Mario's GameBoy Games ~ The Good, The Bad, The GameBoy

Mario has starred in several games on the GameBoy, so let's talk about them.
#mario #gameboy #retrogaming

[@RewindArcade]

I’m pretty sure this is my favorite video you’ve ever made to this point. Amazing work! I adore SML1 so much due to how bizarre its world and mechanics are. Such a great game and quite possibly one of my favorite soundtracks on the GB. I really like SML2 also, but I firmly agree that it brings very little new to the table. The bunny power-up feels like a rehash of the tanuki leaf from Mario 3 and the enemy design is a bit boring at times. That said, I really dig the weird stage environment which I feel channels the spirit of SML1 quite a bit. And Donkey Kong 94 is just a straight up masterpiece and is easily one of the quintessential games on the GB. Awesome job with this video! I’m sure I’ll be watching it quite a few more times in the future. 👍👍

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks, Chris! I'm probably partial to Super Mario Land 1 in particular since it was one of the first GameBoy games I got as a kid, but I think it did more with with "Super Mario Bros" formula than Super Mario Land 2 did with the "Super Mario World" formula. It still feels more creative and risk-taking than most other Mario games ... and delightfully weird, too! I think the last time I played through Donkey Kong '94 was about 15 years ago, and all I remembered about it was that I kinda liked it. Replaying it again for this video made me appreciate how awesome it really is, I imagine I'll be revisiting it much more often going forward! Glad you liked the video, man!

[@RewindArcade]

@@AuthorativeMrM I firmly agree that Mario Land 1 brought way more to the table creativity-wise while Mario Land 2 played it weirdly safe for an R&D1 title. To be honest, I hadn’t really quite realized just how safe SML2 had played it until you made your points in the video which were very much on the money. That said, I still enjoy the game in the same way I love all the Mega Man NES games which also do very little to innovate on their core mechanics. I’d say SML2 is more like a familiar comfort food rather than an exciting new dish, if that makes sense. 😅

[@BrainSlushTV]

I've been playing SML2 since I was 5 so I'm 100% biased when I say it's one of the best Gameboy games. Haha but I'm definitely not blind to the fact that SML1 is much more unique game all around with better music and level design. Great Video as always, Dude.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks Aries! I won't fault you at all for being biased, since that's pretty much default lens that I view all of these games from, lol!

[@OmegaAceGaming]

What a clever way to approach Mar10 day :D The music in Super Mario Land is great, but maaaaan I don't know if I can say it surpasses Super Mario Bros. 3. I say that, but I've gotta say the music really has me bobbing my head to the beat. I'll have to listen to both OSTs back-to-back and see how I feel about them. MAD props to you for shouting out the jiangshi zombies! Did you know they also made an appearance in the Castlevania series? 🙃 *looks at shirt* People really talk-up Super Mario Land 2. I need to put more time into it; I've barely played it at all. I think I only beat it once in fact. 16-Bit envy makes a lot of sense haha. I know Nintendo's Game Boy games weren't always on par with the "big brother" SNES, but they do hold their own... sometimes. Great video!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Jiangshi zombies appeared in Castlevania? Which game(s)? I'm assuming one of the 'metroidvania' games ...

[@OmegaAceGaming]

@@AuthorativeMrM Jiangshi made their first appearance in Kid Dracula, and then much later in Order of Ecclesia. I'm sure I'll make a Castlevania short on them at some point 👌👌

[@RyuZawaii-nf2qf]

I remember the first time I played Donkey Kong on Game Boy. I got angry because I was sure it was just a port from NES and nothing else. I quickly completed the first 4 levels and I thought it was the end of the game. Wasted money on a game that I had already played many times before... and suddenly such a surprise. Definitely one of the better titles on GB.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I think Nintendo didn't do this game any favors by simply calling it "Donkey Kong." If you had missed the advertisements or reviews for the game (and it sounds like a ton of us did), there's nothing really that would indicate that the game ISN'T just a slightly-altered port of the arcade game. It did make for a nice surprise, though

[@RyuZawaii-nf2qf]

Ultimately, I'm glad I didn't know anything about this game at the time because it was a huge surprise and I remember it to this day. Today the Game Boy turns 35 years old 😀

[@WavesNGames]

I've been waiting for a Mario based episode. Interesting takes but i will fight you in SML music being better than SMB3. Can we agree to put them on the same level?

