Mario Brothers (1983) - Why Don't People Like It as Much as "Super Mario Brothers"?

[ColecoFan1981]

How many of you are actually fanatics of Mario and Luigi's first game together -- you know, the self explanatory Mario Brothers (1983)?

I can see this doesn't really have any fan credibility as its ultimate successor, 1985's "Super Mario Brothers," and part of the reason the '83 title was not successful was due to it being released on the verge of the video game crash.

The original console and computer ports were:
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 800XL and compatibles (400, 800, 600XL, 65XE, 130XE)
Apple II (unfinished and unreleased)
Commodore 64 (finished but not released)
Nintendo FamiCom (1983) / NES (1986)

It was released by Nintendo for its NES system in June 1986 (in Japan, for the FamiCom, 9/9/83). Its sole (audio) weakness was its title theme, which sounds like a reverse-engineered (or "Jimmy Hart version" or "Ice Ice Baby") version of Petula Clark's 1964 hit "Downtown." I'm fine with that Mozart "A Little Night Music" piece.

~Ben

[bigbacon]

there was also an atari 7800 version

[sloan]

I don't like it as well as SMB due to it being a single screen game, opposed to the scrolling worlds of the SMB platformer. To me, SMB just holds my interest much longer due to there being a variety of worlds to explore.

[Atarileaf]

I like it infinitely BETTER than SMB and its mainly BECAUSE its a one-screen game. Simple arcade fun, no princesses or bowser or magic mushrooms or any of that other stuff. Just a great classic arcade game. This and the original Donkey Kong games is when Mario peaked IMO.

[Atarileaf]

there was also an atari 7800 version

Yep, a pretty good version too. I'd love to find the Atari XE version but that ones hard to find and kinda rare.

[bigbacon]

it probably doesn't get what it deserves because of the single screen. By the time of the crash, I think single screen games were becoming well, old.

[Polygon]

I don't like it as well as SMB due to it being a single screen game, opposed to the scrolling worlds of the SMB platformer. To me, SMB just holds my interest much longer due to there being a variety of worlds to explore.

I would say that's probably the reason I don't like it as much. However, I love both games.

it probably doesn't get what it deserves because of the single screen. By the time of the crash, I think single screen games were becoming well, old.

An interesting theory, but it doesn't hold up as there are single screen games that are very popular. Games like Bubble Bobble and Bomberman come to mind.

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

I NEVER liked the original Mario Bros. game, I found it fairly boring and I'd much rather play any of the Super Mario games as opposed to this. No disrespect to those who liked this title though, I did know many who enjoyed the 2P aspect of Mario Bros. and I actually know people who still play it to this day.

[bigbacon]

I would say that's probably the reason I don't like it as much. However, I love both games.



An interesting theory, but it doesn't hold up as there are single screen games that are very popular. Games like Bubble Bobble and Bomberman come to mind.

Bubble is single screen, but it changes. To me that isn't so much single screen. Single screen to me is Pacman, mario bros, things like that.

[wiggyx]

An interesting theory, but it doesn't hold up as there are single screen games that are very popular. Games like Bubble Bobble and Bomberman come to mind.

There will always be exceptions. But generally speaking, single screen games had become passé.

[Graham Mitchell]

Mario bros. was the first video game I ever played and loved. Now I own the cabinet, so I'm a huge fan of it.

[frogofdeath]

The original console and computer ports were:
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 800XL and compatibles (400, 800, 600XL, 65XE, 130XE)
Apple II (unfinished and unreleased)
Commodore 64 (finished but not released)

I've definitely played an Apple II version. We had it on a good ol floppy, as well as a port of Donkey Kong and some other game that currently escapes my memory.

The game itself is alright, but not nearly as entertaining as other early arcade games (Donkey Kong, QBert, PacMan, etc...).

