What's the most influential video game of all time? Arguably, it's Super Mario Bros. Released in 1985 for the NES (1983 in Japan as Super Mario Bros.), this game didn't just become a hit—it rescued the video game industry from the 1983 crash and set the template for every platformer that followed. Decades later, its core loop still feels magical: run, jump, stomp, repeat. But beneath that simplicity lies genius-level design.
Gameplay
You control Mario (or Luigi in two-player mode), a plumber from Brooklyn who finds himself in the Mushroom Kingdom after stumbling through a warp pipe. The goal is straightforward: navigate 32 side-scrolling worlds, defeat Bowser, and rescue Princess Peach. Along the way, you'll jump over pits, avoid enemies like Goombas and Koopas, discover hidden power-ups, and hunt for secret areas.
The controls are tight and responsive. Mario's momentum feels natural—you build speed when running, and jumps have weight. The start screen introduces the basics: B to run, A to jump. That's it. No complicated combos, no special meters. Just pure movement mastery.
Power-ups change everything:
- Super Mushroom – grows you bigger, giving you one extra hit
- Fire Flower – lets you throw fireballs (the best offensive tool)
- Starman – temporary invincibility, perfect for risky segments
- 1-Up Mushroom – extra life, often hidden in tricky places
The world structure is brilliant: 8 worlds, each with 4 levels (called "stages" or "courses"). Worlds 1-4 are relatively gentle introductions. Worlds 5-8 ramp up the challenge with more enemies, moving platforms, and tricky jumps. Hidden warp zones let you skip ahead—discovering these as a kid felt like uncovering state secrets.
Atmosphere
Super Mario Bros. looks deceptively simple, but every visual choice serves gameplay. The color palette is bright and cheerful—blues skies, green pipes, brown bricks—but also functional. Enemies stand out against the background. Hazards like lava pits and spikes are clearly visible.
The music is iconic. Koji Kondo's main theme is instantly recognizable worldwide. It's upbeat, energetic, and loops perfectly without getting tiresome. The underground theme, underwater theme, and castle music each evoke distinct moods while staying cohesive. Sound effects are equally memorable: the coin collection chime, the power-up "ding", the sad "die" sound—all communicate information instantly.
What strikes you when playing today is how confident the game feels. This wasn't a first-time developer's experiment; Nintendo had been making games for years. Every level feels hand-crafted, not randomly generated. There's always a hidden block above your head, a pipe leading to a bonus room, or a question block with a power-up just when you need it. The pacing is impeccable—you rarely feel stuck, but you also never feel hand-held.
Legacy
Super Mario Bros. didn't just spawn a franchise; it created an entire genre. Before Mario, platformers existed (Donkey Kong, Pitfall!), but Mario refined the formula into something accessible yet deep. Its influence is everywhere:
- Level design principles (challenge, reward, secrets) became the blueprint
- Power-up progression inspired countless RPG-action hybrids
- Overworld map structure adopted by dozens of series
- Cooperative play (2-player mode) set a standard for shared-screen gaming
The game sold over 40 million copies across various re-releases. It was bundled with the NES in North America, effectively teaching an entire generation how to play video games. Its success revived the post-crash industry and established Nintendo as a household name.
Culturally, Mario became a mascot not just for Nintendo but for gaming itself. The characters, music, and even the sound effects are part of our collective memory. Speedrunning culture thrives on Super Mario Bros.—the record for completing the game in under 5 minutes is a feat of precision that pushes human limits.
Why It Still Matters
In 2026, Super Mario Bros. remains a masterclass in game design. You can analyze it for hours and still find new details: enemy placement, pipe systems, hidden 1-Ups, world-progression shortcuts. It's simple enough for a child to pick up, deep enough for an adult to appreciate.
Playing it today, you notice the rough edges: no save feature, no diagonal shooting, limited continues. But these "limitations" forced creative solutions—the focus stayed on pure levelcraft rather than bloat.
If you've never played the original, do yourself a favor: fire up an emulator or browser version and experience the genesis of modern platforming. It's not just a museum piece; it's a living, breathing game that still delivers joy.
From a small Italian plumber to a global icon, Mario's journey began with a leap of faith—both in the game and in the players. That's why Super Mario Bros. isn't just a classic. It's the foundation.
This post is part of my nes series on Retro ROM. Explore the full series: NES Game Deep Dives
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