SMB3 Vs SMW

[ReTrO-pLaYeR]

Two epic games in the Mario timeline- Super Mario Brothers 3 and Super Mario World. One epic question- which one is better? For many, this is an incredibly tough question to answer- so feel free to debate and state your reasons for the better title.

For me, the better of these two is probably Super Mario Bros.3. It had brought so many new elements to the table-zany powerups, the map screen, the koopa kids and gambling houses. Super Mario World hardly did anything more than just update the graphics and throw in Yoshi and two extra challenge worlds. The designs in Super Mario Bros.3 were also noticeably better. Aside from the traditional Grass,Desert and Snow worlds we had gotten more interesting levels. For example, one world featured huge monsters and another a tower in which you needed to climb in order to reach the sky levels. There's also the airships and battle scenes to consider.

[Leo_A]

They're both excellent games, but Super Mario World edges it out.

[Urzu402]

I say Super Mario World. because I enjoyed finding the hidden exits to the levels greatly, and Yoshi!

[DuckTalesNES]

Easy, Super Mario Bros. 3. Just think about which game you'd rather go play right now.

[buzz_n64]

What are you doing to me?!?!? I can't decide! That's like saying, would you rather have $5 or $5, or what kid you love more. They're both great, screw you for making me choose. No!!!!

[ConsoleAddict]

Super Mario Brothers 3 and Super Mario World are the two games that provided the templates for New Super Mario Brothers on the DS and the Wii. There's very little originality in the 21st century classic side-scrolling Mario games but when you've got these two titans of gaming to crib from, why bother messing with success?

Of the two, I would pick SMB3. SMW was a game that I played to perfection over and over again but it just doesn't have the variety, the toughness and the originality that SMB3 brought to the table. It's a tougher game and finding all its secrets will take some time.

Of course, I prefer the Super Nintendo version of SMB3 found on the All-Stars game cartridge or the Game Boy Advance. It has the save system that the NES version sorely needed.

[Baloo]

I prefer Super Mario Bros 3. Better music, better and more suits, and the levels were slightly more diverse compared to Super Mario World.

[Eyedunno]

The SNES is my favorite console ever. But SMB3 is the best game on the NES, and I have to say, it has the edge here. I just prefer SMB3's level design overall. But yeah, it is a really close call.

[todesengel]

Super Mario Bros. 3 for me, my favorite one of the classic Mario game's.

[kupomogli]

Super Mario World is too flat after the multilayered stages of Super Mario Bros. 3.

You should have made Super Mario Bros. 3 vs Yoshi's Island.

[DigitalSpace]

Super Mario World. Super Mario Bros. 3 is my favorite NES game... but SMW is my second favorite game of all time.

(And those of you who have seen my posts in most of the recent SNES threads already know the first one.)

[Jorpho]

Super Mario World. SMB3 was actually needlessly complex at times. I wouldn't even say the suits were that great; there's just too few opportunities to get the Hammer Bros. Suit, for example, and the Frog Suit had painfully limited applicability.

[Fatalstar64]

SMB3 and not even because it's a flat out better game I think it's just nostalgia because I didn't play Super Mario world until recently and I have fond memories of 3.

[Voliko]

SMB 3. SMW is way too easy and the level design in 3 is better. I do love the secret world in SMW though.

Also, hearing the same theme being remixed in SMW so many times gets tiring.

[Push Upstairs]

Always SMB3.

[NEOFREAK9189]

it is a really close call but super mario 3 nes version my favorite but I love Super Mario World
also I just got super mario all star + Super Mario World cart

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr261/neomatrix01/SDC13037.jpg

[Thrillo]

Of the two, I would pick SMB3. SMW was a game that I played to perfection over and over again but it just doesn't have the variety, the toughness and the originality that SMB3 brought to the table. It's a tougher game and finding all its secrets will take some time.
Yeah, I played through SMB3 hundreds of times, so I thought I played through every line of code and knew EVERY single secret in SMB3. Then I got stationed in Japan in '06 and bought a 1980's SMB3 hint book there (in Kanji, but with tons of detailed illustrations to make up for it).
Let's just say I was humbled, the Japanese found out nearly every cheat and exploit back in the '80s, while we were still finding them last decade. It blew my mind to see things I had never seen before.
SMB3: the gift that keeps on giving!

