Gameboy Advance - Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3

Format
Gameboy Advance
Publisher
Nintendo
Developer
Nintendo
Country of origin
Japan
Genre
Platform

Super Mario Advance 4 : Super Mario Bros 3

By David Rasmussen
16th Jan 05

Studio - Nintendo
Age - E for Everybody
Genre - Side scroller

Well this is going to be a quick and easy review.

With the recent surge in the release of classic video game collections (you might have seen the collections from Atari, Midway and Namco for instance. Or the old school Nintendo games being put out for the GBA) I thought this would be a good time to touch bases with one of those classics, Super Mario Brothers 3.

The classic SMB 3 from the Nintendo is brought back for the GBA, and it's even sporting a few new twists!
This version, with a few added little things here and there for the GBA version, is something for the fan who can't get enough of Mario! And, apparently, quite a few people can't get enough of Mario (and his recent counterpart Wario) considering how many games have come out to date, and how many are to come out in the near future.

It's the same game with a few new things (that I don't think was even present when it was first re-released in Super Mario All Stars for the SNES), and a trick in that it's one of the few things (past Poke'mon and Animal Crossing) that utilizes the seldom used E-Reader attachment.
In this case you can use e-reader cards to open up new "worlds" in the game, and give yourself power ups.
The worlds become permanent additions to the game once you beat them, so you'll have to make it through each new "world" before it becomes a permanent part of the game.

Another new thing is that you can have a multi-player game of Mario Brothers (the classic arcade original Mario Brothers game which features the first appearance of Luigi if I‘m not mistaken).
Up to four players can link up and play head-to-head in this classic, which is something quite interesting... IF you have three friends (who own this game) to play against. I don't so I'll just have to take Nintendo's word for it that it's fun. Looks like fun.

Otherwise it's the same game as before. Haven't seen anything yet that makes it stand out as something other than a delightful romp down memory lane with this nostalgic old game.
It has a few new quirks but mostly it's SMB3, and probably will be appreciated if you have a thing for playing the classic games of the past. Okay. Breakdown time.

Super Mario Advance Breakdown the 4th
What's Hot? - You have TWO classic Mario games in one package! The classic Mario Brothers (revamped and all new visually with a multiplayer mode) and Super Mario Brothers 3!
If you are the kind of person who loves the nostalgic games and been picking up the collections of classic games then you'll be diggin' this for you GBA ASAP!

What's Not? - There are a few new things but it's still the same Mario.
If you are NOT into nostalgia, or your idea of fun nostalgia is to pick up the classic DKC2 for the GBA, then you might not get into playing this game. If you are, however, quite the nostalgia buff and SMB3 appeals to you then you'd be getting this ASAP. Guess it's all a matter of taste.

Moments to Remember? - I liked playing the old Mario Brothers game again. Got a pretty decent score playing it too if I do say so myself. And revisiting the old SMB3 was fun too.

What to Ignore? - Ugh... ANOTHER game that depends on that one-trick pony of a device called the E-Reader! If it wasn't for Poke'mon then nobody'd be using the E-Reader anymore! Sheesh!
Can you even use the E-Reader on the new Nintendo DS?!? I don't know, I just don't know.

Overal1? - If you are a fan of old school, and a big fan of Mario? Then you'll be snagging this up along with the other Super Mario Advance games for your collection!
Don't think you'll be snagging up an E-Reader though no matter how big of a Mario fan you are... I only saw two Mario E-Reader cards with the bundle pack I bought of this game and that's it. Are there any more past that or is it a thing they just fell out of interest doing like Animal Crossing E-Reader cards?!

Oh-kay, if this is not your cup of Mario and you'd like a different choice? I'd recommend you check out a different Mario romp in Mario Golf Advance Tour for the GBA, or Mario Party 6 for the GCN -- isn't there supposed to be a Mario Party Advance? I saw it advertised during Christmas but where is it?!?
Anyway when it all comes right down to it, the choice of whether you buy this or not hinges on tastes.
If you think you have the taste for a blast from the past like SMB3 and the classic Mario Brothers? Then, as I said above, this is the game for you. If not? Then you can always practice your swing with Mario Golf.
Either way there is a Mario out there for you... unless you're a Wario fan but that's another review.

-- David Rasmussen 16th Jan 05

Gameboy Advance Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3 Images