Super Mario Bros. News
April2021
News The Latest Super Mario Bros. Speedrun WR Is A Definitive Breakthrough
4:54.948 may be the last time a second barrier is broken
If you follow the retro gaming scene on Twitch, it's likely you spend a decent amount of time watching speedrunners. It can be fascinating to see how older titles are manipulated, streamlined and mastered over hundreds of hours, and if you happen to catch a world record live it can be an...
News This Sealed Super Mario Bros. Has Just Become The Most Expensive Video Game Collectable Ever
Eclipsing even the Nintendo PlayStation
Update: The auction ended at a staggering $660,000. Original Story [Thu 25th Mar, 2021 16:45 GMT]: Remember last year, when we reported that a sealed copy ofSuper Mario Bros. on the NES sold for an eye-watering $114,000 at auction? Well, there's another copy being auctioned at the moment which currently...
March2021
News CNN Covers The Super Nintendo World Opening
The Osaka theme park is now open to the public
CNN Correspondent Selina Wang visited the newly-opened Super Nintendo World to show off the theme park, as well as detailing some of its COVID policies. She even managed to get a ride on the AR Mario Kart track, "Koopa's Challenge", which is more than many visitors will get - VGC noted that the queue...
Random You Can Vote For The "Best Off-Model Mario" On Twitter Right Now
Someone put these Marios out of their misery
Forget Bunny Day and St Patrick: the most important event this week is the Off-Model Mario Championship, in which multiple mangled Marios will battle for the dubious honour of being crowned Weirdest Mario. Here are the ones who've made it to Round 32: Climb into the Mario mouth for endless times of...
February2021
News Animal Crossing Will Get A Bunch Of Mario Items And Clothing In Next Update
Set your calendars for the 25th February
Happy birthday, Mario! We got you, er, a bunch of people dressing up as you. Also, we're going to delete some of your games. Yeah, Mario's 35th birthday reminds us a bit of that 13th birthday party where it rained and the clown stole the cake, to be honest - but Animal Crossing: New Horizons' latest new...
January2021
News Disability Advocates Discuss Accessibility In Games In This New BBC Audio Documentary
"This is why we do what we do."
In "Unplayable: Disability and the Gaming Revolution", a BBC audio documentary released on 28th January, 2021, Steve Saylor, a blind gamer, talks about seeing the NES on a high shelf in a game store one day while shopping with his mum. He remembers getting it in his hands and thinking, "this is the coolest thing...
News Popular Game & Watch Hacking Videos Are Being Targeted By Nintendo's Ninjas
Watch out, retro enthusiasts
Hackers, as you might recall, wasted no time getting various retro games up and running on the Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch. First, it was id Software's classic first-person shooter DOOM and this wa
Random Cheap Clones Of NES LEGO Set Feature Duck Hunt, Contra, And Super Mario Bros
Who's going to post the cease and desist first, we wonder?
Remember that gorgeous LEGO set that came out last year, with a deliciously retro TV and NES console playing Super Mario Bros.? Yes, the one that cost over £200. Yes, the one that none of us can actually afford. Well, it seems like a few enterprising companies have taken it upon themselves...
November2020
Random Turns Out Nintendo Might Be Right, You Can Have Too Much Super Mario Bros.
Maybe Nintendo knows best by removing games from distribution?
Super Mario Bros. turns 35 this year and has to rank as one of the most ported games Nintendo has ever produced. It's available, in some shape or form, on pretty much every system the company has produced, and in 2020 we got yet another way to experience it in the form of a brand-new...
News The Hidden Secrets Of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch
See them yourself!
Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch has just been released and while it might be based on the company's classic hardware, this new version contains a number of hidden secrets. For your convenience, we've rounded them all up into a single post (thanks, Nintendo) - take a look below: Finish Super Mario Bros. and...
Hardware Review Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. - A Gorgeous Object That Leaves You Wanting More
Time to shine?
Looking back on the history of Nintendo as a maker of video games, it's clear that the Game & Watch line was a significant step; not only did it allow Nintendo's core developers to hone their skills with snappy, engaging titles, it also gave them the opportunity to evolve their hardware talents, coming up with innovations such as...
September2020
News Today's The Big Day - Happy 35th Anniversary, Mario!
Here's to the next 35!
35 years ago today, on 13th September 1985, the original Super Mario Bros. launched for the Famicom in Japan. Nobody could have predicted just how successful Nintendo's main mascot would become, especially 35 years down the line, but here we are, looking at one of the most instantly recognisable faces in gaming and –...
