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| Super Mario Bros. | |
| Developer: | Nintendo |
| Publisher: | Nintendo |
| Designer: | Shigeru Miyamoto |
| Release date: | 1985 |
| Genre: | Platform game |
| Game modes: | Single player, multiplayer |
| Platform: | Famicom/ NES |
| Media: | 2- megabit cartridge |
Super Mario Bros. is a cartridge-based video game for the Nintendo Family ComputerThe Nintendo Family Computer , or Famicom is a video game console released by Nintendo in Japan. For more information on the North American, European and Australian versions of this console, see: Nintendo Entertainment System History Nintendo saw firsthan (Famicom) in JapanJapan (, Nippon/Nihon literally "the origin of the sun") is a country in East Asia situated on a chain of islands east of the Asian continent on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido , Honsh and the Nintendo Entertainment System in North AmericaNorth America is the third largest continent in area and the fourth ranked in population. It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocea and EuropeFor the band of the same name, see Europe (band . Europe is a continent forming the westermost part of the Eurasian supercontinent. Europe is bounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Se that made Mario famous. It featured the first appearance of Princess Peach Toadstool, King Bowser Koopa and other characters. The classic game is widely considered to have been one of the first side-scrolling platform games of its kind, introducing players to huge, bright, expansive worlds that changed the way video games were created, played, and perceived.
The game was directed by Shigeru Miyamoto, who created the Mario character. He has created many other famous Nintendo titles including Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, F-Zero, and Star Fox, among others. The famous music including the classic Mario theme was composed by Koji Kondo.
The player takes the role of Mario, or in the case of a second player, Mario's brother Luigi. The ultimate object is to race through the Mushroom Kingdom, eliminate Bowser's forces, and save Princess Toadstool.
Mario's primary attack is simply jumping on top of his enemies, which kill the mushroom traitors, Goombas, and send the turtle soldiers known as Koopa Troopas into their shells. Mario can then kick the shells into other enemies, which conveniently dispatch them; but conversely, can also bounce back and hit him. Jumping on enough enemies in succession, or kicking a shell into enough enemies in succession, double points earned with each enemy killed, eventually earning Mario a 1-up, an extra life and another chance to pass the level.
Aiding him in his quest are several power-ups, including the Super Mushroom, which would turn Mario into Super Mario, doubling his size; the Fire Flower, which turns Mario into Fiery Mario , allowing him to throw fireballs (though only attainable as Super Mario); Starman, which gives him temporary invincibility; and the 1-up Mushroom, which grants him an extra life.
If Mario takes a hit from an enemy as Super Mario or Fiery Mario, he simply reverts back to regular Mario and the game continues. However, if he takes a hit as regular Mario, falls down a pit (regardless of his status), or if the time clock runs out, he loses a life, and starts again, either from the beginning of the level or a set location that he had passed before dying, approximately halfway through the level.
The game consists of eight worlds with four sub-worlds, or levels, in each. The first sub-world is an above ground (overworld) level, the second is below ground (sometimes in water), the third is usually a sky level (if not, it is an above ground level like the first sub-world), and the fourth is a castle. At the end of each castle level, Mario fights Bowser across a bridge over a pool of lava.
The third and sixth worlds take place at night, and all other worlds take place during the day.
After beating the game, the player is given the option to start the game again in "Hard Mode", where all Goombas are replaced by Buzzy Beetle s (Koopa Troopa-like enemies who cannot be killed by fireballs), and all enemies walk faster.