There’s an argument to be made that Super Mario Bros. is the most influential video game of all time. SMB created the blueprint that all platformers (2D or 3D) followed for the next 30 years. It may seem simple, run forward, jump on some platforms, avoid some enemies and get to the end of the level. There’s so much depth within such a simple design.
Gameplay wise, SMB is still fun to play despite thirty years of gaming. All of the controls are tight and smooth. When you want Mario to jump, he jumps. When you want him to run, he runs. There aren’t any spots where you feel like the game screwed you over. The game is also very easy to follow. The goal is to get to the end of each level to advance. Along the way there are obstacles, usually enemies to bypass or holes to jump over, that Mario must overcome in order to succeed. There are three power-ups that can help you: the Mushroom which makes Mario big and gives him an extra hitpoint in case he’s hit by an enemy, the Fire Flower that lets Mario shoot fireballs and the Star which allows Mario invincibility for a short while. Each enemy has their own unique attributes. For example a Koopa Troopa that’s green will walk straight and fall off any cliffs, while a red Koopa Troopa will turn around when approaching a cliff. The enemy system quite easy to remember (and still used today in Mario games).
The level design is quite smart. It would have been easy just to throw these obstacles together and call it a game, but Nintendo did better than that. There are secrets all over SMB’s eight worlds (32 levels). While maybe today gamers won’t hunt down for every 1-Up Mushroom or every coin, back then finding every little secret was on par with 100%ing a game. Sure there are the big ones. Finding the Warp Zones that let you skip a few worlds was obviously a great accomplishment, but finding all those hidden blocks with 1-Ups made you feel like you were an expert at the game. Every Mario player tried to go down every green pipe in the game. Every Mario player hit every brick just for the satisfaction of finding a gold coin (or ten). That’s what made SMB brilliant, the game was so much larger than its eight worlds would suggest.
Amazingly, despite there being about five or six musical tracks in the entire game, all of them are memorable and often remixed today in current games. The overworld theme is perhaps the most recognizable piece of music in video game history. The sound effects are just as memorable. SMB also looked great for its time. There was some really smart palette swapping done (for example, a goomba and a mushroom are just palette swaps of one another, as is a cloud and a bush) and the colors really work for the Nintendo. When you remember some of the graphical junk the NES produced in the 1980s it really makes one appreciate what SMB looks like.
Really, that’s all there is to it. SMB is still fun to play for a night. And whether or not you’re playing it just to beat it or going through every single green pipe, you’re still in for a memorable experience.
Pros:
-Controls feel tight
-Memorable music, sounds and graphics
-Smart level design
-Memorable enemies and characters
-Simple to pick up
Cons:
-Not difficult at all
-Someone with Mario Maker could remake the whole game in a couple hours
Technically it isn’t perfect, but in 1985 it probably surpassed that expectation anyway. It’s influence alone give it a perfect grade.
Myself, JonRoyalty and Matt F. (the future Mr. Anonymous) came together to discuss ideas that would lean to the creation of a Nintendo Cinematic Universe. With the multitude of characters that Nintendo owns there is more than enough content to create an entire universe.
I storyboarded all the film ideas where Matt and Jon provided ideas of what would work and what wouldn’t. Like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and I guess future DC Cinematic Universe, there are multiple phases to help understand the timeline. These films are also meant to be taken seriously as opposed to being a “kid’s movie series”.
This is Phase 1, with plot details, characters and even potential mid-credit and end-credit scenes. Remember that we’re just three fans of games who believe something like this would be awesome.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
2. Super Mario Bros.: Mario vs. Donkey Kong
3. Star Fox v. Samus: Rise of Ridley
4. Kirby Superstar: Legend of the Crystal Shards
5. Super Mario Bros. 2: Rise of the Koopa King
6. Super Smash Bros.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Link’s greatest journey kicks off the NCU.
Plot: Link is a 16 year old who lives among the Kokiri. While the Kokiri never grow, Link himself has. The Great Deku Tree decides now is the time for Link to face the evil that threatens Hyule. The Great Deku Tree explains to Link about the Triforce. Link defeats Queen Gohma as a test, and then is sent with the fairy Navi to help the Goron and Zora races. The Great Deku Tree’s last request before his death is for Link to seek out Princess Zelda. Link leaves behind the Kokiri. Link’s best friend Saria entrusts Link an Ocarina to talk to her whenever he needs.