News Nintendo Launches Website For The Original Super Mario Bros. Game
Celebrating 35 years
Mario's 35th anniversary celebrations are well and truly underway. So far Nintendo has announced new games, merchandise, and even events and promotions for other first-party titles like Splatoon 2 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. If that's still not enough Mario-themed goodness for you, Japanese websites for Super Mario Bros...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 12th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's been another crazy week in Nintendo Land, with the announcement of a brand new Zelda game on Switch and more rumours of Nintendo diving into the world of 4K, but enough about that – let's talk about our weekend gaming plans. Members of Nintendo Life have done just that below, and we'
August2020
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 29th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week has flown by with new reports of an upcoming Switch console revision and that surprise Nintendo Direct Mini, but now it's time to take a breather and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Members of Nintendo Life have done just that below, and we'd love for you to join in via o
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 22nd)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Yet another week has flown by, bringing with it a fantastic Indie World showcase, some suspicious Zelda listings, and a
News Netflix's Gaming Documentary High Score Is A Nostalgia Trip Worth A Watch
Take us back to the golden age
Considering how big the gaming business has become over the last couple of decades, there are remarkably few traditional documentaries that discuss the still booming medium. More recently, it's fan-supported YouTube channels like Noclip and even developers themselves that have been creating the best documentary...
Guide Where To Buy The LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System
Update: Pre-orders back on Nintendo UK Store
Update: The LEGO NES has reappeared on the Nintendo Official UK Store. You can now grab a pre-order from a second wave of units, although these are strictly limited to two products per household. <products id=“12764” style="list" sort="date"> Original article: The LEGO NES is now available on...
Random The LEGO NES Has A Cool Super Mario Bros. Easter Egg Hidden Inside It
Pure nostalgia
If you haven't already bought and assembled the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System, there's a really nostalgic - and cool - easter egg contained within this particular build that you need to know about. For those of you who have no intention of adding this kit to your Nintendo or LEGO collection - read on. Located underneath a side...
July2020
News This Sealed Copy Of Super Mario Bros. Just Sold For $114,000
That's a new world record
Remember when a super rare sticker sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. on NES sold for $100,150 USD last February? Well, another copy of the exact same game (in a similar condition) has now broken this record - going for the sum of $114,000 USD (this roughly equates to £90,000). That makes this particular copy the most...
May2020
Random Do You Know About Super Mario Bros.' Secret Game Over Continue Trick?
Mind-blowing
The original Super Mario Bros. turns 35 this year, but despite its age, the sheer number of people who have played it over the years, and the legendary status it has earned over time, one quirky little secret still blows the minds of its fans to this day. As was the norm back then, losing all of your lives in Mario's classic NES outing...
April2020
Random Of Course Someone's Made Super Mario Bros. 1-1 In Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Every pixel of the classic level returns
We've seen so many wonderful designs from Animal Crossing: New Horizons players over the past few weeks, so it's only right that one of Nintendo's most iconic level designs joins the list. Yes, a Japanese player named だいち has transformed their once peaceful island into a world of bricks, Goombas and...
December2019
News Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto Honoured By His Hometown In Japan
One of four citizens recognised
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto is a living legend and an individual responsible for many of the most famous video game series of all time. He currently acts as a 'Creative Fellow' at the Japanese company and passes his ideas and knowledge onto the next generation of video game designers. Now, Miyamoto has been...
November2019
Poll Box Art Brawl #15 - Super Mario Bros.
Obscure Japanese platformer
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, the ongoing series where we examine three video game cover variants from across the globe and vote to find out which won is the toppermost of the poppermost. Last week we looked deep into the eyes of cinematic sci-fi platformer Flashback. It was decided that the Japanese variant, with its...
September2019
Anniversary The Original Super Mario Bros. Launched On NES 34 Years Ago Today
Feeling old yet?
The original Super Mario Bros., one of the most celebrated and adored video games in history, was first released 34 years ago today, on 13th September 1985. It was on this day that the game launched for Nintendo's Famicom console in Japan, a system which would soon go on to release as the NES or 'Nintendo Entertainment System'...
August2019
News Sonic Comic Writer Reveals Old Super Mario Bros. Comic Pitch
"Luigi calls it quits"
American comic writer Ian Flynn might well be best known for his work with the Sonic the Hedgehog series, but if things had have happened slightly differently, he could have ended up working on some Mario projects, too. Flynn was the chief writer of Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog series, starting the role in 2006 and...
