GENRE
	Platformer
	DEVELOPER
	Nintendo
	PUBLISHER
	Nintendo
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-2
	CONNECTIVITY
	No
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A lot of games deserve the title of "classic." But few games touch the world and become so deeply ingrained in our culture that they deserve the title of "legendary." Super Mario Bros. -- the game that arguably launched the Nintendo Entertainment System into international success -- is a game that truly deserves such status. Few other games have been so widely imitated or appealed to such a broad range of gamers, from casual to hardcore. But when you look through the haze of merchandizing and popular culture that made Mario a superstar back in the 80's, you'll find that the heart of it all is a charming, lovable game that may very well outlive us all in its popularity.

visuals

Of all the Classic NES games I played, Super Mario Brothers came out the worst in the graphics department. Squashing is readily apparent on several of the characters. Most tragically, Super Mario got squashed smack dab in the middle of his face; so many of the enemies look "close enough", but there's just no getting around the fact that you're going to spend most of the game controlling a mangled 8-bit sprite.

audio

Sing it with me. "Swing your arms, move from side to side, come on, it's time to go, do the Mario..." Audio is just about spot on, with all four classic tunes exactly in place, and all the goofy arcade noises to go along with the action. Best of all, there's no canned voice clips.

gameplay

Super Mario Bros. isn't just a platform game; it's the platform game. For a generation of gamers, this game defined what it meant to run and jump. It's the blueprint that paved the way for just about every side-scrolling action game ever created. And it's really fun to play, too.

The objective of the game is simple. You begin at one end of a level, and you have to cross to the other end. Along the way, you not only dodge enemies, but also spring across moving platforms and avoid pitfalls to keep from dying. You start out armed only with your famous jumping power -- most enemies will succumb to being stepped on -- but there are also powerups tucked away in blocks; if you hit them from below, something useful might pop out. Mushrooms make you larger and give you the power to smash bricks in your way. Fire flowers give you the power to spit fireballs. A rare Starman turns you temporarily invincible. There are 32 levels to conquer in all, and Princess Toadst--I mean, Peach -- is waiting for you to rescue her at the end of them. Classic stuff.

Super Mario Bros. boasts some clever level design that still holds up pretty well some 19 years later. Whether it's a pair of hopping Hammer Brothers, a long series of moving platforms, or a maze of rotating fire arms, the game is constantly confronting you with challenges that require good reflexes, coordination, and cunning. Many levels are sprinkled with secret passages, shortcuts, and hidden items -- a relatively untapped concept for its time. Some pipes lead to secret underground areas, vines take you up to bonus stages where you bounce around the clouds, and the cleverly-hidden Warp Zones allow you to skip entire worlds at a time. The depth of the game stands up pretty well to the test of time.

The thing that sets this incarnation of Super Mario Bros. apart from its appearances on most modern systems is the level of challenge. Although a save slot has been added, it's strictly to record your high score. You can't just save and restore your way to victory; if you want to beat the game, you have to finish it from the very beginning every time. Also, some newer versions of Super Mario Bros. give you a generous five lives from the start; this game only offers you three.

multiplayer

As far as multiplayer goes, Super Mario Bros. was never an especially exciting choice. Mario and Luigi take turns playing the game and never really interacting with each other. As such, the game offers a hot-seat two-player mode where you swap the Game Boy back and forth. If you really want, you can link up and play single-cartridge over the Game Link or wireless adaptor. If the connection's broken, both players can continue to play single-player, which might just be a preferable option; at least this way you and your friend can play simultaneously.

overall

There's no question in my mind: If you've never played Super Mario Bros., you can't call yourself a gamer. This is a pretty decent way to get to know Mario and Luigi, but there are flashier (Super Mario All-Stars) and deeper (Super Mario Bros. Deluxe) ways to do it. It's a no-brainer for anyone with even the slightest interest in the Classic NES series, and a solid recommendation to anyone else.

8.0/10