[@AuthorativeMrM]

That's a pretty reasonable compromise, Peter 🤝

[@PandaSub2000]

Agree with everything said in this one. Mario Land 1 is unquestionably the better game with the better music. And like you, i hadn’t thought much about dk94. Figured it was a rerelease of the arcade with some fancier graphics. But then y’all introduced me to its true genius and its rapidly become one of my favorite retro titles of all time. The creativity, the risk taking, the endless amount of charm and mechanic/design innovation is outstanding. As for this video itself- clearly another winner. Insanely well edited (per usual) but the cinematography was noticeably a step above the rest. The colors, angles, and compositions all give the video the exact aesthetic, feeling and mood it required. Expertly done my friend. Top to bottom incredible! Cheers!

[@BornDistracted]

yeah but the Controls in DK '94...

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Panda! I'm glad your audience turned you on to DK94, I had a ton of fun replaying that game for this video

[@AuthorativeMrM]

@@BornDistracted Just between you and me, I think his controller was broken. I never noticed any control issues 🤫

[@Hitman4uwg]

😈 scary-mario was cool in the vid lol. I'll never understand your dislike for sml2 even after you tried to explained it 🤷‍♂️ its ok..we can still be friends 🤝

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks Samich, I appreciate that 🤝

[@geyck]

Get it! (Didn't have time to watch 😂)

[@ShadowDx]

Great video! But what does Paco think about SML2?

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I couldn't really get a straight answer, but I'm pretty sure he said it was "Wheek" 😉

[@Mazinpower]

happy jump scare Mario day... i guess lol. you are going to make celestial go crazy with DK 94 he loves that game a lot

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Hopefully I didn't give you Mario nightmares 🤞

[@RetroJackal]

Mario Land 1: First Mario game I ever played. Great game. It's graphics dont really bother me, I think the style suits it. Mario Land 2: I like the second game more, sorry. Not played too much of SMW, so most of what the game borrows from, I didn't get. Personally enjoyed the fact the game wasn't as hard as the first Land title because I found it easier to get into due to the decreased difficulty. Donkey Kong: Not played it, didn't even know the port was so good tbh. Def adding to this of games to look out for. Outstanding video as usual Rob. Was a blast to watch. Looking forward to the next.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Lol, we've talked about Mario Land 2 many times over the years, I think we agreed to disagree a long time ago! 😄 Have you played Mario Land 3 yet?

[@Kilterofficial]

I think my opinion ends up being the exact opposite, where I kinda feel like DK94 is slightly overrated (but still very good). To me, it goes ML2 > DK > ML. I agree about the 16-bit envy but not with Nintendo's own 1st party games. It was a real issue for the DKL games, though.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Yeah, I think the DKL games were a bit too ambitious. Way too much detail in those games (or at least the first one, which is the only one I've played). When you add the zoomed-in perspective and the motion blur from the original GB screen, DKL can be practically unplayable in some spots.

[@Unquestionable]

As a kid I liked the first Super Mario Land but didn't really love it until I got older. When I was in high school Pokemon had just hit and make the GameBoy big again, of course I absolute devoured every scrap of those games, but it had me replaying stuff I had already been familiar with for years. I ended up playing a ton of Super Mario Land to the point I could easily finish the whole game on a lunch break. Super Mario Land 2 is something I definitely liked but never fell in love with the same way. Yeah back in 1992 it blew my mind so of course I played it a lot. The varying stage concepts are excellent but very good point that they're not all that special as far as execution goes. When Wario Land came out I felt it was a perfection of that sort of formula and kind of made Super Mario Land 2 seem like a test run. Donkey Kong 94 was a game I picked up on a whim right around the time it released. I had been working with my dad over the summer at a clay shooting course him and his brothers opened as a side business. Now I wasn't official paid, I was ten years old, but it was kind of just a neat reason to hang out with my dad. Well after one pretty busy day (I was the course guide, basically just walked people around and legit can barely remember it anymore) my dad randomly decided to stop at K-Mart on the way home. I rarely got new games but for some reason he told me to pick something out. Seeing as how I was a gaming magazine junkie who was hooked on RPGs I already had all the "Final Fantasy" titles on the system. I knew that Game Players had give Donkey Kong great reviews, a rarity for anything not on the newer consoles, so I went with it. Absolutely loved the mix of platforming and puzzles, with this year marking 30 years I can still vividly remember hot swapping the game back and forth with my next door neighbor and the exact spot I was standing on the playground when I first finished the game.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I 100% agree with you about Wario Land. I was disappointed with Mario Land 2 but I thought Wario Land nailed what the previous game was trying to do. I wish I had played Donkey Kong 94 when I was a kid, but without hearing about what the game's "secret" was, if I ever saw it on store shelves I would have just shrugged it off as yet another of the dozens and dozens of straight-forward arcade ports on the GameBoy. I don't think I knew the game existed at all until I started buying GameBoy bundles off ebay in 2012 or so, and it was a common game to be included with the systems.

