Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
The North American box art
Information
Developer(s)	Nintendo
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Series	Super Mario Advance
Release date	Game Boy Advance: July 11, 2003 October 21, 2003 October 17, 2003 October 24, 2003 Virtual Console (Wii U): December 29, 2015 January 21, 2016 March 10, 2016 March 11, 2016 Nintendo Switch Online: February 9, 2023 February 8, 2023
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single-player, 2-4 players (Mario Bros. only)
Navigation
Predecessor	Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (2002)

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 is a remake of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Game Boy Advance. It was originally released in 2003, as the fourth and final installment of the Super Mario Advance series. The game is specifically based on the Super Mario All-Stars version, featuring similar graphics as it. Aside from this, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 featured additional enhancements, some of which includes Mario and Luigi receiving voice acting from Charles Martinet, the ability to scan cards into the e-Reader to unlock certain content, such as levels in the exclusive World-e, a different save feature, and a remake of Mario Bros., which had previously been included on the other Super Mario Advance titles. The Mario Bros. remake supports multiplayer, supporting up to four players. Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 features rumble support if played on a Game Boy Player.

In 2015, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 was released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in Japan, then in North America, Europe, and Australia in 2016. The biggest difference with this version is that every level in World-e is available in all releases, unlike the original North American version, in which only a select few were made available, whereas the e-Reader feature was absent from the original European version entirely. In 2023, the Wii U Virtual Console version was added to the line-up of Game Boy Advance games made available on Nintendo Switch Online (through the Expansion Pack).

Gameplay

A gameplay screenshot of Luigi in World 1-3, standing to the right of a Super Jump Block

The gameplay is mostly the same as earlier iterations of Super Mario Bros. 3. The player has the option of playing as either Mario or Luigi as they travel through various levels, most of which are sidescrolling but some are autoscrolling. Certain levels even have to be completed by progressing vertically. In a level, Mario or Luigi can use various basic moves along the way, such as running, jumping, and swimming. At the end of every level (except fortresses, castles, and airships) is a black background with a goal, and hitting it completes the level.

The levels are accessed from exploring various world maps. A level cannot be replayed after it has been completed, unless the player has completed the game. Hammer Bros. can be encountered on the world map, and walking to one forces Mario or Luigi into an Enemy Course where they have to fight one or two Hammer Bros.. The same is also possible for Fire Bros. and Boomerang Bros.

Save feature

During a playthrough, clearing a world is one of the few instances in which the player can permanently save their game

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 has a different save feature than the Super Mario All-Stars version in that permanent save points are only available from meeting certain objectives, including clearing a fortress level, defeating a Koopaling and therefore clearing a world, or the tank levels of Dark Land. In total, only 26 permanent save points are available during Mario and Luigi's adventure, seven from defeating a Koopaling, fifteen from clearing a fortress level, and four from clearing a tank level in Dark Land.

The player can freely create a temporary save point on the world map. The difference it has from a permanent save is that it is only single-use, so it would be erased if the player turns off the game and reopens the save file with the temporary save. Once the game has been completed, the temporary save feature is removed in favor of being able to permanently save at points where it was previously only possible to do temporary saves.

Power-ups

The power-up items are the same as in the original Super Mario Bros. 3.

• Super Mushroom: If Mario or Luigi are in their Small form, the Super Mushroom turns him into his Super form, allowing him to withstand another hit before reverting to Small form.
• Fire Flower: This turns Mario or Luigi into their Fire form, allowing him to shoot fireballs.
• Starman: This turns Mario or Luigi temporarily invincible.
• Super Leaf: This turns Mario or Luigi into their Raccoon form, which gives Mario or Luigi a tail to spin around and allows temporary flight if the P-Meter is full.
• Tanooki Suit: This is similar to the Super Leaf, but it turns either Mario or Luigi into their Tanooki form, which has the added effect of allowing Mario or Luigi to become a statue temporarily.
• Frog Suit: This turns Mario or Luigi into their Frog form, which gives them the ability to perform higher jumps and faster swimming.
• Hammer Suit: This turns Mario or Luigi into their Hammer form, allowing them to throw hammers.

World map items

A few items can only be used on the world map, all returning from the original Super Mario Bros. 3. They can only be used once.

• Recorder: Takes Mario or Luigi to the Warp Zone, where they have the choice to warp to either one of a few different worlds.
• Hammer: Can break a rock barrier on the world map.
• Lakitu's Cloud: Allows Mario or Luigi to skip past one level.

Gallery

To view Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3's image gallery, click here.

External links

• Title at MobyGames
• Title at GameFAQs