Following 1983's video game , the industry was in desperate need of a savior. In those early days, the market suffered from an absurd oversaturation of consoles and third-party developers willing to release any half-baked project on a platform without the manufacturer's consent. Essentially, the pre-crash period was the or🍌iginal Steam page, but customers lacked the resources to bypass the shovelware.
In 1983, Nintendo released the Famicom in Japan, but the console stumbled out of the gate. A defective meant the hardware needed to be recalled and reissued; fortunately, the Famicom was a big enough hit to justify a Western release. By 1985, the industry was firmly on route to a full recovery and the West got its hands on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Coincidentally, this year marked the debut of a plucky little platformer about a plumber who loves to squash mushrooms and f💃ight dragons. You might be familiar with it.
Regardless of the title, Super Mario Bros. 3 was arguably the first proper sequel to Nintendo's groundbreaking franchise. Even if playing the genuine article and not a reskinned , Super Mario Bros. 2 stuck painstakingly close to its predecessor's formula. Now, in all fairness, there are worse games to replicate than Super Mario Bros.; nevertheless, Nintendo risked alienating fans if the third game failed to push the envelope. Two years and various powerups later, Super Mario Bros. 3 jumped onto shelves and into t𒊎he hearts o♏f gamers everywhere!
Here are 25 hidden details in Super Mario Bros. 3 real fans completely missed!
25 The Cutting Room Floor ꧅
Super Mario Bros. 3 might be nothing short of a classic, but certain concessions had to be made during the development process. A project's editing determines whether the final version is truly wor💖th anything, but games frequently leave remnants of abandoned concepts within their code. Sooner or later, these sacrifices appear on 's webpage. At one point or another, Nintendo planned to include alternative bonuses games hosted by sprites other than Toad. While the available mini-games presented a nice distraction, they rank among the franchise's more forgettable entries.
24 🍷 🌳 A Cuter Mario
Prior to making his theater debut, the plumber underwent a significant makeover. Despite landing on the same console, Super Mario Bros. 3 incorporated minute details which were not present in the previous entries. While the Jumpman's newfangled adorableness can be mostly credited to the various outfits, the protagonist's base sprite was also considerably cuter than the outdated version in Super Mario Bros. attributed the mascot's attractiveness 𝓀to an additio🅠nal line between Mario's eyes and the brim of his hat. Showbusiness punishes those who fail to put their best foot forward.
23 ཧ White Mushroom Houses
In this day and age, secrets remain hidden until they are discovered by one explorer. Split into unique forums and communities, fans are no longer left to wander on their own in the dark. The 80s were a different time. Putting aside the re-releases, Super Mario Bros. 3 sold more than copies; out of all these purchases, how many led to the discovery of the white mushroom houses? Holding various items and surprises, these houses are only unlocked by collecting all the coins in certain levels in each world. For example, amassing 22 coins in Giant Land's will unveil a mushroom ho꧑use on that world's map.
22 A Koop🦩aling Stor🦹y
Whenever an industry's bottom line grows, successful companies typically seek out supplementary agents to help carry ease some of the pressure. Ni𝓀ntendo had around eight developers working on , but this ballooned to approximately three times the size by the third entry. A larger team does not automatically equate to a more polished project, but a smart leader welcomes creative in﷽put from even the least crucial staff members. As a tribute to 's design team, Miyamoto modeled the Koopalings after the people who helped bring Nintendo's game to life.
21 Your Princess Is In Japan'𓃲s Castle
Adored all around the world and undeterred by cultural or language barriers, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario are universal properties. Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest are Japanese, but Nintendo's first-party titles cannot be restrained by something as trivial as jurisdiction. Depending on a person's background, Water Land's castle island is either a painstakingly obvious reference or an inꦆexplicab🧸le riddle. Shaped after Japan, Nintendo went one further by placing the castle in the same spot as Kyoto, the city the company happens to call .
20 𒁏Laying The Pipe ✱
Viewed on their own, minor details amount to little more than a pleasant Easter Egg or an amusing diversion. However, they steadily start to add up! Super Mario Bros. 3 is laced with seemingly trivial additions that help enhance the campaign's cohesiveness. Pipe Lanꦐd's overworld did not need to replicate the pipe sprites found in the levels; nevertheless, we are delighted that it does! Nintendo's first-party titles constantly amaze customers with these simple but endearing details that scream "games are all about having fun!"
19 Tame The 𒈔S✤un!
Seeking to burn Mario to a crisp, the appears in two separate levels across the entire campaign. Constantly shooting rays towards the speedy hero, players are left with no choice but to hastily sprint towards the finishing line. Completing World 8-2 automatically defeats the furious star, but there are other means to blot out the sun. The enemy is susceptible to Ko🔴opa Shell, Starman, and hammers. Armed with any of these items, Mario can take down the Angry Sun and circumvent that mad dash to the finish.
18 ꦦ ꦆ Treasure Ship
Assuming Princess Peach compensates people for risking their lives to save her, Mario must be rolling in the dough. Why bother collecting all these coins? Surely, Mario can afford to finance hi🍷s own expeditions. Now, in all fairness, traveling around the world must be rather expensive; thankfully, the siblings can always raid a pirate ship for its reserve! Filled with coins and locked behind an astonishingly specific set of requirements, are available in four of the eight worlds. Besides stuffing the protagonist's pockets, these airships bestows t💖he player with various rewards.
17 🐠 Secret Anchor 🐷
Certain rare items are only accessible through White Mushroom Houses. Used to bind the airship to a specific spot, the Anchor significantly reduces the frustration correlat✤ed💞 with the castle levels of each world. If the brothers fail to conquer it on their first attempt, the airship floats to another part of the map, which can be annoying when certain levels were skipped. This item ensures the airship remains tethered to the castle. The houses containing are unlocked by collecting all the coins in World 2-2, 4-2, and 6-7.
16 A King'🍸s Word 🍨
Super Mario Bros. 3 introduced a wild array of transformations for the adventurous plumber. Powerups could be found that unlocked nine variations on the Italian's base appearance. Whether enhancing the protagonist's attacks or allowing for an effortless traversal of certain (watery) areas, these costumes altered the gameplay and heightened Mario's appeal as a mascot. Alongside previously introduced alterations like Super Mario or Small Mario, Super Mario Bros. 3 periodic🍃alไly turned Nintendo's icon into a furry. With the exception of Dark Land, each world concludes with Mario beating a Koopaling and saving the area's king. Depending on the costume being worn, the sovereign's response adjusts to fit the mood. This cool was limited to Hammer, Tanooki, and Frog Mario.