[@BillyTBum]

Honestly, I have the same complaint about both of the first two Super Mario Land games, which is that they're incredibly easy. SML2 simply wins out by virtue of being longer, more advanced, and I am guilty of finding personality in the overworld gimmick even if the stages themselves can be lacking at times (I have the same soft spot for Super Mario Bros. 3 - as well as the same complaints). I could go on, but most everything else I say applies to every Mario platformer that follows the traditional design.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I agree with that; neither Mario Land 1 or 2 offered that much of a challenge (I'm positive I beat both games on the same day I got them). Even as a kid I was often turned off by games that were too easy, but Mario Land 1 always got a pass from me, for some reason.

[@backinthedaygamer]

I saved this for MAR10 day lol. I have to get Donkey Kong. Everyone always talks about how good it is and it's 100 levels. Did you beat it?

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I did beat it. 👍 It gives you a nice challenge, but it's definitely not too hard to finish (especially if you have a cart with a working battery)

[@CaptainAlgebra]

All great games here, imo. I had all three as a kid and played them constantly. I'm still surprised that there are people who haven't played much of Donkey Kong 94 and that's a shame.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I feel like DK94 got a really big push from Nintendo back in the day, so it is strange that it flew under so many peoples' radars (including my own). I think DK94 should've gotten the Switch remake instead of Mario vs DK, but maybe if it does well enough we'll get a new sequel in that same style 🤞

[@MrShadow2x]

Bringing some really hot takes in this one! Quite an entertaining look at these games. I really need to give DK94 a solid go. I've only played it very briefly a couple of times.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

DK94 is definitely worth a look, I think it's the best of the three games from this video (although not necessarily my favorite one...)

[@CMRetroGaming]

I always loved Mario land and I loved the shump stages

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Yeah, strange that Mario hasn't has done the shooter thing in any of his games since then. It was a definitely a fun and memorable way to mix up the gameplay

[@thomasffrench3639]

I cannot wait for your next series: SNEZ

[@AuthorativeMrM]

There's an idea ... 🤔

[@lohgameon]

The artwork in your video is outstanding MrM! Happy Mar10 day! 🪙🧱🚶🏼🎮🎉

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thank you, Loh!

[@NerdCrave]

Great video misterM

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks, man!

[@Umo2000]

Great video and appreciate your controversial take on SML2.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Lol, thanks! 😄

[@RetroRivals]

This was an excellent video as per usual and I've never been so compelled to buy a game in my entire life for the Game boy. I immediately went downstairs to check to see if I had the last game and I don't but I will absolutely be adding it to the collection. It's everything I love about Donkey Kong but so much better! I have to have this game!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I definitely recommend picking it up! I think it was one of the highest-sold games on the GameBoy, so I don't think it's too expensive, either

[@seanbailey7282]

Yeah, I played and beat the “donkey Kong” game as a kid. It’s a good puzzler (not my favorite genre). Too many levels but that’s just my opinion. One of the better gameboy games. Did also beat legend of the 7 stars a couple years ago and yeah… it’s pretty basic. Kinda don’t remember much about it. So I can agree with your assessment. Question. Will you ever get back to your nes hard series? I see you wanna focus on gameboy and I respect that. But you had some super entertaining content with the Guinea pig and maybe left that concept for dead??

