Throwback Thursday - Super Mario Bros 3

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Taking the stage this week: The game of Tanooki feathers and helpful letters that is Super Mario Bros 3.

Released in the US on February 12th, 1990, Super Mario Bros 3 is aptly the 3rd best selling NES game, selling over 17 million copies worldwide, and considered by many gaming critics as one of the greatest video games of all time (for those curious, the top 2 selling NES games are Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros).  Taking control of the infamous plumber that is Mario, players once again set out on a platforming adventure to defeat the notorious Bowser and rescue the Princess Toadstool (aka Peach).  Only this time, the adventure takes place across 8 uniquely themed worlds in which Mario must also defeat Bowser's children, the Koopalings, and rescue each of the respective rulers of the various kingdoms.  Each kingdom implemented such an array of interesting ideas from dangerous desert dunes to slippery ice-capped slopes; From parallel worlds of small and giant proportions to kingdoms that literally ascended to the skies and clouds above, there was no end of ingenuity and charm to be found.

The world map was also a first for the series, allowing players to travel between levels, plot their own routes, and uncover hidden secrets.  The simple joy of this new navigational system would become a staple of the series for future games to come and would also serve as inspiration for many other designers as well.  The game also includes many other memorable gameplay mechanics, such as the infamous Tanooki suit which dawns Mario with a raccoon tail for flight, or the incredible scrolling stages that are the airship fortresses, perhaps one of the coolest creations of the entire Super Mario universe.  There is so much more that could be praised about this game: From the many catchy tunes to the insanely hidden warp whistles, it's platforming at its finest.  Don't overlook this classic because of its age.  It's on almost every Nintendo system from NES to Wii-U, and worth every minute of your time and enjoyment.

Concept art from Super Mario Bros 3

Fun Fact: Super Mario Bros 3 features a distinctive and colorful visual aesthetic, with objects nailed to the background and fixtures appearing to hang from off-screen.  The game also opens with a stage curtain, and each stage ends with Mario walking off stage into a black screen.  In a 2015 interview, Miyamoto in fact confirms that Super Mario Bros 3 takes place as a stage play, meaning the whole game is just one elaborate performance!