Can You Play Mario Bros. on SNES? Exploring the Plumber’s Retro Adventures
The question of whether you can play Mario Bros. on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) is a common one, often sparking curiosity among retro gaming enthusiasts. The answer, while nuanced, is that you cannot play the original Super Mario Bros. directly on the SNES in its original NES form. However, the story doesn’t end there, as the SNES does have several notable Mario games and ways to experience classic Mario. Let’s delve deeper into this topic.
The Absence of Original Super Mario Bros. on SNES
The original Super Mario Bros. was, of course, a landmark title for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The SNES, a successor to the NES, boasted superior graphics and sound capabilities, ushering in a new era of gaming. Despite this, the SNES never offered a direct port of the original Super Mario Bros. This is primarily because the SNES focused on showcasing its own unique titles, leveraging the hardware’s advanced power.
Where Can You Play Super Mario Bros. on SNES (Indirectly)?
While the original Super Mario Bros. is not natively on the SNES, its spirit and gameplay are present through different versions:
Super Mario All-Stars
The closest experience to playing the original Super Mario Bros. on the SNES is via Super Mario All-Stars. This compilation title, released in 1993, features remakes of several classic NES Mario games, including:
- Super Mario Bros.: This is a graphically enhanced version of the original title, boasting improved visuals and audio. It’s not the exact same game, but the core gameplay experience remains faithful to the original NES release.
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels: A notoriously challenging sequel to the first game, also with updated SNES graphics.
- Super Mario Bros. 2: The American version of Doki Doki Panic, rebranded as a Mario title for the west.
- Super Mario Bros. 3: Arguably the most significant inclusion in this collection, offering a substantial upgrade over its NES counterpart.
Super Mario All-Stars is the primary avenue for playing enhanced versions of classic NES Mario titles on the SNES.
Super Mario World: A SNES Exclusive Experience
Beyond the remakes, the Super Nintendo also boasts its own flagship Mario title, Super Mario World. This game is an essential part of the SNES library. While not a remake of the original Super Mario Bros., it is a direct sequel to Super Mario Bros. 3 and is an entirely new game that introduced many new concepts, like Yoshi.
Super Mario World, often packaged with the SNES console, played a huge role in the popularity of the SNES. It is a quintessential Mario platformer experience on SNES.
Other Avenues for Classic Mario
While the SNES itself may not house the original Super Mario Bros. natively, there are alternative ways to experience it, including:
- Virtual Console on Wii U and 3DS: The classic Super Mario Bros. was released on the Virtual Console service for both the Wii U and 3DS, providing a digital way to play the classic title.
- NES Classic Mini: The NES Classic Mini, a miniature version of the original NES, includes the original Super Mario Bros. as one of its pre-installed titles.
- Nintendo Switch Online: Through the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, you can access a library of classic NES games, which includes the original Super Mario Bros.
These platforms provide ways to experience the original Super Mario Bros. experience, even though it’s not directly available on the SNES.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some related FAQs that offer additional context to the discussion:
1. Is Super Mario Bros. 3 on SNES?
Yes, Super Mario Bros. 3 is available on the SNES as part of the Super Mario All-Stars compilation, featuring enhanced graphics and sound. It’s an updated version of the original NES release.
2. Is the original Super Mario Bros. part of Super Mario All-Stars?
Yes, the original Super Mario Bros. is part of Super Mario All-Stars, featuring enhanced SNES graphics. It also includes its direct sequel, the Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
3. Is there a Super Mario Bros. game that is specific to the SNES?
Yes, Super Mario World was created exclusively for the SNES. It is the first game in the main series on the console.
4. Was Super Mario World a pack-in game for the SNES?
Yes, Super Mario World was a pack-in game bundled with many SNES consoles, making it widely popular and contributing to the system’s success.
5. Is Super Mario RPG on SNES?
Yes, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is available on the SNES. It was also included in the Super NES Classic Edition. A remake is set for the Nintendo Switch in 2023.
6. Does the SNES have 3D games?
While the SNES was primarily a 2D console, select cartridges included the Super FX chip, a coprocessor that allowed for the rendering of advanced 2D and 3D graphics. The majority of SNES games were 2D.
7. Is Mario Kart on SNES?
Yes, Super Mario Kart was released on the SNES in 1992. It is the first game in the Mario Kart series.
8. Can I play the original Super Mario Bros on a modern console?
Yes, you can play Super Mario Bros. on modern consoles, mainly through the Nintendo Switch Online service, and Virtual Console on older Nintendo consoles, as well as mini retro consoles like the NES Classic Mini.
9. Why is a copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 so expensive?
A sealed and exceptionally rare copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES has become extremely valuable and the world’s most expensive video game, selling for over $150,000 at auction. This was due to a specific version with a rare placement of the “Bros.” on the package.
10. Who is older, Mario or Luigi?
Mario is older than Luigi, though the age difference is minimal. Nintendo has clarified their age difference is “super slight”.
11. What is Mario’s full name?
Mario’s full name is Mario Mario.
12. What is Princess Peach’s age?
While not definitively stated in games, Princess Peach is approximately 23 years old, as implied in the Super Mario Bros. Movie.
13. Who is Bowser Jr.?
Bowser Jr. is Bowser’s son and also a character in the Mario franchise.
14. When was the SNES discontinued?
Nintendo ceased production of the Super NES in North America in 1999.
15. Is the SNES Classic Edition still available?
No, both the NES Classic Edition and SNES Classic Edition have been discontinued and will not be restocked, according to Nintendo.
Conclusion
While the original Super Mario Bros. isn’t directly playable on the SNES, the console does offer several engaging ways to enjoy classic Mario gameplay. Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario World provide excellent experiences for any retro gaming fan. By exploring the various options available through different Nintendo platforms and services, fans can continue to enjoy the timeless adventures of the iconic plumber.