Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.

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This article is about the 2020 video game. For the 1986 game, see List of Game & Watch games § Super Mario Bros. (1986).
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.
Game & Watch Super Mario Bros system.jpeg
The system playing Super Mario Bros.
Developer(s)Nintendo
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Composer(s)Koji Kondo
SeriesSuper Mario
Platform(s)Game and Watch
Release
  • WW: November 13, 2020
Genre(s)Platform, compilation
Mode(s)Single-player

Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.[a] was a limited-edition Game & Watch game developed and published by Nintendo, released on November 13, 2020. The game is a compilation of three prior Nintendo games, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (known as Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan), and Ball.[1] The game was released to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Super Mario series, as well as the 40th anniversary of the Game & Watch line of systems.[2]

In June 2021, Nintendo announced Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda, a similar release celebrating the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. It is a compilation of three games from the Legend of Zelda series, and is planned for release on November 12th.[3]

Gameplay[]

See also: Gameplay in Super Mario Bros. and gameplay in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
The system's button layout.

Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. is primarily a side-scrolling platformer in which the player needs to make it to the far right of levels. The game also includes the Game & Watch game Flagman, an action-puzzle game; however, the game is updated to make the character that appears in the game be Mario[4] (with Luigi also being playable through an Easter egg)[5] - this makes it more like the final Game and Watch game released "Mario the Juggler", than the original ball, which features the "Mr Game and Watch" character. Although the "Mr Game and Watch" character is seen on the game select screen, he is not seen in the actual gameplay. The game also includes a clock function, which features 35 "little touches" (animations)[6] and Easter eggs.[7]

Multiple Easter eggs were also added throughout all three games, such as being able to give Mario infinite lives in Super Mario Bros. and The Lost Levels by holding the A button upon starting the game and being able to access and listen to the Mario Drawing Song (which included a language error)[8] by holding down the A button in the clock mode.[5]

Development[]

Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. was announced in a Nintendo Direct held to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Super Mario series, where its content, release date, and launch price of $50 were first unveiled.[9][10] Due to lack of authorization by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pre-orders for the game were delayed in the United States.[11] A more in-depth trailer for the game was posted later on September 10.[12] Two Japanese tie-in websites were also launched following the game's announcement, one for Super Mario Bros. and one for Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.[13] The game was discontinued on March 31, 2021, following the end of the celebration period.[14] According to Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America's president, the 35th anniversary products were actually discontinued because of the 35th anniversary being a celebration that was intended to be unique. He also said that he considered the concept successful and he also said how Super Mario 3D All-Stars, sold over 2 million copies in the time frame. He also stated that limited time releases were not planned to be used as a marketing strategy for future anniversaries.[15]

Specifications[]

Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. (top) next to the 1981 Widescreen Game & Watch game, Parachute (bottom).

The game is powered by a STM32H7B0VBT6 microcontroller, which consists of an ARM Cortex-M7 core, 128 KBytes Flash, and 1380 KBytes of SRAM,[16][17] and 1 MBytes of Serial Flash.[18][19] According to IGN, the game's screen is about 35 millimeters.[20]

The game's hardware is modelled after the Widescreen Game & Watch series[21] (however, unlike the original Widescreen systems, the game's A and B buttons are moved to the right side to be like the Nintendo Entertainment System controller[11] and includes a d-pad and a full-color LCD screen)[22] and has a built-in lithium-ion battery, identical to that found in Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons, which is estimated to last 8 hours.[23] The game weighs 0.15 pounds[24] and shipped with a USB-C charging cable.[25] Unlike prior Game & Watch systems, the game doesn't have a kickstand.[26] The game also has a power button.[27]

Reception[]

Seth Macy, writing for IGN, gave Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. a 9/10, and labeled it as an editor's choice.[20] Macy stated that he was surprised by the quality of the hardware, and said that, due to the quality, is an "appealing way to play decades-old games".[20] Macy, reviewing the feel of the game's hardware, said that the metal surface the game is made out of doesn't attract fingerprints, something he said other handheld systems have an issue with. Macy also stated that the tactile-rubber the game's buttons are made of feels "really solid."[20] Macy also praised the game's button inputs for being "high quality", citing "no unintended inputs".[20]

Blake Morse of Shacknews gave the game an 8/10, praising the game for looking "gorgeous", the hidden secrets it contains, and the watch feature, but criticizing the audio and how the down on the d-pad could "function better".[28]

Writing for Mashable, Adam Rosenberg said that the "squishy-feeling directional pad and A/B buttons" weren't the best way to play Super Mario Bros. and The Lost Levels, but said that the "budget-friendly gift item" would "delight any Nintendo-loving fanperson". Rosenberg also praised the game's clock.[29]

Nintendo Life's Damien McFerran praised the game's backlit LCD screen, the clock feature, and said that the game emulates Super Mario Bros. and The Lost Levels "very well", but criticized the lack of a kickstand and also questioned why only three NES games were included. McFerran stated that older video game players would "love the nostalgia factor", and that'd it be "of interest" for younger players.[26]

Chris Plante, in a review for The Verge, called the hardware "well built", and said that the d-pad is "firm and responsive" and that the A and B buttons are "soft but not mushy". Plante noted how after clearing Super Mario Bros.'s first level, his hands felt "achey", and that after multiple levels, his thumbs "cramped". Plante said that the discomfort he experienced with the game was due to the Game & Watch consoles being designed to play more simple games, such as the included Ball.[30]

