Mario Bros. (Arcade) Playthrough

A playthrough of Nintendo's 1983 arcade game, Mario Bros.
Played on the medium difficulty level.
Mario Bros., a spin-off of the Donkey Kong series, was Nintendo's first time giving Mario a shot at being the headlining star. Our hero, now a plumber, has teamed up with his newly introduced twin brother, Luigi, to fight the creatures of the sewers.
They had to earn that "super" designation somewhere, after all.
In this single-screen platformer, Mario and Luigi's task is to clear each area of the enemies that spill from the pipes at the top of the screen. Since beating these creatures to death with a spanner isn't an option, the bros have to headbutt the floor beneath the enemies' feet to flip them on their backs before kicking them off the screen.
Every stage has the same layout, but new enemies, patterns, and hazards are introduced with each passing round, and before long, the game becomes a chaotic free-for-all as the screen fills with fireballs, icicles, and angry crabs with human teeth.
The gameplay is faster paced than Donkey Kong and Popeye's, but it still requires a methodical approach to make it past the opening stages. Reflexes are important, but real success comes with learning the patterns.
How fast do enemies move in relation to one another? What determines when and where fireballs appear? What's the best angle to stun an enemy from? When is it prudent to prioritize score to earn extra lives? There are a lot of things to consider at any given time.
Once you start getting a feel for how each element affects the ebb and flow of the action, the order behind the chaos begins to make sense and real progress can be made. It's a tough game, but there's a lot of fun to be found in developing the strategies you'll need if you ever hope to see your initials on the high score table.
It was a stepping stone to bigger and better things, but what a super kick off this game was for the careers of these blue-collar Italian joes! Mario Bros. has seen a bazillion ports, rereleases, remakes, and homages over the years, but few have lived up to sheer fun, challenge, and playability of this, the first true "Mario game."
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Though Mario and Luigi hadn't yet earned the right to be called super, Mario Bros. was nonetheless an excellent start for Nintendo's fledgling series.

[@christopherthibeault7502]

Good thing this caught on. Otherwise, Mario would forever be known as that asshole who put Donkey Kong in a cage and sent him to the circus.

[@theodorehsu5023]

Up to that point, Mario was "Thr Brave Carpenter," and not yet the Plumber we know him as today. This get revisited in "Donkey Kong GB/94" when he had to save Pauline from DK and DK Junior.

[@bigduke5902]

​@@theodorehsu5023I hope you donate to Wikipedia

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

Mario (DK) also got exposure from the Saturday Supercade show the same year

[@SoulStreak64]

I imagine there was probably a couple people back then that were like: Pfft, this will never catch on. *Little did they know what Mario would grow up to do and become.*

[@ofearghailthefearless6481]

Hard to believe that the mechanics of THIS game would stick around for the whole franchise and to think the POW block also made its first appearance in this!

[@OakleyGamer-17]

I never realized this was a separate game 2 years ago. I would always play this version on Mario 3

[@volvoguy804]

I really like the Mario Bros. included with all of the Super Mario Advance carts on the GBA. I can play it for hours.

[@ernestlemmingway1124]

I remember playing this (and SMB) a couple of times in arcades as a kid. It's always nice to go back to the classics once in a while.

[@theodorehsu5023]

Had an Apple II when I was younger, and I remember playing this game on it. The Atarisoft version spotted 5 men, not 3.

[@ropaloca10]

A LEMMING OMG

[@fran5678can]

​@@theodorehsu5023Curious to hear so many people saying they played the Apple II port. From what i've heard, the port was never officially released by Atarisoft but it was pirated and then spread around somehow. Quite the story, huh? I played it on an emulator once. The port's actually really good.

[@cirnosnumberfan6449]

The Pow block is older than the iconic question mark block, let that sink in.

[@vdog4799]

I love it. Such memories of arcade cruising amd hanging out. Bowling alleys and arcades, corner markets, pizza places, . After super mario came out I dont recall seeing much of this anymore. Maybe I just wasnt looking. Great stuff Alex. Thank you 👍

[@Wolfrage76]

One day I was watching The Mario Bros Arcade and wondered if this game will become much interesting in the later years. What I never expected back then is than this game will become many years later into a worldwide popular multimillionaire franchise than keeps growing with each generation.

