“Super Mario Multiverse” – Super Mario Bros. (NES) by Phantom Knight

Super Mario Bros. – My Journey Through Time

I entered my family house after finishing school (5 years old) and was quickly summoned by my parents to the living room. Upon entering I was given the message from my sister that there was a surprise for me. I had absolutely idea what to expect as she was 3 at the time and could barely string a sentence together, strangely much like myself.

I entered quickly and somewhat sheepishly. I was, of course, unsure if I had perhaps upset my parents in some way and this was payback time on their behalf. 

What happened next changed my life forever. A Nintendo Entertainment System was sitting in the middle of the living room floor in a pristine black box. Super Mario Bros. cover art adorned the large black box. I remember holding in a vibrant squeal asking, 

“What’s that?”

Like I didn’t know!

Well the story goes, I had been a good boy in my first year of primary school and a much-deserved reward apparently seemed fitting. To say I was giddy with excitement drastically undersells my feelings on the matter. I was the proud owner of an NES. Not many other kids from my school found themselves in this situation and I was simply beaming with joy. 

I was, of course, allowed to “have at it” without delay. I remember being helped by my Father to gently remove the system from the box. I can remember the squeaky feel of the polystyrene and those plastic coverings…

..the smell was of pure unadulterated joy!

We managed to hook up and tune in the NES to our then CRT television. As the console came bundled with Super Mario Bros. I instantly took the game from its packaging and placed it in the console. I remember the feeling as the game reached the pin connections and the very satisfying click as you pressed the sizable cart down into the machine. The whole process made it seem so much cooler than I could have imagined. I pushed the power button and the screen of our old living room tv lit up. Instantly music blared from the speakers. If you have indeed played Super Mario Bros. you will know the music of which I speak. I was awestruck. I had only ever witnessed this one time before at our local electrical store. 

That first day I must have poured hours into that game. Frustration with the number of times I perished in the game was not even thought about. I had an NES! Super Mario Bros. was keeping me company & what company it was. The extent of my memory from that day fades after that point but it is a testament to the scope of the event that I still remember it so vividly to this day. 

Over the years Super Mario Bros. has been a great friend to have. The vibrant colours, quirky characters and amazing music all came together to provide one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had. 

I still play Super Mario Bros. to this day, albeit mainly on various handheld consoles. There are times when modern gaming is a little too much with all the open-world adventures available spanning hundreds of hours. There is a craving for something a little more simplistic. Those are the times Mario comes out to play. 

The NES classic release was a high point in my recent history with Super Mario Bros. I actually pre-ordered the console but regularly had doubts as to its value. Point in fact I actually cancelled my pre-order but found it online months later when a new printing had been undertaken. I was relieved beyond measure as some of my friends told me it was, without doubt, a worthy purchase. The bonus of picking up the system after its launch and subsequent scarcity meant that I enjoyed the system, at least initially, more than I felt I would have. Naturally, Super Mario Bros. was the very first game I delved into. I hadn’t played it for a while at this point but strangely my muscle memory was still intact from those many years of binging on its greatness. It was a joy to play and I sank a many hours into the console itself mainly with Super Mario Bros. The extra option of instant game saves and different screen types made the process all the better and it definitely has that Nintendo charm written all over it. 

When I look back on Super Mario Bros. it reminds me of a simpler time. Both in gaming and in my life. I am now in my late 30’s, married with a kid, a mortgage and bills coming out of my ears. Whenever I really want to unplug, Super Mario Bros. is where I go. The bond I have with this game like many other gamers is a strong one. I am filled with happiness with the mention of its name and am even more abound with glee if I get to play it. Another side to this joy is that I will eventually be able to share it with my son. It was my first console game and I would like it to be his, if only in a fleeting moment. 

Super Mario Bros. is something that has transcended time. It is a classic of that there is no doubt. For me, I will continue to champion it as such and will make sure that its legacy is never tarnished.

Let’s a go ah!

-Phantom Knight

Wahoo! You are a Super Reader! But the adventure doesn’t stop here… There’s more of this project in another castle! This article is just one level in an entire Super Mario Multiverse, a galactic collaboration between writers around the world sharing a bit of our hearts and memories about our favorite Mario games. Visit the Center of the Multiverse to see more: