Mario Bros. Special (NES port)

Mario Bros. Special is a platform game released for the Famicom in 1985 and Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986.
This is an NES/Famicom port of the PC-6001mkII/PC-6601, PC-8801, PC-9801, Sharp X1, Sharp MZ-1500, Sharp MZ-2200, FM-7, Hitachi S1, and SMC-777 game of the same name.
==Gameplay==
The game is not a straight port of Mario Bros, but more of a sequel. It has adjustments to the game's graphics and sounds and even a Time Limit. Players start with four lives but there is no way of getting an extra life.
There are four different wraparound screens. In the first, Mario must make his way to the top of the screen through four platforms with moving gaps, avoiding enemies in later stages. Once there, he must hit five switches, twice each, and quickly make it to either side before the switches deactivate.
For the second stage, Mario must jump on trampolines to stun enemies and kick them off, avoiding a green Fireball once it appears. Once all enemies are gone, a platform will appear at the top of the screen, and jumping onto it will complete the stage.
In the third stage, Mario must take the lift up to the top Conveyor Belts and collect disappearing dollar signs while avoiding enemies, which can be stunned by jumping on the conveyor belts while they're on them like the trampolines above. Once six dollar signs have been collected, a ring will appear at the top of the screen, and getting onto the moving platform, from there onto the top middle one, and touching it will complete the stage.
Finally, the fourth screen is a bonus stage with no enemies. If Mario collects all eight dollar signs before the time runs out, a ring will appear at the top for extra bonus points. In later stages, the platforms have moving gaps like the first screen.
==Enemies==
Excluding Fireballs, there can be no more than six enemies per phase. Unlike in Mario Bros, enemies don't change color or move faster after righting themselves up or becoming the last enemy on screen. There are two ways of dispatching enemies. The first way is to jumping over or right next to them and hitting a platform or object above the player. This will not permanently defeat them but send them back to the pipes to respawn and awards 100 points. The second and permanent method is to stun them while they are on the trampolines or conveyor belts and kicking them for 800 points. Defeating multiple enemies in a row will give higher scores.
* Shellcreeper - behaves like the enemies in the original game, they first appear in Phase 2.
* Sidestepper - acts identically to Shellcreepers but will have an angry face after righting themselves. They make their introduction in Phase 6.
* Fighter Fly - hopping enemies that are difficult to stun, they first appear in Phase 9.
* Green Fireball - this invincible enemy only appears in trampoline stages whenever Mario lingers too long in one area beginning with Phase 2. Like in the original game, it travels horizontally in a wavy pattern.
* Red Fireball - also invincible, it only appears in conveyor belt stages starting with Phase 35. It makes diagonal patrols in the space between the top platforms and the moving platform. Starting in Phase 51, it is joined by a second red Fireball.
==Changes in the NES version==
*The the NES port, there are two modes, Game A and Game B. Game A is an easier version while Game B is more difficult, one loop after Game A also brings you to Game B. Both of these games also have the option to be played with another alternating player.
*In the NES port of Mario Bros. Special, the title screen music is the same as the title screen music for the NES version of Mario Bros.
==Re-releases==
===Atari 2600 port===
In November 1986, the NES version of Mario Bros. Special was ported to the Atari 2600. This port reuses from the Atari 2600 port of Mario Bros.
===Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, & ZX Spectrum ports===
In 1988, Ocean Software ported Mario Bros. Special to Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. These ports reuse from the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum ports of Mario Bros.
===Atari 7800 port===
In 1988 in North America and PAL Regions, the NES version of Mario Bros. Special was ported to the Atari 7800. This port resembles the NES version of Mario Bros. Special, expect the Atari 7800 port replaces Game A and Game B with 3 modes. Standard, Advance, and Expert.
The Atari 7800 port replaces Game A and Game B with 3 modes. Standard, Advanced, and Expert.
===Atari 8-bit family port===
In 1988, the NES version of Mario Bros. Special was ported to the Atari 8-bit family.
The Atari 8-bit family version was re-released on the Atari XEGS in 1988.
===Game Boy port===
On April 21, 1989 in Japan, July 31, 1989 in North America, and September 28, 1990 in PAL regions, the NES version of Mario Bros. Special was ported to the Game Boy. This port resembles the NES version of Mario Bros. Special, expect the colors are removed.
===Super Nintendo Entertainment System port===
On February 26, 1992 in Japan, March 26, 1992 in North America, and September 12, 1992 in PAL regions, the NES version of Mario Bros. Special was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The SNES version has 16-bit graphics. Also, in the SNES version, the Mario Bros.' in game sprites were reused from Super Mario World.
===Atari 5200 homebrew===
In 2011, AtariAge made and released an Atari 5200 homebrew port of Mario Bros. Special.
=== ColecoVision homebrew ===
In 2011, Collectorvision Games made and released an ColecoVision homebrew port of Mario Bros. Special.
== Gallery ==
File:Mario Bros. Special Atari 2600 Box Art.jpg|The box art for the Atari 2600 version of Mario Bros. Special.
File:Mario Bros. Special SNES Cover.png|North American SNES box art (front)
File:European Mario Bros. Special SNES Cover.png|European SNES box art (front)
Category:Nintendo Entertainment System Games