Super Mario Bros. 3

[Torrid]

I've been trying to search to find out why we aren't going to get this in NA, but I can't seem to get the search feature to work, but while I'm making this thread, I might as well ask. Why aren't we going to get this game?

[SKTTR]

We get this game. There's no release date just yet.

Anyway, EU gamers may have to wait a while until they get this.
They got The Lost Levels this week.

[Torrid]

We get this game. There's no release date just yet.

Anyway, EU gamers may have to wait a while until they get this.
They got The Lost Levels this week.
Ok, that's good news. I saw a list that showed we weren't going to get it. I guess I'll ignore it as of now.

[retrogamer88]

Can you make a link with the list?

[Torrid]

This is the list that I saw. Next to Super Mario 3, it says No for NA in the upcoming games.
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Category:Wii_Virtual_Console

[crops55]

That simply just means its not out yet in NA, but its coming (My guess right around the same time Galaxy comes out). That list is in need of an update by the way.

[Angelic Lapras King]

It could come when Galaxy arrives. Afterall, both games have the costumes so why not?

Then again, we could see Lost Levels get a pernament place on the VC instead...

[Mendez]

It could come when Galaxy arrives. Afterall, both games have the costumes so why not?

Then again, we could see Lost Levels get a pernament place on the VC instead...
I'd say EU gets it with Galaxy.
We got SMB2 with Strikers, SMB2J with Super Paper Mario, it'd only make sense that 3 would come with Galaxy...

[Tull]

What about for xmas, would be a nice present from Nintendo :). But yea prolly same time as Galaxy.

This is the list that I saw.

I like this one better http://www.vc-reviews.com/coming_soon.php <3

[NESHero]

Well really EU and AUS are used to not be treated well, if we got a cpl of games that you guys didnt, chances are you will prolly get some of your own games that we wont even get!
It may not be now but im sure you will get lost levels and smb3 sooner or later.

[The shoemaker]

What about for xmas, would be a nice present from Nintendo :). But yea prolly same time as Galaxy.



I like this one better http://www.vc-reviews.com/coming_soon.php <3

No a nice present from Nintendo would be Banjo and Kazooie.

[Boo!]

Is Super Mario Bros. 3 the only NES game worth your points? I mean, for an extra 100 you can get some nice-as Turbografx titles...

But i'll definitely be getting this game, can't wait.

[Pocketim]

On December the should release some games set in snowy worlds!

In my head I have Xmas Lemmings buzzing around in my head but that was only avalible for PC

[Ouenben]

No a nice present from Nintendo would be Goldeneye

Corrected :p

[Tull]

A nice present from Scrooge would be Goldeneye :D ?

[The shoemaker]

Yah but I loved this game but it might be another game i just let my sister injoy but this game was worth 5 stars.

[ICEknight]

Yah but I loved this game but it might be another game i just let my sister injoy but this game was worth 5 stars.
That was one awesome sentence.

[kelvingreen]

On December the should release some games set in snowy worlds!

In my head I have Xmas Lemmings buzzing around in my head but that was only avalible for PC
Tsk. And Amiga. But Sony own the franchise anyway, so don't get your hopes up!

[ICEknight]

Tsk. And Amiga. But Sony own the franchise anyway, so don't get your hopes up!
It's only a matter of them leaving the console hardware business (ie: SEGA post-DreamCast).

So we might be seeing Lemmings on the VC in 2010, or earlier.

[The shoemaker]

So are you trying to say that the VC will last till 2010?

[kelvingreen]

I don't see why not; it's only a couple of years away. There are plenty of releases left on the existing VC formats, and there are bound to be more introduced as the years go by. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the VC pulled through into Nintendo's next console.

[The shoemaker]

I wonder what the nest console will be like, because we all know when nintendo makes a new system, they don't just upgrade the graphics....

[Mendez]

I wonder what the nest console will be like, because we all know when nintendo makes a new system, they don't just upgrade the graphics....
I don't welcome change very well, so I'm sort of dreading what they'll come up with right now... Same goes for DS...
Of course, I'll probably think differently when I see it.

[The shoemaker]

Well the wii 2 is suposd to come out.

