Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a platforming game for the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in the , not including Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. It was first released in Japan on October 23, 1988, followed by North America on February 9, 1990, and in Europe and Australia some time in 1991.
Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of four games remade as part of Super Mario All-Stars, a Super Nintendo Entertainment System game release in 1993. A decade later, in 2003, it was remade for the Game Boy Advance as Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, the final installment of the .
The original game was first ported to the Wii Virtual Console on November 5, 2007. On June 3, 2013, Super Mario Bros. 3 was made as a reward for Club Nintendo users, who could purchase the game with their coins for the Wii Virtual Console. The same year, Super Mario Bros. 3 was ported to the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Virtual Consoles each. In 2018, Super Mario Bros. 3 was made available on the Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Being considered as one of the greatest games of all time, the game's complexity and challenging levels are what made it a huge success. The game features new power-ups, as well as new moves, items, and enemies. In addition, there are also some special areas in each world, which include Toad Houses, where the player can obtain some useful items; Spade Panels, where the player can play a matching minigame for a chance to win some extra lives; as well as some secret areas, such as the White Mushroom House and the Treasure Ship. New power-ups that were introduced to the game were: the Super Leaf, the Tanooki Suit, the Magic Wing, the Frog Suit, the Hammer Suit, and the Goomba's Shoe. It has also been one of the most famous Mario games out there. 
==Story==
Bowser has returned to the Mushroom Kingdom and with his newly introduced seven Koopaling children,Super Mario Bros. 3 instruction booklet (1988)Super Mario Bros. 3 website (Nintendo of Europe 2013)Nintendo 3DS eShop manual (Nintendo of Japan 2013)Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 website (Nintendo of Europe 2016) he tried to conquer it again. He sent his Koopalings into seven kingdoms of the Mushroom World to capture their kings, steal their magic wands, and alter their appearance. Princess Toadstool sent Mario and Luigi to go and stop the Koopalings and turn the kings back into their normal form. After fighting each Koopaling, they received each kings' magic wand and changed them back to their original appearances. However, this was only a distraction so that Bowser could kidnap the Princess again. The Mario Brothers then traveled to Dark Land to find Castle Koopa, defeat the evil Koopa King and rescue the Princess.
==Controls==
Control 	Action(s)
↔ 	Move
↔ 	(Toward an aligned pipe entrance) Enter pipe
↔ 	(While underwater) Swim left/right (Frog Mario)
↓ 	Crouch (Big Mario)
↓ 	(While resting on upwards facing pipe entrance) Enter pipe
↓ 	(While in front of Vine) Descend
↓ 	(While on a slope) Slide down slope
↓ 	(While underwater) Swim downwards (Frog Mario)
↑ 	(While resting on downwards facing pipe entrance) Enter pipe
↑ 	(While in front of Vine) Climb
↑ 	(While in front of Door) Enter door
↑ 	(While underwater) Swim upwards (Frog Mario)
A 	Jump
A 	(As you stomp an enemy) Super jump
A 	(While underwater) Swim
A 	(While P Meter is full) Fly (Raccoon/Tanooki Mario)
A 	(While in midair) Descend slowly (Raccoon/Tanooki Mario)
A 	(While underwater) Swim fast (Frog Mario)
Hold A 	High jump
B 	Throw projectile (Fire/Hammer Mario)
B 	Tail whip (Raccoon/Tanooki Mario)
Hold B 	(While moving) Dash
Hold B 	Hold object
Release B	Throw object
Release B	(While holding ↓) Drop object
==Gameplay==
Gameplay in Super Mario Bros. 3 is similar to Super Mario Bros., but features several additions. The game features eight worlds, and each has an overworld map where the player has a choice of paths to take and courses to complete. Also on each map are Toad Houses and Spade Panels that can be accessed. Items collected at Toad Houses can be accessed on the world map and be used in any level. Each world has at least one fortress the player must clear in order to unlock blocked paths. At the end of each world is the king's castle. Upon beginning this level, the player will need to navigate through an airship and fight a Koopaling to reclaim the king's magic wand.
