Tim Monroe
January 4, 2008

This was the last true Super Mario game to be released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, and is quite possibly the in the top 3 Super Mario games to be released. For me, this was the first game that I had ever preordered, and the months of excitement and anticipation I endured were almost too much for my young, innocent mind to handle. My interest was perhaps sparked by one of my favorite movies growing up, The Wizard which was released on December 15, 1989, a few months prior to the release of Super Mario 3. The movie itself was really a marketing tool for Nintendo who was trying to create hype for SMB3 as well as showcase various other NES titles; however the movie did succeed in catapulting SMB3 into the hearts and minds of the youth of America. The movie reached its epic climax as the three youngsters played by Fred Savage, Luke Edwards, and Jenny Lewis finally made it to the big videogame tournament in California. Luke Edwards’s character, Jimmy, is the main focus of the movie as he had suffered a traumatic experience that left him with severe mental disorders, on the plus side however he is found out to be a video game savant. The game that the contestants were to play was the unreleased Super Mario Bros. 3.

What the movie really did was showcase the new gameplay elements that were to be found in the game; however it also showed the various secrets that are in the game, most importantly the secret of the two flutes’ (this will be explained later). When I saw this game I knew that a.) I wanted to be Fred Savage’s best friend forever b.) I wanted to go on a continent-spanning adventure to get to a videogame tournament and c.) I needed to get SMB3. While the former two hopes never came into being, I did finally get SMB3 when it game out.

Plot

The story of SMB3 deviated in a way from the canon of Super Mario plots. Mario and Luigi are given the task to save the seven kings in the seven kingdoms that are neighbors to the Mushroom Kingdom. It seems that some nefarious scoundrel has taken the kings’ magic scepters and turned them into animals (I wonder who it could be). It is here that we are first introduced to the spawn of Bowser, the Koopalings. At the end of each level Mario must board their flying ships to do battle with each of the seven Koopalings. As Mario and Luigi are preoccupied with returning the magic scepters to their regal owners, Bowser’s true motives are brought to the light, for he kidnaps the strangely easily accessibly Princess. So now the story becomes another rescue the princess from another of Bowser’s terribly ill-conceived machinations (why doesn’t he just kill her already). Luckily the plots of Mario games are never the main focus of the game but rather a means moving the gameplay along.

Gameplay

Super Mario Bros. 3 used various play mechanics that had not been used before, for instance the map screen which was set up almost like a game board with various pathways and shortcuts to take. This allows for the player to make their own choices on how to complete a level, as you do not need to beat every stage to complete a level, so if there is a certain stage that you just can’t beat just take a different path and try your luck on a different stage. My favorite level by far is Giant Land in which everything in the levels are, as the name states, giant, from the goombas to the smiley faced clouds. Located on the various game maps are bonus stages that Mario can go to in order to gain extra lives, such as the spade spot which has you match three slots to form a mushroom or a star. Mario can also go to the mushroom house where he can choose from three treasure chest each containing items that will aid him on his quest. These items range from the traditional mushroom and fire flower fare, but also have a number of new power-up items such as the hammer toss armor, and the green leaf which turns Mario into a flying raccoon. Each of these new power-up items provide new possibilities for gameplay, for instance the flying raccoon allows for Mario to fly to secret areas in a stage, or sometimes straight to the end of the level. There is also a frog suit that makes Mario a better swimmer during those oh so challenging water levels.

What really stands out in this game are the many hidden secrets to be found in the game, for instance the two magical flutes trick that allows you to warp from the first level to the last level (ah I love cheating). Here’s how it’s done: on the first stage stand on top of the white platform at the beginning of the level, press and hold the down button until Mario falls through the platform. You are now behind the stage, keep running to the right, being sure to dodge the koopas and goombas; you will then run behind a green hill where a secret door is located. You will then find your self in a room with a small chest in the center, open that chest and collect that first magic flute. The next magic flute is located at the miniboss stage; make sure you are the flying raccoon before you reach the end of the stage. When you reach the end of the stage you will see a skeleton koopa, and a door; do not enter the door, instead jump on the skeleton koopa then go all the way to the right so you have enough running space jump off to the left and fly to the top of the stage and fly to the right, there is a secret door above the regular door, enter it and there you will find the second magical flute. When you are back on the game map bring up the item screen and choose a magic flute, this will whisk you away to the warp section, do not enter any of the tubes instead bring up the item selection again and choose the second magic flute this will take you to the level 8 warp tube, and that’s how you get to the last level in a matter of minutes.

The two player element of the game is probably the most well done of any Mario game. Each player takes turn’s playing a stage, but lets say Mario beats a level Luigi has to pass over it, if the first player hits the A button fast enough he brings up a mini game face off between Mario and Luigi. The game will seem familiar to most as it is the original Mario Bros. game where you had hit the blocks under the enemy to knock them over and you would then have to hit them again. Each player is going after the same enemy most of the time so things can get pretty heated. If the first player happens to win he would then take second players turn, although the first player will have to face the wrath of a second player who never gets to play.

Sound

I have always been a long time fan of the Super Mario theme music, and SMB3 really pushes the NES’ sound chip to its maximum capacity. Each level has its own catchy midi tune. While the game comes nowhere close to the level of orchestration we have come to expect in games today, in my mind SMB3 had the best music of any Mario game up until the release of Super Mario Galaxy.

If for some reason you have not yet played this classic game, whether it was due to the fact that you were in a coma or was stricken with blindness for some reason during the early 90’s seek out this game, whether it be on your old NES console, on the Super Mario All-stars on the Super NES, or purchase the game on the Virtual Console of the Wii. It takes all your favorite elements from the original Super Mario Bros. game, and provides a variety of new elements, some of which have not been seen since SMB3. Oh, and if you have not had the pleasure of seeing The Wizard and the fine thespian stylings of a young Fred Savage pick up the recently released DVD and relive the happy memories of yesteryear.