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Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Platforms: NES(original), SNES(Super Mario Allstars), GBA, Wii(VC)
Players: 1-4
Original Release Date(s): Oct 21 2003(US), Oct 17 2003(EU), Oct 2003(AU), Jul 11 2003(JP)
Of all the NES Mario games Super Mario Bros. 3 was definitely the most polished of the lot and went on to become the series benchmark that all others had to compete with, and rightfully so as it had so many new ideas that would later become the standards for the series but does it manage to live up to the other ports and send of the Advance series of games on a high?
Presentation
Near enough untouched from the original except the new story intro and a few tweaks here and there like the ability to save after each level rather than have to replay the world over again like in the enhanced SNES version of the game, then there is the on screen information which used to be presented in the large bar at the bottom of the screen and is now gone and everything is placed neatly on both the top and bottom of the screen so it doesn't get in the way of what you can see.
Graphics
This game pretty much takes the enhanced SNES version of the games graphics and refines them just a little, which them selves are just a slight enhancement over the originals mainly adding all the colour, so not much change but of all the NES ones it was the only one that didn't need a whole lot of improving.
While the first Super Mario Advance took the opportunity to add to Super Mario Bros. 2 and make it look much more like it's own game from what it was originally there is no some thing in this game and there is no need for it too as altering one of the best loved games in the series cold have resulted in a very big backlash from fans.
Sound
No different for the most part from the SNES version of the game, other than much like the first Super Mario Advance both Mario and Luigi now have voices to help fall in line with the rest of the 16-bit games and all the other in the Advance series and it doesn't really affect the game at all other than the initial getting used to it for long time players of the game, but the game sounds as good and iconic as it ever did.
Gameplay
Pretty much as a whole identical to the original with one major exception you have a choice to play as both Mario and Luigi, and much like in The Lost Levels and Super Mario Bros. 2 they now both have there own unique abilities and Luigi controls much like he does in the game where he can just higher but has more trouble coming to a halt, which adds something a little different to the overall feel of play that older players wont be as accustomed too and makes a nice addition.
Other than that it is still the perfect blend of platforming that it ever was and old and new fans alike will easily be able to pick it up and play.
Lasting Appeal
As with any re-released game if you know what you are doing in it it wont really be tough to beat again and of all the Mario Advance games this has no real extras to speak of unless you can get your hands on an e-reader and certain cards to unlock newer levels which are both challenging and original in their concept. Now if they were in some way accessible to people with out the use of the e-reader I would recommend going that route as they actually add a huge amount to the game making it more challenging but as things go it is near enough impossible to get a hold of one and the cards to go with it, making it something of a missed opportunity to make this game better in every way over the original rather than a means to sell what is a failed add on device that had little software support.
Once again you have the Mario Bros. arcade game as an extra which if you own one of the other three games you know what you are getting pretty much a little distraction away from the main game.
Overall
This is still in every sense of the word a great platform game and new and old fans should love it the only major gripe I have and as many people do is that the only method of unlocking new levels that actually improve the game and make it a challenge even to people who played the original is a method that never took off and wasn't easily available to most, and its not even like there is anyway to unlock these levels as they aren't even on the game cartridge but on the cards themselves so for the vast majority of us we will never get to experience them which is something of a lost opportunity.
Other than that major gripe I have the really is as good as ever and worth picking up more for newer players to the series or those who never experienced it the first time around, than maybe someone looking for a newer challenge to that of the original, which you sadly wont get unless you can track down all the required resources to do it.
Scores
Presentation 9.0
Graphics 8.5
Sound 9.0
Gameplay 9.5
Lasting Appeal 9.0
Overall 9.0
Players: 1-4
Original Release Date(s): Oct 21 2003(US), Oct 17 2003(EU), Oct 2003(AU), Jul 11 2003(JP)
Of all the NES Mario games Super Mario Bros. 3 was definitely the most polished of the lot and went on to become the series benchmark that all others had to compete with, and rightfully so as it had so many new ideas that would later become the standards for the series but does it manage to live up to the other ports and send of the Advance series of games on a high?
Presentation
Near enough untouched from the original except the new story intro and a few tweaks here and there like the ability to save after each level rather than have to replay the world over again like in the enhanced SNES version of the game, then there is the on screen information which used to be presented in the large bar at the bottom of the screen and is now gone and everything is placed neatly on both the top and bottom of the screen so it doesn't get in the way of what you can see.
Graphics
This game pretty much takes the enhanced SNES version of the games graphics and refines them just a little, which them selves are just a slight enhancement over the originals mainly adding all the colour, so not much change but of all the NES ones it was the only one that didn't need a whole lot of improving.
While the first Super Mario Advance took the opportunity to add to Super Mario Bros. 2 and make it look much more like it's own game from what it was originally there is no some thing in this game and there is no need for it too as altering one of the best loved games in the series cold have resulted in a very big backlash from fans.
Sound
No different for the most part from the SNES version of the game, other than much like the first Super Mario Advance both Mario and Luigi now have voices to help fall in line with the rest of the 16-bit games and all the other in the Advance series and it doesn't really affect the game at all other than the initial getting used to it for long time players of the game, but the game sounds as good and iconic as it ever did.
Gameplay
Pretty much as a whole identical to the original with one major exception you have a choice to play as both Mario and Luigi, and much like in The Lost Levels and Super Mario Bros. 2 they now both have there own unique abilities and Luigi controls much like he does in the game where he can just higher but has more trouble coming to a halt, which adds something a little different to the overall feel of play that older players wont be as accustomed too and makes a nice addition.
Other than that it is still the perfect blend of platforming that it ever was and old and new fans alike will easily be able to pick it up and play.
Lasting Appeal
As with any re-released game if you know what you are doing in it it wont really be tough to beat again and of all the Mario Advance games this has no real extras to speak of unless you can get your hands on an e-reader and certain cards to unlock newer levels which are both challenging and original in their concept. Now if they were in some way accessible to people with out the use of the e-reader I would recommend going that route as they actually add a huge amount to the game making it more challenging but as things go it is near enough impossible to get a hold of one and the cards to go with it, making it something of a missed opportunity to make this game better in every way over the original rather than a means to sell what is a failed add on device that had little software support.
Once again you have the Mario Bros. arcade game as an extra which if you own one of the other three games you know what you are getting pretty much a little distraction away from the main game.
Overall
This is still in every sense of the word a great platform game and new and old fans should love it the only major gripe I have and as many people do is that the only method of unlocking new levels that actually improve the game and make it a challenge even to people who played the original is a method that never took off and wasn't easily available to most, and its not even like there is anyway to unlock these levels as they aren't even on the game cartridge but on the cards themselves so for the vast majority of us we will never get to experience them which is something of a lost opportunity.
Other than that major gripe I have the really is as good as ever and worth picking up more for newer players to the series or those who never experienced it the first time around, than maybe someone looking for a newer challenge to that of the original, which you sadly wont get unless you can track down all the required resources to do it.
Scores
Presentation 9.0
Graphics 8.5
Sound 9.0
Gameplay 9.5
Lasting Appeal 9.0
Overall 9.0