[Rob2600]

I prefer Super Mario World, mainly because it saves my progress. I don't have to find and complete all 96 levels in one sitting. Super Mario Bros. 3 is great, but even with warping, it's too long and difficult to finish in one sitting.

[RP2A03]

SMB3 for me. While SMW is an excellent game, there is something about SMB3 that is more magical.


I prefer Super Mario World, mainly because it saves my progress. I don't have to find and complete all 96 levels in one sitting. Super Mario Bros. 3 is great, but even with warping, it's too long and difficult to finish in one sitting.

Actually completing all the stages in SMB3 is easily accomplished in about three and a half hours at a leisurely pace.

[grolt]

Love both, but I got tired of the later levels in SMB3. The overworld layouts were a clutter, and a lot of the different suits didn't really payoff well enough, as mentioned here prior. SMW, on the other hand, hand a wonderful layout. The way you could branch through multiple paths, and even carve out secret ones was really well devised. I was amazed back in the day by just how many secrets were crammed into the game. I found myself playing levels over and over and over just to see if I had gotten everything, because it was one of those games where you knew the makers really went the extra mile to fuss over the details. Adding Yoshi and the POW boxes added further variety to the Mario format, and yeah, having saves, scaling effects and multiple level layers (like when you would crawl on the fence and punch "through" the doors to scale the other side) were other notable upgrades. Overall, though SMW was just a more polished package and one that should win out over SMB3 all nostalgia set aside.

[ShinobiMan]

Super Mario Bros. 3 is great, but even with warping, it's too long and difficult to finish in one sitting.

Are you warping effectively? All it takes is 2 warp whistles to arrive at World 8. I can finish the game in under an hour using warps.

I have to go with Super Mario World. It's just such a beautifully designed game. There was so much to do and unlock, including the Special Stages, that for me it does indeed edge out SMB3. Great poll!

[AB Positive]

I gotta go with Mario 3. World is great, but SMB3 is so ingrained in my memory I could probably beat it blindfolded.

[Trumpman]

Definitely have to go with World here - it might be my favorite game of all time. I've never been able to get into 3 for some reason.

[Zthun]

SMW has better levels, but SMB3 had hammer bros suit!

[RPG_Fanatic]

Super Mario World, It's the best mario game ever made. :hail:

[PresidentLeever]

Kuribo's Shoe guys. Kuribo's Shoe!

[Lady Jaye]

SMB3 for me. I first played it on a pirate Famicom cart (which was easily found in Montreal back in the day).

[chrisbid]

smb3 is the better game
smw has better features

newer versions of smb3 with game saves and the ability to replay stages are the way to go

[TheClash603]

SMW is the better game.

More variety, secret exits, introduction of ghost houses, saves, Yoshi.

This was an easy question. A hard question would be Mario 64 or SMW.

[The 1 2 P]

I've never played thru SMW but it would have to be super awesome to be better than SMB3. Thats pretty much the best Mario game ever made.

[gamedude45]

I voted for Super Mario World don't get me wrong I love Super Mario Bros. 3 but to me the star road and Yoshi put Super Mario World just above SMB3.

[Jorpho]

This was an easy question. A hard question would be Mario 64 or SMW.You could argue that they're sufficiently different that it's not really valid to say that one is "better" than the other, but I think that comes down pretty easily on the SMW side. The larger number of levels just allows for that much more variety.

I really ought to check out the GBA version of SMW sometime. With the color restoration patch (http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/470/), of course. The extra challenge provided by having the Dragon Coins actually get tracked is very tempting.

[Rickstilwell1]

I chose Super Mario World because it allows you to play any normal stage at will except for the castles, adding in a nice level select feature once you've completed the game. Having to clear certain levels twice makes the game longer. There are 9 worlds instead of 8 like in Super Mario Bros. 3. Though the amount of hits to die when powered up is reduced back down to two, the item stock makes up for it. Switching from cape to fireball at will using item stock is very good. Yoshi adds extra fun to the game and since Yoshi later became a major character with his own games, this title is groundbreaking in the sense that it was his beginning. The cape can do things that the racoon tail cannot, such as sustain Mario in the air infinitely as long as you keep the rhytm. The cape also has more attack range than the tail, making it easier to hit enemies without risking safety. The spin jump is also a welcome feature as it makes its debut here. The in-game physics also seem smoother than the physics in the original version of Super Mario Bros. 3.