Link heads to Hyrule Castle Town, hilariously stopping by the Happy Mask Shop at one point. The Happy mask Salesman tells Link to “just have faith…”. Also on this trip he stops by the Lon Lon Ranch and meets Malon and her horse, Epona. Link then sneaks into Princess Zelda’s castle. Zelda explains the prophecy that one day Hyrule will be taken over by the evil Ganondorf, who currently serves as a hope aid to the King. Link explains what the Great Deku Tree told him, and they both agree that Link should help the Gorons and Zoras. The Gorons and Zoras are at war, as lava and rocks of fire had fallen into Zora’s River. Lord Jabu-Jabu has led the way in blaming the Gorons for this, but the Gorons fight back, claiming a race called the Dodongos have caused the problem. Link proves this is the case by defeating the Dodongos.
Link returns to Princess Zelda only to find Zelda escape from Hyrule Castle. Ganondorf is in pursuit, and when Link draws his sword Ganondorf attacks him with an energy blast. With Zelda and Ganondorf long gone, Link finds the Ocarina of Time left by Zelda with a message. Link follows the message to enter the Temple of Time. When he uses the Ocarina of Time in the Temple of Time, he obtains the Master Sword. This leads to Link being trapped in the temple for 10 years and he falls into a deep sleep. He has a nightmare that Ganondorf himself has entered the Temple of Time because Link had opened it. When Link awakens he learns that his nightmare was in fact true. He also accepts his responsibility as the Hero of Time.
Link awakens in a world now covered with monsters. Ganondorf has ruled Hyrule for the last ten years and has left everywhere but his castle and Gerudo Valley in ruin. Link re-unites with a fully grown Epona and sets to save the Kokiri, Gorons and Zoras. Once he does so, he obtains the power of their leaders as Sages. A mysterious ninja named Sheik also helps Link on his quest. They all help Link infiltrate Gerudo Valley and the Spirit Temple, destroying Ganondorf’s defenses.
With a showdown with Ganondorf remaining, Sheik reveals herself to be Zelda, but Ganondorf captures here. The three pieces of the triforce are possessed between Link, Ganondorf and Zelda. Link defeats Ganondorf, and his monstrous form in Ganon, and restores peace to Hyrule.
Mid-Credits Scene: During a celebration, Zelda explains to Link that the war is far from over, and that the prophecy predicted much worse things than Ganondorf’s reign over Hyrule. (Setting up Super Smash Bros.).
Post-Credits Scene: The Happy Mask Salesman looks disappointed as he’s failed to lend any masks. He slowly packs his masks away, but stops to look at one. He laughs, and Majora’s Mask is shown. Majora’s Mask’s evil laugh is heard as the scene ends. (Setting up LOZ: Majora’s Mask).
Connection to the Games: Obviously follows Ocarina of Time’s story with some changes. The age change and time in the Temple of Time is done to use older Link throughout the Universe. The Goron and Zora stories were shortened and combined as I feel that it would create one too many subplots for a film.
Important Cinematic Characters: Link, Zelda, Epona, Navi, Ganondorf
2. Super Mario Bros.: Mario vs. Donkey Kong
We skipped the whole Jumpman thing…
Plot: The Yoshis are a tribe of friendly dinosaurs that one day have two babies delivered to them from the King of the Mushroom Kingdom. The King has requested that the Yoshis protect and train Mario and Luigi as they are predicted to save the Kingdom from an attack that’s coming in the next generation. The Yoshi’s train the Mario Bros. to become warriors over the next 20 years. Both Mario and Luigi become close with a specific green Yoshi, and Yoshi becomes Mario’s best friend.
Twenty years after the Mario Bros. were delievered, Kong Isle has attacked the Mushroom Kingdom and captured several women. The Kongs eventually capture Luigi as well. Mario and Yoshi head out to save them all and become the hero he was predicted to be. Mario uses all the jumping moves taught to him by Yoshi, as well as learns the ways of the mystical foods and items that are scattered around the Mushroom Kingdom. Using Mushrooms, Fire Flowers and Starmen, Mario eventually arrives to a showdown with the leader of the Kongs: Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong has personally kept Luigi and Princess Peach imprisoned. It is known that the King had passed away in the last 20 years.