[Juice_Lee]

I never really liked Super Mario Bros. 3 that much... I mean, it's a great game, don't get me wrong, a real classic. But by late in the game things get too tough for me, enough so to be annoying. I always had a better connection with Super Mario World, although I do appreciate SMB3 for what it is, and play it occasionally.

[ICEknight]

Well the wii 2 is suposd to come out.
No. It's not supposed to, yet.

[The shoemaker]

Yeah maybe next year. But yeah i do remember super mario bros beeing hard really hard. But still a great game.

[hippiecrite]

I never really liked Super Mario Bros. 3 that much... I mean, it's a great game, don't get me wrong, a real classic. But by late in the game things get too tough for me, enough so to be annoying. I always had a better connection with Super Mario World, although I do appreciate SMB3 for what it is, and play it occasionally.

That's why I love SMB3, it's a challenge. SMW is too easy IMO.

[Serge.EXE]

Probably the best Mario game out there. Although, if it does come out for VC, I don't think I'll be picking it up, since I have it for the GBA

[Mendez]

Yeah maybe next year. But yeah i do remember super mario bros beeing hard really hard. But still a great game.
Are you joking? I'd be shocked and a little cross if it came out anytime before 2011.

[Angelic Lapras King]

I went back to SMB3 a few months ago by getting the GBA version. Wasnt as good as I remembered for some reason and felt a bit easy. o.o Maybe I m getting old...

[The shoemaker]

I felt the same with super mario bros 2. I guess it's because there's so many differn't games now this one just seems really old. But it was still hard for me.

[hippiecrite]

I went back to SMB3 a few months ago by getting the GBA version. Wasnt as good as I remembered for some reason and felt a bit easy. o.o Maybe I m getting old...

It's the GBA version that's why. That version seriously gives you too many 1-Ups which makes it easier. The NES version, despite the graphics, is superior to the GBA version in terms of challenge.

[Shortay]

I wonder when it's coming out... maybe with Super Mario Galaxy next month? :)

[Jazzem]

It's the GBA version that's why. That version seriously gives you too many 1-Ups which makes it easier. The NES version, despite the graphics, is superior to the GBA version in terms of challenge.

It's a shame in a way, our western version had a Fire/Tanooki/etc. Mario reverting to normal Mario when hit, and then small Mario again, as opposed to going straight to small Mario after one hit.

It's a hard enough game in itself anyway I guess!

[Boo!]

I'm going to have 500 points reserved for this game, now we just have to wait till Galaxy is released so we get this as well.

[The shoemaker]

Well If super mario RPG comes first....

[crops55]

That's why I love SMB3, it's a challenge. SMW is too easy IMO.


I always found SMB2(USA) to be the hardest. It could be becuase i've played the third so many times and also SMB2 is my least played mario.

[Kevin]

I wonder when it's coming out... maybe with Super Mario Galaxy next month? :)

Well, we're getting galaxy in two weeks so hopefully monday, I'll be able to download it.

[Atlantis1982]

Well, Super Mario Bros 3 is coming to the States this coming Monday:
http://gonintendo.com/?p=28771

[crops55]

500 points ready and waiting. 7 and a half agonizing hours till I can download. Luckily I'll be sleeping.

[Shortay]

Please please please let us get SMB3 this week... I wouldn't even mind if it was next TBH

[JordanR]

If you lose all your lives on SMB3 do you have to go all the way back to the start of the game like you did on SMB and SMB2?

I had the game on All Stars years ago but just can't remember.

[Taint Smack]

If you lose all your lives on SMB3 do you have to go all the way back to the start of the game like you did on SMB and SMB2?

I had the game on All Stars years ago but just can't remember.
No, if you choose continue you go back to the beginning of the world you're currently on. So there's still some challenge there, just not as frustrating. And the suspend play works perfectly, as usual

[Bazoon]

Never mind, saw the answer in another post about that left "light blue" boarder :P.

[v404]

I have to say that I find this game is waaay over rated. It simply hasn't aged well.

So tell me, why is this revered as one of the greatest games of all time?! Because frankly, it's not even close..

[Joxe]

Agree to that, it's just a Mario game, which I've never liked. Once a Sonic gamer, always a Sonic gamer.

