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Mario Bros.

  • Video Game
  • 1983
  • Unrated
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Mario Bros. (1983)
ActionFantasy

Two plumber brothers, Mario and Luigi, come across unearthly creatures while searching sewer pipes, so they must do their job and clear the pipes.Two plumber brothers, Mario and Luigi, come across unearthly creatures while searching sewer pipes, so they must do their job and clear the pipes.Two plumber brothers, Mario and Luigi, come across unearthly creatures while searching sewer pipes, so they must do their job and clear the pipes.

  • Director
    • Shigeru Miyamoto
  • Writer
    • Shigeru Miyamoto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Shigeru Miyamoto
    • Writer
      • Shigeru Miyamoto
    • 11User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos18

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    User reviews11

    7.31.5K
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    Featured reviews

    6PJS-5

    ***, 3 out of 5 stars,an interesting although puzzling & tedious classic.

    This game isn't bad it just has a tedious prob. of it being a seemingly endless game (alike certain others) it's actually kinda fun to play this classic even with a game genie but all those who find games such as rampage & such other might wanna stay away & all those who do find the game fun it won't completely last unless you get killed off very early its all-in-all a good classic with good replayablity value despite its incredibly longness,BYE!
    4CuriosityKilledShawn

    A classic in no way.

    The original Mario Bros. is pretty much THE most simplest, and boring, platformer you're ever likely to come across. Back then, Mario was no more than the tiny little sprite from Donkey Kong (called Jumpman) who vaguely looked like a plumber with red dungarees and a moustache. This time around he's given his own game and a new name and partnered with his brother Luigi (in green dungarees) to erm...not do that much really.

    All you do in this game is jump between 3 or 4 different platforms knocking over typical creatures of the Mario franchise. Yup, that's it! That's everything this game is about. I don't know about you but I'd be pretty upset if I paid for this in the arcade, even if it was 1983.

    I got this as an extra with Super Mario Advance 4 so at least I never went out of my way to pay for it. And neither should you.

    Graphics D Sound D Gameplay F Lasting Appeal F
    9hellraiser7

    Plumbing Heroes

    This is another honorable mention in my favorite video games. The game is also a childhood gem of mine as it was one of the very first video games I played when I was 7, I played an arcade cabinet of this at a "Chuck E Cheese" in Spokane, Washington. This game was a huge hit in the 80's and it's not hard to see why with its graphical presentation and gameplay. Though it's true as time went on this game has been slightly forgotten as it's been overshadowed by may other Mario game throughout the years; but all the same this is one of the games that really started the franchise, and it was one heck of a start.

    I really like the graphical presentation; background is basic like with most video games of yesteryear by their nature they were really props and set pieces for the gameplay which is what's important. It's really the characters animation that stands out, I like the detail and color palette on them which made them look like cartoon characters. But what really made them stand out was on how lively they were from their eyes and expressions after an action has been carried out, this was part of what made games from the company "Nintendo" unique.

    I really like the enemy's variety that pops out which is colorfully strange, why they want to muck the plumbing system up let alone grudge against plumbers is anyone's guess. The variety consists of turtles, crabs, giant mosquitoes, killer ice burgs, fireballs with minds of their own, etc.

    But also, the Mario's themselves, really like the colorful Blue-Collar outfits. Though in this game their colors are slightly different from the ones were familiar with from Mario who has blue suspenders and a red shirt and Luigi it's white suspenders and a green shirt. They were probably changed due to the fact this game is a standalone, non-canon game which I'm fine with.

    Really like the sounds in the game, despite no music in the game those sounds are just music to my ears from hearing Mario/Luigi run, kicking enemies off, or even the dreaded noise when your tagged by your enemies.

    But of course, the real kicker of the game (no pun intended) is the gameplay which is very good. The game pretty much plays a bit like the arcade game "Joust" only in this game you're a little more grounded. Control is basic where you have forward, back and jump but you have the B button to help build up your speed when you need to.

    You take the enemies out by simply hitting the platform above which trips them up/turns them over and to finish them off you run into them and kick them off the platform. Each of the enemies change color if you don't kick them off on time, which makes them more dangerous. But it's not just that but each of the enemies are unique which means you can't take them out the same way, let alone as you progress thorough the levels the odds stack up which makes the stakes for you and your buddy stack up.

    However, two of the things that make this game stand out are the fact that it operates on two players. This was a revolutionary concept for it's time because most video games of yesteryear were designed for solitary fun. Whenever we wanted to play the same game or were playing with/against our buddy we had to wait our turn. This game you don't have to wait, you and your buddy can play the same game at the same time. You can work together but also at the same time try and blow each other away with your high score.

    Another feature I like about the game is the POW block, which is pretty much the emergency only weapon in the game. By hitting this block, you knock each of the enemies on the screen off their feet. However, their off their feet for a temporary amount of time so kick as many off as you can. Also, you can only hit this block so many times, once you do it's gone for good and it won't reappear till rounds latter, so don't waste your hits.

    So, for any retro game fans this is worth playing to see where it all began, this game like any well maintained and expanded plumbing system flows well and still does today.

    Rating: 3 and a half stars.
    10TonioMiguel

    Two player simultaneously

    In your face Sega this was before Sonic & Tails. The secret to this game is teamwork which is hard to achieve especially no thanks to Super Mario Bros. 3 which turns it into a fighting game for cards and position on the map. With a good team this game can be fun for hours with challenge for all ages. My biggest qualm is Nintendo always puts the NES.version in place of the superior arcade version.
    8alekspredator87

    Mario Bros

    "Mario Bros." from 1983 is a classic that laid the foundation for many platformers. I liked the game for its simple but fascinating gameplay, which made me come back to it again and again. One of the main advantages is the mass of interesting and diverse levels, where each new arena offered unique challenges. From jumping over platforms to destroying turtles, crabs, some butterflies and even incomprehensible brown creatures with menacing eyes - each stage of the game required an increasingly precise reaction and attention to detail.

    The graphics are at their best: bright, memorable characters and smooth animations. Mario and Luigi, both heroes of the game, have well-developed movements, and the visual effects of colliding enemies and objects added dynamics. Although the levels may seem simple at first glance, they are filled with various obstacles and enemies, which made the passage of each level interesting and sometimes unpredictable.

    The mechanics of jumping deserve special attention. Adjusting to the height and length of the jump was sometimes difficult, but the mechanics of the game, in my opinion, only benefits from this. At more complex levels, skills play a key role.

    The music, although minimalistic, created the right atmosphere - the sounds of jumps, attacks and the appearance of enemies fit well into the gameplay, not distracting, but on the contrary, increasing engagement. "Mario Bros." is a perfect example of how a simple game can become an eternal classic thanks to skillful execution and gameplay solutions.

    8 out of 10.

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    Fantasy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Mario was called "Mr. Video" in the early stages of character design. Shigeru Miyamoto later changed it to Jumpman and was a carpenter and not a plumber. Finally, Shigeru Miyamoto decided to use the name "Mario" and it has stuck ever since. He wears a hat because hardware limitations at the time would have made hair movement impossible.
    • Quotes

      Phase 1 screen: Can you kick off all the pests?

    • Alternate versions
      An updated version of this arcade hit has been included with every game in the Super Mario Advance series.
    • Connections
      Edited into Animal Crossing (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Eine kleine Nachtmusik
      Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 20, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mario Brothers
    • Production company
      • Nintendo
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Color
      • Color

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