Talking Point: Which Version Of Super Mario Bros. 3 Do You Prefer?

All-Stars is by far my favorite version of all of those games, though at least Advance 4 has some nice new stuff with the eReader levels.

GBA, specifically the Wii U VC and NSO re-releases, which have all of the e-Reader levels available by default.

Snes and 4 are very similar so any one of those

I cant believe how old this game was when I first picked up the snes

Love replaying the original NES because of the game's history and community, but also going back to the GBA version because of the extra levels and voice clips

The Advance version for me, in part because i have the e-cards with the extra levels and for getting free power-ups, also adding the throwable turnips from SMB2.

I have Advance 4 on my Wii U and I love the extra content. It’s much better being able to play it on the big screen. Don’t get me wrong, classic is great, but more content is always what I’m going to vote for.

Why would the version with the most content be the least liked?

While the later verisons were objectively improved, the original is still the one I will go back to play again and again.

NES for the tight controls and no voice clips, GBA for the bonus levels!

@themikestur87 I imagine its a combination of being the one least played (so people vote for the ones that they remember/liked) and also there is an argument against the GBA soundchip which makes the classic tunes a bit... chirpy. Anyways, they are all quite close!

Even though I grew up on the SNES version I've come to prefer the NES original since playing through it on my Switch. Something about the colour scheme and more stylised art direction on it is is really attractive to me.

The SNES version just looked so generic and cheap when I went back to it. I think the SNES versions of SMB 1 and 2 look much charming...

@themikestur87 Do realize that all those extra contents are hide behind a paywall. Yes the GBA version had extra contents like new e-reader levels, power-ups, and all that but those came at a cost. Originally in able to access those you had to own a GBA system, a copy of the game, an e-Reader card scanner, and several packs of e-reader cards. To play full multiplayer you also had to own two or more copies of the game otherwise you'll just be playing the same one level every time.

Only one ive played is the snes one via all stars so had to vote that.

GBA is the definitive version. More content, adjusted graphics, two character mode, saving anytime.

The GBA version managed to improve on the already perfect OG

Original in the case of all the NES Marios that got remade.

I don't care much for the all-star look or soundfont and while I kinda like the Advance port of Mario 2 for all the added content and weird voice lines, I think the originals just are more unique.

I always preferred the All-Stars visuals to their NES counterparts but I grew up with Advance 4 so that's an easy vote from me, especially now that Nintendo's including all the E-Reader levels whenever they re-release it.

Some of the secret items are missing from later versions of mario 3. For those who played the original, it can feel incomplete, and utterly drives me crazy!

To be blunt, the Wii U Virtual Console and the NSO versions of the GBA game. Especially the NSO one, which allows you to enable the Rumble feature as if it were the GBA version played on a Game Boy Player.

Some of those e-Reader levels did feel a bit Kaizo the first time I played them and gave my platforming skills a run.

I'm glad I can play the 3 versions on Switch, though.

All stars for me as it was the first copy I owed and played properly.

Going back to the NES version after that is a bit like watching a film on Blu-ray and then watching it again on an old VHS tape.

Yes it's the same film but it looks all crappy in comparison

@themikestur87

"Why would the version with the most content be the least liked?"

because enjoyment of games, or any other entertainment that is also art, is not purely transactional or objective. 👍

All Stars is great, but you can't beat the warm nostalgia blanket of the original.

For an added challenge, I do like the Japanese Famicom version. Visually it’s the same as the NES so maybe why it’s not differentiated here. Taking damage as Fire or Raccoon Mario (or any other type power up) reduces you back to Mario rather than Super Mario. It’s significantly harder especially later in the game.

Any game I can think of, I prefer the graphics of NES originals. The more detailed 16 bit style never appealed to me (even though I love the look of games that were originally 16 bit). Worse yet though is the stuff like the Dragon Quest remasters that look like cheap mobile crap. I don't see why they can't offer the originals alongside the remakes, or better yet included with them.

"(hearing him say "woohoo, just what I needed!" whenever he picks up an item never gets old)"

A lot of people would disagree on that one. I thought the voices got old after hearing it for a second time. I said it back when it was new and I'll say it again, there should have been an option to simply disable the new voices.