I simply find the mapdesign really bad on all Mario games. And I suck at them to, kind of stuck on the second world :/

[Tull]

Seriously?

[v404]

Yeah!

I mean, what is it about this game that's so great?! It's not even in my top 10 of the best NES games..

It's a good game, don't get me wrong, but one of the best? Hardly..

It's just not that much fun to play either... I highly doubt anyone who hasn't played SMB3 before & has some sort of nostalgic attachment to it will find it anything above average.. At least compared to other games which get slagged on this site for having "aged poorly" & being difficult to recommend to non-avid gamers & old school enthusiasts.

Again, don't get me wrong. I like it. I bought it on the VC. But honestly, of all the SMBs I think this one may have aged the most & subsequently, hurts it's replay value & "best game ever" validity over longevity.

But to each's own. I just am surprised this title, above all others, is generally revered as "the best game ever on the NES." It's just not true at all. But I'm open to the debate.. I just haven't come across an argument yet that justifies the bold claim. Just a bunch of "I loved this back in the day & it's the best."

Granted, I've long since given up on the validity of the formal reviews on this site but I'm surprised none of the other users on this board have contention w/ this ridiculous claim.

[Shortay]

Yeah!

I mean, what is it about this game that's so great?! It's not even in my top 10 of the best NES games..

It's a good game, don't get me wrong, but one of the best? Hardly..

It's just not that much fun to play either... I highly doubt anyone who hasn't played SMB3 before & has some sort of nostalgic attachment to it will find it anything above average.. At least compared to other games which get slagged on this site for having "aged poorly" & being difficult to recommend to non-avid gamers & old school enthusiasts.

Again, don't get me wrong. I like it. I bought it on the VC. But honestly, of all the SMBs I think this one may have aged the most & subsequently, hurts it's replay value & "best game ever" validity over longevity.

But to each's own. I just am surprised this title, above all others, is generally revered as "the best game ever on the NES." It's just not true at all. But I'm open to the debate.. I just haven't come across an argument yet that justifies the bold claim. Just a bunch of "I loved this back in the day & it's the best."

Granted, I've long since given up on the validity of the formal reviews on this site but I'm surprised none of the other users on this board have contention w/ this ridiculous claim.

What ridiculous claim are you referring to? That SMB3 is the best NES game?

[coire]

Judas! This game is a bona-fide classic. Though you're entitled to your opinion but I think it is definently one of the best games on the NES, With Legend of Zelda. Does anyone remeber the Nintendo Cereal System? That was before my time, but I hear it was pretty much Nintendo themed Lucky Charms. 'Nintendios', eh?

SMB3 Had its own Movie: The Wizard! And no other game was so hyped. This game was hyped on Halo 3 proportions if not more. The game is immense, yet pretty much all the levels are in bite size chunks. The wide array of Power-ups (My favourite is the Tanuki Suit), and the First Sonic, while being an amazing game, but not as good as this, and the last boss battle in Sonic is a joke. But this game introduced so many new elements, like cards and inventory and and flight, yet the flight controls were never fickle or hard to use! I think its brilliant, the best NES game, but if you guys wanna say differently, than stake your claims.

(I do think as a whole the Bonk series is better however, mostly because it had great evolution, you could see the series evolve in every game)

[ICEknight]

Seriously, I was playing Metroid Prime 3 on a daily basis till I downloaded Super Mario 3, and decided to finish it going through every single stage from the start (not collecting any whistles).

...And it's every bit as great as I remembered it. It has a lot of variety thrown in the levels and a well balanced learning curve. I'm even forgiving that the PAL version runs slower than NTSC, it's still a great game.

[Tull]

I highly doubt anyone who hasn't played SMB3 before & has some sort of nostalgic attachment to it will find it anything above average..

I should verify that claim on my mini brothers sometime. Know they love SM64 and im not sure they even have seen/played SMB3 yet.

[v404]

What ridiculous claim are you referring to? That SMB3 is the best NES game?


Yes.. As it's been continuously implied as the indisputable best game from the NES.

[crops55]

Yeah!

I mean, what is it about this game that's so great?! It's not even in my top 10 of the best NES games..

