NES (1985)

NES (1985)

NES (1985)

Let's take a trip back to 1985 - a time when arcades were king, home computers were battling it out, and Nintendo was about to drop the game that would change platforming forever.

Compared to some of the arcade heavyweights of the time, Super Mario Bros. might not have looked like a graphical powerhouse, but its clean, colourful style made it instantly recognisable. The vibrant overworld, the moody underground levels, and the classic castle stages all had their own distinct look, making every new screen a treat.

And let's talk sound - Koji Kondo's soundtrack is legendary. That upbeat overground music? Instant nostalgia. The tension-building underground theme? Perfect. The "you're about to run out of time" jingle? Pure panic. Even the sound effects - from the coin ding to the boing of a jump - are so ingrained in gaming culture that you don't just hear them, you feel them.

This is where Super Mario Bros. goes from "great game" to "revolutionary masterpiece". The controls are buttery smooth. Every jump, every sprint, every power-up - it all feels natural, even by today's standards. The sense of momentum, the weight of Mario's jumps, the way you can control his movement mid-air - it's platforming perfection.

The very first level, 1-1, teaches you how to play without a single tutorial screen - a masterclass in game design. Secrets are everywhere - hidden blocks, warp zones, and the now-infamous Minus World glitch. It encourages exploration without ever forcing it.

The first few levels ease you in, but by the time you're dodging Hammer Bros. and making pixel-perfect jumps over lava pits, Super Mario Bros. proves it's not messing around. That final Bowser battle? Sweaty palms guaranteed.

And let's be real - Super Mario Bros. is infinitely replayable. Whether you're speedrunning, going for a no-warp run, or just trying to beat it without losing a life, there's always a reason to go back.

It's hard to overstate how important Super Mario Bros. is. It didn't just define a genre - it saved the US gaming industry from the crash of '83. Even today, some 40 years later, it's still an absolute joy to play. If you've somehow never experienced it, stop what you're doing and fire it up - because this is where video game history was made.