I just played through the NES version of SMB3 last week. I last compared the versions a year or two ago. I have thoughts. The GBA version is largely good. The audio is simultaneously better and worse than the SNES version. The zoomed-in view due to the fixed resolution of the GBA screen and the colors to compensate for the GBA's dark screen hurt this version. Also, the voice clips are annoying to many.

The SNES version is well done, though the updated graphics take away from the theme of the game being a stage play as there is a loss of consistency with that. The audio is a bit weak and muffled as is common on the SNES. Being able to save was a huge upgrade, though that is less of a factor now.

The lack of saving of the original NES hurts it in this comparison, though that's why the warp whistles exist which is how I originally beat the game, though I played most of the levels eventually as a kid. Modern save states mitigate that issue. While the SNES version looks great, I like the general aesthetic of the NES game as well. But it's the sound that I really love in the NES version. Every time I played the SNES game, I felt compelled to play the NES game too, and I realized it was because of the sound. The NES music and sound effects are just much punchier(I've seen others describe it the same way). The jump sound effect specifically is just so much better to me on the NES. Overall, I think the NES version as a whole is just the best package, especially now that saving is not an issue.

I voted GBA Edition because of the extra levels, though the ereader was not a good choice, making them some levels too expensive and others impossible to be played, at least until the WiiU days. And also the ability to visit any world and level at will after beating the game. As a plus It was and still is magical to have such a masterpiece on a small device such as the GBA/GBASP/GBM. They are all excellent versions and my favorite SMB game 2D or not 2D.

I much prefer the flat colours in the NES version, and the soundtrack is so well done, even limited to 4 channels!

My Grandparents had a Wii with Mario 3, and that was my childhood! They also had an NES with Mario 3, but I have more prevalent memories of the Wii VC release haha.

honestly, by playing Wonder over the weekend, I kinda wish Nintendo would do an old-skool 2D collection in this new graphical style

By the way, there is at least one important gameplay difference when comparing the Japanese and Western releases of the original. In Japan, when you are hit, It doesn't matter If you are Super, Racoon, Frog etc, you will always become normal Mario when hit. In the North American version, If you are wearing a suit, you will always become Super Mario when hit. If hit again, you will them become regular Mario. Basically the game is easier by giving you an extra hit point.

Super Mario All-Stars - SNES (1993) for sure!
Back in the good old days it was my most played Mario game.

Super Mario All-Stars version for all the NES Mario games. They look better but as far as I know play the same. BTW tried to beat Mario 2 (US) and the final boss's bubbles are really hard to dodge.

The flicker on the side of the NES versions screen bothers me, and I hate the voice clips of the GBA version.

All-stars alllllllll the way.

Gotta go with GBA it’s what I played as a kid. That JUST WHAT I NEEDED rang out in my head as I read the article

Am I the only one who just doesn't like the art style of the SNES All Stars game? Not just SMB3 but I don't like any of them. The original SMB game on All Stars looks like one of those weird Sega Genesis rom hack games.

I’ve been working my way through on GBA.
I have such find memories of using game genie to give myself unlimited hammer Mario or Tanuki Mario to beat the game.
I loved all the hidden areas in this game.

I love all of them. I love the GBA also because I have the GBA cartridge with the E-Reader Levels!

I grew up with the All-Stars version, but SMA4 is the definitive edition in my eyes.

1. GBA
2. SNES
3. NES

@Olliemar28 The GBA version had to redesign a lot of levels because, not the physical size of the GBA screen but because its resolution was only 2/3 the height of the NES and SNES. They had fewer dots on the screen so everything NEEDED to be moved closer together to keep its visual intent.
(the lava autoscroller level in Yoshi's Island sticks out as a case where I don't think they were as a considerate. A downward scrolling part really sticks in my mind as a part that became more difficult than it should've been due to the reduced vertical sight)

All-Stars will forever be one of my personal favorite collection of games, so it is my preference.

I’m not big on how Mario’s sprite meshes with the backgrounds, but otherwise, I think All Stars wipes the floor.

When I was a wee lad I did play NES and All-Stars versions of the games but I hold the original release to heart.

I love the SNES version of SMB3, I think it's superior to the original NES version..

I grew up with the SNES version, but now I prefer the NES. The color palette and overall vibe are unique to that game and no other Mario game looks or feels like it.

To be honest, though, I don't really like the art direction in any of the All Stars remakes. I prefer the originals now.

