super mario bros
Latest
Somebody's top ten NES games
Most "Top Ten NES Games" lists, of which there are two hundred released every second, turn out predictable and entirely skippable, but through the power of creative video editing, ScrewAttack managed to make their tally of favorites something worth the time spent watching it. You don't have to take our word for it! Dun-un, dun!As expected, their list isn't perfect -- if it were, River City Ransom would occupy at least seven of the spots, leaving just enough room for Super Mario Bros. 3, Mega Man 2, and an emergency copy of River City Ransom. But it would be naive to think that any collection of NES games with "Top anything" written in proximity would satisfy everyone, unless, of course, it was a list of Top Gun titles (all two of them). So feel free to comment with your own selection of "Absolutely Best NES Games Ever."
Zelda Week: The art of Jainai Jeffries
So long as we're spending a whole week assailing you with links about Link, we thought we'd share with you one of the best fan-made art pieces we've seen for the green-capped adventurer. Jainai Jeffries created this amazing realistic envisioning of Link last year, posing him on a tree porcupined with red-fletched arrows. Past the post break, you can check out an uncolored version of the above image and several other video game reinterpretations Jainai has illustrated.
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 10/1/07
Today is a very special day for the Virtual Console. Not only does it mark the occasion where those of us in the states received our first import titles, but also it marks a new age for VC Monday Madness coverage from here on out. Hopefully, the new set we're recording gameplay from will enhance the overall quality of our coverage. Better coverage equals more happy readers (er, viewers, we suppose), correct? And, a happy reader makes for a happy blogger.
Take time out from studying to bust some blocks
West Virginia college Marshall University had a small section of its outdoor area converted into an homage to Super Mario Bros. recently, receiving a multitude of upward-pointing thumbs from the Joystiq staff. Of course, we think it's the tops, as well. Aside from the pipes you see above, there was also blocks hanging all about and a "chain chomp was tethered securely to a tree,"Sounds like the kind of outside world we wouldn't mind traversing.[Via Joystiq]
Super Mario Bros. 3 riding a Kuribo's Shoe onto the Australian VC
Australia getting a Virtual Console game before anyone else? Maybe! We can't be sure when Sonic 3 and Super Mario Bros. 3 will find their way onto the VC, but at least we know they're on their way, thanks to the Office of Film and Classification.The Aussie equivalent of the ESRB keeps a database of ratings just like the ESRB does. A bunch of games have been added, including a lot that are already out in other regions, and a few, like Mario 3, that are news. Of course, the best part of this for people who don't happen to have Australian consoles is that if a game is planned for one region, it's terribly likely it'll be out soon in others! Other things on the list that make us happy: Strider (although we don't know if it's the Genesis version or the NES version), Galaga '90, and Probotector II-- which is Super C. The full list of new updates is after the break![Via Vooks]
This is why we're dorks
Considering the amount of remixes Mims' hit rap single "This is Why I'm Hot" set off -- R. Kelly's "This is Why I'm Cold," the NBA's "The Phoenix Suns Are Hot," and Chubbs' "This is Why I'm Fat" for example -- we're surprised that it took this long for its catchy hook to reach video gaming's catch-phrase-hungry communities. Mirroring Mims' insipid lyrics, the simplicity of SnorgTees' shirt design leaves no room for confusion on its message or the company's plans to rake in crazy money by exploiting our nostalgia-addled minds. We can imagine the office congratulations and "props" received by the young designer who paired the 8-bit fire flower with the narcissistic mantra. They all agree, this is why he's hot. The $16.95 shirt comes in royal blue and black, its lowercase Myriad Pro text staying chalky white on both colors. If you haven't heard the song several hundred times already, you have the option of checking past the post break for an embedded music video of the club track.
The plant has his time
We've played through enough Super Mario Bros. games to have learned that no pipe should be approached without caution. After a lifetime of suffering piranha plant attacks, always at the least opportune moments, we've trained ourselves to scrutinize every green tube before hopping over it. We'll sit there for up to two minutes, staking out the pipe to make sure there isn't a hidden fly trap hoping to dupe us with its delayed pattern. Sometimes, we'll even see their eyes poking out, anxious to see why we haven't jumped yet.These guys seem to pop up everywhere! In addition to their appearances in almost every Mario-related title over the past two decades, the piranha plants extended their roots to Tetris Attack and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening! They've also been spotted in last Wednesday's Extra Life comic, illustrated by the always-awesome Scott Johnson. It's a predictable punchline, but no less hilarious because of it. We implore you to check it out!
