I've forgotten a whole lot of what I was up to at 4 years old, but my initial exposure to Super Mario Bros remains vividly etched into my earliest memories. While I may have encountered video games on prior occasions, Super Mario Bros legitimately felt like channeling into another reality and guiding a hero through an uncharted world. This wasn't the first 2D platformer, but it was the first to nail the formula: fast paced gameplay, engaging controls, and dozens of secret packed levels presented with fun graphics and catchy music. Super Mario's influence transformed side-scrollers into the most universally appealing console genre for a good decade.
No matter if you've yet to try it, or have been blowing in to your cartridge since the 80s, merely maneuvering Mario immediately presents a compelling experiencing. Retaining the weighty inertia of his rotund frame, the controls are slippery but fair as the difficulty ascends from generally challenging in World 1 to maddening by World 8. Merciful beyond their time, Nintendo aided players with hidden warp zones and a secret continue code. This living, breathing world feels packed with mystery and surprises. From the occasional chances to descend down pipes containing tiny bonus rooms to demolishing hundreds of destructible bricks hiding useful items, including vines which spirit away Mario to coin-filled heavens, one may wonder if all the secrets have been discovered.
Super Mario Bros debuted most of the core enemies, including goombas looking their most malevolent and Koopa Troopas I initially mistook for turkeys. Always an urgent threat, the unpredictable Hammer Brothers and pestering Lakitus felt like mini-bosses. The first seven King Koopas being revealed as a lesser enemy in disguise amplified the anticipation for the final showdown, which demanded months of practice, or a visit to a more skilled, likely older kid in the neighborhood capable of beating the game.
The simple graphics still generate ambience, conveying trepidation within stages surrounded by bottomless pits and the formidable aura of nocturnal enemies stalking the desolate night levels. Something that can be increasingly appreciated as the series evolves is how comparatively hostile the original Mushroom Kingdom is. There are no toad houses or NPCs for respite, or even the ability to backtrack within levels. The brief soundtrack maximizes its minutes. The above and underground tracks are iconic, while the empowering star theme, waltzing underwater piece, and grating music of Bowser's castle all instantly transform the mood.
Super Mario Bros may be comparatively archaic when measured against practically every sequel, but still contains the magical essence which made the series so renowned, and this particular game the most iconic. The engaging physics and straightforward design arguably makes it superior to the more varied, but less controllable Super Mario Land or just plain odd Super Mario USA. In rare company with the likes of Asteroids and Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros still holds its own despite its antiquity. Captivating the world upon its 1985 debut, it still manages to challenge and charm over 40 years later.
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