The OG for me. It's what I first played. I actually thought the added color and detail of the SNES versions took some power away from my imagination regarding the visuals. I felt the same way about SMB1's original versus the All-Stars version.

The original SMB3 has my heart because of the memories it created. I played this version so much with my childhood friend.

@Serpenterror Not true anymore with the NSO release

Honestly it's a subjective pick but I'm going to go with the OG version. Nothing wrong with the remakes which are equally as good but I just prefer the 8 but music of the NES version. When people say SMB3 I think of the NES version even though I grew up with the GBA one.

But you can't go wrong with any of them.

@bigpale No. I have seen others say the same. While I don't have a problem with the graphical updates for SMB3 and SMB2(USA) in All Stars, I really didn't like the graphical changes for SMB1 and Lost Levels. There are hacks that change the backgrounds graphics in those two so they look more consistent with the original, though in an updated style as opposed to all-new graphics they went with. And there are hacks that fix the block-breaking behavior which is way off in those two.

Despite having a NES, I wouldn't play SMB3 until we got a SNES so we grew up with that version.

@artax33 Mario 1 and Lost Levels don't play quite right on All Stars due to a mistake in programming in regards to breaking bricks. There's a hack that fixes it. It doesn't make them unplayable, but they do feel different because of it.

But the main reason for this reply is those bubbles are tough to dodge. I find it more manageable to get to the right side before he shoots the bubbles so that I'm moving left when trying to dodge them since they're also going to the left and that makes it a bit easier to position the characters where there's an opening.

All*Stars. It is clearly the technically superior version of the classic when it comes to both audio and video, and it shows. I also feel that Charles' jumping lines are out of place in this game, so another strike against the Mario Advance for adding something that, in my opinion, actually detracts from the game. Nothing against his voice--I just feel that the game should not feature voices in place of (or in addition to) jumping/power-up sound effects at all.

The e-Reader levels were a cool idea, but I never played much with them and unfortunately I lost all my cards and all the required Game Boy equipment (except for cartridges) decades ago. Now those levels can all be played in the Mario Advance version of SMB on NSO/GBA which is cool, but I'll still stick with the good old SNES release for the entirety of the main game.

Haven't played the Advance 4 version but in any case, the OG wins out. I've probably played more the All Stars version but I prefer the soundtrack of the NES version. The SNES (and I guess the Advance version) sounds weird in my ears at some points which reduces game fun.
Don't get me wrong though, SMB3 is one of the best games EVER in any version period.

I've definitely played the NES version the most over the years, but All-Stars was my first experience with the game. And because I'm a nostalgia junkie, imma go with All-Stars.

@themikestur87 Because the GBA version has bad sound.

NES OG for those sounds and those graphics. The doom ship music sounds better.

I was almost 5, I have a clear memory of being in a Toys R Us and playing it before it came out on a demo version. Toys R Us were like "Gamestops" in terms of they were the best place to go for video games for a period in the 80's and early 90's. God I feel so old now.

I really don't like how Mario looks in Super Mario Bros. All Stars, the levels are brighter, but I can't stand how different his skin tone is to his regular appearance.

I'm trying to say it as tastefully as I can, but that's the entire reason I don't play the SNES versions of the Mario games.

The Game Boy Advance version is definitely my favorite as a whole, though I play the Super Mario All-Stars version the most.

They're all great, but aesthetically, the remakes don't REALLY come close to the original. It's an eternally ageless game, and All-Stars feels VERY dated, somehow, in comparison.

Those were some fair reasons in response to my first comment, but honestly I guess it just comes down to personal preference. I own all 3 versions and I play my GBA games on my tv via Game Boy interface. I also play a patched version that has the e-reader levels all unlocked (like the new NSO version). For me I like having the extra features of the voices, simpler UI, and added levels. I’ve never had an issues with the sound either. To each their own and happy gaming everyone.

I grew up with the All-Stars version, but I can really appreciate the simplicity and iconicness of the NES original. Honestly, the GBA version is probably my least-favorite. I don't think retroactively adding voice clips to the game was a particularly good idea. They kinda detract from the overall experience. You Aldo have the crunchy audio, but at least this game doesn't suffer the no-backlight curse of Super Mario World on GBA where the colors look washed out.