LBP taunts us with Mario Sack Boy concept art
We're more than just a tad bit envious over LittleBigPlanet, Media Molecule's ultra-cute, ultra-customizable platformer for the PS3; ever since the title was announced at GDC, we've been downright jealous. Videos of the game's cooperative possibilities have turned us into internet stalkers, following every online preview and press release in secret, constantly reloading LBP's MySpace page every five minutes to make sure that other guys aren't moving into our territory with flirtatious comments. So seeing that players will not only be able to create landscapes that mimic scenes from classic games (e.g. Super Mario Bros., World 1-2), but likely also dress up their characters to look like Nintendo's mustachioed mascot has inflamed within us the sort of covetous lust that Moses warned against after coming down from the mount. The Virtual Console has been a great way for us to play old classics, but seeing Sony's plans for its PlayStation Network and comparing it to what we've heard so far about original, downloadable games coming to the Wii has us feeling like chumps. [Thanks Elmer!]
Super Mario Bros. in less time than it takes to warm up a Lean Cuisine
Looking for a way to waste time with the Virtual Console? Well, if you do this right, you won't be wasting much time at all. This Super Mario Bros. speedrun performed by Andrew Gardikis takes only five minutes. In comparison, the Super Mario Brothers movie is 20.8 times longer. The coolest thing about this speedrun is that it makes use of Mario glitches inherent in the game, but seems to be done without save state assistance. That means that it's theoretically possible to replicate it on your Wii or your NES. Oh, but only if you're awesome. And just to rub it in a little, only Andrew Gardikis has proven to be this awesome. Sorry, everyone else, including ourselves! [Via Game|Life]
Today's stop-motionest game video: Lego SMB
For tonight's video, we chose the Super Mario Bros. Lego video that's been floating around recently. This stop-motion animation shows Mario as a regular-shaped Lego man; instead of making a video as close to SMB as possible, Mario, mushrooms, enemies, and other items are warped through the Lego lens. There's a place for literal Lego game tributes, but we still like this short. Love those sound effects!See the video after the break.
Nintendo nerd beats Super Mario Bros. with his feet
Alright nerds, you alls just got showed up by this here Mark Peterson guy, who can play all the way through the original Super Mario Bros. using only his feet. Sure, he's using the arcade joystick controller and warping liberally, but face it, your best time just looks that much lamer now. Plus isn't it totally badass when he's busting up on those Koopas while sipping a refreshing beverage? Mark can be our Valentine any time. The video is after the break.[Via Wii Fanboy]
1UP's Retronauts go to Japan for NES classics and profit
We used to import games from Japan through shady specialty shops and mailing lists; creepy retail ads from the backs of magazines pleading for your American dollars. With the rise of the internet, it became a more legitimate form of shopping. And now that we're all old and bitter we just skip all that rubbish and go directly to Japan for our ancient video games.Or at least that's what 1UP's Jeremy Parrish and Game|Life's Chris Kohler do. For a rare glimpse of a weeaboo in its natural environment, 1UP's on-going video series of Retronauts takes us to Tokyo's Akihabara district for some vintage video game shopping. The duo try to land some choice picks to feed to the eBay masses while musing over just why a copy of the original Super Mario Bros costs so much over there. Special guest appearances by Hot Slots and the Dragon Warrior III original soundtrack ... on vinyl.
Three dimensional 2D Mario homebrew
This is certainly a bizarre homebrew project. SANiK has created a small demo of a 3D remake of the original NES Super Mario Bros., which only took 7 days to create. The programmer was tired of the lazy games being developed by the homebrew community, and took it upon himself to show off what a little effort can do: "I'm mother effiing tired of seeing 'OMG, 2D Halo' orrr [sic] '2D Mario' orr [sic] '2D Mario texture edit to make it look like 2D Sonic' ... My little Mario Demo is just a taste of what could be done if one actually tries."I have to admit that this psychedelic demo is quite impressive. Unfortunately, to the disappointment of many (including Nintendo's lawyers), this simple demonstration will stay as such: it won't evolve into a full game any time soon.[Via DCEmu]
Virtual Console vigilantes gain ground in Super Mario World
If you're the sort of person who leaps out of bed on a Monday morning, filled with the burning desire to rescue something from a perilous situation, you'll likely find today's Virtual Console offerings most satisfying. As of 9AM Pacific Time, you should be able to make your way into the Wii shop and start proving that chivalry is far from dead (but possibly overpriced in some cases).Princess Toadstool will be requiring your services in Super Mario Land State Continent World (SNES, $8), having been kidnapped during her trip to Dinosaur Land -- it sounded so inviting! If you haven't played it before, it's well worth witnessing Mario's career shift to Dino-Rider and his expertise in straddling a vicious green beast that devours enemies whole. If that doesn't hold appeal, a different career of sorts lies in Vigilante (Turbo-Grafx 16, $6), which sees players beating up thugs in New York City in an effort to rescue "the beloved Madonna." Finally, there's Gain Ground (Genesis, $8), a dramatic tale of supercomputers gone rampant and civilians being unjustly imprisoned within war simulations (obviously). It's just as well that you have an AK-toting guy called "Professor" on your side. Presumably, it's expected of us to find and rescue the fourth and still missing Virtual Console game for this week.