Using those items and a hammer, Mario and Yoshi make their way through Donkey Kong’s buildings and structures. He ultimately causes Donkey Kong to fall off the highest structure, injuring but not killing him. Mario saves his brother, the King and Princess Peach, who he is immediately smitten by.
Mario, Yoshi and Luigi are welcomed to the Castle for cake. The King explains to Mario that many of the Mushroom Kingdom mushrooms have come alive and gone bad, and that the Mushroom Kingdom is still in danger. Mario accepts the responsibility of protecting the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mid-Credits Scene: Donkey Kong retreats home and, while not through words, is clearly apologetic for what he’s done. He then sees a light that asks him for his help… (setting up Super Smash Bros.)
Post-Credits Scene: The King and Princess Peach awaken to a loud commotion outside this Castle. When they look outside, they see Toads being captured by Koopa Troopas, Hammer Bros. and other minions. Bowser breaks into the Castle and captures Princess Peach, leaving us with a fearsome growl. (Setting up Mario 2)
Connection to the Games: Looks to create a Mario origin story combining Yoshi’s Island and the original Donkey Kong game. Also takes after Batman Begins.
Important Cinematic Characters: Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser
3. Star Fox v Samus
Can Fox and Samus work together?
Plot: All Fox McCloud knows about his father is that he was killed in battle when Pigma Dengar betrayed the original Star Fox team. Fox’s father James was killed, while Peppy Hare, a teammate, survived. Wolf O’Donnell, the leader of the Star Wolf team, was said to be the one who gunned down Fox’s father. Fox one day wonders when he’ll get his chance to take on the Star Wolf team with his Star Fox team.
Fox captains the Star Fox team and helps protect the Lylat System, although mostly as a mercenary. He often flies to Dinosaur Planet to keep the peace between the planet and the rest of the Lylat System. The planet’s ruler: Ridley, has kept the planet is check as it is heavily implied it was once ruled by Bowser. Disruptions begin to take place on Dinosaur Planet though, and Star Fox looks to find out what is going on. A bounty hunter named Samus is out to kill Ridley. Star Fox prevents this from happening which leads to Samus taking on the entire Star Fox team (in tanks) four against one. Samus holds her own and severely damages all of the Star Fox tanks.
Dinosaur Planet attacks Sector Z, and suddenly Ridley has gone from keeping Dinosaur Planet peaceful to looking to destroy the Lylat System. When Samus looks to stop him, team Star Fox again confronts Samus. Star Fox demands that Samus leave the Lylat System and allow Star Fox to handle their own issues. When Star Wolf arrives at Macbeth to help Ridley destroy it, Star Fox realizes they need Samus’s help and Ridley isn’t on the peaceful side any longer.
It’s revealed that Andross has gained the trust of Dinosaur Planet. As a result Venom and Dinosaur Planet joined forces to overthrow Corneria. Star Fox and Samus come together and defeat Ridley. Fox only partially avenges his father’s death by shooting down Pigma, but Wolf and the rest of Star Wolf escape. Ridley is defeated. Samus and Fox shake hands and are both paid quite well by the Cornerian Army.
Post-Credits Scene: Samus and Fox head to a secret Space Temple, where they are shown a recording of Princess Zelda. Zelda explains that “we” need their help and a great evil has arisen. (Setting up Super Smash Bros.)
Connection to the Games: Takes elements from the Star Fox games. It does give a total new story for Samus and Ridley though.
Important Cinematic Characters: Samus, Fox, Wolf, Andross, Pigma, Zelda
4. Kirby Superstar: Legend of the Crystal Shards
The rivalry begins.
Plot: With King DeDeDe watching on, Kirby fights Metaknight. The battle is even, but when it seems Kirby is about to gain the upperhand, Dreamland is covered with darkness. Just as it seems that Kirby is about to meet his demise…he awakens from his nightmare.
Kirby finds that King DeDeDe had stolen much of Dreamland’s food and supply and confronts him. While King DeDeDe escapes the fight, he leaves a portion of the Star Rod behind, causing Kirby to wonder why King DeDeDe had it. Kirby heads to the Fountain of Dreams to check on the Crystal Shards. The Shards represent an unknown power and is activated by the 4 pieces of the Star Rod. It should be with the Shards, but Kirby sees that it’s missing and looks to find DeDeDe.
