|
|
It may be a port, but Super Mario Bros. 3 is still every bit as amazing as it was all those years ago.
Note: This review is based upon the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 3: Super Mario Advance 4. There may be some differences between this version and the final western release.
Introduction:
Mario is back! Super Mario Bros. 3 is widely regarded by many as the best Mario platformer of all time. Nintendo finally announced to a much-delighted audience during E3 that the fourth installation of the Super Mario Advance series of ports would be that very game. Released in Japan a couple of weeks ago, I got my hands on an imported copy and have played through the entire game.
Story:
Another Mario game, another elaborate attempt to kidnap the princess and take over the Mushroom Kingdom. Surely Bowser must have given up by now? As well as kidnapping the princess, Bowser has taken it upon himself to turn seven kings within the world into animals, he's also sent out his seven kids to protect each world and guard a rod. Taking the roll of Mario, the player must recover the seven magical rods in order to turn the kings back into their former selves, rescue to the princess, and ultimately defeat the evil Bowser once more.
Gameplay:
Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of those games that can be picked up and played without any difficulties. The key principles of any other Mario game are here: jump on enemies heads to dispose of them, collect a selection of unusual items to power Mario up, pass through piping to get to lower and higher parts of the level. So if this is game is 'just another Mario platformer', what makes it so highly regarded? The answer to that question: just about everything. Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the most refined platform games ever made. Excellent controls, great pick up and play factor, and some of the most cunning and brilliant level designs ever to grace a 2D platformer all contribute to making this one of the most loved Nintendo classics.
The structure of the game, like most of the other Mario titles, is split up into a number of different worlds that must be explored. These are set out so that although most levels have to be completed in sequence, the player is often presented with alternate routes through each world and can even miss out some levels altogether. Each of these worlds contains a wealth of levels, boss battles and minigames that can earn extra lives and items. With eight worlds in total and around ninety levels, there's plenty for the seasoned gamer to get their teeth into. Like many of the old platformers from the 8-bit generation, most of the levels featured in the game are pretty short, some only taking a minute or two to complete. Fortunately this isn't too much of a problem, as some of the later stages are incredibly challenging and take a good few attempts to master.
Whilst many of the levels are built using similar banks of tiles and textures, the actual physical design of each stage is quite different and varied. Most of the early levels are simple run and jump affairs, but Nintendo soon adds a good deal of variety. For starters there are the underwater stages, which are some of the hardest stages due to the way that Mario reacts when immersed in water. Another standard feature of the Mario series is the inclusion of forced-scrolling levels. There are a good number of these stages in Super Mario Bros. 3, and although they can be incredibly frustrating at times, they are always very intense and fun to play through. Other levels include those laden with lava pits and an entire ice world that is full of slippery obstacles. A good number of the later stages also have puzzle-like level designs that require the player to locate and pass through a number of doors in the correct sequence.
Complementing the awesome level design is a similarly great selection of powerups. Along with the standard invincibility star, mushroom (making Mario larger) and fire flower (which gives the power to throw fire balls) are such unusual items including the leaf, which allows Mario to grow a Raccoon tail and can be used to glide or fly. There are a number of other special powerups that must be obtained by completing a number of different minigames including a two-card pickup memory game and a guess the chest game. The bonuses available here include the Hammer Bros. suit that gives Mario the ability to throw hammers, and the Frog suit giving better swimming abilities. Additionally, various items that aid progress in the world maps such as the cloud (allowing a level to be skipped) and the hammer, which can be used to break certain progress blocking obstacles, can also be obtained from these bonus rooms.
