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Play your favorite levels and enjoy the original graphics on this version of Mario for Windows

Play your favorite levels and enjoy the original graphics on this version of Mario for Windows

Vote: (35 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Softendo

Version: 7.03

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(35 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Softendo

7.03

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Very authentic to the classic Mario games
  • Utilizes a mix of traditional sprites and new assets

Cons

  • Doesn't play very well on a traditional keyboard
  • Traditional game play lacks many of the series' more recent quality of life improvements

Super Mario Bros. 3: Mario Forever offers Mario fans a nostalgic reminder of the golden age of video game platformers along with some pleasant surprises that are sure to test their reflexes. This indie game is a loving recreation of the classic era of Super Mario games, and it captures the feel and control of the originals down to a science. That means a more stripped down approach to game play, largely lacking in some of the newer improvements made to the formula over the past few decades, but fans nostalgic for the games of the Nintendo era will find plenty to love.

In practical terms this is a remix rather than a remake. The graphics are a significant improvement over the Nintendo Entertainment System games from which it pulls its inspiration, instead opting for the polished chip sets used by the Super Nintendo All-Stars collection. For players unfamiliar with the original games, learning the ins and outs is a simple process. You run and jump your way through a series of colorful over world, underground, and underwater levels, racing against the timer to make it through a gauntlet of whimsical enemies and difficult jumps on your path to a series of castles, at which point you face showdowns with the boss Bowser.

But this is a game that rewards long time fans. The game play is classic NES, stripping out the huge collection of power-ups and animal suits in place of the traditional conventions of the very first game. While that can make things a bit more repetitive, it also creates a game that puts all the attention on your hand-eye coordination and dexterity. It's a formula that's simple to get a feel for but hard to master. The more you know about Mario, the more you're likely to understand the internal references, which draw heavily from Super Mario 3 but also make use of original assets to evoke later games in the series. The eight stages that make up the core experience offer a dense variety of aesthetic qualities and introduce new challenges and obstacles in a natural but challenging drip feed. The one major addition is the inclusion of a bouncing beet that serves as one of the few new abilities in the game. For a game that prides itself on its reverence for the series, it seems odd that the developers opted for a new power rather than well-loved favorites, but it generally plays well and matches the goofy tone of the series.

Rounding out the package are a number of smaller mini-games that mix up the formula even more and serve as a great way to get in short play sessions or just learn the fundamentals of the core game. They aren't likely to keep you occupied for very long, but they can be fun diversions in short bursts.

Pros

  • Very authentic to the classic Mario games
  • Utilizes a mix of traditional sprites and new assets

Cons

  • Doesn't play very well on a traditional keyboard
  • Traditional game play lacks many of the series' more recent quality of life improvements