PLATFORM: Steam Deck via RetroArch's Sharp X1 emulator
GOAL: Clear all eight worlds
PROGRESS: 3-1

Super Mario Bros. Special is the best NES ad I've ever seen.

The choppiness, jankier controls, inconsistent framerate, and screen-by-screen scrolling when the levels don't feel designed for it all make for a less-than-ideal game.

Will say that the level design itself is pretty good, but that's because I played up to 8-3 in a recreation of the game with more proper scrolling and controls.

I specifically hate when I come across a spring that I swear you have to be dead-on perfect to bounce off of, otherwise you slide off.

I commend the effort to bring the SMB1 experience to home computers at the time, but it just wasn't enough. This game is not fun in its original form.

Reviewed on Mar 26, 2024


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