News This Super Mario Maker 2 Level Flips An Old Classic On Its Head
On the up and up
How many times have you played through the opening level of Super Mario Bros. on the NES? Considering how many systems it has been released on over the years, we're willing to be that it's more than just a handful. World 1-1 lays down the foundations for what has become one of the most famous video game franchises of all time, and...
June2019
News Super Mario Battle Royale Game Receives Takedown Notice From Nintendo
Surprise, surprise...
Earlier this week, we found out about a free-to-play fan-made 'Mario Royale' online game, allowing roughly 75 players to jump into a single level at the same time and race to the flagpole. Obviously, we've seen Nintendo take swift action against projects that 'borrow' assets and code in the past, and sure enough, the creator...
News Fan Makes Free-To-Play Super Mario Battle Royale, And It's Surprisingly Great
Well, while it lasts
The battle royale genre comes in all shapes and sizes - it might have been made popular by shooters like PUBG and Fortnite, but Tetris 99 showed that it can also be successful in completely unexpected ways. Reinforcing that point with style is 'Mario Royale', a fan-made, free-to-play online game which has multiple players all...
April2019
Video Fans Reimagine Super Mario Bros.' Iconic First Level In Ten Different Game Genres
Super Mario Royale?
For many of us, Super Mario Bros.' World 1-1 level is permanently etched onto the back of our eyelids. Who could forget that iconic start - Question Mark Block, row of blocks with Goomba underneath, Warp Pipe, and so on? Magical. Anyway, before we get too misty-eyed, it's time to think about how that level might play out if it...
News Remarkable Commodore 64 Port Of Super Mario Bros. Attracts Nintendo's Watchful Eye
Completed fan project seven years in the pipeline gets taken down
Last week a truly remarkable programming feat came to light with the release of Super Mario Bros. 64, a port of the original NES Super Mario Bros. for the Commodore 64. Seven years in the making, it came courtesy of programmer and fan ZeroPaige. It's a painstaking recreation that...
February2019
News Near Mint Condition Copy Of Super Mario Bros. Sells At Auction For More Than $100,000
The first six-figure video game sale
A certified near mint condition copy of the timeless NES classic Super Mario Bros. has sold for $100,150 USD at an auction. This makes it the first-ever video game to sell for six-figures. The reason it fetched such a high price is linked to the rarity. Between 1985 and 1986 in New York and L.A. at test market...
Gallery Check Out This Rare Super Mario Artwork From The 1980s
A blast from the past
The Nintendo preservation experts at Forest of Illusion have shared some interesting Super Mario artwork, apparently dating back to the 1980s. The artwork was featured in an issue of Televi-Kun, which was a Japanese magazine for children. According to the source, the artwork was never featured in any other released media...
December2018
Random Chinese Developer Found Selling Super Mario Bros. ROM On Microsoft's Digital Store
Big trouble
Digital storefronts are certified platforms allowing users to buy safe and legitimate content. Due to sheer amount of programs, apps and games approved for these platforms on a daily basis, sometimes there can be oversights. According to a tweet on the Chinese Nintendo Twitter account, there's been a big one in China. The local...
October2018
Random This Marimba Rendition Of The Super Mario Bros. Theme Is Utter Perfection
Do do do, dodo, do, doooo
The Super Mario Bros. Theme, or 'Overworld Theme', has gone from being just one of six tracks in the original Super Mario Bros., to becoming the theme of the entire series, one of the most instantly recognisable pieces of music in Nintendo's entire library, and arguably one of the most - if not the most - iconic tracks in...
September2018
News Speedrunner Beats Super Mario Bros. In 4 Minutes 55 Seconds To Claim World Record
A near-perfect run
Chances are you've probably played Super Mario Bros. - the classic NES title that helped catapult the little platforming plumber into stardom has been available to play on so many different consoles at this point that we've actually lost count. It's even available on the Switch thanks to the recent addition of NES games in the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 22nd)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's the weekend! This wonderful time of the week means that the hard-working members of team Nintendo Life are all heading off to play some of those video game things we all love (while keeping several eyes on the site to make sure it doesn't explode, of course). This week, some of the team are off to EGX,...
Soapbox Why I'm Not Excited About Playing NES Games On The Nintendo Switch
All NES'ed out
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert admits that he's not in the least bit excited about the prospect of playing NES games again in 2018... They say that...
August2018
Random A 1990 TV Interview With Shigeru Miyamoto Talks About Nintendo's Work Culture
A resurfaced treasure
We've seen Shigeru Miyamoto's ever-beaming self quite a lot over recent years, often during big events such as E3 where he's essentially presented as the face of Nintendo and an all-round gaming icon, but we don't often get the chance to see him in his younger days. Thanks to this rediscovered interview with the BBC,...
