The original Super Mario Bros is probably the most influential video game in gaming history, with that said. It’s also a game that has seen various ports, remakes and general releases. Each one has something unique so I thought I’d go over each of the ports the original Super Mario Bros has. For consistency sake we’re also going ot include Super Mario Bros 2 Japan aka The Lost Levels here since their history is too intertwined and for the most part feels like an expansion pack.
Let’s begin with the original Super Mario Bros. 2 The Lost levels. Not made by Miyamoto, it is a difficult version of new levels of classic Super Mario Bros with Luigi having its own playstyle. We all know it. Some different sprites. Still surprised this never got an official release on the NES. I guess they thought it’d tarnish the brand if super mario bros for super players was released.
VS. Super Mario Bros.
The arcade version of Super Mario Bros, which actually came out before The Lost Levels so in a way The Lost levels is the arcade game port only making all original levels instead of having some levels from the original. The levels are more difficult since they add enemies or make platforming a bit trickier. While it seems like a remix of Super Mario Bros 1, it has some new levels which as I mentioned eventually came out on the Super Mario Bros sequel in Japan.
All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros.
Limited release based on a Japanese TV show but I’ll take a look at what makes this version special. While also a Remix of Super Mario Bros 1 and 2, it features the sprites of The Lost Levels in all levels. Also some worlds like World 1-1 take place at night which makes them super interesting to play in. Levels have dits like Vs SMB. It’s really a remix of both SMB 1 and 2. Some power up differences, sprite enemies for goombas and piranha plants are changed with the DJs. You also save the DJs in each castle. Most importantly you get an exclusive peach sprite wearing a Kimono. All levels have Super Mario Bros 2 physics and sprites even the ones based on Super Mario Bros 1.
25th Anniversary SUPER MARIO BROS. Speed Mario Bros. Super Mario 35 NES REMIX
only 25th anniversary themes Super Luigi Bros
I’ll talk about all these briefly. Super Mario Bros 35 was a battle royale type game where you played levels of Super Mario Bros with 35 other people and you could send enemies over to the other players, sorely missed after it was discontinued from the NSO service after the 35th anniversary ended sadly. Available pre-installed in red Wii’s for the 25th anniversary was a Virtual Console romhack that had 25th anniversary logos in the ? blocks. The next ones are all NES Remix related since they were included in the game.
NES Remix includes many level segements of Super Mario Bros 1 & 2 jp, some with remixes of the levels. I love the shadows and other details they added, too bad a full version like that couldn’t be played Super Luigi Bros deserves its own segment, here you play right to left which makes the entire game be more challenging. You do have Luigi’s higher jump and it’s a fun game, his quest in canon since when you reach the end you see that Mario had already arrived to rescue Princess Peach. Speed Mario Bros just plays faster, only other difference is when you beat the game you hear people clapping. .
BS Super Mario Collection (
map opverworld map, music , voice acting, istracting music and commentary loud, overworld cinemas mario 3 picture mode mario 3 menus,
Super Mario All Stars on SNES and Wii included a 16 bit remake of Super Mario Bros 1 & 2 with different physics. While awesome on its own since it let you finally see those levels with more detail…Let’s talk a bit about the Satellaview remix of this game, called BS Super Mario Collection. Each week you jumped through a map that had various levels from the remake of SMB 1 & 2. It had songs from Mario Hop! Step! Jump! and other songs from artists like Huey Lewi’s The Power of Love. 3 different overworlds, it had voice acting for the Mario characters, as well as little cinematic sequences of the adventure with the Mario cast and Super Mario Bros 3 style menus. A unique twist on Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros Deluxe
I want to end with what might be the definitive version of Super Mario Bros. At least in terms of content. Many people dismiss it since the screen is smaller which is a valid complaint. If you can overlook that, you have what is a love letter to the original games. They added cinematic scenes, a world map, photos you can print, additional quests in each level like the red coins and yoshi eggs that hatch a real Yoshi. Simple mini games, records, level select, Super Mario Bros 2 The Lost Levels, you name it and it’s all here. Luigi gets updated colors and physics. Vs Boo mode and multiplayer are great as well.
I didn’t include all the ROM dumps that Nintendo has done over the years like those on the Virtual Console or other devices. Like games where it’s been an easter egg, just original versions. Animal Crossing the screen crunched GBA version, Game & Watch is an entirely different game, etc.. I wanted to do a small tribute to all the original takes on the original Super Mario Bros, like the fan game Super Mario Remastered did. The Hudson games did get their own article.