Super Mario Bros. 3
NES platforming perfected
Super Mario Bros. 3 expanded Mario's abilities with suits and power-ups, delivering eight diverse worlds and becoming the NES's defining platformer.
Overview
Super Mario Bros. 3 took everything learned from the original and its sequel, then added layers of depth. World maps replaced level selection. Power-up suits gave Mario new abilities. Eight themed worlds offered variety from desert to sky to giant-sized. It sold 17 million copies and remains many players’ favourite Mario game.
Fast facts
- Developer: Nintendo EAD.
- Director: Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka.
- Japan release: 1988.
- Western release: 1990.
- Sales: 17+ million copies.
Power-up suits
Expanded abilities:
| Suit | Power |
|---|---|
| Super Mushroom | Grow large |
| Fire Flower | Shoot fireballs |
| Super Leaf | Raccoon flight |
| Frog Suit | Enhanced swimming |
| Tanooki Suit | Flight plus statue form |
| Hammer Suit | Throw hammers, block fire |
World map innovation
New progression system:
- Overworld view of each world.
- Multiple path options.
- Hidden areas and secrets.
- Toad houses for items.
- Hammer Brothers patrol.
- Airships conclude each world.
Eight themed worlds
| World | Theme | Gimmick |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grass Land | Introduction |
| 2 | Desert Land | Sun attacks, quicksand |
| 3 | Water Land | Underwater focus |
| 4 | Giant Land | Oversized enemies |
| 5 | Sky Land | Vertical scrolling |
| 6 | Ice Land | Slippery surfaces |
| 7 | Pipe Land | Maze pipes |
| 8 | Dark Land | Bowser’s domain |
Technical achievement
Pushing NES hardware:
- Larger sprites.
- Multiple scrolling directions.
- Animated world maps.
- Complex enemy patterns.
- Memory mapper for expanded content.
Level design mastery
Teaching through play:
- Introduce mechanics safely.
- Increase difficulty gradually.
- Secrets reward exploration.
- Multiple solutions often possible.
- Tight, responsive controls.
Marketing phenomenon
The Wizard (1989):
- Film featured unreleased SMB3.
- Created massive anticipation.
- Lines at stores for release.
- Cultural event, not just game launch.
Two-player competition
Versus mode:
- Players alternate.
- Mario Bros.-style competitive screens.
- Steal lives from opponent.
- First to reach Bowser.
Inventory system
Item management:
- Store power-ups for later.
- P-Wings for difficult levels.
- Clouds skip levels.
- Strategic resource use.
Influence on series
Established templates:
- World themes (desert, ice, sky).
- Flying power-ups.
- World map navigation.
- Themed boss battles.
- Hidden secrets.
Critical consensus
Frequently cited as:
- Best NES game.
- Best 2D Mario game.
- Peak of 8-bit design.
- Template for platformers.
Legacy
Super Mario Bros. 3 demonstrated what the NES could achieve with mature development expertise. Its influence on platformer design, Mario himself, and Nintendo’s approach to sequels cannot be overstated.