Heavily regarded as the best game on the NES and as one of the best game ever made. Let's see if this is true.
Gameplay: It is an open-ended 2D platformer game. You choose which level you want to play using a map overworld. The game is divided in 8 worlds and each of them have a fortress, placed around half-way in the world and an airship, at the end of the world. Most of the time there is many paths to get to the airship. The game is full of secrets, which make the lasting appeal greater. You can't save (in the original version) which might scare people of getting it. However, there is a tresaure very early in the game that allows you to choose the world you want. With that, you can easily stop playing after completing a world, and then get the tresaure and continue where you were. You can also play cooperatively, one player at the time. You will also collect items in your way, which will be stored in your inventory. You will be able, while on the world map, to choose power ups in your inventory.
Graphics: They were by extremely far the best graphics on the console. Today it still holds-up, especially because of the masterful game desing.
Atmosphere: A NES game can't produce a good atmosphere. It is not very immersive. The atmosphere will not influence the final score.
Music and Sound effects: You cannot expect the soud to be good for a NES game. However, the music is incredible.
Story: Mario and Luigi are on a adventure to save the kingdoms all over the world from the evil king Bowser Koopa and his army. This is a NES game, you can't be expecting Bioshock-level story. The story will not influence the final score.
Characters: Like story and atmosphere this is a NES game and it would be unfaire to count this in the review. On the other hand, Mario is the most popular character in video game (and maybe even entertainement as a whole) of alltime.
Innovative: The game is innovative. It created the now famous world map and an inventory system.
+ Alots of fun
+ Secrets to find
+ The map
+ Inventory system
+ Coop
+ Great music
+ Landmark characters
+ Innovative
+ Best graphics on the console
- No save (But can be overlooked)
Gameplay: 9.5
Graphics: 10
Story: 7 (Not counted)
Music/Sound Effect: 9.7
Atmosphere: 6 (Not counted)
Characters: 8 (Not counted)
Innovative/Unique: 9.5
Score: 9.7