When it comes down to remakes, Super Mario Bros. 3 improves its physics and allows world select but still no individual stage select. Not until Game Boy Advance. To go alongside that though, the Game Boy Advance version of Super Mario World allows replaying of castles, making it even better than it was before.

I also like the SMW sprites better than the original or remade SMB 3 sprites.

Where Super Mario Bros. 3 does shine is music. There is more variety, but both have good music. It would be interesting to see what Super Mario Bros. 3 would look like on the SNES version with Super Mario World graphics and vice versa.

[Leo_A]

I chose Super Mario World because it allows you to play any normal stage at will except for the castles.

Those can be replayed at any time. As I recall, just press L & R when entering one after it's been defeated.

[vxkens]

The day I got my Super Nintendo and played SMW for 8 hours straight is one of the most treasured moments of my childhood. I've never had so much pure fun playing a video game, either before or after.

Super Mario 3 was a great game, but it never gave me that same feeling. Maybe it had something to do with owning a 16-bit system for the first time.

One thing about SMW though is it's loads easier. It was probably the first Mario game where they really started to dumb down the difficulty. Yoshi's Island excluded, just about ever Mario platformer since then has adopted the baby-ish difficulty level and curve of SMW.

[Peonpiate]

SM3 for me. I enjoyed SMW aswell, but the level design isnt close to being as good as 3's is. The downside as someone else said is world 8 which does feel like it was rushed out, but thats not enough to hold back the other 7/8ths of the game which I feel is side scrolling perfection to this day.

[Jorpho]

One thing about SMW though is it's loads easier. It was probably the first Mario game where they really started to dumb down the difficulty. Yoshi's Island excluded, just about ever Mario platformer since then has adopted the baby-ish difficulty level and curve of SMW.Technically, the only 2D Mario platformers released after SMW were Yoshi's Island, New Super Mario Bros and New Super Mario Bros Wii.

And if you're going to talk 3D platformers, there has been much grousing over the difficulty of Sunshine.

[buzz_n64]

Technically, the only 2D Mario platformers released after SMW were Yoshi's Island, New Super Mario Bros and New Super Mario Bros Wii.

And if you're going to talk 3D platformers, there has been much grousing over the difficulty of Sunshine.

Well, since you counted New Super Mario Bros. for DS, don't forget Super Mario Land 2, Donkey Kong (GB), Mario vs. Donkey Kong... All 2D Mario platformers released after SMW.

[vxkens]

Technically, the only 2D Mario platformers released after SMW were Yoshi's Island, New Super Mario Bros and New Super Mario Bros Wii.

And if you're going to talk 3D platformers, there has been much grousing over the difficulty of Sunshine.

I'm speaking platformers in general, both 2d and 3d. Ever since SMW, Mario games have been designed to be very easy to finish straight up, but with hard bits tacked on "post-game" for 100% completionists. Mario 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, and NSMB DS all follow this convention. Actually Yoshi's Island might have been this way too, but I recall there being some very difficult levels in that one... can't remember if they were post-game or not.

Also, I'll admit that I haven't played NSMB Wii, so I can't comment on that.

I always thought Sunshine was quite an easy game to complete. You only need what, 60 shines? Some of the void levels were difficult, but the game is usually generous with the 1-ups in those situations so you get unlimited chances. Generally the game is a breeze.

[Push Upstairs]

I don't know if I would consider SML2 "dumbed down", I mean, "Super Mario Land" doesn't exactly cause me to break a sweat.

And this talk of easy 1-up's failed to take into account how easy it is in SMB3 to rack up tons of lives. I've never fished the game without at least 60 lives.