It's a good game, don't get me wrong, but one of the best? Hardly..

It's just not that much fun to play either... I highly doubt anyone who hasn't played SMB3 before & has some sort of nostalgic attachment to it will find it anything above average.. At least compared to other games which get slagged on this site for having &quot;aged poorly&quot; & being difficult to recommend to non-avid gamers & old school enthusiasts.

Again, don't get me wrong. I like it. I bought it on the VC. But honestly, of all the SMBs I think this one may have aged the most & subsequently, hurts it's replay value & &quot;best game ever&quot; validity over longevity.

But to each's own. I just am surprised this title, above all others, is generally revered as &quot;the best game ever on the NES.&quot; It's just not true at all. But I'm open to the debate.. I just haven't come across an argument yet that justifies the bold claim. Just a bunch of &quot;I loved this back in the day & it's the best.&quot;

Granted, I've long since given up on the validity of the formal reviews on this site but I'm surprised none of the other users on this board have contention w/ this ridiculous claim.

Thats because it isn't a ridiculous claim. Go out there on the ole internet and bring up as many top ten NES game lists that you can and see what the average number one is. It doesn't necessarily make it the best but it is considered by many to be the best. Also name me one NES game that deserves the title of #1 more so than SMB3.

[coire]

I didn't play the Original, I only played the SNES version, and I still love the original, Its cool, and I love how they schedualed It, It really hyped me up to get galaxy.

[v404]

Thats because it isn't a ridiculous claim. Go out there on the ole internet and bring up as many top ten NES game lists that you can and see what the average number one is. It doesn't necessarily make it the best but it is considered by many to be the best. Also name me one NES game that deserves the title of #1 more so than SMB3.

Insert any NES game that's above average (4/5) & higher..

General consensus doesn't do it for me. Just because a lot of people are nostalgic to it doesn't warrant the claim IMO. A lot of people love Smash Bros. but that doesn't convince me it's the greatest game ever..

Still, no one has been able to present an argument to justify this beyond "a lot of people love it."

[coire]

Its not that people are 'nostaligic', It that it is really a great game, and, while the graphics my have aged, the solid gameplay and good level design stay perfect today.

[Shortay]

The reason I don't like it isn't because of nostalgia, it's because IMO the platforming is near-perfect, with a wide variety of power-ups and good level design that few games could match on the NES.

[Wiizel]

I had to register just to chime in here.

Super Mario Bros was bundled with the NES and over 40 million carts were "sold". This is a game that EVERYONE knew. Many loved the series. Mario 2 was a different enough to not be as popular.

Then comes Mario 3. The little hints of it coming up in Nintendo Powers. Then the movie the wizard dropped and it was the first time we got to see Mario 3. It got so hyped - everywhere you looked you saw Mario with his ears and tail.

I remember being so excited waiting for the release date. Having my mother drive me to Toys R us just to find out they were all sold out, with-in an hour of release! I called every day until the week passed by and they finally said "yes we have a copy".

Mario 3 sold almost 18 million copies. Everywhere you looked after Mario 3 hit you saw Mario everywhere - lunchboxes, cartoons, box office movie, commercials, puzzles, stuff toys, action figures. Mario 3 is the best non-bundled selling video game of it's time.

Halo3 is at a whopping 2.5 million. I don't expect anyone who didn't live the Mario 3 craze to appreciate what the game had done for gaming.

[v404]

Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I was alive & well during those times & remember it all very vividly.. Just as vivid as you do.. But yet again, I'm just pointing out that hype & nostalgia don't make a game "the greatest" as every single post since my accussation has reinforced.

Again, a lot of people played it, they was unprecedented hype for it until that point, you were young & impressionable & it all rubbed off on you so much that you can't help but get wrapped up in it again now nearly 20 years later.. (Let's also not forget that back in the NES glory days, you didn't have as many gamng options so selling 18 million was more feasible.)

And again, none of those facts validate the claim that this game is "the greatest." It's a decent platformer, don't get me wrong. But I think of the 3 main USA released SMB titles, this one has aged the most poorly.

