Super Mario Video Game Remakes
There are very few video game characters that are quite as iconic as Nintendo's Mario. While the Italian plumber has gone on to drive go-karts, play tennis, and even kill off a virus or two, the core appeal always comes back to the main adventure games where he is tasked with saving Princess Peach for the umpteenth time.
Official Super Mario Sequels
Mario may have made his first big-time debut in the original Donkey Kong game, but his biggest introduction to the world came when he arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System (sold as Nintendo Family Computer or "Famicom" in Japan) in Super Mario Bros. That game went on to spark several sequels, not only on the NES, but also on the several Nintendo consoles to follow. The new video games weren't exactly remakes in the traditional sense, since they all introduced new actions, new worlds, new enemies, and new stages. Even so, they clearly borrowed many elements from the original.
Some of the most prominent sequels to be officially released by Nintendo include the following:
- Super Mario Land (Game Boy): The popular portable video game system didn't have the same fancy graphics as its home console counterpart, but it meant that gamers could embark in a Mario-themed adventure for the first time on the road.
- Super Mario World (Super Nintendo): Arriving on the system that followed the original NES, this SNES game had much brighter and more detailed graphics than the first set of games. This is also the title that introduced the character of Yoshi for the first time, opening up a whole new world of opportunities.
- Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64): Up until this game was released, all Mario adventure titles have been played on a two-dimensional plane. That changed dramatically to 3D platforming with this launch title on the Nintendo 64. It is still touted as one of the most revolutionary games of all time, sparking a remake on the Nintendo DS known as Super Mario 64 DS.
- New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS): Going back to the two-dimensional realm, Nintendo really sparked a great deal of interest in this handheld system by releasing a new Mario game on it. The game played much like the original set of Mario games, but it had fantastically colorful graphics, multiplayer capabilities, and several new items and innovations that appealed to both purists and newcomers to the series.
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nintendo Wii): For the first time ever in the franchise, this Mario game allowed gamers to have co-operative multiplayer. Up to four characters can play at the same time, both helping one another out and (more often than some would prefer) getting in eachother's way.
Unofficial Remakes Avaialble Online
Considering that new Mario games for the Wii don't come out all that often, many gamers have turned to the Internet and indepedent developers to create some great Mario remakes. These are two of the best.
- Super Mario Crossover: This game is available for play on such sites as PlayOnline.com. The original Super Mario Bros. is completely remade, except players can choose between six different characters. Beyond Mario himself, players can opt to use Link from the Zelda series, Bill from the Contra series, Simon from the Castlevania series, Mega Man, or Samus from the Metroid series. Each character plays like how he or she plays in the respective title. For instance, Contra's Bill gains the "spread shot" gun when he picks up a fire flower.
- Mario Remix: Available to play within your web browser at NewGrounds.com, Mario Remix lets you choose from three different stages. Mario can enter Super Mario World, but he can also take on varous boss characters in the Mega Man stage or shoot through enemies in the Gradius stage.
New remakes are being developed all the time, many of which are available as free downloads or free in-browser games. They may require Adobe Flash, so make sure you have that installed on your computer first.
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