I would go a step further and say it’s the pinnacle of platforming.

All of this (and A LOT MORE) makes me appreciate this game so much and it’s truly a timeless masterpiece that I encourage everyone to try. I haven’t gone into many things to keep this short like the historical references in this game such as how the cards on the world map representing the stages are actually an acknowledgement of Nintendo’s roots, starting off as a toy and card company and the expansion on the power ups. It’s MIND BLOWING what this game accomplished in its time period and how much more attention and care has been put into this game compared to so many of the modern games we see today. It also provides exploration on the world map itself embodying the core idea of its gameplay. Also how the game has a very organic world map where instead of making the map be a checklist of levels to complete, theres non linearity in the world map where you can skip many levels but lose rewards at the coast of that and how each world gives off a very different tone. Small details like how when hammer bros on the world map move to a water area, you will fight them in the water and (same with land). It doesn’t just feel like a plat former (like most plat formers for its time), instead, it feels like I’m on an expansive adventure with an expansive world where I can fully explore individual levels for so long and constantly find secrets that are so cleverly hidden with amazing rewards like the warp whistle or even subtle awards like coins that give you a sense of accomplishment.

This game just sucks you in with its absolutely genius level design, so many details and how it uses mechanics that many games to this day struggle to use but smb3 perfected them back in 1988. it’s become my all time favourite game even surpassing the likes of Ocarina of time, Super Metroid, Mario galaxy 2 and DKC2. I just finished Super Mario bros 3 for the first time and WOW.

Super mario bros 3 nintendo