[Aussie2B]

I have a feeling we've had a poll like this before, but I'm too lazy at the moment to do a search. :P

Anyway, it's an easy choice for me: SMB3. I didn't play SMW through for the first time until a few years ago, and while some may argue nostalgia is making my choice, I don't think so because I constantly play older games that are new to me and I have no problem falling in love with them and even ranking them above childhood games. The real reason SMW doesn't come close is most of all the fact that it's so dang easy. Really, not much about the game has stuck with me, and I blame the fact that I blew through it like nothing, even getting all 96 exits. Even the so-called "difficult" secret world stages barely presented a challenge. SMB3 puts up a healthy challenge in many parts, especially if you play the Japanese version. Unlike SMW, I can still picture most of its stages in my head, and they're also so inventive too, more so than SMW I'd say. Some things stylistically about SMW don't sit right with me either. Like the football-themed enemies are just odd and feel out of place. Never really cared much about Yoshi either or the physics of cape-flying.

Don't get me wrong, Super Mario World is a fantastic game, but it doesn't come close to outshining SMB3.

[LaughingElfMan]

SMB3. I played both games as a kid and loved them both, but I've always felt that SMW was too easy.

[Jorpho]

I always thought Sunshine was quite an easy game to complete. You only need what, 60 shines?Well, if you're going to talk like that, you might as well say that SMB3 is a short game since you can warp to World 8 after just a couple of levels in World 1.

I think a lot of the discrepancy here is that if you play SMW after mastering SMB3 pretty thoroughly, then no, it probably isn't going to put up much of a challenge - but then, neither would SMB3.

[Push Upstairs]

I think I choked a bit in World 8 in SMB3 (meaning I actually died a few times) but I'm also out of practice.

Then again, I can *still* play Worlds 1-4 with machine-like precision.

[kupomogli]

Well, if you're going to talk like that, you might as well say that SMB3 is a short game since you can warp to World 8 after just a couple of levels in World 1.

You actually need to get to atleast World 2 before you can Warp to World 8. On World 1 you only get two warp whistles. One from stage 3 and one from the castle.

Warping from World 1 will allow you to warp to World 2, 3, or 4. Warping from any World 2, 3, or 4, will allow you to warp to Worlds 5, 6, or 7, and any of those will allow you to warp to level 8. So from World 1 you atleast need three whistles, which you can't get, but from the first stage in World 2, two whistles is just enough.

[Jorpho]

Warping from World 1 will allow you to warp to World 2, 3, or 4. Warping from any World 2, 3, or 4, will allow you to warp to Worlds 5, 6, or 7, and any of those will allow you to warp to level 8. So from World 1 you atleast need three whistles, which you can't get, but from the first stage in World 2, two whistles is just enough.

I think we've had this conversation before.

If you use one warp whistle in World 1, and then use another whistle while in the Warp Zone, rather than World 5, 6, 7 you will be able to go to World 8.

Observe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4_YhaAjEok#t=1m55s

[Push Upstairs]

That person didn't even attempt to swim under the boats.

[hbkprm]

theyre both good but ull get the most out of the money with smb 3

[Zap!]

I prefer Super Mario World. To me at least, the "save" feature makes a huge difference, and pushes it over the edge.

[Leo_A]

I think we've had this conversation before.

If you use one warp whistle in World 1, and then use another whistle while in the Warp Zone, rather than World 5, 6, 7 you will be able to go to World 8.

Observe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4_YhaAjEok#t=1m55s

How'd he get the second warp whistle? It looks like he jumps up to collect the powerup and just appears in a secret room where he can get a second one. Never had that happen to me.

What's the trick?

[Jorpho]

What's the trick?The trick is that the timer jumps from 294 to 290. :p It is not a well-recorded speed run.

[Leo_A]

So there's 4 seconds missing?

How does he get the second warp whistle? I was unaware that there was more then one warp whistle in world 1.

Edit - Nevermind, watched a different speed run. I never knew about this until now. Will be nice to know for the next time I play and want to skip further into the game.

[pseudonym]

There's three in the game. Two in the first world and one in the second. I don't want to spoil the fun if you don't already know where they're found.

Also, SMB 3 for the win.

[buzz_n64]

How'd he get the second warp whistle? It looks like he jumps up to collect the powerup and just appears in a secret room where he can get a second one. Never had that happen to me.

