Mario Bros.
Before the Super
Nintendo's 1983 arcade game that introduced Luigi, established Mario's plumber identity, and pioneered simultaneous two-player cooperative (and competitive) gameplay.
Overview
Mario Bros. (without the “Super”) was Nintendo’s 1983 arcade game that bridged Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. Set in the sewers of New York, it introduced Mario’s brother Luigi, established Mario as a plumber, and created the template for competitive-cooperative multiplayer. Two players could help each other or sabotage each other - often both.
Fast Facts
- Developer: Nintendo R&D1
- Designer: Shigeru Miyamoto
- Released: 1983 (arcade)
- Innovation: Two-player simultaneous, bump-from-below
- Characters: Mario and Luigi debut together
- Setting: New York sewers
Before Super Mario Bros.
This game established crucial elements:
| Element | Introduced |
|---|---|
| Luigi | First appearance |
| Plumber identity | Explained by sewers |
| Bump mechanic | Hit blocks from below |
| POW block | Screen-clearing item |
| Turtle enemies | Shellcreepers → Koopa Troopas |
Gameplay
Single-screen platform action:
- Enemies emerge from pipes at top
- Bump platform from below to flip them
- Kick flipped enemies off screen
- Collect coins that appear
- Clear all enemies to advance
The bump-then-kick mechanic was unique and influential.
Two-Player Dynamics
The genius of Mario Bros. multiplayer:
- Cooperative: Help each other clear stages faster
- Competitive: Both players race for coins and points
- Sabotage: “Accidentally” bump your partner into enemies
- Trust: Depends entirely on the players
Friendships were tested in arcades worldwide.
The POW Block
The iconic item:
- Hit it to shake the entire screen
- All grounded enemies flip
- Limited uses per stage
- Strategic timing matters
- One of gaming’s most satisfying mechanics
Technical Design
Miyamoto’s clever solutions:
- Single-screen = simple but pure
- Platforms wrap horizontally
- Escalating enemy types (Shellcreepers, Sidesteppers, Fighterflies)
- Ice phases for variety
- Bonus rounds for breathing room
NES Version
The 1985 NES port was significant:
- Pack-in game with early NES units
- Introduced Mario and Luigi to home players
- Perfect couch multiplayer
- Gateway to Super Mario Bros.
Legacy
Mario Bros. contributed:
- Established Mario as a franchise character
- Created Luigi
- Pioneered couch co-op dynamics
- Introduced the bump-from-below mechanic
- Set up Super Mario Bros. iconography
The Battle Mode Template
The competitive-cooperative formula returned:
- Super Mario Bros. 3 - Battle mode
- New Super Mario Bros. series - “Helpful” multiplayer
- Countless other games adopted the dynamic