Random Nintendo Finally Confirms The Correct Pronunciation For 'NES'
Take your bets
One debate that has been present for decades now across social media, on Nintendo Life's very own comment sections, and even in - you know - real life communication, is the correct pronunciation of 'NES'. Yes, the NES, or Nintendo Entertainment System, is home to the beginnings of so many classic Nintendo franchises like Super Mario...
January2018
Video West Ham United Fans Welcome New Player João Mario With Open 8-Bit Arms
The Portuguese playmaker gets a really unusual tribute
When a Premier League side signs a new player - especially one as capped and experienced as Portuguese midfielder João Mario - fans often find unusual ways to welcome the new footballing talent. And when that player happens to share a name with a certain mustachioed plumber, well you can...
July2017
Random Sealed Copy Of Super Mario Bros. Fetches Over $30,000 On eBay
Who needs two kidneys anyway
When you think of rare and collectable NES games, chances are Super Mario Bros. is the last thing that springs to mind. It's one of the most common NES releases in existence, and logic would dictate that on the secondary market, it's not worth a great deal - even in exceptional condition. However, a sealed copy of the...
June2017
Video Man Plays Super Mario Bros. In Augmented Reality, Puzzles Bystanders
For science!
People are doing some pretty amazing things with Microsoft's Hololens headset, but Abhishek Singh deserves additional praise for his efforts. Not only has he recreated the first level of Super Mario Bros. in augmented reality, he even dressed up as the famous plumber and tested the stage out in New York's crowded Central...
January2017
Video The Surprising Origins of the Wii Virtual Console Super Mario Bros. ROM
Claims and evidence that it was lifted from the internet
Here's an interesting topic to get debate going - what if Nintendo lifted a ROM of Super Mario Bros. from the internet and then repurposed it for the Wii Virtual Console a decade ago? It would certainly put Nintendo's policies against emulators in the spotlight. That's the claim made in a...
November2016
News Composer Koji Kondo Talks Super Mario And Zelda In Freshly Translated 2001 Interview
"The jumping sound was even used on a TV quiz show"
Some of Nintendo's most iconic tunes were created by Koji Kondo, making the Japanese composer one of the most listened-to artists in the world - even if people don't necessarily know his name. A 2001 interview with Kondo - taken from Game Maestro Vol. 3 - has been freshly translated into English...
October2016
News The Speedrun World Record for Super Mario Bros. Has Been Broken Again
Call Miyamoto!
It's hard to believe, but even to this day, speedrunners are still competing over the crown for the fastest Super Mario Bros. run yet. The record has been going down, millisecond by millisecond, for years now, and a recent twitch streamer just set it a bit lower. The record was previously set at 4:57.194 by Kosmicd12 on 3rd October,...
August2016
News Luxury Watchmaker Romain Jerome Shows Off Super Mario Watch At Mitsukoshi's Annual Watch Fair
Time to move
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi's Annual Watch Fair offers a platform for the world's best timepiece makers to show off their most outlandish or eye-catching creations, and this year is no exception. Now in its 19th year, the fair started yesterday and is host to seriously impressive examples of watchmaking, but for Nintendo fans Romain Jerome's...
Video Exploring The Funky Inspiration for the Super Mario Bros. Underground Theme
Time to dig out a record from 1979
The music in Super Mario Bros. is just about as iconic as it gets in gaming, with gamers of various ages and types familiar with the soundtrack. The underground theme is one of the most well-known, with a funky bass beat kicking it off. Our buddies from The Centre for Computing History in Cambridge (England)...
July2016
Random Miyamoto "Flattered" By Super Mario Tribute In Mickey Mouse Cartoon
"We finally got a cameo together"
Back in 2013, Disney published a new Mickey Mouse cartoon entitled Tokyo Go, which shows the famous rodent running into some bother when he accidentally boards the wrong Japanese bullet train. The animated short is typically slick and amusing, but stands out for its use of iconic sound effects. Not only does it...
June2016
Video See How Easy It Is To Turn Your Favourite NES Games Into 3D With 3DNES
You might need a bit of patience
We recently brought you news of a project called 3DNES, which had the ambitious goal of allowing you to convert your favourite NES games into 3D. Since then the project has moved on a bit and our chums over at Eurogamer have spent a bit of time playing around with it to see how easy it is to use in practice. It...