Meanwhile, Metaknight is shown to be working for the mysterious Nightmare. Nightmare explains that his plan is to cover all of Dreamland with Dark Matter to impress the ultimate master (Tabuu). Nightmare needs the Star Rod to activate and obtain the Crystal Shards in order to do this.
Kirby finds the three other pieces of the Star Rod before finding King DeDeDe once again. They battle, and Kirby ultimately defeats DeDeDe and puts the Star Rod back together. He goes to return it to the Fountain of Dreams, but is attacked by Metaknight. DeDeDe watched Kirby and Metaknight battle, just like Kirby’s dream. Nightmare and Dark Matter come to steal the Star Rod, but Kirby and DeDeDe defeat them. When the battle is over, Metaknight and the Star Rod are nowhere to be seen. Kirby checks the Crystal Shards…and they are gone.
Post-Credits Scene: Metaknight presents the Crystal Shards to the still unnamed Tabuu, who laughs. In the background, two giant hands slam the ground, with one twitching all over.
Connection to the Games: Takes elements from the Dreamland games and Kirby 64.
Important Cinematic Characters: Kirby, King DeDeDe, Metaknight, Tabuu
5. Super Mario Bros. 2: Rise of the Koopa King
Mario meets his arch-nemesis…art by solmatter.
Plot: The Mushroom Kingdom is in chaos as Bowser has captured Princess Peach. Mario, Yoshi and Luigi have travel through many different worlds, defeating Bowser’s generals all over the Kingdom. Still, after extensive searching, Mario has yet to find the actual Bowser. Mario, Luigi and Yoshi save one of Peach’s top Toads from Kamek. In her death, Kamek announces to Mario that they are in fact invited to the wedding of Bowser and Peach…if they can find Bowser’s Castle.
Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Peach’s top Toad come across four different tunnels and decide to separate with each taking a tunnel. Each tunnel leads to a very different world. Toad lands in a dream world overrun by Shy Guys. While he finds some weaponry in the form of a potion that helps him hide from his enemies, he is captured by the evil monster Wart.
Yoshi ends up in a storybook world also overrun by Shy Guys. He at first fares better than Toad. The world is full of fruit that helps Yoshi keep up his strength. He is ultimately captured by a group of Koopas claiming to be Bowser’s children.
Luigi lands in a haunted mansion. While he does well to ward off the ghosts that reside in the mansion (despite his fears), but is captured by a giant ghost called King Boo.
Mario ends up in an art gallery and quickly learns he can jump into the paintings. He jumps into a painting that drops him in a world full of Bob-ombs. Pink Bob-ombs though, help Mario defeat the tyrant King Bob-omb. When he does so, a painting of Wart appears. Mario goes into the dream world and saves Toad by defeating Wart. He proceeds to jump into the storybook painting and defeats the Koopa Kids to save Yoshi.
The Koopa Kids run back to Bowser to inform him that Mario is coming. Mario meanwhile, saves Luigi from King Boo within a haunted mansion painting. As that happens, a painting of a huge evil castle appears.
Mario jumps in alone and faces off with Bowser as Peach looks on and the Koopa Kids cheer. Mario uses the inspiration of his friends…as well as a fire flower…to defeat Bowser. Bowser attempts one last attack on Mario, but Mario lights him on fire with the flower, then unlocks the chain that kept the bridge together. Bowser falls into the lava pit below. Upon learning of the defeat of Bowser, The Mushroom Kingdom rejoices, and sends all of the Koopa Kids into an exile of outer space.
Mid-Credits Scene: The Koopa Kids all mourn their fallen king, when behind them something that appears to be Mario startles them. They all chase after “Mario”, when they approach an egg. This “dark Mario” hits the egg causing it to spectacularly hatch. The Koopa Kids all begin to cheer as Bowser Jr. emerges from the egg.
Post-Credits Scene: Mario heads to a temple where he surprisingly meets Donkey Kong. Mario and Donkey Kong seem to still want to fight before the appearance of Princess Zelda stops them. Zelda explains that evil is about to attack and “we” need help. Just as this happens, a screen in the temple shows that the world is under attack.
