Super Mario Bros. was hardly the first side-scrolling, character-based action game. of Taito king of the jungle / Hunting in the jungle it was around as early as 1982, and the first true superstar in gaming, Pac-Man, got his own animated side-scroller in 1984. Pac-Land. But still, to play Super Mario Bros. in 1985 was to know that everything had changed.
It was an absolute revelation to see Mario, the former star of Donkey Kong and Mario Bros., break free from the single-screen limitations of the past and run right. A whole world of adventures awaited him, full of instant iconic bonuses, unforgettable secrets, a real sense of vastness and depth thanks to underground stages and bonus coin areas hidden in the clouds.
But of course none of that would matter if Super Mario Bros. I didn’t feel so damn good playing. The option to hold a button to run, the way Mario soars through the air, the pure bliss of getting an invincibility star and plowing straight through rows of goombas and koopas, all elevated Super Mario Bros. far beyond any side scroller that has come before.
It’s also, for my money, the first game where Nintendo’s signature, subtly intuitive level design is on display. There’s a reason why World 1-1 remains iconic to this day: Shigeru Miyamoto knew exactly what he was doing, telling you everything you need to know with just one goomba and one super sponge. Yet for all its fundamental simplicity, the game continues to surprise as you progress, introducing wicked new challenges (those damn hammer brothers!) and capping each world with a castle so treacherous that surviving it makes you feel both triumphant and relieved .
Some may argue that despite starting a dynasty for action games, the original Super Mario Bros. it’s not worth going back to today. I do not agree. I think its level design is consistently great (unlike some games in New Super Mario Bros. series), its music and visuals are consistently charming, and its controls are as enjoyable and intuitive today as ever. Games that change the gaming landscape forever are rare, but this is one of them, without a doubt. — Carolyn Petty
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