Super Mario Bros' timeless design still holds up well today.

User Rating: 8 | Super Mario Bros. NES
Pros: Tight controls and enjoyable action; Tons of fun secrets for multiple replays; Can be beaten in less than an hour

Cons: Can be beaten in less than an hour; No saving or regular continues (in NES version)

When writing a review for Super Mario Bros, it's tough to figure out what to say. After all, what does one say about a game so important to gaming that the vast majority of gamers have played in some form or another.

I suppose I could say that 27 years later, it holds up remarkably. Yeah, I could say that.

Super Mario Bros needs no explanation really: Bowser (known as King Koopa) has kidnapped Peach (known as Princess Toadstool) and Mario (known as Mario) must jump his way through eight worlds in order to save her. Along the way he collects coins, eats mushrooms to grow big, and collects flowers to throw fireballs at enemies. Despite the oddness of the Mushroom Kingdom, there's not much to question here-it's a formula that has been well-established over the years.

The real question comes in whether the original, unmodified formula still holds up. And it unquestionably still does. Whereas many old games lose much of their appeal with the removal of nostalgia, Super Mario Bros remains just as fun as ever.

This is undeniably due to the controls, which are very tight. Mario moves when and where you want him to, has a good sense of momentum and weight, and is generally just satisfying to move around. The other appeal comes from the myriad of secrets just waiting to be found. Sure you could just hop straight through the 32 levels and it would be enjoyable enough, but a lot of the fun comes from realizing where the bonus rooms are hidden or how to beat the entire game in only 8 levels. The combination of tight controls and a great sense of discovery keep Super Mario Bros fun to this day, and will likely keep it fun long into the future.

That said, judged as a modern game, Super Mario Bros does have some faults. For one, you can beat it in less than an hour, although this is also a plus if you intend to replay the game multiple times (and you should) as it makes it a light, breezy affair. This short length was a necessity of course though, because of the lack of saving on NES cartridges at the time. The game doesn't even let you continue from the same world in the original version if you don't know the right cheat, which makes it pretty unforgiving when you hit the ridiculous level 8-3. Fortunately, in most of the rereleases there are save and continue functions, rendering this complaint largely moot unless you play the original version (on NES, Wii, or Animal Crossing).

Super Mario Bros is a great game. Obviously certain aspects are dated, and the game seems relatively simple compared to today's products, but that doesn't change the fact that Super Mario Bros is a great game. Viewed at the time of its release, Super Mario Bros was amazing, and ahead of its time. Viewed over a score after its release, Super Mario Bros is still great, simple fun. And if that's not the sign of timeless design I don't know what is.