When reviewing the game for CNET, Scott Stein stated that the game is an "unexpectedly satisfying mash-up" and also said that "it feels really good to play on", citing that the d-pad, A, and B buttons are "very-well placed". Stein also criticized that consumers only got 3 games for the Game & Watch's launch price of $50, and said that it should've included more Game & Watch games.[27]

Sales[]

One day after the game's announcement, the game was out of stock on the Japanese My Nintendo store[31] and shortly after, the game was also out of stock on the UK My Nintendo store.[32] Shortly after the game's announcement, pre-orders for the game were sold out in most Australian retailers.[33][34] Darren Calvert of Nintendo Life said that to get a copy of the game, consumers need to "beat the scalpers".[35] On the day of the game's release, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. was sold out on Amazon, GameStop, the Nintendo store, Walmart, and Deep Discount;[36] however, they were quickly restocked.[37]

References[]

  1. ^ Gilliam, Ryan (September 3, 2020). "Mario gets a new Game & Watch for his 35th anniversary". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Goldman, David (September 13, 2020). "Nintendo is bringing back a super-retro handheld from the 1980s". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  3. ^ https://www.nintendo.com/products/detail/game-and-watch-the-legend-of-zelda
  4. ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo is releasing a 35th anniversary Super Mario Bros. Game and Watch". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Doolan, Liam (November 14, 2020). "The Hidden Secrets Of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  6. ^ Denzer, TJ (September 3, 2020). "Limited edition Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros player announced for launch in November". Shacknews. Gamerhub. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Jibilian, Isabella (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo is re-releasing its classic Game & Watch handheld for the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., complete with 35 easter eggs and references for fans". Business Insider. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  8. ^ Knezevic, Kevin (November 14, 2020). "Nintendo Confirms Error In The Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  9. ^ Skrebels, Joe (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo Announces Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch". IGN Nordic. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  10. ^ Cooper, Daniel (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo will release a Super Mario Game & Watch for the holidays". Engadget. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Petite, Steven (September 14, 2020). "Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch Preorders: Release Date, Placeholder Listings, And More". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  12. ^ Gilliam, Ryan (September 10, 2020). "Game and Watch: Super Mario Bros. is pretty small in action". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  13. ^ Doolan, Liam (September 13, 2020). "Nintendo Launches Website For The Original Super Mario Bros. Game". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  14. ^ Craddock, Ryan (November 13, 2020). "Forget Next-Gen, Nintendo's Also Launching A New Console Today". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  15. ^ Doolan, Liam (2021-03-31). "Dev Explains Why Nintendo Made Mario's Anniversary Games Limited-Time". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  16. ^ McFerran, Damien (November 12, 2020). "Hacker Tears Apart Super Mario Game & Watch To Find Out What's Inside". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "STM32H7B0VB ARM Cortex-M7 Microcontroller". STMicroelectronics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020.
  18. ^ Roth, Thomas (November 14, 2020). "Hacking the Nintendo Game and Watch Super Mario Bros". YouTube. stacksmashing.
  19. ^ "MX25U8035F 8MBit Serial NOR Flash". Macronix. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Macy, Seth (November 13, 2020). "Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  21. ^ Robinson, Martin (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo's about to release an all-new Game & Watch". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  22. ^ Sheridan, Connor (September 3, 2020). "Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. is a retro bundle of joy with a built-in clock". GamesRadar+. Future US. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  23. ^ Cork, Jeff (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo Announces Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros". Game Informer. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  24. ^ Kan, Michael (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo Revives 1980s 'Game & Watch' Handheld With Super Mario Bros". PCMag. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  25. ^ Song, Victoria (September 3, 2020). "Nintendo's First Portable Console Gets a 2020 Refresh". Gizmodo. G/O Media. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b McFerran, Damien (November 13, 2020). "Hardware Review: Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. - A Gorgeous Object That Leaves You Wanting More". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Stein, Scott (November 13, 2020). "Game & Watch Super Mario review: Nintendo nostalgia in a tiny box". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b Morse, Blake (November 19, 2020). "Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. review: Making time for Mario". Shacknews. Gamerhub. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  29. ^ Rosenberg, Adam (November 13, 2020). "Nintendo's 'Super Mario' Game & Watch is a little piece of history. Emphasis on little". Mashable. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  30. ^ Plante, Chris (November 13, 2020). "Nintendo's new portable is a Mario throwback for nostalgic collectors". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  31. ^ Iwase, Kento (September 4, 2020). "「ゲーム＆ウオッチ スーパーマリオブラザーズ」がヨドバシ・ゲオ・ノジマにて取り扱いスタート". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Impress Corporation. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  32. ^ Pickard, James (September 4, 2020). "Here's where you can pre-order the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros". VG247. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  33. ^ Grixti, Shannon (September 5, 2020). "Game & Watch: Super Mario Has Sold Out In Australia And Is Already Being Scalped At Insane Prices". Press Start Australia. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  34. ^ Neill, Chris (September 7, 2020). "Where To Buy The Cheapest Copy of Super Mario 3D All-Stars". Kotaku. G/O Media. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  35. ^ Calvert, Darren (September 10, 2020). "Where To Pre-Order Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  36. ^ Reed, Chris (November 13, 2020). "Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Is Now Available". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  37. ^ Reed, Chris (November 13, 2020). "Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Is Selling Out Fast". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Japanese: ゲーム＆ウオッチ スーパーマリオブラザーズ, Hepburn: Gēmu & Uotchi: Sūpā Mario Burazāzu

External links[]

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