[@NickMartinproductions]

Why does this game look so much more colorful and significantly better graphically than Super Mario Bros., a game made two years after this?

[@SoulStreak64]

Shout out to the GBA remake that was included in evey Super Mario Advance game: Mario Bros Classic. To me, it was the definitive way to play Mario Bros. Extremely addictive. ...I also probably spent more time on Mario Bros Classic than I did Super Mario World/3....heh...

[@Dorian_Scott]

Superstar Saga had it, too... For some unbeknownst reason.

[@magvs_mæstro216]

Those red 🦀 are trippn'....comn' at Mario all sideways shiiiit

[@chengfu7063]

Still the most legendary ever

[@SmokeyMcPotProductions]

Ha! I forgot how pissed those crabs get the first time you bop them. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, I had forgotten all about this one... tho I’m more familiar with this from SMB3 on NES rather than the actual arcade.

[@NintendoComplete]

Haha, right? Those teeth are creepy.

[@MegaMan87]

Impressive Score. Was Enough to be Plumber Worthy as Possible! Its how it Spawned the Popular Series!

[@NintendoComplete]

Thanks!

[@donaldsmith8648]

Classic me and my best fa fa friend use to play this all the time!! Great video thanks 🙏 for playing it

[@DiskunOfficial]

In my opinion, this and the GBA remake (Mario Bros. Classic) are the best versions of Mario Bros.

[@prorityfeed3210]

The sounds of this game were brilliant, as were many of these old arcade games. Centipede, Spy Hunter, Tempest, Galaga, all those sounds that filled the arcade made it a truly magical experience. Mario Brothers is a super hard game to play. It looks really simple, but it's not. I see your skill here and I think I learned a few tricks to try on my next attempt.

[@LITTLE1994]

The debut of Luigi

[@newsuperbowserworld]

No, that was on a game and watch game

[@kevyjoe413]

One of my favorite arcade titles, although I prefer the GBA Super Mario Advance version, due to easier control of your jumps. Still, it’s a fantastic start for our favorite plumbers!

[@NintendoComplete]

Have you tried Mario Bros. Classic or Kaettekita Mario Bros. on the NES? They both have the newer style controls, too.

[@andresbravo2003]

I mean, this game is 40 years old now alongside with the Famicom. It sure is good to play this when I’m having fun.

[@superjustinebros3504]

Oh one thing, when NintendoComplete uploaded Mario Bros Arcade it was the Year of Luigi, and this is the time we all remember that Charles Martinet decided to retired and becoming a Mario Ambassador while working on Nintendo, you know time passed all the time and I'm going to miss the voice actor of Mario.

[@mikedski9698]

Mario And Luigi! They Are: MARIO BROS.! The Arcade Hit From Nintendo!

[@bigduke5902]

When I was in Kindergarten, playing Mario Bros. on our 2600 I was completely oblivious to the importance this fat plumber would have in my life. Mario earned his place as a video game icon, unlike Sonic who was manufactured to be one. God bless Miyamoto.

[@theodorehsu5023]

This game held up well for 40 years 😂

[@bigduke5902]

​@@theodorehsu5023Oh it sure hasn't, but in preparation for Super Mario Wonder, I replayed SMB1 through World with my daughter and she absolutely loved em, especially SMB3.

[@NintendoComplete]

​@@theodorehsu5023Agreed, it's still a lot of fun. I'll take this over the non-NES remakes any day.

[@Dorian_Scott]

@@bigduke5902 Your daughter clearly has good taste. Mario 3 is better than SMW.

[@bigduke5902]

@@Dorian_Scott Overall I agree 3 is better, but when SMW was new I had never seen anything like what it took to open up the star road. The secret exits and the hidden keys were something entirely new to me and I found the whole idea fascinating, so SMW made a bigger impact on me. Then , a few years later Donkey Kong Country 2 came out . It was fun watching my kid get involved in looking for the games secrets more than just making it to the end.

