Here in the basement glow of the CRT, the graphics makeover in Super Mario All-Stars really shines. The enhanced colors on the SNES already feel like a revelation compared to the old grey brick of the NES. It’s almost as if the Mushroom Kingdom were reimagined through a fresh lens.
Absolutely. Even the title screen music has a richer texture. Whenever the theme swells, I can’t help but remember huddling around a mono television back in ’85, trying to coax my NES to output sound without that annoying buzz.
Starting with the first Super Mario Bros., the level design remains as tight as ever. Every gap and Goomba placement forces you to think two seconds ahead—makes the new save feature feel incredibly welcome. I ran out of lives in World 5-2 and saved myself from hauling back to World 3.
Then there’s The Lost Levels. Its introduction of poison mushrooms had me double-guessing every block. I remarked aloud how reckless Nintendo was for including traps that shrink you on sight. It’s the kind of unforgiving challenge that spurs you to improve, level by level.
When we shifted over to Super Mario Bros. 2, swapping between Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool, the Allied Team dynamic gave a welcome variety. Luigi’s higher jump feels risky but rewarding, while the Princess’s ability to hover just saved me when I tried to cross the final pit in the fortress stage.
I still chuckle remembering you hoarding every Shy Guy mask, thinking it was some secret weapon. Then it turned out you could just pick enemies up and throw them—so simple, yet so satisfying.
Hot Tips
- In World 1-3 of SMB1, timing that early Cheep-Cheep jump can save you a power-up later in the level.
- In The Lost Levels, learn to crouch-jump on poison mushrooms—they’ll recoil you high enough for bonus blocks.
- For SMB2, use Princess to float across wide gaps and reach hidden warp zones.
- On Super Mario Bros. 3’s Tanooki Suit world, never underestimate the cost of floating too long—wind currents in map screens can carry you back into enemy territory.
- Always use the save option before tackling a fortress or airship—an SNES controller glitch or bumped cable shouldn’t cost you progress.
Speaking of Super Mario Bros. 3, the introduction of the map screen and world hubs completely changed platformers. Instead of linear levels, you feel like a general charting a campaign across Desert Land and Pipe Land. That Hammer Bro ambush in World 5-4 had me leaping out of my seat.
And the suits—Frog, Tanooki, Hammer, and more—each transformed your strategy. I nearly dropped my neon slushie when I saw you tail-whip the final airship’s kicker into Bowser himself. Pure pixel poetry.
Memorable Moments & Anecdotes
Remember when we discovered that hidden 1-Up in SB3 World 4-2? We spent twenty minutes stacking Koopas and blocks, only to realize a well-timed tail strike from the Tanooki suit would have done it in seconds.
The basement lights dimmed, my concentration peaked—you could hear my heart pounding as I sidestepped that firebar trap. I still grin at how close the Koopa shell nearly knocked you off the platform.
And that moment in Lost Levels, the final warp zone reveal after hitting those six hidden blocks? You yelled so loud I thought the popcorn bowl would fly off the couch.
It’s those surprises that keep All-Stars fresh even after years of NES cartridges. Each title’s unique quirks blend into a celebration of platforming mastery.
Final Boss Battle
We barricaded ourselves before Bowser’s castle in World 8. The overhaul in sound for that Bowser theme—drums rolling, horns blaring—felt downright cinematic on the SNES. When we landed on that floating platform and the bridge began retracting, I thought my heart stopped.
Flames licked across the castle walls as Bowser rotated on his platform. I timed my spin jump perfectly, watching him crash into the abyss. The castle exploded in a blaze of pixels and chiptune fanfare. It’s astonishing how a seemingly simple boss can feel epic with improved audio channels and sharper sprites.
After all that, standing victorious, we swapped controllers for a high-five—almost knocked over my bowl of popcorn. It proved this compilation isn’t just nostalgia: it’s a definitive way to experience Mario’s golden era.
Between the new save option, the graphical polish, and the timeless gameplay, Super Mario All-Stars stands as a must-play. Each title retains its original soul while gaining a fresh coat of Super Nintendo polish.
I’ll say it plainly—this collection remains one of the finest ways to revisit Mario’s earliest adventures. We’re already planning a second run to chase perfect scores and hidden secrets we missed the first time.
more info and data about Super Mario All-Stars provided by mobyGames.com