Player one is in control of Mario, while player two is in control of Luigi. Both players take turns in between each course. There are new moves included such as being able to pick up and kick objects such as shells, white blocks, and Bob-ombs; and the Slope Slide, which allows the character to slide down a hill. This move has been carried over into future Mario titles. A returning power-up is the Fire Flower, and it retains the same function it had in Super Mario Bros.. New power-ups are featured as well, including the Super Leaf, a power-up that transforms the character into their raccoon form, allowing them to fly in the sky; and the Hammer Suit, which transforms the character into their hammer form, allowing them to toss hammers at enemies, even those that cannot normally be defeated otherwise.
At the end of each level is a darkened area, where the player must hit the goal and stop it on a slot depicting either a Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, or a Starman. Upon collecting three consecutive cards, the player will usually earn an extra life. Collecting three consecutive Super Mushroom cards rewards two extra lives; collecting three consecutive Fire Flower cards rewards three extra lives, and collecting three consecutive Starman cards rewards five extra lives.
==Worlds==
===World 1: Grass Land===
Grass Land is the first world of the game that was attacked by Larry Koopa, who stole the wand of the Grass Land King and turned him into a dog (or a Cobrat from Super Mario Bros. 2 in the remake). The landscape itself is mainly composed of plains, surrounded by hills and even some cliffs in the south. A fortress can be found in the middle of Grass Land, and the king's palace lies to the east-southeast, surrounded by a circular moat. The enemies Mario encounters here are regular ones, like Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and Piranha Plants. The world features a Spade Panel, two Toad Houses, and six levels, of which four have to be cleared to reach the king's palace.
===World 2: Desert Land===
Desert Hill (also known as Desert Land or the Koopahari Desert) is the second world of the game. It is a region within a vast desert, filled with sand, palm trees, and some pyramids. A fortress is located in the west part of the desert, and a quicksand field can also be found, as well as a great pyramid that the player needs to traverse in order to reach the king's palace. The king was attacked by Morton Koopa Jr., who turned him into a spider (or a Hoopster from Super Mario Bros. 2 in the remake). The world features two Spade Panels and three Toad Houses, of which one lies in a secret area behind a rock that needs to be crushed by a Hammer. It contains a Warp Whistle guarded by two Fire Bro. Four of the five levels need to be cleared to get to the great pyramid and the palace. Desert Hill houses many desert-related creatures like Fire Snakes and the very rare Angry Sun.
===World 3: Water Land===
Water Land (also known as Sea Side or Ocean Side), is a water-themed region that was raided by Wendy O. Koopa. While some levels take place on solid ground, most of the levels and even one of the world's two fortresses involve water in a certain way. At the northern part of the world map, Mario will encounter drawbridges that open and close in a set pattern. The world's palace is located far to the east on a small remote island that is only accessible through a Warp Pipe. The king of Ocean Side was turned into a Spike (or a Dino-Rhino from Super Mario World in the remake) during Wendy's attack. A boat can be unlocked by using a Hammer on a rock in the south. Through it, the player can reach some bonus Spade Panels and Toad Houses. Ocean Side contains two Hammer Bros., two Fortresses and nine levels in total, of which one can be skipped if a certain drawbridge is closed, and houses several water creatures like Bloopers, Cheep-Cheeps, and Big Berthas. The world also introduces a very rare Boo known as a Stretch.
===World 4: Giant Land===
Giant Land (also known as Big Island), is mainly composed of an island in the vague shape of a Koopa. It is a relatively green island with plants growing on it that resemble Fire Flowers. The castle at the west coast of the island was attacked by Iggy Koopa, who transformed the Big Island King into an orange dinosaur (or Donkey Kong Jr. in the remake). The world has two fortresses, one on the east side and one on a small island in a lake in the world's center. The most prominent feature of Big Island, which gives this world its name, is the fact that many enlarged versions of regular enemies can be found here, main enemies here include Grand Goombas, Gargantua Koopa Troopas, and Piranhacus Giganticus. The world features four Toad Houses, two Spade Panels, three Sledge Bros., and six levels, five of which need to be cleared to reach the king's palace. Also, the Tanooki Suit makes it debut here.