[@threshershark100]

The mall downtown has a nintendo pic ten. Crazy to watch it play through the old games in demo mode. It also has a ZELDA arcade cabinet. I dont know if its custom or not. Heart❤

[@DamonNomad82]

I grew up in the 1980s and 90s, and first encountered the Super Mario 3 version of this game. The summer before I started high school in 1997, I went to a summer camp that had a few old early 80s arcade game cabinets, including this game. That was when I found out that it was the original game in the series, and that the minigame within Super Mario 3 was a remake of it.

[@xerf84]

I like a lot more te nes euro version of this game from '93, and the annoying walk sound is better in this version too. The phisics when Mario jumps backward are more accurate. The best part of arcade version are the animations and the colors. Sorry for my bad english.

[@ryshi1299]

The ice death is creepy

[@HappySnowman-tz9zj]

I played mario bros before in nes😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@KittKatPawz]

This is the version that I played at the arcades (Aladdin’s Castle) in the 80s; brings back those awesome memories I had as a kid. ❤ All other versions I’ve played at home don’t match up with the sounds and nostalgia as this one for me. 😊

[@drew335]

Same. Aladdin’s Castle was my prepubescent conception of what heaven was like.

[@magvs_mæstro216]

Somebody get the SWAT team on those fightn' flies

[@HappyMealBieber]

i would play this at the bowling alley when i was like 6 years old

[@rcblazer]

I was surprised as a kid when I discovered the Battle Game in Super Mario Bros. 3 on NES, and it was based on this game.

[@jamesborlan2850]

My first exposure to Mario bros arcade is actually the game included in Mario and Luigi superstar saga This is a great game and one that I have to give credit for since Mario bros was developed and released durring the video game crash of 1983 and somehow succeeded Honestly it’s no wonder Nintendo released a console on their own later Good work habits pays off

[@johneygd]

What i actually found interesting about mariobros is that if you flip a koopa on it’s back and let them wake up,not only do they change from color but they will also become more agressive,this reminds me of space panic,if you manage to get an alien doen the a hole but then let them wake up,they do also change colors and will become more agressive as well,so i will be not surprised if nintendo did took inspiration from that game,in fact i will be not surprised if nintendo took inspiration from that game for donkeykong as i do see similarities between those two games as well.

[@superstaramyrosethehardcoreyt]

Splendid video.

[@evanhanley6437]

Brilliant game. Played the NES version a lot.

[@Mia-dt3gl]

Awesome!

[@Luke96-sy9jv]

I play this game on my switch love it tons of fun 😊

[@pajamakidstv474]

Just to clarify I didn’t grow up with this version I grew up with nes version I had no idea there was an arcade version at the time

[@oosha2000]

I remember playing it on my computer via nes emulator, memories

[@johnr9655]

This is the game that the NES console game Snow Ball Bros. ripped off of... like a more kid friendly version maybe with expanded gameplay, but the exact same basis. So if you want to find a cheap NES cartridge version of this game... there it is. Mario Bros. Cartridges (original) probly not so much.

[@Dnw15]

Salah satu game favorit ku❤

[@liberadoporpatriotas9028]

This is how they found out about the mushroom world

[@DDrizzyOfficalmyguy]

Hey can I use dis for a video? Thank you!

[@stephennovotny6157]

I LOVE THIS GAME 💋💌💘💝💖💗💓💞💕💟❣❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🖤🤎💜💙💚💛🧡❤❣💟💕💞💓💗💖💝💘💌💋

[@SpacePotatoJTASP]

Guys I think he likes this game

[@sylasDC]

Never seen it through that far before heck I haven't even seen it go half that way I don't think I've gone past six stage is there a maximum stage or does it keep going on forever??🤔🤔

[@DARK_LORD18]

pro❤

[@susanfit47]

Arcade machine release history 1981 - Donkey Kong 1982 - Donkey Kong Junior 1983 - Mario Bros. 1984 - Vs. Golf 1984 - Vs. Pinball 1984 - Vs. Tennis 1984 - Vs. Wrecking Crew 1986 - Vs. Super Mario Bros. 1990 - Vs. Dr. Mario

[@IskenderCaglarM41B441]

I loved nes version of this.

