Super Mario Bros. 3

"I want a pony, mommy!"

Mario makes his return to classic platforming in this game. Many consider this to be the best Mario game ever.

Game Play-
9/10

The game has the same game play as Super Mario Bros., but with new additions. There are now mini games, such as matching cards to get items and placing pictures together to earn lives. The game has new enhancements for Mario, such as the Raccoon Suit, the Frog Suit, and the Raccoon Tail. The game also introduces the world map.

If you are unfamiliar with Super Mario Bros. game play, here's how it goes. You go through a level, destroying enemies by jumping on them in a quest to rescue the Princess from Bowser. Mario can use a Mushroom to become big, a Fire Flower to shoot fireballs, a Star to become temporarily invincible, and a Raccoon Tail to fly along the way.

You also can collect items along the way. You get items from the card-matching minigame and from the treasure box minigame, which is where you open a box and you get the item that's in there. At the end of each world is a ship which you must go through. At the end of each ship, there is a boss. Defeat the boss and you get a magic wand to change the land's king back to normal.

Also, you collect coins along the way. Once you get 100 coins, you get an extra life. You also have a limited amount of time to complete the level. After you've beaten the level, you get either a star, flower, or mushroom. After you beat three levels, you get lives if you have three of the same item. The breakable block is introduced, which is a platform that breaks when headbutted. This game also introduces the power button, which is an item, when stepped on, turns breakable blocks into coins temporarily.

Control-
9/10

Another flying Raccoon Plumber? When are we ever going to see something unusual?

The characters don’t walk as slippery in this game as they did in the previous two. When Mario has a Raccoon Tail and he runs long enough, he can temporarily fly, enabling him to reach hidden places in the sky. And the basic Mario attack, jumping on enemy’s heads. The control is purposely slippery in the Ice world.

Graphics-
9/10

The graphics are really good for the NES. The levels are detailed and unique, the enemies look good, and everything looks cool. I preferred this game's graphics over the All-Stars version. The clouds in the sky look like little white blips. The platforms in the levels look weird. A lot of the platforms are big colored rectangles and squares. (Note: colors may vary) And some of the other blocks have wood patterns that look like cinnamon rolls. And in some levels, all of the blocks and platforms look like cinnamon rolls.

There is greenery in the background, but it looks like it was put together block by block. When you get to the end of the level and you reach the black screen, there are just lines in the background that look like pyramids. (They were pyramids in All-Stars) And in some levels, there are blocks that fall if you stand on them for a second. Those kinda look like donuts. And in some underground levels, the walls look like ice, but the water in the level isn’t frozen. And the background looks like outer space.

The worlds have their own distinct looks. One world is a desert, another is frozen, and another has giant enemies. The coins revolve and shine, except when you step on a power button. Those coins just stand still. The breakable blocks look golden and shine. It’s amazing how the color changes from this version to the All-Stars version.

Audio-
8/10

I preferred the music of this version to the All-Stars version also. The music sounds good, but I wanted more tracks in the game. I’m not greedy, okay, I am, but we all want more, whether it’s game music tracks, 150-packs of Rolos, or Cheetoh-flavored ice cubes. The dungeon music is a better version of the original Super Mario Bros. dungeon music. The sound effects are pretty much the same as in Super Mario Bros.

Enjoyability-
9/10

The most enjoyable NES platformer available. The game is cheap and fun. The game has no save system, but the challenge is to beat the entire game in one go. It is almost impossible, but that's a goal you just have to beat.

Score Rundown-

Game Play-9/10 – SWEET!
Control-9/10 – No more slip-ups while walking
Graphics-9/10 – Did Cinnabon advertise in this?
Audio-8/10 – Good music, but I wanted more tracks!
Enjoyability-9/10 – Try to beat it in one go.

Score-44/50

Percentage of Gaming Goodness-88%

Overall-
9/10

Doodleheimer's Recommendationitivity

The game is a must own for any NES owner. The game, on average, costs $15.00 less than Mario All-Stars. The game is a classic platformer, not to be forgotten ever. If you forget it, you’ll be hearing from me.

Street Price-$4.99

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/28/01, Updated 05/20/02