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I agree with this .... as much fun as I enjoyed Donkey Kong, I think it MIGHT have had one or two worlds too many. It's a very small complaint and I wouldn't hold it against the game, but there was a point by the 6th or 7th world when I was ready for the game to start wrapping up. NES-Hard is still very much in the air. I'd like to at the very least get through the last 5 games on that list, but trying to think of an interesting way to talk about games that so many people have already talked about is a little daunting. Were you the one who suggested Adventure Island as an "NES hard" game?

[@ecmyersvids]

How do your videos keep getting better and better? This one has some beautiful cinematography and Five Nights at Freddy's vibes with those Mario toy jump scares. Excellent work! I've always loved Super Mario Land 2, but you might be swaying me. You're right on the money with the "SNES Envy" idea. And I should probably finally play Donkey Kong on GB one of these days...

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks for noticing that, Eugene! I decided to get out of my comfort zone a little bit and try for some shots a bit more complicated than what I usually do. It was fun/frustrating trying to get the lighting right 😆 And don’t let me spoil Mario Land 2 for you! I didn’t pick up what they were trying to lay down with that one, but I’m definitely in the minority ☺️

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

Great video bro, I'm like halfway through, getting ready for work, and I can't stop watching!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks Scrambles! 🙏

[@tylordstevenson]

You're right! SML1's tunes are way catchier than SMB3's. I tended to like those "Snes Envy" games, especially SML2. 😂 Actually the theme of the 1st moon stage level is my favorite of that one. Also like Wario's castle theme because it sorta sounds like James Bond. Also the end credits music is charming af. That DK looks fantastic! I must have overlooked that one!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Honestly I almost felt a little bad for slighting SML2's soundtrack, because it's still good stuff (even though I definitely prefer the first game's soundtrack) And yes, definitely check out Donkey Kong!

[@nuts0that]

Glad someone finally acknowledged that Mario Land 2 isn't that good! Wish everyone would shut up about Donkey Kong though. I asked for it for Xmas but received Donkey Kong LAND instead. I knew that would happen and to be fair, I really enjoyed DK Land. But to this day I have never played Game Boy Donkey Kong. I knew it looked amazing back then and KZbin keeps telling me I was right, decades hence. I'm still sore about it 😅

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Lol, it certainly is a small group that make up the 'Mario Land 2 Deniers,' isn't it? Regarding DK '94, it's not too late! One of the two E-words can help you out! (ebay or emulation)

[@DongCorleone]

I was surprised to find that when i tried to acquire this game as an adult literally no one at the game store knew what I was talking about. They figured I wanted Donkey Kong Land and were baffled when I showed them exactly what I was talking about. I am surprised this one has slipped through the cracks so easily within the Gameboy system's history.

[@DongCorleone]

P.S. I was able to get it, and cheaper then I should have because the store didn't even know what price to put on a game they never knew existed. Best Gameboy game i own.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Yeah, I'm also surprised Donkey Kong '94 seems to have been so overlooked, especially since it seems that Nintendo really gave it a good push at the time and it apparently sold pretty well. But I didn't learn about this game until well into the 00's and judging by the comments on this video, this was the case for a lot of people.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I agree, it's definitely one of the best games on the system!

[@LindaTheGAMERGal]

Mario Hype!

[@SaitoXD]

Great video as always Mr.M! Super Mario Land impressed me the first time a friend that lent me his GB with that game, I finished very quickly but it was my first time playing Mario outside the TV.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Oh yeah, it's a pretty quick & easy game to get through. I think that's another reason why i loved it so much as a kid, it was one I could play from start to finish during any car ride, lol

[@JDBerggreen]

brilliant video!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks, JD!

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I actually own a physical copy of NEW Super Mario Land for SNES (fan hack/homebrew) that allows up to four simultaneous players (I haven't tried more than 2). My brother and I had fun playing that a year or two ago.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

That’s interesting, so it’s like New Super Mario Bros only it’s based on Mario Land? That sounds awesome

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

@AuthorativeMrM Yup! The "woah's" get annoying, but it's pretty cool, maybe I should do a video on it someday.

[@CMRetroGaming]

So in Mario land 2, Wario is a squatter........If you like Wario you are also supporting his criminal behavior.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Facts.

[@6Sally5]

Very entertaining vid! You just keep raising the bar on your production quality! Well done, sir!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thank you, I appreciate that!