Mario Bros.

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Game Boy Advance e-reader version
Mario Bros.
Developer Nintendo R&D 1
Publisher Nintendo
System Arcade, NES, e-Reader, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Console (Wii, 3DS, Wii U), Nintendo Switch Various Non-Nintendo Systems
Release Date Arcade
JP July 14, 1983
US July 20, 1983
NES
JP September 9, 1983
US June 1985
EU September 1, 1986
e-Reader
US November 11, 2002
Game Boy Advance
JP May 21, 2004
Virtual Console
US November 19, 2006
EU December 8, 2006
JP December 12, 2006
3DS Virtual Console
JP May 8, 2013
PAL January 9, 2014
US January 30, 2014
Wii U Virtual Console
JP May 29, 2013
US/PAL June 30, 2013
Nintendo Switch
September 27, 2017
Gallery GH Gallery
Rating E

Mario Bros. is a two-player action game made by [Nintendo]] for the arcade. It is Mario's first game outside of the Donkey Kong series, and the game introduces his brother Luigi as well as the Shellcreeper enemy (which seemed to be a form of the Koopa Troopa, a staple enemy of the later Mario games) and coin-collecting. This game was popular even with the decline of the video game industry at the time, and has been often ported to other systems.

Gameplay

The first player controls Mario (while the second player, if any, controlled Luigi) in exterminating various types of pests which infested the sewers. The game was split up into various phases which was each cleared when every main enemy (the Shellcreepers, the Sidesteppers and the Fighter Flies) were eliminated. The enemies were all beaten in the same way, by jumping into the platform beneath them to flip them over onto their backs, then running up to them and kicking them away. There were also several other enemies (the fireballs and the Freezies) which did not have to be defeated in order to complete a level.

Legacy

This game is known for introducing Luigi and for featuring some elements that would later be incorporated into the Super Mario Bros. games. It is also known as a classic multiplayer game.

Ports and Remakes

  • In the 80's, Mario Bros. was ported to the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 7800, Atari 8-Bit, Apple II and Commodore 64. Most versions featured inferior graphics.
  • A Game & Watch game of the same name was released before the arcade game. This game was later ported to the Commodore 64 as Mario Bros. II.
  • Mario Bros. was released for the NES in the 80's. This version had less detailed sprites.
  • Mario Bros. appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 as the two-player Battle Mode. This version replaced the Shellcreepers with Spinies, likely so that players of the Super Mario Bros. games would not be confused into jumping on them.
  • An updated version of Mario Bros. was included in Super Mario Advance in 2001. This version allowed up to four players to play, with additions including items from later games and an appearance by an invincible Bowser as an obstacle in one of the multiplayer levels. This version was also included in Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World, Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Using the system's link cables, any two copies of these games could be used to play multiplayer Mario Bros..
  • In 2013, a version of the game known as Luigi Bros. was included as unlockable content in Super Mario 3D World. The primary difference in this version is that Mario is replaced by Luigi, who appears using his modern clothing colors. Luigi is still available as the second player, using his original clothing colors.
  • In 2017, the original Mario Bros. arcade game was released as a downloadable game for the Nintendo Switch as part of the Arcade Archives system.

Sequels

The Virtual Boy game Mario Clash was loosely based on Mario Bros..