Mario runs in the family
It is no surprise when gamer kids get their gaming love from their parents. We are happy to see this happen and in fact encourage it. Especially when it stems from Mario Bros. What started as a love for games back in the late 70's spanned to a family love for a certain plumber and his brother. This pair dress up as Mario and Luigi for Halloween each year and the kids room is nothing short of impressive. His mother and grandmother even helped out by supplying him Mario curtains and a comforter set. His walls show images of each game and painted as a border is Mario and a few items from his games. There are a ton of pics to view of "Mario" in his room and a few of the family when they aren't displaying their fandom. [Via QJ Net]
Father's Mario obsession becomes toddler's reality
A 30-year old man is molding his two year old into Mario, transforming his son's sleeping quarters into the Mushroom Kingdom and getting the boy started on Super Mario Bros. -- "He usually just jumps up and down and presses pause a lot," observes dad. Determined to see the toddler succeed, the father recently completed a series of Photoshopped screen shots, imagining the Mario-boy in some "stellar Mario scenes." Next on the agenda: getting the kid on an all-mushroom diet.Sure it's seemingly harmless, but should a man let his Mario fixation define a young child's impressionable mind? What happens when the boy discovers there is no Princess Peach?[Thanks Jason! Keep us updated.]
Paper Mario says, 'OMG the GameCube isn't dead yet!'
Let's face it, Nintendo's GameCube got smoked in the current-gen console wars. But, that doesn't mean the little-box-that-could isn't going to go down without a fight -- the final nuclear bomb could be Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. There are a smattering of unique and great titles for the little lunchbox and, in October, Super Paper Mario is poised to blind side unsuspecting gamers everywhere. Go Nintendo has found some new YouTube videos -- taken at the World Hobby Fair in Japan -- of this new take on the venerable Paper Mario franchise. They're ... well, they're just beautiful. Really, have a look for yourself. On a side note, since the game is not slated to come out until the fall, wouldn't it be nice if they added a little Wii functionality? [Via 4cr]
Japanese sales charts, May 29-June 4: Mario on top again
New Super Mario Bros is still going strong at the top of the Japanese sales charts this week. With over 330,000 sales -- well over a million, cumulatively -- the title's dominance has well and truly whipped the rest of the charts into submission, with only a small amount of reshuffling since last week:1. New Super Mario Bros. [DS] 2. Brain Age 2 (Kahashima Ryuuta Kyouju Kanshuu: Motto Nouo Kitaeru Otona DS) [DS]3. Brain Age: Train your Brain in Minutes a Day (Kahashima Ryuuta Kyouju no Nouo Kitaeru Otona DS Training) [DS]4. Metroid Prime Hunters [DS]5. World Soccer Winning Eleven 10 [PS2]6. Tetris DS [DS]7. Animal Crossing: Wild World [DS]8. Eigo ga Nigate na Otona no DS Training: Eigo Duke [DS]9. Jikkyou Powerful Major League [PS2]10. Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable [PSP]
Modern society under attack from Mario Bros.
Shortly after celebrating Mario's rampant popularity in Japan, we now learn through Joe Larson's blog, Exploding Unicorn, that the portly plumber is nothing more than an instrument of societal destruction, wrecking young minds as the worst kind of role model. Larson points out that Mario's career is dubious at best, asking "if he can jump fifteen feet in the air, why doesn't he play basketball? One can only conclude that Mario had the worst high school guidance counselor on the planet – if he graduated from high school at all."The rogues that populate the Mushroom Kingdom are just as guilty of polluting young minds, it seems, with Shy Guy teaching kids that "the best way to treat social anxiety disorder is by jumping on it with an overweight Italian plumber. Maybe Shy Guy would fit in and make some friends if he stopped dressing like a serial killer."Read the rest and become aware of the overalls being yanked over your eyes. And please, take it seriously.[Thanks Joe!]
Nintendo Amusement Park open for beta
Last week, the developers of the Nintendo Amusement Park held test trials in New York City for their real life obstacle course, which is inspired by Super Mario Bros. The current prototype utilizes a simple bungee cord, which when attached to a 'player,' allows for an exaggerated, albeit somewhat uncontrolled, jumping ability. Smoosh blow-up goombas, grab coins (i.e. pop yellow balloons), punch power-up boxes, and munch on magic mushrooms; all in what's being called: 'Physically Augmented Reality.'The Nintendo Amusement Park team hopes to have a polished version on display at E3 2007 and is actively seeking collaborators, sponsors, and investors, as well as partnerships with Nintendo and Disney. Good luck with that.[Thanks, Tom; via Wired News]
