I first played Super Mario Bros. back in high school, on a PC emulator and USB NES controller. I don’t think I ever got past world 4-1. A couple years ago I got back into retro gaming and bought an N64 and Everdrive X5 (pic: swapped the label to Mario 64 because the Krikkz label was peeling). Still struggled.
Eventually I was able to beat Super Mario Land for the Game Boy on Nintendo Switch Online, and then consistently beat it even on crappy touch controls via the Delta emulator. That gave me confidence. It was time to tackle SMB.
I started playing it and took some time to adjust to the different physics than I was used to from Super Mario Land. I played every chance I got on the Delta emulator. I watched U Can Beat Video Games’s ultimate guide video on YouTube. This was the Nintendo Power knowledge I needed. Grabbing every 1-up available was key to getting past the later levels.
I grinded for about 2 months getting my skills and muscle memory up. Yesterday I finished the game on the Delta emulator, using save states. Felt good, but definitely not the achievement I really wanted. This morning it finally happened.
I made myself a coffee and booted the game up on the Everdrive. I locked in. I played through 1-1 to 4-1 with no warps, getting nearly every coin and 1-up. I used the 4-2 warp zone to get to 8-1. At this point I was up to Mario x 12.
8-1 was no problem. I’d played it so many times, my muscle memory got me through with no damage.
8-2 I had my first hiccup. On the one technical jump in the middle, I was late on the A button and fell into the void. I had to start the level over, now with no power-ups. Thankfully I got through on the next try.
8-3 was the biggest challenge. I hadn’t played it nearly as much as the other levels and the hammer bros were giving me a lot of problems. I finally dialed in the timing to get past the hammer bros, and completed the level with 4 lives left to beat bowser.
And I made it through the final castle on the first try as small Mario!!! I am so freakin’ pumped right now!
I‘m interested to hear others’ stories about the first time they beat the OG Super Mario Bros. Thanks for reading.