[XYXZYZ]

The first time I played Mario Bros. was at some place in Louisiana, I think. It must have been 1988 or 1989, I loved Super Mario Bros. but had never even heard of the original game. So I dropped my quarter and... WTF. It just made me want to play Super Mario Bros., actually.

[treismac]

I've got love for Mario Bros. but there is nothing in my heart for that game like there is for Super Mario Bros. Back in the day, I played the game mostly on the 2600 then the Commodore 64. This game, Donkey Kong, and, to a lesser extent, Popeye made Nintendo's name stick in the mind of pre-NES me. I've got the NES version now, and I mean to pick up the 7800 version eventually. One day I'd like to play Mario Bros. with my son.

It is worth noting that Kaettekita Mario Bros. on the Famicom Disk System is where it's at. Improved graphics and the ability to change direction midair makes all the difference in the world.

[FoxNtd]

Between the two SMB is better but Mario Bros. is still pretty good. I just wish there were more cycles of level patterns after Stage 9. It just stays the same forever even past 100 stages where the counter sort of rolls over.

It is worth noting that Kaettekita Mario Bros. on the Famicom Disk System is where it's at. Improved graphics and the ability to change direction midair makes all the difference in the world.

Yes!! After finding out about it I eventually found a copy of this gem and I must say that revised control scheme is very nice, but it's certainly countered by how much harder the game became. The invisible bonus stages are amusing and trying to keep tabs on those icicles dropping from platforms really makes the challenge soar. I used to be decent at regular Mario Bros. but the Return version kicks my ass. XD

[homerhomer]

Some of my opinions why SMB was bigger than the original MB

Why Super Mario did well.
SMB - Was a fresh new game, not that game you played in the arcades like 4 years ago
SMB - Was newer technology (Music while playing, Scrolling platformer, Amazing graphics)
SMB - Advanced story not familiar in console video games

Why Mario Bros didn't do so well
MB - Looked old compared to the new gen of NES games coming out,
MB - Was marketed part of the "Classic Series"
MB - Was not arcade perfect, SMB's graphics were, levels changed but who notices that?
MB - When the NES REALLY took off 88-90, the original Mario Bros was pretty old

BTW - I have the Original Mario Bros and I think it's great. Would love to get my hands on the Euro version though.

[davidbrit2]

MB - Was not arcade perfect, SMB's graphics were, levels changed but who notices that?

Actually, the FC/NES version of SMB came first, and the "Vs." arcade version came later, as a sort of advertisement for the home version, so I'm told. The arcade version basically runs on NES hardware (with a modified color palette), and the modified stages were intended to add some variety for those who had played the home version.

[ApolloBoy]

The original console and computer ports were:
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 800XL and compatibles (400, 800, 600XL, 65XE, 130XE)
Apple II (unfinished and unreleased)
Commodore 64 (finished but not released)

Why doesn't the Famicom version count as an "original" port, it was released at the same time as these other ports. Actually the Atari 8-bit version wouldn't count either since it was actually released in 1989 during the time of the XEGS. There was another version that was based on the 5200 port and planned for a 1984 release, but that never went through.

[ColecoFan1981]

Why doesn't the Famicom version count as an "original" port, it was released at the same time as these other ports. Actually the Atari 8-bit version wouldn't count either since it was actually released in 1989 during the time of the XEGS. There was another version that was based on the 5200 port and planned for a 1984 release, but that never went through.

Oh, I added that in the OP. Nintendo first released this game in Japan for its FamiCom console 9/9/83 and then to the American NES in June 1986, six months after SMB (and the NES itself) first went on real sales here.

Here's the first Atari 8-bit computer port (1983) of Mario Brothers:


The 5200 console version (1983):


The XE-GS computer version (1988):


I already realize that both the 5200 version and the first 8-bit computer version of MB are the same except the 5200 console version has, of course, the boot-up screen centric to all 5200 cartridge titles released by Atari.

~Ben

[Gamevet]

Here's the C-64 version of Mario Bros.