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Few games have achieved the level of success and lasting influence seen with Nintendo’s 1985 hit Super Mario Bros. One of the most iconic titles of all time, it revolutionized not only the platforming genre, but video gaming as a whole
The game can be played as either a single-player experience or a second player can join, taking turns a cooperative partner. Player one assumes the role of Mario, and player two is Luigi – a brotherly duo of Italian plumbers on an adventure through the charmingly strange Mushroom Kingdom to save the Princess Toadstool. Got that? Doesn’t matter because the gameplay is what wins players over.
With eight worlds to power through (each of which contain four levels), the goal is to move from left to right, avoiding pits and enemies while finding helpful power-ups and hidden secrets. Pipes found throughout the levels will sometimes transport Mario to hidden areas or shortcuts. Platforming is tight and extremely enjoyable, setting a control standard that countless games would use moving forward. Environments are varied to feature the occasional swimming level and a castle at the end of each world, where Mario faces off against King Koopa (now known as Bowser), the spiked turtle-esque villain responsible for the princess’ kidnapping.
While this was technically not the brothers’ first romp, it was certainly their most ambitious to date. Mario made his debut in the 1981 arcade hit Donkey Kong, where he was simply known as Jumpman. Two years later, he reemerged in Mario Bros., a cooperative arcade game that also introduced his brother Luigi. While enjoyable it its own right, it was certainly the mass hysteria caused by Super Mario Bros. that cemented the duo’s place in pop culture. Nintendo’s decision to include the game with console bundles helped ensure their up-and-coming mascot was well ingrained into the consciousness of an entire generation. Within five years of its release, Mario was said to be more recognizable to children than Mickey Mouse.
As of this writing, the Super Mario franchise is still thriving with a full length feature film only weeks away from releasing. The most recent mainline video game entry, Super Mario Odyssey has enjoyed both commercial and critical success, and the overarching Mario universe is responsible for dozens upon dozens of releases including RPGs, sports titles, tournament fighters, and kart racers.