At the time (1990) I too felt it was the beez kneez! But now I'm older wiser & honest w/ myself & I still stand by the fact that in the long run, this is an above average and memorable platformer at best. I also stand by that while SMB 2 is revered as the "Black Sheep" of the North American trilogy, I think it aged the best of the 3 & is probably the most fun & playable game today.

I think SMB 2 also goes unsung within the SMB chronology of contributing to some of the later & better incarnations of the SMB franchise. IMO, Super Mario World wouldn't be what it is w/o SMB 2. Granted, the same is true for SMB 3 but I feel as though it gets the recognition while SMB 2 does not..

Sorry, but noone has been able to make a single valid argument yet as "it makes many people's online lists," "it had unrivaled hype for it's day" & "I wanted it so bad as a kid" don't mean squat in terms of the actual game itself..

[Shortay]

Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I was alive & well during those times & remember it all very vividly.. Just as vivid as you do.. But yet again, I'm just pointing out that hype & nostalgia don't make a game "the greatest" as every single post since my accussation has reinforced.

Again, a lot of people played it, they was unprecedented hype for it until that point, you were young & impressionable & it all rubbed off on you so much that you can't help but get wrapped up in it again now nearly 20 years later.. (Let's also not forget that back in the NES glory days, you didn't have as many gamng options so selling 18 million was more feasible.)

And again, none of those facts validate the claim that this game is "the greatest." It's a decent platformer, don't get me wrong. But I think of the 3 main USA released SMB titles, this one has aged the most poorly.

At the time (1990) I too felt it was the beez kneez! But now I'm older wiser & honest w/ myself & I still stand by the fact that in the long run, this is an above average and memorable platformer at best. I also stand by that while SMB 2 is revered as the "Black Sheep" of the North American trilogy, I think it aged the best of the 3 & is probably the most fun & playable game today.

I think SMB 2 also goes unsung within the SMB chronology of contributing to some of the later & better incarnations of the SMB franchise. IMO, Super Mario World wouldn't be what it is w/o SMB 2. Granted, the same is true for SMB 3 but I feel as though it gets the recognition while SMB 2 does not..

Sorry, but noone has been able to make a single valid argument yet as "it makes many people's online lists," "it had unrivaled hype for it's day" & "I wanted it so bad as a kid" don't mean squat in terms of the actual game itself..

What do you think the best NES game(s) is/are?

[Wiizel]

I absolutely loved SMB2 and still it play it today (although my original cart no longer works and redraws maps differently every time I enter a door). Thank god for the Wii :)

The 2-player mode was fantastic. The replay value of the game by many people alone proves this was a fantastic game at the time. We got many different Goombas, Different Chomps, a whole family of Koopas.

This game introduced so many characters to the Mario series.

Super Mario World was fantastic too, but so many of the characters in the game, were first introduced to us in SMB3.

Is SMB3 the best game of all time? Absolutely not. Is SMB3 the best mario game of all time? Opinions vary. My favorite is Super Mario World.

Is SMB3 the best Nintendo game of all time? Opinions vary here - but there is no doubt that this game took the NES to a point of "wow" for many of us NES-Fanboys at the time. I cannot think of another NES game that made me say "wow". Although SNES had quite few "wows".

[v404]

What do you think the best NES game(s) is/are?

I don't know. But I can assure you SMB3 wouldn't make my top 5.. Maybe the top 10 but in this day & age, I'd be inclined to give SMB2 a higher overall rating when you consider longevity & aging.

Sure SMB3 pushed the capabilities of the NES but I don't think that equates to quality. Sure, SMB3 may qualify as a contender but as the unanimous winner, no way! Again, not in longevity. At the time, maybe.. But now that we have the entire catalog of NES games to consider & nearly 20 years worth of time to let it set in, I just don't feel SMB3 stands the test of time the way other titles have.

[Shortay]

I don't know. But I can assure you SMB3 wouldn't make my top 5.. Maybe the top 10 but in this day & age, I'd be inclined to give SMB2 a higher overall rating when you consider longevity & aging.

