Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros (スーパーマリオブラザーズ, Sūpā Mario Burazāzu?, sometimes referred to as 'Super Mario or SMB) is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo in late 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Super Mario Bros. featured gameplay that changed the way video games were created. It is the first console original in this genre to feature smooth-scrolling levels, which made it a landmark in home video-gaming.

Super Mario Bros. sports a "hero must save damsel in distress" storyline. The hero Mario, an Italian plumber, must save Princess Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom from the evil King Koopa (Later renamed Bowser. Mario is aided in his quest by his brother Luigi in two-player mode. In order to save Princess Toadstool, the Mario Bros. must conquer the eight worlds that comprise the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario (or Luigi) must make his way to the castle in each world and defeat one of the King's evil minions, thereby taking control of that world. In order to reach the castle, however, Mario or Luigi must battle through three "sub-worlds" by either destroying or avoiding [King Koopa]]'s henchmen. If Mario or Luigi successfully fights his way through the castle and defeats the evil minion, a Mushroom Retainer (later called Toad), is freed. Inside the eighth castle, the Mario Bros. will find Princess Toadstool.

Super Mario Bros. is the best selling video game of all time,[1] and was largely responsible for the initial success of the Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as ending the two year slump of video game sales in the United States after the video game crash of 1983. It has inspired countless imitators, two direct sequels, and many spinoffs, as well as an entire video game series, and was one of Shigeru Miyamoto's most influential early successes. The game starred the Italian plumber Mario and his brother Luigi. Mario went on to become Nintendo's most well known mascot. The theme music, by Koji Kondo, is recognized worldwide, even by those who have not played the game, and has been considered a representation for video game music in general.[2]

The game was succeeded by a direct sequel in Japan (later retitled Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels outside Japan), and by a slight revision of Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic that introduces Mario characters, elsewhere in the world. In both cases, the games are titled Super Mario Bros 2, causing both games to be re-released in different countries under different titles. There also have been many "alternate" versions of the game, such as All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros., which featured personalities from a famous Japanese radio show, as well as an arcade game. The success of Super Mario Bros. has caused it to be ported to almost every one of Nintendo's major gaming consoles, as well as the NEC PC-8801.

Gameplay
The player takes the role of Mario, or in the case of a second player, Mario's brother Luigi.[3] The object is to race through the Mushroom Kingdom, evade or eliminate Koopa's forces and save Princess Toadstool. The Mario Brothers' primary attack is simply jumping on top of ("Stomping") their enemies, which kills the mushroom traitors, known as Goombas, and sends the turtle soldiers, known as Koopa Troopas into their shells. Mario and Luigi can then kick these shells into other enemies, which will conveniently dispatch them. Conversely, kicked shells can bounce back off of walls or other vertical obstructions and hit Mario or Luigi, causing him to lose a life.If Mario or Luigi gets a mushroom, they will be able to take two hits before losing a life; collecting a fire flower grants the ability to throw fireballs, however Mario's maximum tolerance for hits remains 2 (the player does not, as in future games, revert to any preceding form of Super Mario, but only to his original pre-mushroom state). Some enemies cannot be killed by stomping; these enemies can only be killed by Turtle shell or fireball as stomping them will hurt the Mario Bros. Jumping on enough enemies in succession or kicking a shell into enough enemies in succession (combos) results in double points earned with each enemy killed, eventually earning Mario or Luigi a 1-up (an extra life). Mario and Luigi can also obtain 1-ups through finding 1-up mushrooms or by collecting 100 coins.

Power-ups
Aiding the Mario Brothers in their quest are several powers. Mario or Luigi can be hurt if either touches an enemy. If he takes a hit from an enemy as Super Mario/Luigi or Fire Mario/Luigi, he simply reverts to regular Mario/Luigi and the game continues. If he takes a hit as regular Mario, falls down a pit (regardless of status), or if the time clock runs out, he loses a life and starts again. The point where Mario continues from after losing a life depends on how far he ran through the level before dying: either from the very beginning or at an invisible "checkpoint" partway through the level. There are no checkpoints in castles or in world 8, the final world. Mario or Luigi can also collect a Starman and become invincible for a limited amount of time. Invincible Mario or Luigi is impervious to the touch of enemy characters and most obstacles and he can simply run into enemies to kill them. He will still die, however, if he falls in a pit, falls into lava, or if time runs out.

The game consists of eight worlds with four levels in each world. Though each world is different, the fourth sub-world is always a fortress or castle. At the end of each castle level, Mario or Luigi fights King Koopa. In the later worlds (worlds 6 to 8), King Koopa throws hammers as well as occasional jets of fire breath. King Koopa may be defeated in one of two ways: either by touching the axe at the edge of the bridge (thereby dropping him into the lava) or, as Fire Mario or Luigi, throwing fireballs at him to defeat him directly. The latter is the only way to receive points for the King's defeat.[15] At the end of each world save the last, Mario or Luigi is greeted with the words "Thank you Mario [or Luigi]! But our princess is in another castle!" spoken by a Mushroom Retainer.

After winning the game, the player is given the option to start the game again in "'Hard' Mode," where all Goombas are replaced by Buzzy Beetles (Koopa Troopa-like enemies who cannot be killed by fireballs) and all enemies' walking speed is increased. In addition, the elevator-style lifts are about 60% their original size throughout. There are also an increased number of hazards in the earlier worlds. For example, in World 1-3 random Bullet Bills fly across the screen, a danger that normally only appears in certain later levels, such as World 5-3.

Players may get to the beginning of any world with a relatively small amount of effort by using hidden warp zones in a number of levels. One is in level 1-2 and is reached by walking on the blocks at the top of the level passing the exit pipe. This zone allows Mario to skip to worlds 2, 3 and 4. The other two are in 4-2; one is reached in the same manner as the one in 1-2 but this only allows access to world 5. The other is reached through a beanstalk, and allows the player to skip ahead to worlds 6, 7, and 8.

Music
Koji Kondo wrote the musical score for Super Mario Bros. There are four main themes used in the original game:

* Overworld - The famous main theme; a Latin jazz score that matches the bright, cheery and fast-paced nature of the majority of the game's levels. * Underworld - A simple, minimalist jazz theme used in the underground levels. The Underworld theme has been used, in one form or another, in almost every Mario platformer. * Underwater - A slower, waltz theme used in the underwater levels. The same melody has been reused in the title screen of Super Mario Bros. 2, as well as the title screen of most Mario remakes. * Fortress - A fast-paced theme used in the castle levels.