What's the trick?

One whistle at the Ghost House by flying up, and entering the secret room. One whistle in level 1-3 by pressing down on the white block, and running to the end of the level while behind objects. Then beat world 1. Once in world 2, warp to the warp screen. Once in the warp screen, warp again, then you go straight to world 8.

[Leo_A]

Thanks

I already know about the other two and have for years. And as the edit I made a half hour ago shows, I watched a video to discover how to get the one from the world 1 fortress that was edited out of the video someone posted.

[Gavica]

smb3 had a bigger cultural impact and was far more anticipated.

/end of story

[buzz_n64]

I LOVE both games, and have played both for hours and hours. Originally I couldn't decide, but thanks to resurfacing memories and compeling arguments, I now have decided I like Super Mario World better. Larger levels, more levels, more enemies, more almost everything. The introduction of Yoshi, the best flying power up out of all Mario games that can be sustained based on skill. I remember uncovering levels as I went on, the changing of the geographical area as I progressed. Getting 96 on SMW was an awesome feeling that I wish SMB3 had.

SMB3 has it's advantages as well.
Multiple suits/shoe.
Big world.
2 player mini games.
Toad's house.

[Breetai]

So there's 4 seconds missing?

How does he get the second warp whistle? I was unaware that there was more then one warp whistle in world 1.

Edit - Nevermind, watched a different speed run. I never knew about this until now. Will be nice to know for the next time I play and want to skip further into the game.

You've never seen The Wizard? How is that possible???

[DDCecil]

Both are great, but I'll have to give the edge to SMW after hacking it for 4+ years, giving me some newfound respect for it.

[pseudonym]

Specific reasons that I think SMB3 > SMW,

-More variety and more interesting level design.
-More difficult. I think that's it's hard to actually die in SMW unless you do something stupid; the cape and to a less extent, Yoshi make the game pretty easy when you can just fly over everything and use Yoshi as an effective third hit among other things throughout the game. Really, the only levels that are actually hard are a couple of the special levels and Soda Lake.

[Jorpho]

When I was wee and inexperienced, SMW was plenty difficult enough.


You've never seen The Wizard? How is that possible???My sentiments exactly!


One whistle at the Ghost House by flying up, and entering the secret room. One whistle in level 1-3 by pressing down on the white block, and running to the end of the level while behind objects. Then beat world 1. Once in world 2, warp to the warp screen. Once in the warp screen, warp again, then you go straight to world 8.As established by the aforementioned video, finishing World 1 is not necessary. (And it's a mini-fortress, not a Ghost House!!)

[kupomogli]

You guys know what's better than Super Mario Bros. 3. Super Mario Bros. 3, with the power glove.

[Legend Of Zelda]

SUPER MARIO WORLD! I just love it more. That's all. Both are incredible games, though.

[GuyinGA]

I love both SMB3 & SMW....but for me, it's SMB3. Yoshi really needed to be in a separate game IMO (which Yoshi's Island perfected SMW). Sure, some of the special suits toward the end of SMB3 are tacked on....even with that, SMB3 is the only game I know of where playing from beginning to end is fun and every level is different. SMW feels underwhelming next to SMB3....a lot of the special stages are OK and almost harder than Lost Levels/real SMB2.

And who can forget the first time that Mario flies! With a leaf that turns him into a raccoon looking guy!

[Leo_A]

You've never seen The Wizard? How is that possible???

Perhaps because I rarely watch movies made after 1970, with much of what I watch actually being in black & white from the 30s and 40s. Same goes for television, there are only 5 or 6 1980s shows I care about (Discounting some programs from the 70s that lasted into the 80s like WKRP, M*A*S*H, and Little House) with the vast majority of my television watching being shows from before 1970. And the same for the music I enjoy.

So it's pretty easy to have missed it. Plus, I can't imagine it compares to other childrens movies of the period like The Land Before Time. And it seems to have recieved a pretty lukewarm reception from critics after doing a search just now, so I doubt I'm missing much.