Sure SMB3 pushed the capabilities of the NES but I don't think that equates to quality. Sure, SMB3 may qualify as a contender but as the unanimous winner, no way! Again, not in longevity. At the time, maybe.. But now that we have the entire catalog of NES games to consider & nearly 20 years worth of time to let it set in, I just don't feel SMB3 stands the test of time the way other titles have.

But if you don't like it then don't you have some suggestions?

[ICEknight]

What flaws do you find in SMB3?

It has nice music, graphics, imaginative and varied worlds, many different power-ups and enemies to beat, it's quite long if you don't take the shortcuts, and it's easy and fun to play...

[v404]

Damnit!! I just wrote a lengthy reply & accidentally closed the window!!

Well, basically, I feel as though SMB3's graphics aged poorly. It just looks very drab to me. Especially in comparison to SMB2. I also don't think it's as fun to play as SMB or SMB2. It sort of drags IMO.

While at the time, I definitely felt different. Now, I can't say I feel the same. I play SMB, SMB2, & SMW quite a bit now but SMB3 sort of bores me & I don't play it as much. Also, I never owned a copy of SMB3 as a kid so it's not that I'm just sick of it either.

Regardless, SMB3 obviously introduced many new concepts that became staples of the SMB franchise. I just feel in longevity that it doesn't stand the test of time as well & ultimately kind of serves as a hold over between SMB2 & SMW while not being as good as either of the two IMO.

Again, just my opinion but I thought at least a few others would've felt the same disenchantment now that it's been rereleased 17 years later.

As for other games that are worthwhile. I'm reluctant to say any of them are "the best NES game ever" but I would definitely consider these.

Battletoads
Contra
Duck Tales
Final Fantasy
G.I. Joe
Goonies II
Metal Gear
Legend of Zelda
River City Ransom
Some of the Mega Mans were great


Now granted, many of these titles I haven't played for the better part of nearly 2 decades so I'm eager to try them again & see how they stand. I'm sure some of them may be terrible now but at the time were great. Also, I've definitely not played every NES game so I'm sure there are a few I'm in the dark about.

And for the record, I'm not saying SMB3 is a crappy game or anything. It's definitely one of the better titles for the NES. I just don't enjoy it as much now as when I was 11 and I'm surprised that games like Metroid would get such harsh reviews while SMB3 is praised.

[ZueriHB]

The VC-Reviews are not the users opinion, and I don't agree with most of your reasons why SMB3 aged badly. Super Mario Bros. aged badly, but on the other hand, it's the classic. But I still enjoy SMB3 more than the others.

On the other hand, your reasons could also be applied to The Legend of Zelda, I don't have the same fun with Zelda (any title) than Mario, but also Mario is more like a - "Let's play some Mario now", where Zelda is more the - "I think I'll play Zelda over the weekend", it's a different approach to play it (at least for me).

And about the best NES-Games, I'm still in a tie for Super Mario Bros. 3 or Kirby's Adventure.

[crops55]

Damnit!! I just wrote a lengthy reply & accidentally closed the window!!

Well, basically, I feel as though SMB3's graphics aged poorly. It just looks very drab to me. Especially in comparison to SMB2. I also don't think it's as fun to play as SMB or SMB2. It sort of drags IMO.

While at the time, I definitely felt different. Now, I can't say I feel the same. I play SMB, SMB2, & SMW quite a bit now but SMB3 sort of bores me & I don't play it as much. Also, I never owned a copy of SMB3 as a kid so it's not that I'm just sick of it either.

Regardless, SMB3 obviously introduced many new concepts that became staples of the SMB franchise. I just feel in longevity that it doesn't stand the test of time as well & ultimately kind of serves as a hold over between SMB2 & SMW while not being as good as either of the two IMO.

Again, just my opinion but I thought at least a few others would've felt the same disenchantment now that it's been rereleased 17 years later.

As for other games that are worthwhile. I'm reluctant to say any of them are "the best NES game ever" but I would definitely consider these.

Battletoads
Contra
Duck Tales
Final Fantasy
G.I. Joe
Goonies II
Metal Gear
Legend of Zelda
River City Ransom
Some of the Mega Mans were great


Now granted, many of these titles I haven't played for the better part of nearly 2 decades so I'm eager to try them again & see how they stand. I'm sure some of them may be terrible now but at the time were great. Also, I've definitely not played every NES game so I'm sure there are a few I'm in the dark about.