===World 5: Sky Land===
Sky Land (also known as The Sky), is the world that has been conquered by Roy Koopa. It is divided into two parts: a ground part and a sky part. The player begins on the ground. The most notable feature of this area is the possibility to gain the Kuribo's Shoe, an item that can be obtained in World 5-3 only. After clearing the levels on the ground, the player can reach a spiraling tower that reaches up to the sky. The main part of the level is located here, and there are also some creatures exclusively to this realm, namely the Para-Beetle in World 5-6. Other enemies commonly found in the Sky Land include Fire Chomps, Buster Beetles, and Lakitus. After clearing the tower that serves as a link between the two areas, the player can go back to the ground, but they will have to clear the tower again on their way up. If Roy Koopa isn't defeated at the first try, his Airship will be able to move freely between sky and ground. There are nine levels in total, three Spade Panels, three Hammer Bros., three Toad Houses, and two Fortresses. Seven of the nine levels are required to get to the Palace. The palace is on the southwest part of the sky part.
===World 6: Ice Land===
Ice Land, is an area covered in snow and ice. The palace of Ice Land was attacked by Lemmy Koopa, and Mario has to venture there and reclaim the magic wand just like in the previous worlds. Before he can reach the palace however, the player has to navigate Mario through the levels of Ice Land. These levels feature frozen ground, which makes movement more difficult, as Mario has poor footing on them and is likely to slip off (if not wearing a Frog Suit) into a bottomless pit. In some levels, the player can find ice blocks that contain coins or enemies. These blocks can only be melted with one of Fire Mario's fireballs. Main enemies here include Chain Chomps, Ptooies, and Spikes. There are ten levels in total, three Spade Panels, two Toad Houses, three Hammer Bros., and three Fortresses. Only four of the ten levels need to be completed. Hammers access shortcuts very well in World 6. If you don't use hammers than seven of the ten are required. The Palace is far to the east near the sea. The Hammer Suit makes its debut here.
===World 7: Pipe Land===
Pipe Lane (also known as Pipe Maze), is a series of small islands in a network of confusing pipes. The fourth stage is an underwater level with spiked Cheep-Cheeps, some Big Berthas, and three Blooper Nannies, Piranha Plants and Venus Fire Traps are also common enemies here. Prince Ludwig von Koopa attacked the Pipe Maze king and turned him into a goldenrod Venus Fire Trap. The country itself consists of nine levels (of which seven of them need to be cleared before reaching the palace), three Spade Panels, two Fortresses, two Nipper Plant Levels, and three Toad Houses. The palace is located in southeastern Pipe Land by the sea. If not defeated, Ludwig's airship will fly from one island to another, since the anchor is required to stop it.
===World 8: Dark Land===
Dark Land (also known as Castle of Koopa or Bowser's Castle) is ruled by King Bowser Koopa. The levels in this world are primarily tank brigades and airships. There are also three Hand Traps found in the second area of the world, which unexpectedly grab Mario or Luigi and take them to a short obstacle course which has a chest containing a Super Leaf at the end. The common enemies here are among the toughest enemies in the game which include Bob-ombs, Boos, Bullet Bills, Thwomps, Podoboos, and Dry Bones. The third area has two normal levels and a Fortress, and the final area has the last tank level and Castle Koopa, where Mario and Luigi must finally battle Bowser and save the princess.
===World 9: Warp Zone===
World 9, aka the Warp Zone, is only accessible by a Warp Whistle. In it, the player can choose to go to any other world in the game. The selection of worlds the player can choose from changes depending on the world they used the Warp Whistle in. For example: If the player uses a Warp Whistle in World 1, it will take them to the pipes leading to Worlds 2 to 4, A Warp Whistle in Worlds 2 to 6 will take them to pipes leading to Worlds 5 to 7, and a warp whistle is used in World 7 to 9 will take them to the pipe leading to World 8.
===World-e===
World-e is an e-Reader-based world, and it is exclusive to Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. It can only be reached when using an e-Reader.
== Enemies ==
==Obstacles==
There is also an obstacle exclusive to the Battle Game:
Sprite	Name 	Description
 	Fireball	Fireballs can act in one of three ways: the first travels horizontally in a wavy pattern; the second bounces around diagonally; and the last Fireball is shot out of a pipe during a bonus stage. The first two types from the sides after some time has passed.
== Bosses ==
== Items ==
== Regional differences ==
There are many differences in the U.S and Japanese releases of the game.
*The TM symbol is placed next to Bros. in the Japanese version rather than the 3 in the U.S version.
