Hello everybody! It's been a while since I've done a game review, hasn't it? Well, at any rate, let's begin!
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| Source: Wikipedia |
Super Mario Bros. 3 (1991, NES)
Developer: Nintendo R&D4
Publisher: Nintendo
Overview
Super Mario Bros. 3 was the last of the Super Mario Bros. games released for the NES, and indeed, until 2006's New Super Mario Bros. on the DS. Out of all the Super Mario Bros. games on the NES, it is indeed the most polished, containing four new powerups in addition to the two featured in the original (SMB2 is a bit of a difficult case to classify with the others, due in no small part to its diffent gameplay - which is still fun!) It was first released in Japan in late 1998, then in the US in early 1990, and here in Europe in mid-1991.
Story
The story of Super Mario Bros. 3 partially differs from what has now become the norm for Mario games - Bowser kidnapping Peach - and instead incorporates the then-new characters of the Koopalings. They steal the magic wands from the kings of each of the game's seven kingdoms and use them to wreak havoc across the world. Added in the remake, Super Mario Advance 4, is that - in the opening cutscene - Peach personally sends Mario and Luigi out on the task of saving the kingdoms. In the original, this part is kept to the manual. After beating World 7, the Pipe Maze, it is revealed that the wand antics were a ruse so that... Bowser could kidnap Peach. But I think I'll let them off for that, if only for the fact that this is only the second time Nintendo did that.
Story score: 6/10
The story is decently-written. It could be better, but then again, it could be worse.
The story is decently-written. It could be better, but then again, it could be worse.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Super Mario Bros. 3 is similar to that of the original Super Mario Bros. The game is a two-dimensional side-scrolling platformer. There are a few notable differences: you can now go back in a level if you missed something and the sprites are far more detailed, now boasting outlines and a new graphical style. See this comparison of green Koopa Troopas:
I'm not actually sure, but I think I should file sprite differences under gameplay.
There are four new powerups as well: the Frog Suit, the Super Leaf, the Hammer Suit and the Tanooki Suit.
The Super Leaf is the simplest. When
is pressed, Raccoon Mario swipes his tail. Raccoon Mario and Tanooki Mario can also fly by running until the P-meter on the bottom of the screen is filled and the jumping and repeatedly pressing
while in the sky. They can also float down safely by pressing A while airborne and when the P-meter is not filled. Tanooki Mario can also turn into an invincible statue by pressing and holding 
&.
is pressed, Raccoon Mario swipes his tail. Raccoon Mario and Tanooki Mario can also fly by running until the P-meter on the bottom of the screen is filled and the jumping and repeatedly pressingwhile in the sky. They can also float down safely by pressing A while airborne and when the P-meter is not filled. Tanooki Mario can also turn into an invincible statue by pressing and holding &.
Frog Mario can swim better that any other form in water by repeatedly pressing, but doesn't move well on land.
, but doesn't move well on land.
Hammer Mario can throw extremely damaging hammers with , but cannot slide down slopes (that's also a new addition in this game.)
Gameplay score: 8/10
, but cannot slide down slopes (that's also a new addition in this game.)Gameplay score: 8/10
The gameplay is fairly solid. I especially praise the addition of jumping out of water (no, that wasn't a thing in the original) and sliding down slopes.
Replay value
As a platformer game and not an RPG, Super Mario Bros. 3 naturally has a high replay value. It is slightly lowered by the fact that if you want to get to, say, World 6, you'd either have to find two fairly obscure Warp Whistles, use one to get to World 4 and then use the other one or play through the entirety of Worlds 1 through to 5. Still, if you start the game again after beating it, you do get an inventory full of P-Wings (they act like Super Leaves, transforming Mario into Raccoon Mario, except he can fly immediately), so there's that to consider.
Replay score: 7/10
Super Mario Bros. 3 has a high replay value. The only thing bringing it down is the impracticability of getting to worlds without using the Warp Whistle.
Overall scores
The scores are as follows:
Story... 6/10
Gameplay... 8/10
Replay... 7/10
So, this game recieves...
Replay score: 7/10
Super Mario Bros. 3 has a high replay value. The only thing bringing it down is the impracticability of getting to worlds without using the Warp Whistle.
Overall scores
The scores are as follows:
Story... 6/10
Gameplay... 8/10
Replay... 7/10
So, this game recieves...
Super Mario Bros. 3 is a well-made, fun retro game that has excellently stood the test of time and is as enjoyable now as it would have been 25 years ago (I'm just guessing, but that's only because I wasn't alive 25 years ago.) It's on the Nintendo eShop for both Wii U and 3DS - and will also be included on the Nintendo Classic Mini: NES that is set to release next month! So if you haven't already, now is as good as ever to give this amazing classic a try!
I just want to wish Michelle, my English teacher, a happy birthday for tomorrow.
And because I haven't yet, I'm wishing Sammy and Derek happy birthdays for Tuesday 20 September and Marta a happy birthday for Wednesday the 21st.
Also, I'm not actually sure if Mel is taking the job. But I will keep everyone updated!
And Mr. Persaud, my maths teacher is leaving. So goodbye, Mr. Persaud!
And finally, I made some posts on Instagram, so here they are:
Also... yes, I posted them at nearly 1am and yes, I did model all of my buttons after the ones on the GameCube.
Anyways, I will see everyone next week! So for now, bye!