Plus, I was an Atari fan at the time. :)

[Legend Of Zelda]

I love both SMB3 & SMW....but for me, it's SMB3. Yoshi really needed to be in a separate game IMO (which Yoshi's Island perfected SMW). Sure, some of the special suits toward the end of SMB3 are tacked on....even with that, SMB3 is the only game I know of where playing from beginning to end is fun and every level is different. SMW feels underwhelming next to SMB3....a lot of the special stages are OK and almost harder than Lost Levels/real SMB2.

And who can forget the first time that Mario flies! With a leaf that turns him into a raccoon looking guy!

You mean the levels on star road titled tubular, gnarly, groovy, etc.?
THOSE WERE AWESOME

[Breetai]

Perhaps because I rarely watch movies made after 1970, with much of what I watch actually being in black & white from the 30s and 40s. Same goes for television, there are only 5 or 6 1980s shows I care about (Discounting some programs from the 70s that lasted into the 80s like WKRP, M*A*S*H, and Little House) with the vast majority of my television watching being shows from before 1970. And the same for the music I enjoy.

So it's pretty easy to have missed it. Plus, I can't imagine it compares to other childrens movies of the period like The Land Before Time. And it seems to have recieved a pretty lukewarm reception from critics after doing a search just now, so I doubt I'm missing much.

Plus, I was an Atari fan at the time. :)
Haha. It's worth watching for a fan of the 8-bit era just to see all of the blatant Nintendo product placement. It's a definitely cult classic made just for people who frequent sites like this. Is it a good movie? NOPE! It is awesome because Nintendo is awesome and it's really just a giant promotional video for SMB3? YES!!! Watch it for fun, not because you want to see a good movie. :)

[Leo_A]

You mean the levels on star road titled tubular, gnarly, groovy, etc.?
THOSE WERE AWESOME

Those are on the Special World.

[Push Upstairs]

Edit - Nevermind, watched a different speed run. I never knew about this until now. Will be nice to know for the next time I play and want to skip further into the game.

It seems the SMB3 Strategy Guide and NES Game Atlas have spoiled me.

As far back as I can remember I've known about that Fortress whistle. I always used it after I got to World 5 or 6, when I collected enough lives and miscellaneous items to take on World 8.

[chrisbid]

One whistle at the Ghost House by flying up, and entering the secret room. One whistle in level 1-3 by pressing down on the white block, and running to the end of the level while behind objects. Then beat world 1. Once in world 2, warp to the warp screen. Once in the warp screen, warp again, then you go straight to world 8.

you dont even need to get to world 2. blowing the whistle in world 1 sends you to warp zone island... aka world 9. blowing another whistle in world 9 sends you to the bottom path in world 9. that path has the pipe that warps to world 8

[Canadian Psycho]

SMW for me, but both are in my top 10 "best games I've ever played" list, for what it is worth.

For the record, to echo the comments of another poster, I, like most everyone else, was more hyped for SMB 3 than SMW, but that's for another argument.

[chrisbid]

super mario world was actually kindof a letdown when it was relased. there wasnt a whole lot about it that was new

[BetaWolf47]

This is a tough choice. If I could only play either one time through, I'd choose Super Mario Bros. 3. As mentioned before, the level design seems a lot less flat than Super Mario World. The innovation in later levels, especially world 5, is mindblowing. The game takes a lot of effort to get through, unless you warp.

If I could play one of them forever, I'd choose Super Mario World. The sheer amount of secrets and replay value makes the game last a lot longer over time.

This is something people are overlooking in this comparison: Super Mario Bros. 3 is one straight path with a few bonus levels and minigames. Super Mario World lets you replay almost any level (bar those colored switch levels), and has a crap ton of secrets. There's hidden switches which allow you to take different paths inside of levels, which unlock more secret levels. There's even a hidden world on top of the overworld, and hidden world above that! It probably has the most advance map in any 2D game. If I remember correctly, one level even has 3 separate exits!

So in the end, you can probably beat either in one long sitting, but to truly beat Super Mario World, you have to fully explore every level and turn the game off and on several times. So it gets my vote.

[Legend Of Zelda]

Those are on the Special World.

Yeah, which is the hill on Star Road. :D

[MarioMania]

I Picked SMB3, it's winning the poll :)