Developer (s)     Nintendo EAD

Publisher (s)      Nintendo

Platform (s)       Super Nintendo

Director (s)        Takashi Tezuka

Producer (s)      Shigeru Miyamoto

Genre (s)             Action, Platform

Mode (s)              Single Player, Multiplayer

Past

Release

Super Mario All Stars, a classic compilation of the four original Mario games that were released on the NES.

    NES Version (1985)     

     SNES Version (1993)

The compilation saw 16 bit remakes of the four Super Mario titles (comparisons above) in graphics and sound. It features Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 2, Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels.  It was re-released later with the addition of Super Nintendo’s Mario dynamite classic Super Mario World.

The years soon passed when we saw Super Mario All Stars re-released for its 25 year anniversary edition, released on the Nintendo Wii. It retained it’s original Super Nintendo port and was bundled with a soundtrack CD and a booklet that traces through Mario’s 25 year history.

Games

Super Mario Bros

The one that started it all. Right from the opening level we hear the Mario soundtrack kick in and it’s a tune we will never forget. Side scrolling through the 8 worlds with 4 levels per world saw Mario jumping on turtles and King Bowsers villainous Goomba’s using magic mushrooms, stars and fire flowers to rescue Princess Toadstool.

Super Mario Bros 2

Known as the reconverted Doki Doki Panic, the sequel to Super Mario Bros saw Mario pulling up objects, throwing it at enemies and taking on a new enemy, the Villanous frog known as Wart. This time round you could choose to play either Mario, his brother Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach.

Super Mario Bros 3

Known as the best selling game of the original NES trilogy. Mario’s 3rd outing saw Mario and Luigi embark on a quest to rescue Princess Peach and the rulers of the seven kingdoms from the villainous Bowser.

Mario Bros 3 changed its level design by adding a map system which featured the levels, bosses, secret locations and mini games – these mini games varied by matching three scrolling pictures and matching up cards in a ‘pairs’ type mini game. The well known power ups made a return from the magic mushroom, invincibility star, and fire flower. New power ups were added from the Super Leaf which gave Mario the ability to fly, and the Tanooki suit. Other suits include the frog suit and the hammer suit.

Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels

Pretty much an extension of the original Super Mario Bros. Adding an extremely high difficulty level, the poison mushroom and Luigi’s first character traits.

Present

Verdict

Overall, these four games are still great today as they were back in the day. The gameplay, graphics and sound still hold up as Nintendo’s greatest platformers of all time. There will always be time for Mario. There will always be time for Nintendo.

Future

With the Nintendo Switch out – this would be such a great opportunity to release Super Mario All Stars all over again to play on the go. It would also be an opportunity to include Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario World 2 and the original NES ports to create the ultimate Mario All Stars package. We will just have to wait and see what the future holds for this All Stars classic.