And for the record, I'm not saying SMB3 is a crappy game or anything. It's definitely one of the better titles for the NES. I just don't enjoy it as much now as when I was 11 and I'm surprised that games like Metroid would get such harsh reviews while SMB3 is praised.

You have a very valid argument and also bring up a few good points as well. I agree with the fact that the graphics have aged poorly even when considering the era it comes from. I'm not sure if its just VC emulation or the colors really were this washed out and coupled with such a bland tone. But its something that kind of bothered me when I was replaying it. Actually there is another thread discussing this exact topic. I haven't gotten a chance to read the updated replies but did we figure out if it the original PAL version and the NTSC one look exactly the same? Or was it just the NTSC one that orignally looked washed out? Either way, I agree its annoying and I don't ever remember it looking like that. But you also have to consider for its time it was pushing NES boundaries. SMB2 may have better color but doesn't scratch the surface of detail and number of things moving on screen at one time as 3 does.

One thing is for sure however that the rest of the game has not aged poorly and I think its one NES title that is just as much fun to play today as it was 17 years ago. First thing is first, gameplay. There aren't many other games for the NES that feels as good as the control does in SMB3. You were never fighting the game to get better. If you sucked you had no one to blame but yourself. The level design, in my opinion (along with legions of other people), is some of the most intricate and refined in any Mario game. Nothing is out of place and everything just "fits". The sublime satisfaction of finding secrets is second to none in this game given their intelligent placement and implementation. The variety and number of powerups offer more diversity in gameplay that any other NES title and they all seem like such a natural extension to the tried and true Mario formula. As for the music, ask any retro gamer as to what NES title has the best music and I guarantee you more than half say SMB3. In fact I really can't see any other NES title even coming close besides Mega Man 2. SMB3 only beating the latter because of consistency. Like I said this is all opinionated but I challenge you to find valid points to negate what I have claimed. Okay I need to wrap this up just a few more points and I'll come back with more to say. You said this, "Sorry, but no one has been able to make a single valid argument yet as "it makes many people's online lists," "it had unrivaled hype for it's day" & "I wanted it so bad as a kid" don't mean squat in terms of the actual game itself." Just as those were opinions you are doing the exact same thing. By just saying I feel it has aged poorly doesn't justify your claims. You're doing exactly what everyone else is doing just on the opposite side of the spectrum. Lets talk gameplay, level design, and music. Also, of course it has aged badly considering today's gaming standard but we are talking the NES era and they all have aged poorly in terms of graphics. However the three categories I listed above can stand the test of time. Some games can do it and some can't. However, I firmly believe SMB3 has more so than any NES game (MM2 comes close though.).

Saying a game is the best of all time can never be a proven fact. Opinions will never be fact. However the sheer number of opinions that do agree that SMB3 is the greatest NES game still counts for something doesn't it?

Thats just ridiculous. Being that SMB2 wasn't even orignally intended to be a Mario game I'd say SMB2 would be that game that held people over from the first to the third.

[The shoemaker]

I just downloaded this game it has the blue boarder and washed out color but I don't mind too much. It's a really good game My favorite NES game, And my favorite smb game. It feels like the real sequel to Super Mario Bros. It's a bit easier now that my gaming skills have gotten a boost since I was 6. But it's still quite challenging I've had it for two days and still can't get past the desert world. (that level with the sun is evil) Also I really like how when you die you don't have to start the whole game over again just the world your in. and now I can continue from where i am because of the Wii!!!!! The music is really good too. what really gave me a big boost to get this game was because of Mario Galaxy. I was just Playing Mario Galaxy When a song from SMB3 came on in a level all redone and it got me all hyped up to go download this game. I bet another reason Ninty released SMB3 with Galaxy is because of that song you would here in Galaxy then you would go and download the game:p

[The shoemaker]

Man this is the best NES game it's tha one nes game I don't get border of playing after a while.

[animagnum]

Games like SMB3, Super Mario World, and the DKC games are ones that I always enjoy playing through several times. I always find something new or re-discover something I forgot about the last time I played. Good stuff.