Super Mario Bros. Review

By Charles

Super Mario Bros. is THE classic game and my website wouldn't be complete without it. I tried my best to bring some unique ideas to the table. Enjoy!

August 11, 2025

Super Mario Bros.

NES, 1985 ~$900 sealed ~$300 used

PRESENTATION

CONTROLS

FUN FACTOR

CONTENT

The graphics are iconic and the tile-based system is really great and makes it clear where Mario has to go. The music is amazing and never gets boring, despite there only being 4 level themes. I think this is thanks to the abundance of sound effects and short levels. Although the simplicity of the graphics help make the game clear, later NES titles showed that you could get away with more detailed sprites without confusion. I also don't like how many enemies use the background layer as a colour. It's clever, but I find it looks dated and unpolished.

7

The controls set the standard for platformers, Mario always does what you expect him to and skilled players are able to maneuver around levels easily. Despite this, 1985 Mario still feels slow and heavy compared to modern platformers. I think this is more of a compliment to modern games than a knock on this one as I got used to the controls after a while. One thing I think Nintendo got perfectly on the first try is the Power-ups. The Fire Flower is reliable and easy to use, and it's so much fun to run around with the Starman.

8

The difficulty curve of the game is perfect, starting off very easy but slowly getting more and more difficult. Even expert gamers will have trouble making it through Worlds 7 and 8 without dying a few times. Warp Zones and other secrets do a great job of increasing replay value and speedrun potential. Unfortunately, these facts don't take away from the fact that the game is short. There are only 32 levels, and some in the middle of the game are repeats. There is a Hard mode you unlock by beating the main game, but aside from Goombas being replaced by Buzzy Beetles, you barely notice the difference.

6

WORTH THE MONEY?

I think any gaming fan should try this game if they have the means to do so. It's one of the most iconic and important games ever made, and it's a lot of fun.

/40

31

Nintendo Switch Online NES

Virtual Console Wii WiiU 3DS

WORTH THE TIME?

Super Mario Bros. might be the most iconic game ever made, and I understand why. Even though it's short and simple compared to modern games, it's still really fun. The short length means that you can replay the game over and over again to find the optimal routes. Nintendo really got the essential Mario experience right on the first game. Later entries have extra features, like a World Map, secret exits, and Star Coins, but Super Mario Bros. is still the quintessential platformer. Although it is lacking in some areas, the developers focused on making the game fun, and they succeeded.

10

The original version is only worth the money for collectors. Get it graded instead of playing it. It's really easy to try the game on Nintendo Switch Online, which I would recommend to any Switch owner.

NES Classic Edition