We’re back!
After knocking out an even 20 to begin this feature, I took a short break, but with the full intent of returning to writing about some of the very greatest retro video games that I believe everyone should experience.
This was partly because there’s a looooooooong list of games I think earn that particular designation. There’s a whole lot to play, and I have a whole lot of thoughts to share.
But also, more immediately, I have a number of games that earned a 10/10 that we haven’t even discussed yet.
I don’t think you can produce a list like this and leave off 10/10 games, right?
Which brings us to No. 21 on the list. And for full disclosure, unlike my Top 20, from here on I won’t attempt to avoid returning to the same series or characters. If you’ve been following along (or even playing along), by now you’ve experienced a pretty wide range of games, 20-ish different series, characters and so on (I say “-ish” because let’s be honest, there’s some crossover in Mario Kart).
Variety is the spice of life as they say.
That said, it’s alright to go back to something that works really well.
And Super Mario Bros. 3 works really, patently, definitively, absurdly well.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Genre: Side-scrolling platformer
Released: 1990
Platform: NES
Electronic Gaming Monthly’s 2nd best console game of all-time
The original Super Mario Bros. was innovative in featuring a scrolling background and foreground, giving the lead character, Mario, new obstacles and power-ups to deal with in one continuous experience. Mario would jump on enemies to defeat them, have to progress within a certain time limit, and have the opportunity to “power up” in the form of growing bigger (to take more damage), throwing projectile “fireballs,” becoming invincible for a short time, or earning extra “lives” or chances.
That game, packaged with the NES (along with Duck Hunt), was the first “killer app” for the system and made it the kind of must-have gaming system that took over the industry and allowed Nintendo to become a giant in the field.
The backstory of Super Mario Bros. 3 is about what a person might guess. Mario 3 followed two immensely successful predecessors in the series, and it was therefore given all due importance and attention in development that arguably the biggest mascot in the entire world would demand.
A lot of the ideas here came about in spite of, or in many cases because of the limitations of the NES hardware at the time. At this stage of things, the Nintendo developers wanted to do things that seemed comically ambitious, like utilizing a ridable dinosaur or incorporating 3D elements, ideas that would gestate and bear fruit in later iterations.
What they could do was learn from and try to refine the games that had come before. And if they were lucky or had a little room left over, they could even add some window dressing.
One ambitious idea that made the cut was giving Mario the ability to fly, via the racoon tail/leaf power-up. They smartly balanced that particular ability, so that folks wouldn’t just bypass entire levels. This all was meant to be experienced, after all. (The “p-wing” power-up actually DID give folks the ability to bypass the level, but said power-up was decidedly rare and didn’t break the game.)
The breadth and variety of power-ups was genuinely impressive, and probably hardware-pushing in many respects. This was a massive improvement over previous games.
Likewise, the visual stylings were more varied and impressive. The aforementioned “window dressing” came about in a lot of ways, not least of all in some of the flairs — such as a theatrical presentation complete with curtain and play “actors” — and the sprites, that utilized not only a ton of different looks for Mario, but also for his chief enemies, which this time came in the form of the “Kooplings,” spawn of original enemy Bowser and each boasting a unique look and personality.
We take these things for granted, but think back to Mario 1, which had the same skinned Bowser at the end of every fourth level, or Mario 2, which recycled bosses like Birdo and Mouser over and over again.
Clearly, this game was pushing things further.
One big thing here that helped make the game feel more cinematic was its use of a world map between levels. This allowed the player to skip levels, break through barriers, avoid enemy confrontations, and so on, providing more strategy to the whole affair, but also giving the player more options in what felt like a bigger, better experience.
More options = more unique play-throughs = more reasons to play through again.
This game had a longevity to it that Mario 1 could only dream of.
Of course, things like level design and play control were refined as well. And, honestly it’s probably a little backwards to be listing those things last, since without them, this game wouldn’t have had the lasting appeal and modern relevance that it currently does.
Upon release, this game did big business, as well it should have. The marketing campaign even had a sort of mythical quality to it, as the hype over this game was built in the form of a cameo in the film “The Wizard,” western audience’s first glimpse of the game. I also recall a particular commercial with people standing and chanting and the camera panning out to reveal a gigantic Mario plastered across the globe that gave off the impression that this game would be the biggest thing ever.
Hubris? As it turns out, not really.
Go skim some of the “greatest games of all time” lists and see where this one ranks.
It holds up. It’s timeless. It’s Mario 3.
So what makes it worth playing today?
This was the second NES game I ever owned (behind the aforementioned Mario Bros./Duck Hunt combo pack-in), and though I had previously played it at friends’ houses, the experience of owning it and coming to explore and understand every nook and cranny of it is something that probably transcends eras.
Yes, games are easier to come by than ever. And entertainment options are overwhelming. Anyone with any kind of backlog will tell you that.
But the games that truly transcend the rest still manage to grab your attention and time at the expense of the others. The ups and downs and emotional investment provide the kind of meaningful experience that makes gaming worthwhile in the first place.
I lived absolute joy (and frustration!) playing Mario 3, continue to do so to this day, and judging by the game’s critical reaction (even to this day with modern gamers), Mario 3 has provided that enjoyment to countless others as well.
Plus, it has a Hammer Bros. suit.
Dave’s Score: 10/10
Check out the whole Retro Gaming Essentials list here!
How to play
- Original hardware (NES)
- Super Mario All-Stars (SNES)
- Super Mario Advance 4 (Gameboy Advance)
- Virtual Console (Wii, 3DS & WiiU)
- NES Classic Edition
- Nintendo Switch Online