While the e-reader levels are an interesting novelty, like the DLC Coin Rush levels in NSMB2, I don't think their inclusion necessarily makes Mario Advance 4 the definitive game. I would argue they're not to the same level of quality as the original levels though. Many of them feel like something you would play in Mario Maker. There is something truly surreal about playing an official version of Mario 3 where you can soar with the cape feather, fight Chargin' Chucks, and pluck vegetables, though. And I really like how you can replay levels in this version and go for 100% by completing each level. In the original version, there's no reason not to skip levels when you have a branching path, unless both routes lead to a Toad house or something.

I’ve always felt like whatever color three gained on all stars it lost in physics Mario is a lot more slippery and harder to control

GBA version for sure, with the e-reader content it's like you get the game plus a sequel. And the inclusion of Mario Bros. helps a lot, as I've always enjoyed the game and the Mario Advance one is easily one of the best versions compared to the arcade, NES, or Famicom games.

NES all the way for authenticity and nostalgia reasons, but GBA comes in 2nd for me because the added sound effects and e-reader bonuses make it feel like a meaningful DX upgrade. SNES version is perfectly good as well (really just down to 8-bit or 16-bit preference), but I'll pick the NES original over it 90% of the time.

Wow, I never expected people to sleep on the GBA remake. I remember how much Nintendo Life gushed on the eReader levels and how they essentially served as a rare crossover of all classic Mario games. Not even Super Mario Maker utilized combined game mechanics, as every level was restricted to one singular game style.

I'm gonna say OG because that is the one I remember. I don't actually like early 2D Mario (or Sonic or Donkey Kong) so even when I try to play the GBA one which looks nicer, it feels off and my brain checks out. I don't have that issue with Mario 64 so I know it is the genre mismatch. That being said this is the first 2D Mario I've ever beaten...so there is that association.

Original is way crisper and keeps up the clever stageplay visual style. The remakes are fine but are like the extra unneeded brushstrokes on a masterpiece. And the added voice clips like how they did for Link the Past was so annoying.

Mario bros games I liked, but I think super mario land games on GB were a million times better

The OG SMB3 is literally the best Mario game ever.

NES, but the Famicom version should be an option due to its very different game mechanics.

Basic answer, but I prefer the NES version for the nostalgia. Playing SMB 3 always takes me back to playing it with my older cousins and having a blast.

Honestly I prefer the original.
It's my favorite NES game.

I love the aesthetics of the original game.

SMB3 is the best Mario game of all time. And NES all the way!

The e-Reader levels trump everything the original has. Those 40-odd stages are more than enough reason to play the GBA version.

NES version all the way for me. The NES soundtrack is more "punchy", like certain parts of the notes and melodies sound clearer than the SNES All-Stars version, which has that characteristic SNES "softening/muffling" that sometimes dilutes the sound of a soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, many SNES soundtracks are some of my favorite videogame OST's of all time; I just think the subtle "softness" of the SNES sound fits some games better than others. Some other games where I feel this way about the soundtracks:

NES Tecmo Super Bowl > SNES Tecmo Super Bowl
NES Wario's Woods> SNES Wario's Woods
NES Punch Out > Super Punch Out

Graphically, I also prefer the unique orange+red Fire Mario in the NES to the more standard white+red Fire Mario in the SNES+GBA version. Likewise for the unique black overalls normal Mario compared to the blue jeans overalls normal Mario for SNES+beyond. The skies of the airship levels also sport unique colors in the NES version, unlike the SNES version where it's the same nighttime stormy sky color for all the airship levels.

The E-reader levels in the GBA version are cool though, and have elements that even Mario Maker 2 does not have. I just dislike the added voice clips and GBA compression. I love Charles Martinet's voice clips in the 3D Mario's and spinoffs, but I just don't care for it particularly in the older 2D games.

I prefer the nes version, played it on nes back then, and play it again on my analogue pocket 😃

My answer feels familiar so a similar question must have been asked recently... maybe Mario 1? Anyways:

My vote went to SNES, because I prefer the downward angle between Y to run and B to jump - it just feels more natural. However, I must admit I play the GBA version more often because of the portability. GBA SP all day. Love me a clamshell handheld console, still use my SP or 3DS more than the Switch in handheld mode.

I only played the SNES version that was part of the All-Stars package (I think I got that as a Christmas gift), good times.

I played the GBA version the most so my mind is programmed to love that one the most.

