment, you would think of say, Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny. However, if you were to ask eight out of ten kids just who they would see as an entertainment icon, the results would probably show up as Super Mario being one of the most given response to such a question! Created as an attempt to really set of the Nintendo franchise, the little fat plumber actually appeared in a few different games and then became what he is now, as an action and adventure character. In Super Mario Brothers, you must undertake the mission of saving the Princess from the clutches of an overly evil reptile creature by the name of Bowser. Although the in-depth story line wasn’t present yet in this game as it was in future Super Mario games, this game was one of the main releases with the system, and came packed in on a combination title with Duck Hunt and then later Duck Hunt and Track Meet. Side scrolling adventure to the extreme {at the time}, Super Mario Brothers represented the start of something that hasn’t slowed down, even to this day and could be called one of the all time great video games!
The game play in Super Mario Brothers is side scrolling action, in which you control either Mario {1 player game} or Luigi {2 player game} through several worlds of enemy bumping madness. The simplicity of the game at this time did not require you to do anything more than bash monsters, collect power up items and make it from one end of the stage to the other before the timer ran out! Through your adventures in these stages, you’ll find different power ups that will help you to attain your goal of defeating Bowser and rescuing the Princess from his clutches. The power ups in question come in the form of mushrooms, fire flowers and star men, all of which will grant you a different power depending on which you pick up. The mushrooms are especially useful for when you’ve taken a hit and need to be transformed back into a larger sized plumber. Fire Flowers allow you to throw small fireballs {seemingly from your nose} at enemies from a distance and can be used to combat the different forms of Bowser through all of the Castle stages. Star Men are what make you become invinicible, and you’ll find that the key positioning of these and just how fast you can run, will go a long way in helping you to defeat the game!
Now this isn’t to say that the game is just one long run from one stage to the next, but rather there are instances in which you need to have precision jumping and you can even warp ahead to other stages if you can find the warp gates. These warp gates are located in different stages, and can be used to take you forward to the more difficult places in the game. While the difficulty may not seem like much in the beginning stages, you’ll find that the game has plenty of challenge later on, and you’ll have to learn the different ways of defeating your enemies! Unlike later Mario games, the only way that you’re allows to defeat your enemies is either by jumping on them, or by throwing fireballs at them. Some enemies cannot be dispatched unless you use turtle shells and jump on those to shoot them ahead of you, but be careful, those same shells can bounce off of a wall and come back at you, costing you your Super status or even a life!
Control in Super Mario is something that needs to be practiced in later stages. While not the most difficult game that you’ll even play, there are instances where you need to have precision timing and patience to get through some of the more intricate jumping places! One of the most difficult areas in the game, and the point where you will see just how the control reacts, is in the fourth world, where there are small platforms that you absolutely must hit, or you’ll fall to your doom. In these places, you’ll find that the NES control doesn’t make much use of the directional pad, and timing is everything. The first instances of Ghost Control in NES games can be found in this point, in which the controller just isn’t as responsive as you may need it to be later on in the game!
Visually, the game isn’t anywhere near as expansive as the later Super Mario games, but you’ll find that there is plenty of detail and places to go. When you reach certain stages, you’ll find that the environment changes from wide open spaces, to caverns and even Castles in which you’ll face off against creatures such as turtles and small walking globs of brown material that have eyes! All in all, for its time, this was as detailed as a video game got, and you’ll find that there are small details everywhere that really set the mood. One of the most impressive stages that is visually appealing to look at is the water stage, and you’ll find that even though there isn’t much detail to it, there is plenty to look at and the colorization is done nicely throughout.
Audio wise, there are four musical tracks that you’ll find throughout the game, and you’ll find that they tend to repeat the same theme from the start. While the music isn’t all that impressive to listen to now, there is a sense of adventure to some of the tracks {such as the underground scenes} and you’ll find that the overall theme track will stink with you for hours after you’ve turned off the game! Sound effect wise, there is really very little that can be found here, with most of the standard bleeps and bloops being found throughout the game, no matter where you go or what you’re doing. Simple, yet effective, all of these points are what really started out the series and you’ll find that the nostalgic value of the sound alone is well worth playing this title again and again.
Super Mario Brothers is the first game of a series that just hasn’t stopped coming. Although the game has undergone visual changes and plot twists throughout the years {even with Mario appearing in a ‘fighting’ game}, you’ll find that the entire legacy started here in Super Mario Brothers of the NES! Whether you’ve gotten the game as a stand alone, or part of a combination title {there were 2}, you’ll find that nothing has changed, and the nostalgic value of the game far exceeds what it sells for. With action, adventure, and brown walking fur balls, you really can’t go wrong with this title, and it should be a part of any serious NES gamers collection!
//KasketDarkfyre
