Super Mario Bros. 3

"The best Mario game of all time."

Super Mario Bros. 3 is not only among the best games on the Nintendo Entertainment System, it is one of the best games of all time. The original Super Mario Bros. game introduced a level of platforming quality and variety that the world hadn't really seen before and ushered in a new era of game design that would be copied and improved and enjoyed by people everywhere.

A sequel made it's way to Japan but not America, but America did get an enjoyable knockoff of a game in our own Super Mario Bros. 2. And with so many other platforming titles on the NES that were impressive and full of their own personal charm and character, it'd be hard to think that Nintendo would be able to outclass all platforming titles as handily as they did with Super Mario Bros. 3.

Super Mario Bros. 3 brings Mario back into the Mushroom Kingdom, using overworld maps to navigate through Worlds full of levels. Not only are there the usual numbered world-levels, there are castles, mushroom houses, pirate ships full of coins, roving encounters with Hammer Bros., etc. It's hard to think of a game that offered so much from the same era, yet was still a true platformer. And not only did it offer a large amount of content, the levels themselves are still the best designed collection of platform levels in a game. Some levels are simple but play well with the theme of the current World, and yet offer little hidden pipes and coins to find. Others provide unique challenges, from the moving track platforms, to Kuribo's shoe (one of the all time classic game mechanics) or the Angry Sun. At the end of each level is a sort of slot switch, and every set of three you trigger to close the level will be stored, and if you can match three of the same symbol, you are treated to a big firework-ish display and bonus extra lives. SMB 3 really does the little things like this well.

As I said, each of the 8 Worlds offers a unique theme, with different and pleasing music. Each level within the World tends to play with that theme in a perfect way. There's also a warp whistle mechanic, if you can find them, which allow you to skip levels. You can also trigger coin-laden pirate ships or match-game houses if you know how. Mushroom Houses give you an item. Castles contain a mini-boss and unlock a path in the World. Again, all of this is added to a game that would probably be a 10/10 if it were a linear set of numbered world-levels like the original Super Mario Bros.

At the end of each World is a big castle attached to a floating air ship level, at the end of which is a Koopa Kid boss, each with their own little tricks but all are fairly easy to defeat in roughly the same manner. It's a bit of a letdown how easy and kind of mindless the bosses in the game can be, but the overall effect of the airship leading up to the big battle pretty much wipes out any negativity you'd have to scrape to find.

Power-ups can be stored as inventory, so you can power-up Mario as you want to in the overworld. It's a terrific way to carry special items like P-Wings or the rare Tanooki Suit to whatever level you want to use it in, as well as just using a Fire Flower or Mushroom to get through a tough early section of a level. Power-ups don't go to waste! And they're pretty useful - Mario gets a leaf and becomes racoon Mario, capable of flying. It makes perfect sense! But it's a ton of fun, provides a new mechanic, opens up parts of levels, and gives Mario a melee attack as well. There are other usual Mario power-ups as well as a bunch of new ones fun to obtain and use.

The graphics are bright and colorful and capture what they intend to. The backgrounds aren't impressive and are often fairly bare, or flat out just black or blue with some clouds. Enemies are the typical surreal goons you'd expect from the Mario series. Many classic enemies/characters debut here as well.

Music in this game is awesome. Each little overworld tune is memorable, and the in-level music is always pretty good. There's a variety of songs used throughout the game and seem to fit the style of the level. The little sound effects are absolutely perfect. This game sounds precisely how it should in pretty much every way imaginable.

Sitting through and playing the game in one run can take a long time, which was perfectly acceptable (and standard) for the time it was released. The game effortlessly bears repeated playing, whether it is to unlock new secrets, or an attempt to be more complete, a speed-run, or just to plow through the game. It's satisfactory every time. Plus, there's a two player mode that has led many siblings to fight in the Mario Bros. classic mode over who gets the Mushroom House.

One of the all-time best games, Super Mario Bros. 3 is a classic that stands the test of time and is truly Mario's greatest adventure to this day.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/28/08

Game Release: Super Mario Bros. 3 (US, 02/12/90)