*When you start a stage in the Japanese version, it borders in, while in the U.S version, it fades in.
*In 1-Fortress, at the door right before the boss there are two spikes at the end of the room. In the Japanese version, there are four spikes at the end.
*When you enter a Toad house in the Japanese version, you can start moving before Toad finishes speaking. But in the U.S release, you have to wait for him to finish.
*In the Japanese release, if you have a power-up and get hit, you turn back to small Mario while in the U.S version, you turn back to Super Mario.
*In the U.S version when you lose either suit or Kuribo's shoe, you lose your power up and go back to normal Mario (except for Kuribo's shoe which lets you keep your power-up) while in the Japanese version, the power-up makes a BLOOP sound and you revert to small Mario.
*The Japanese version also shows the power-up being taken off.
*In the king's room in the U.S release, Mario is standing next to the stairs, the chair and stairs are golden, and there is only one pillar in the left of the room. In the Japanese release, Mario is standing at the far left and the stairs and chair are cyan while there are two pillars to the left of the room.
*In 5-1, the course ending is different as for the Japanese release, the player had to go through a pipe to reach the goal while in the U.S release, the pipe wasn't there and the player could go straight to the goal. This was to prevent the fourth warp whistle glitch from happening.
*In World 8's navy level, the end of the ship is a lot steeper and harder to reach from the water in the Japanese version than in the U.S version.
*The ending speed is also different in the U.S version as it is faster.
*Also in the ending most worlds' names are different from both releases. Such as World 2 being Desert Hill in Japan and Desert Land in the U.S and World 8 being Castle of Kuppa in Japan while it is called Dark Land in the U.S version.
*There is one difference between the U.S and PAL version. When you get Bowser's letter after you finish World 7, in the U.S version, it says King of the Koopa while in the PAL release, it says Koopa Troopa.
==Marketing and legacy==
Prior to its North American release, gameplay footage from Super Mario Bros. 3 appeared in the Universal Studios film The Wizard to help fuel anticipation for the game's release. Six months after Super Mario Bros. 3s release, McDonald's released a set of Happy Meal toys to promote the game in North America.
Super Mario Bros. 3 was also the subject of its own animated television show, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, produced by DIC Entertainment. The television series ran in 1990, shortly after Super Mario Bros. 3s release. The premise involves King Koopa and his Koopalings trying to conquer both the real world and the Mushroom Kingdom.
== Reception ==
Aggregate Score 	Aggregate Score 	Aggregate Score
Aggregator 	Score 	Score
Aggregator 	NES 	Wii
GameRankings 	98% (6 reviews)"Super Mario Bros. 3 for NES". GameRankings. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014. 	N/A
Review Scores 	Review Scores 	Review Scores
Publication 	Score 	Score
Publication 	NES 	Wii
Aktueller Software Markt 	11/12Man (January 1992). "Super Mario Bros. 3". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021. 	N/A
Computer and Video Games 	98% 	N/A
Electronic Gaming Monthly	36/40"Electronic Gaming Review Crew: Super Mario Bros. 3". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 9 (1990 Video Game Preview). April 1990. p. 10. 	N/A
Eurogamer 	N/A 	10/10Whitehead, Dan (November 10, 2007). "Virtual Console Roundup". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
Famitsu 	35/40 	N/A
GameSpot 	N/A 	9/10Provo, Frank. "Super Mario Bros 3 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
IGN 	N/A 	9.5/10Thomas, Lucas M. (November 12, 2007). "Super Mario Bros. 3 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
Jeuxvideo.com 	N/A 	19/20Jefa57 (June 17, 2011). "Test de Super Mario Bros. 3 sur Nes". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
Nintendo Life 	N/A 	10/10"Review: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Wii Virtual Console / NES)". Nintendo Life. November 6, 2007. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
Total! 	98%"Super Mario Bros. 3". Total!. No. 1. January 1992. pp. 12–5. 	N/A
Game Zone 	93%"Super Mario Bros 3" (PDF). Game Zone. No. 1 (November 1991). October 8, 1991. pp. 40–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.	N/A
Mean Machines 	98% 	N/A
