All-Stars is definitely a great value, especially the revision that includes Super Mario World on the same cart. If you got this bundled with your SNES, you had hours of entertainment ahead of you. Mario 2 (USA) I think benefits from the visual makeover if only to distance itself further from its Doki Doki Panic roots. Mario 3 is very much like a next Gen remaster that’s pretty popular these days, adding a much needed save feature too.
But yeah there’s something off about redoing Mario 1 this way. The low fi first gen NES graphics (combined with the matching simple gameplay) are definitely part of its appeal. I guess that’s why this version never had a standalone release on the GBA unlike the other games. Even back then I preferred the NES version (although not having an NES, this is the main way I enjoyed all the original SMB games). And I think I wished you could play the NES versions of the game on the collection as well. If I go back to Mario 1 it’s Al way to the NES original.
Still I do appreciate the effort put into All-Stars. It’s more than Tecmo put into Ninja Gaiden Trilogy and Nintendo themselves put into 3D All-Stars for Switch.
All-Stars is incredible, and like you say, particularly with Mario World thrown in there in the SNES' later years.
I suppose it's important for all of us (myself included) to remember that, in 1993 and as the decade progressed, better graphics were often equated with better games. I'm not sure why we all believed such lies, but I guess it's what we heard on the playground from our friends and read in the magazines.
The notion that all three 8-bit Mario titles got 16-bit makeovers meant that, overnight, the 16-bit versions were the ideal ways to play these games, if only because they looked prettier. And certainly, for convenience sake, as well.
But yeah, I'm with you, All-Stars had a lot of love and care invested into it, unlike 3D All-Stars which was just a sad Covid cash grab.
Now Mr Cornelius we agree on 99% of things, ( a bit strange even still ) but as a pal gamer this I believe was the main way we experienced the original trilogy for the most part. I have a strong attachment to all-star's and I believe his is the best way to play the originals. Keep up the good work my friend.
Yes! Full agree. Later Mario games at times come across as a squabble among frenemies that are just as likely to go golfing together as attacking each other's castles.
But SMB1 is a *war* of man against monster!
I'm glad you called out the nighttime stages, this hits hardest for me. There's just something about the SMB1 nighttime aesthetic. I have trouble describing exactly how it makes me feel, except that nothing else in video games makes me feel that way. Maybe Tolkien described it best:
>
When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;
When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;
When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain
I'll look for thee, and call to thee; I'll come to thee again!
>
Not sure exactly what level he was describing, but I'm thinking 6-3.
Also, really well put about how later Mario games just feel like a squabble among frenemies. They do - and that's fine, I still enjoy present-day Mario games. But there's something about OG Mario 1 that feels distinctly other. I appreciate its style more and more the older I get.
All-Stars is definitely a great value, especially the revision that includes Super Mario World on the same cart. If you got this bundled with your SNES, you had hours of entertainment ahead of you. Mario 2 (USA) I think benefits from the visual makeover if only to distance itself further from its Doki Doki Panic roots. Mario 3 is very much like a next Gen remaster that’s pretty popular these days, adding a much needed save feature too.
But yeah there’s something off about redoing Mario 1 this way. The low fi first gen NES graphics (combined with the matching simple gameplay) are definitely part of its appeal. I guess that’s why this version never had a standalone release on the GBA unlike the other games. Even back then I preferred the NES version (although not having an NES, this is the main way I enjoyed all the original SMB games). And I think I wished you could play the NES versions of the game on the collection as well. If I go back to Mario 1 it’s Al way to the NES original.
Still I do appreciate the effort put into All-Stars. It’s more than Tecmo put into Ninja Gaiden Trilogy and Nintendo themselves put into 3D All-Stars for Switch.
All-Stars is incredible, and like you say, particularly with Mario World thrown in there in the SNES' later years.
I suppose it's important for all of us (myself included) to remember that, in 1993 and as the decade progressed, better graphics were often equated with better games. I'm not sure why we all believed such lies, but I guess it's what we heard on the playground from our friends and read in the magazines.
The notion that all three 8-bit Mario titles got 16-bit makeovers meant that, overnight, the 16-bit versions were the ideal ways to play these games, if only because they looked prettier. And certainly, for convenience sake, as well.
But yeah, I'm with you, All-Stars had a lot of love and care invested into it, unlike 3D All-Stars which was just a sad Covid cash grab.
“Specific visual grievances” is a phrase I am desperate to use on my own one day. Another great article.
Haha, yes, give that phrase another home if you can.
Thanks Paul!
Now Mr Cornelius we agree on 99% of things, ( a bit strange even still ) but as a pal gamer this I believe was the main way we experienced the original trilogy for the most part. I have a strong attachment to all-star's and I believe his is the best way to play the originals. Keep up the good work my friend.
Thanks buddy, yeah, I understand your sentiment here, for sure. Whatever we grew up with is what usually resonates the most in our later years.
Yes! Full agree. Later Mario games at times come across as a squabble among frenemies that are just as likely to go golfing together as attacking each other's castles.
But SMB1 is a *war* of man against monster!
I'm glad you called out the nighttime stages, this hits hardest for me. There's just something about the SMB1 nighttime aesthetic. I have trouble describing exactly how it makes me feel, except that nothing else in video games makes me feel that way. Maybe Tolkien described it best:
>
When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;
When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;
When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain
I'll look for thee, and call to thee; I'll come to thee again!
>
Not sure exactly what level he was describing, but I'm thinking 6-3.
Love the Tolkien quote.
Also, really well put about how later Mario games just feel like a squabble among frenemies. They do - and that's fine, I still enjoy present-day Mario games. But there's something about OG Mario 1 that feels distinctly other. I appreciate its style more and more the older I get.
Thanks Alex, glad I'm not the only one!