One of the weaker aspects of Super Mario Bros. 3 is the design of the boss battles. In each world there are typically two or three boss fights. The first one or two of these fights generally always play the same, with a pretty easy boss that just runs from left to right, jumping occasionally and requiring three simple jumps on the head to be defeated. Likewise, the final bosses for each of the first seven worlds are all pretty similar and are pretty simple to beat. Usually the first part of the level leading up to the boss battle is more difficult than the fight itself, which is a shame, as some of the more recent Mario titles have offered some really innovative and challenging bosses. The final confrontation is, again, a slight letdown to the overall quality and challenge of the rest of the game, and although it's more challenging than the earlier bosses, once the player has figured out how to kill it they won't have much problem completing the game. Still, we mustn’t forget that this is an update of a game that is well over a decade old, and disappointing boss stages aside, it is still one of the most addictive and entertaining platformers ever created.
So what does Super Mario Advance 4 offer to those who have played the original many times before? Unfortunately, aside from the same old Mario Bros. arcade game there is relatively little on offer that wasn't included before. The main bonus on offer is the inclusion of various e-Reader exclusive features. Hidden away in the game's very Japanese menus is an option to enter e-World. By entering this world and scanning a number of special Super Mario Bros. 3 e-cards the player can unlock a number of bonus levels and minigames. One of the bonuses available is a remake of a level from the first Super Mario Bros. game using the tile set of Super Mario Bros. 3. The Japanese version of the game was shipped with one of these level cards, as well as an item card that gives the player an unlimited amount of the item pictured if it is repeatedly scanned through the e-Reader. Additional cards can also be purchased in packs from Japanese gaming stores. As a note of warning to those thinking of importing the game: to be able to unlock the e-Reader options in the Japanese version of Super Mario Advance 4 you'll also need a Japanese e-Reader +. Those who want to take full advantage of the e-Reader extras would be advised to wait for the western release of the game.
Multiplayer:
Much to the annoyance of Mario fans, Nintendo has once again included the original Mario Bros. arcade game as the multiplayer minigame. As usual, this game can be played in single-cart or multi-cart varieties with any of the previous Mario Advance titles. For those who have played the original Mario Bros. before, it's unlikely to offer too much to distract from the main game. Fortunately, Super Mario Bros. 3 also includes a great two-player mode. With just a single copy of the game and one Game Boy Advance, the main adventure can be played together with two people. In this two-player mode each player takes a turn to play through the next level and progress through the game. One player takes the role of Mario, the other plays as Luigi. The basics of the gameplay from the single player mode remain the same.
Lifespan:
With some 90 stages spread over 8 different worlds as well as the inclusion of the e-Reader exclusive world and features the game should last a good week or two until everything has been seen and completed. And make no mistake; you're not going to want to put this game down until every part of it has been revealed. Whilst the original Mario Bros. arcade game won't attract many people, the option to play the main game with two players will certainly be something to return to with a friend at a later date. A good number of warp rooms and other hidden extras have been included giving gamers further secrets to discover if they hadn't been discovered the first time through.
Graphics & Sound:
Admittedly, even though it is based on the Mario Allstars version than the NES original, Super Mario Advance. 3 does look a little dated by today's standards. That said, the charm of the relatively simple graphics and animations is what has given the early Mario games such longevity even compared to today's games.
Super Mario Bros. 3 is packed full of some of the most memorable Mario themes ever composed. The music has been perfectly ported across from the Mario Allstars version of the game and will have every player, both old and new, humming along to the tunes as they play. Like the other Mario Advance titles, Nintendo has once again included a few digitized snippets of voice for both Mario and Luigi, which fortunately, unlike the Super Mario Bros. 2 remake, don't grate on the player too much.
Closing Comments:
For first time players, Super Mario Bros. 3 comes highly recommended. You would have to look pretty hard to find a more polished and entertaining slice of platforming perfection. Whilst this remake might not offer veteran players many new features, the inclusion of the e-Reader bonuses is something that will not only boost sales of the underused e-Reader device, but it will also gives those who have played the game many times before something new to toy around with. Due to e-Reader compatibility issues, it would be advisable to wait for the western release of Super Mario Advance 4, but those who just can't wait and don't intend to take advantage of the e-Reader extras won't have any problems understanding and playing through the Japanese import version.
