Author’s note: all screenshots are from my copy of Super Mario Bros, via Nintendo Switch Online, unless otherwise stated.

When it comes to reviewing old games, it’s important to bear in mind that they will not boast the incredible graphics or sharp sounds of today’s expensive titles. In a lot of cases, the mechanics will be simpler too. What’s truly important to bear in mind is whether or not this has any bearing on gameplay.
Super Mario Bros, first released in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, carries a legacy unlike most, but what was the game itself like?
If I could sum up Super Mario Bros in two words, they would be ‘well-designed’. From the very first level (which the game’s designer and creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, designed to teach the player virtually all the elements to handle the game), to the final castle, every level felt unique, and crafted in such a way that made them challenging-but-beatable. I remember a certain thrill at discovering the warp zone at the end of world 1-2, and the fun of facing off against the hammer bros in world 3-1 for the first time. There were secrets to be found across most levels, and before long, Super Mario Bros had become a huge hit for Nintendo.

Such is the enduring quality of the game that Nintendo have re-released it several times. It received graphical updates when bundled with with Super Mario All-Stars for the Super Nintendo. It was released on the Wii, Wii U and Nintendo Switch virtual console and online services, and found its way onto Nintendo’s hand-held devices. For the 35th anniversary of the game, Nintendo released a ‘battle royale’ edition, which was a huge lot of fun (though sadly, Nintendo pulled the plug on it when the anniversary celebrations were over). Numerous reviews have placed Super Mario Bros up there with the very best the gaming world has to offer, and this ‘kat can appreciate why. I cannot say if it would make my top 10 games, because that’s a list that’s constantly in flux, but it certainly has a chance.
9/10