Connection to the Games: Takes elements from Mario 64, Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA), Luigi’s Mansion and Yoshi’s Story…with the final battle taken from Super Mario Bros. 1.
Important Cinematic Characters: Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Zelda, Donkey Kong
6. Super Smash Bros.
The War Begins.
Plot: A kid named Satoshi watches the attack on the world led by Metaknight on TV and wonders how soon this attack will come to his hometown of Kanto. Satoshi is known as a Pokemon Trainer, and has trained a Pikachu to the point where his Pikachu may be the best in the world…or what’s left of it. He wonders if it’s time to really test his Pikachu and help save the world.
The film moves to the attack by Metaknight. Metaknight and countless dark soldiers destroy buildings before Fox McCloud and Samus Aran arrive to stop him. Fox and Samus temporarily stop the attack as Metaknight retreats, but attacks elsewhere in the world continue. In another scene, Donkey and Diddy Kong fight off other dark soldiers deep in Kongo Jungle.
At the Temple of Time Zelda, Link, Mario, and Luigi discuss the best strategies to ward off this attack and look to solve how this could have come about. Zelda explains about there being several different items in the world that unlock portals to enter the world. The Triforce is for sure one. Soon the Temple of Time is under attack. Link, Mario, Peach, Zelda (as Sheik) and Luigi try to fight, but two giant hands, referred to as Master Hand and Crazy Hand, leave the Temple of Time destroyed and Luigi is captured. Mario expresses frustration with Zelda about the Triforce being used for this evil, but Zelda explains that the Triforce is still intact, and the Triforce of Power is the only piece in limbo in terms of possession…but that it alone wouldn’t be enough to cause this. Mario still leaves to try to rescue Luigi.
Back at Kanto, the war does arrive there, led by Metaknight. Kirby arrives to re-obtain the Crystal Shards, but is overwhelmed by Metaknight’s army. Satoshi comes out and unleashes Pikachu on Metaknight. Metaknight leaves Kirby defeated, but can’t overcome Pikachu and is once again forced to retreat. Satoshi curiously attempts to capture Kirby with a pokeball. After some confusion from both sides he realizes he needs to help Kirby as Kirby knows what’s keeping this portal open: the Crystal Shards.
In the aftermath of the Temple of Time being destroyed, Link finds that the attack’s origin point is the legendary Sky Temple. Link gets their via a special cannon and looks to fight Metaknight. He falls into a trap though…and is confronted by a shadow doppelganger with red eyes (Dark Link). Metaknight challenges anyone who wants to save the world to come to the Sky Temple and mentions he’s already captured Luigi and Link…although Link was still fighting Dark Link at this point.
Mario rides Winged Yoshi there. Kirby rides a Warp Star with Satoshi and Pikachu. Fox and Samus arrive together as well. Donkey Kong is teleported by Zelda. Metaknight, Master and Crazy Hand fight the Super Smash Bros. sans Link, who fights Dark Link elsewhere in the temple. They put together a fierce some attack using fire, laser, energy and electricity…but the Hands still survive. Ultimately Link defeats his doppelganger and receives the Light Arrow. The Light Arrow joins with the previous attack and the Hands are defeated. Metaknight escapes once again, but Kirby re-obtains the Crystal Shards. The Super Smash Bros. all acknowledge they work great as a team. Mario also obtains Luigi’s hat, fearing the worst for his brother.
Satoshi goes back home and he and Pikachu help rebuild Kanto. He finds a Squirtle and Charmander during this time and trains them. The Mushroom Kingdom announces the victory over Metaknight, but mourns the apparent loss of Luigi. There is celebration across all of the worlds: Hyrule, Kanto, Kongo Jungle and DK Isle, the Mushroom Kingdom and Lylat.
Post-Credits Scene: Several members of the crime syndicate Team Rocket are shown working diligently when one of them sees Pikachu on a television screen. The one says that Tabuu wants to know how to get “one of those” on “our” team. Team Rocket explains that they don’t want that one, but one better. They also explain that the only way to do this is due to unnatural means, and they must capture the rare Pokemon Mew to proceed.
Connection to the Games: Basically an Avengers film with Nintendo characters!
Anyway, whether you like it or you don’t, you’ve gotta admit a Nintendo Cinematic Universe would be awesome. Nonetheless, I’ll work on Phase 2 and Phase 3 and post them here.
