Before NSMB DS and Super Mario Brothers 5 came out: “Herp Derp, not a REAL game. Durrr, it doesn’t even use 3d graphics! No one would ever buy such an antiquated game today. Durrr….”
After NSMB DS and Super Mario Brothers 5: “Herp Derp, EVERYONE knows 2d Mario sells. Durrrr. It’s Mario after all. Durrrr.”
What’s missing here is an honest investigation into the entertainment power of 2d Mario. And the world needs it or else all we can do is watch precious 2d Mario disappear from the face of the Earth.
So what I am going to do is play through…
Super Mario Brothers 1
Super Mario Brothers 2 (Not the Japanese version since it didn’t make Mario more popular)
Super Mario Brothers 3
Super Mario Brothers 4
Super Mario Brothers 5
Level by level, detail by detail, goomba by goomba, I will write a description as to how and why it is compelling. There needs to be more investigation into why 2d Mario is compelling, not less. Simply saying ‘jumping on goombas is fun’ is not enough.
Will you join me, reader? It will be a fun ride.