I´m in awe of how good SMB3 looks and plays on the limited hardware of the NES, and there is something to be said for the "original" being the "purest" form of any work of art.

But I was just too young for a NES of my own- so I got a SNES, and All-Stars is how I beat the game originally.

I have to agree that while the NES version is the most nostalgia inducing, the GBA version is the most perfect version of the game. The addition of the quirky voices by Charles Martinet and the bonus levels are the complete package.

"textures"

A 2D game does not use textures. They use what are commonly called tiles.

"The action has also been zoomed in considerably compared to the previous releases, which is no doubt to cater to the 2.9-inch screen on the GBA."

This wording is misleading. It has nothing to do with the smaller size of the screen, and everything to do with the lower screen resolution.

NES for the music, GBA for the portability and voices lol and SNES for the most played

The NES version is my favorite. Mainly because that was the first video game I ever played and it taught me the basics of how to play games.

I like the original for that 8-bit look, the original intended sound effects, and it just feels right on NES. All Stars is definitely where it was beautified no doubt, and I like the GBA version because it has the e-reader levels which are pretty clever and a nice addition.

OG all the way.

NES because it has the original vision of the game; Sunset sky color in World 3 levels, World 8 number levels that have a monochrome palette, as well as other minor details. There is more variations than the other versions just skipped to implement (you see how the fortress and airship all look the same? Not on the NES version as they have individual colors that help feel them unique)

The GBA is a respectable version; the voices might be annoying, but it's the enhanced all star version with things like fixed bonus room music and E-Reader levels which are excellent.

Then SMAS version; just as the entire package, this version could have more effort put in it. I rather avoid playing this one at all. If you want to play on a TV just play the GBA one (or even better, the NES version)

@BenoitRen - True, but the reason why the resolution is smaller is (more or less) because the screen is smaller, so it’s still technically accurate.
—
For me, I’d probably go with the GBA version, though that may be due to me not having played any version enough to form a strong attachment to them. If I put some time into playing all three versions I could maybe form a better viewpoint, but for now, I’ll just assume the extra levels and addition of voice work make the GBA the definitive version.

@themikestur87
Least played and zoomed in view. Not fair, I know, but for me the SNES version wins

it is not impossible for me to enjoy the NES version. I just strongly prefer the SNES version. It was the first I played, and to this day I have more appreciation for the clearer picture of the world that the enhanced color palette provides.

GBA because of the extra content. It was good!

@FullMetalWesker No. There's no relation between the screen size and the resolution.

@Tasuki The GBA version was even brighter and more wash out as to make it more presentable for owners of the original GBA. As you know the original GBA is popular for not having a backlight screen and is very difficult to play in the dark.

@demacho The Wii U and NSO release only had the e-Reader levels, they are still missing the exclusive power-ups (such as the veggie, the boomerang, and the cape power-up) and contents from other e-reader packs. They're also missing the rumble feature from the cartridge version. As you may know if you play the GBA version of Super Mario Advance 4 on the Game Boy Player for GameCube using a GameCube controller, you will get rumble vibration.

Hard choice to make. The nostalgia factor alone would make me choose the NES original (but also control and physics), but I do appreciate the other two versions.

I'd easily take the GBA version over the All-Stars SNES one. Somehow, they avoided the problem of screen crunch that plagued the GBC Mario Bros. Deluxe. And the e-Reader levels should easily put it over everything else.

There's just one thing that sticks out like a sore thumb on the GBA version: Having to score 5.000.000 points to unlock all 5 stars. I hate having to grind for points. It pretty much means I have to replay the World 7 coin fortress over and over again.

@Serpenterror Uh, I'm pretty sure you're wrong. Both the Wii U and NSO versions have the extra power ups (some of those levels couldn't be beat without the cape otherwise). And I recently played the NSO version with rumble enabled.

Where can I vote for specifically the Famicom version of Super Mario Bros. 3? 😛
That's the version I like to play, because it has the original damage system (Raccoon/Fire Mario straight to small Mario with one hit).

I'd vote for the NES version, but I don't want to vote against Super Mario Advance 4, because its e-Reader levels are some of the very best Mario levels I've ever played.

Decisions... 🤔

@themikestur87 Have you seen how little room vertically you've got on the GBA's 3:2 screen?

@dudujencarelli They're only in World E.

Personally, I prefer the all stars version.