Super Mario Bros. 3 was lauded by the video game press. It was widely considered to be one of the best games released for the NES. Computer and Video Games editors Paul Rand, Tim Boone and Frank O'Connor awarded the game a 98% score, praising it for its gameplay, replayability, sound, and graphics. Boone commented that the game is nearly flawless in its utterly "stupendous incredibility and absolutely impossible to put down for anything less than a fire alarm and even then you find yourself weighing down the odds." Rand called Super Mario Bros. 3 the best video game ever, labeling it "the Mona Lisa of gaming" and stating that it is "astoundingly brilliant in every way, shape, and form." O'Connor stated that the game "makes Sonic the Hedgehog look like a wet Sunday morning and even gives the Super Famicom's Super Mario World a run for its money."Rand, Paul (November 1991). "Computer and Video Games Magazine, issue 120". Computer and Video Games. pp. 23–8. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
The Japanese publication Famitsu gave it a 35 out of 40."スーパーマリオブラザーズ3 [ファミコン / ファミ通.com]". Famitsu. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018. Julian Rignall of Mean Machines referred to Super Mario Bros. 3 as the "finest video game" he had ever played, citing its addictiveness, depth, and challenge. A second Mean Machines reviewer, Matt Regan, anticipated the game would be a bestseller in the United Kingdom, and echoed Rignall's praise, calling it a "truly brilliant game". Regan further stated that the game offered elements which tested the player's "brains and reflexes", and that though the graphics were simple, they were "incredibly varied".Mean Machine Staff (October 1991). "Nintendo Review: Super Mario Bros. 3". Mean Machines. No. 13. EMAP. pp. 56–59. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2006. In a preview of the game, Nintendo Power gave it high marks in graphics, audio, challenge, gameplay, and enjoyability.Nintendo Power Staff (January–February 1990). "Previews: Super Mario Bros. 3". Nintendo Power. No. 10. Nintendo. pp. 56–59. The items hidden in the game's levels, such as the warp whistles, were well-received: Rignall regarded them as part of the game's addictiveness, and Sheff stated that finding them provided a sense of satisfaction.Sheff, David (1993). "I, Mario". Game Over: How Nintendo Zapped an American Industry, Captured Your Dollars, and Enslaved Your Children (1st ed.). Random House. p. 53. ISBN 0-679-40469-4.
Criticism focused on particular aspects of the game. Rignall described the audio and visuals as being outdated in comparison to games on the Mega Drive/Genesis and Super NES (the latter platform having already been launched in other regions by the time Super Mario Bros. 3 was released in Europe).
=== Fan Reception ===
Super Mario Bros. 3 was ranked at the #1 spot in WatchMojo's "Top 10 Mario Games of All Time" list countdown,Richardson, T. (2019, May 21). Top 10 Mario Games of All Time. WatchMojo. they also ranked it as the fifth most hardest game in the series in their "10 Hardest Super Mario Games" list countdown over on MojoPlays (following behind Super Mario Sunshine (#4), New Super Luigi U (#3), Super Mario Bros. (#2), & Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (#1)).Kline, A. (2023, Feb 5). The 10 HARDEST Super Mario Games. MojoPlays (WatchMojo).
== Gallery ==
== Trivia ==
*This game marks the first appearance of the Koopalings. The Koopalings later make appearances in Super Mario World, in which they are given a different battle order (from Iggy to Larry). They also appear for the first time in 3D and the first time with Bowser Jr. in the popular Wii titles New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U,and inNew Super Mario Bros. 2.
*The Water Land theme can be heard as the Fairy Fountain in the The Legend of Zelda games. while the Warp Whistle theme is reused in the intro of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
* A sped-up version of the Coin Heaven/Warp Zone theme was used for Peach's final smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
*Super Mario Bros. 3 was released in North America 9 months before Super Mario World was initially released in Japan. It was also first released in Japan 14 days after Super Mario Bros. 2's initial release in North America.
*Despite this being the 4th entry in the Super Mario series, it was actually the fourth to be released in North America; following after Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, & Super Mario Land.
*Super Mario Bros. 3 is the first Super Mario game to feature bosses who have to be defeated by jumping on their head three times.
*This was the first Mario game to be released in the 1990's for the US, the first overall Mario game to be released in the 90's being Dr. Mario.
== External links ==
*Title at MobyGames
*Title at GameFAQs
==References==
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