Super Mario Bros. 3

1988 platform video game developed by Nintendo

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a 1988 platform game made by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System game console. It was a big hit and sold 40 million copies, and it is often said by critics to be the best game on the NES.[source?] It preceded Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) and was followed by Super Mario World in 1990. It is one of the games in Super Mario All-Stars.

Super Mario Bros. 3
Developer(s)Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Shigeru Miyamoto Edit this on Wikidata
Composer(s)Kōji Kondō Edit this on Wikidata
SeriesMario
Platform(s)Nintendo Entertainment System, Virtual Console (Wii, 3DS)
ReleaseFamicom/NES
  • JP: October 23, 1988
  • NA: February 12, 1990
  • PAL: August 29, 1991
Virtual Console (Wii)
  • NA: November 5, 2007
  • PAL: November 9, 2007
  • JP: December 11, 2007
Virtual Console (3DS)
  • JP: January 1, 2013
Genre(s)Platformer, Adventure
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

Plot change

Bowser has taken over the Mushroom Kingdom again. This time he and his seven children, called the Koopa Kids, have each taken over one of the worlds, so Princess Toadstool asks Mario and Luigi to help again.

Gameplay change

This game goes back to the original platform conventions of Super Mario Bros. Like that game, Mario jumps, runs, and hits enemies. However, he does not touch a flag or reach a castle. At the end of the level, he hits a spinning block, which will yield a flower, a mushroom, or a star block. When he gets three blocks, he will be rewarded. Three stars will result in five lives. If he gets a mix, he will get one extra life.

A new item is a box. The box enables Mario or Luigi to store items that they acquire. Before entering the level, Mario or Luigi can select the item and use it. One such item is the Starman. It will make them super strong and everything they touch will die, for a short time. Another item is the anchor. All seven bosses float around in large ships. If Mario tries to beat them and loses, the ship will move around the world. If Mario uses the anchor, however, the ship will stay still and not move.

Enemies change

Boomerang Bro change

The Boomerang Bro is a Hammer Bro that throws boomerangs instead of hammers. The Boomerang Bro first appeared in this game. It had green skin and black shells. It is listed in IGN's Mario's Best Enemies.[source?]