[@5ftNeonInferno]

I think it's weird that nobody ever mentions Mario Bros

[@pepijn23]

Yeah, it’s weird. What’s even annoying is that I wanted to buy this game for the NES, but couldn’t find it for a long time and I could only find Super Mario Bros.

[@bikegunexpert6010]

Wow the arcade version is way better than the nes Mario bros version

[@KLEITON22]

👏👏

[@Thelodis]

I came here to see some Koopa stomping.

[@Mai_Shiranui123]

Bye Charles Matirnet

[@oosha2000]

It was a pleasure

[@Dorian_Scott]

I've only played the NES port. This has always been one of my favorite games to play every now and then. Plus, it's Luigi's debut title. Who doesn't like Luigi? My only gripe with it is the stiff control; particularly jumping. Best thing I can compare it to are the NES Castlevania games. Because you're unable to change your direction in midair, you might accidentally get killed by an enemy. It can be really annoying in the later levels.

[@jokkemursula8731]

Yeah, the controls take a while to adjust to. I'd say Castlevania's controls are actually smoother, because you don't have to build up momentum or slide to a stop when changing direction. Mario Bros. feels way heavier and stiffer because of that.

[@MicroBacter]

como olvidar a los enemigos que eran deadpool con alas y con la playera de las chivas rayadas del guadalajara XD

[@julzorinion]

It brings me here because of "KO ARENA" in super mario bros wonder

[@robwest5457]

This game had no ending right?

[@KrunchyTheClown78]

This game was just remade on the Atari 7800, and is arcade perfect, and then some!

[@oosha2000]

There are various games equivalent to it. I remember playing a pc game similar to it featuring the green and the cyan monsters, I had to jump to hit the ground to defeat various enemies and boss battle but I forgot the name. Can you help me ?

[@fahriakalin5936]

mario where are you

[@danalong1237]

Car 54, Where Are You?

[@SpacePotatoJTASP]

Atari moment

[@Shotmybiscuit]

Release dates: USA July 14th 1983 Japan July 15th 1983 game & watch march 14th 1983

[@SolarPlexusTheReal]

Now it's a stage in Smash bros ultimate

[@superjustinebros3504]

Real Fun Fact: Luigi actually never appeared on Mario Bros Arcade, it was actually he only appeared Mario Bros on Game & Watch before the release of the arcade.

[@luismariagiles3915]

Mozart ❤

[@DarielleFerdinand-by5fh]

1:46 i think the sound terrified me

[@Mister_Oddity]

stomping...koopas

[@csale-dizon1570]

Mario Bros. endorse MLB's Padres before game 4 of the 2024 NLDS. Mario Bros.'s endorsement will help the team defeat the Dodgers and move on to NLCS!!!

[@TonyKanameKuran]

Is this on MAME or Hamster's Arcade Archives for Switch?

[@NintendoComplete]

It's Mame.

[@TonyKanameKuran]

@@NintendoComplete I see. Thanks!

[@ECF_789]

i miss shellcreeper

[@alanurielbfspinel4750]

(Terrible joke) How 30-year-old ladies call the Super Mario saga: 0:15

[@gamet2004]

Great arcade game... but man... the walking soundeffect is so annoying

[@thomasmessina1977]

They should remake this game

[@sakky7470]

On the GBA, in the re-releases of Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros 3, there is a remake of this game hidden

[@jasonhansen9]

Does this game have an ending?

[@NintendoComplete]

No

[@SpacePotatoJTASP]

@@NintendoCompleteif you were to get to phase 255 or 256 it would end

[@frob9852]

the mario bros are super

[@SuperRRomana]

14:35 Game over

[@reubenking6259]

Chris Pratt and Charle day

[@kascnef]

Happy 40th

[@Klopik123]

How to play this?

[@niamcfadden-to3dw]

14:34

[@dysontyronetd]

14:32 right in the head 😳

[@NintendoComplete]

It's like that scene from Die Hard 2 when he stabs the dude in the eye with the icicle.

[@Maki_Kirishima]

10:23 😳!?

[@machel8716]

antonball

[@Coolbeans778]

the gba version of this is better

[@DDrizzyOfficalmyguy]

using dis

[@drewski1535]

1:50

[@niamcfadden-to3dw]

14:32