Super Mario Bros. : le jeu qui a redéfini le jeu vidéo

Super Mario Bros.: The Game That Redefined Video Games

1341 words | Reading time : 6 minute(s)

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Released on September 13, 1985, it lifted an industry that the 1983 crash had left flat on its back. Directed by Shigeru Miyamoto on Famicom and then NES, Super Mario Bros. established side-scrolling, eight worlds and a grammar of play still used today. This page revisits how it came to be, its story, its gameplay, its levels and the legacy of its music signed by Koji Kondo.

Super Mario Bros. is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo, released on September 13, 1985 (Japan) on the Family Computer (Famicom), then on Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in North America in late 1985. A true pillar of video game culture, this game not only revived the industry after the 1983 video game crash, it also laid down the foundations of the 2D platformer. It is now considered one of the most influential, iconic and enduring games of all time.

Contents

Background and origins

Before Super Mario Bros., Nintendo had already made its name in arcades with Donkey Kong (1981), where “Jumpman” — a mustachioed character in red overalls and a cap — tried to rescue a damsel. That character would officially become Mario, an Italian-American plumber from Brooklyn, inspired by the landlord of the former Nintendo of America offices, Mario Segale.

The game was developed by a small team led by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, with gameplay designed to blend adventure, platforming and exploration. The music, composed by Koji Kondo, became as famous as the game itself. The core idea: to create a feeling of constant discovery in every level, with secrets and alternate paths to explore.

Original Super Mario Bros. artwork, Mario running through World 1-1
The 1985 artwork already nails the essentials: a plumber, some bricks, a mushroom.

Story

The plot fits in a few lines, but it is enough to fuel an unforgettable adventure: the Mushroom Kingdom has been invaded by the fearsome Bowser, king of the Koopas. He turned the inhabitants into bricks and objects, and kidnapped Princess Peach. Mario (and Luigi, in two-player mode) set off to rescue her across eight worlds full of dangers.

Gameplay

  • Pixel-perfect jumps onto platforms, enemies or obstacles
  • Power-ups: red mushroom to grow, Fire Flower to shoot, Super Star for invincibility
  • Varied enemies: Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Piranha Plants, Lakitus…
  • Question Blocks holding coins, 1-Ups or power-ups
  • Secret Warp Pipes, hidden areas, shortcuts to later worlds

The Mario physics, with inertia and acceleration, give the character real “weight” — a revolution at the time.

The worlds and levels

Start of World 1-1: Question Blocks, Goombas and the famous end-of-level flag
World 1-1: the most famous game design lesson in history.

The game is made up of 8 worlds, each divided into 4 levels (1-1 to 8-4):

  • Outdoor levels: often in daylight, simple platforms
  • Underground levels: dark atmosphere, massive blocks
  • Water levels: slow, precise movement
  • Castle levels: lava, moving platforms, Bowser (or his lookalikes) at the end of the level

Every world is designed to refresh the challenge and gradually introduce new gameplay ideas.

Success and legacy

Super Mario Bros. became a cultural phenomenon:

  • More than 40.24 million copies sold — a record on NES
  • Consoles sold bundled with the game, massive reach
  • Successful launch of the NES in the United States
  • The start of a Mario franchise that is now the best-selling in history

It became a template for countless games and created a rich universe (Luigi, Toad, Peach, Yoshi…)

Iconic music and sounds

The main theme, composed by Koji Kondo, ranks among the most recognizable video game tunes in the world. Other sounds — the jump, the coin, the game over — are part of the sonic DNA of an entire generation.

Versions, remakes and adaptations

  • Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) – 16-bit graphics
  • NES Classic Edition – miniature re-release
  • Super Mario Bros. 35 – multiplayer battle royale
  • Available on Nintendo Switch Online
  • Many adaptations: books, cartoons and more.

Why is Super Mario Bros. a cult game?

  • Gameplay that is timeless and fun, even 40 years later
  • Level design that teaches everything without a tutorial
  • Technical prowess: smooth scrolling, convincing physics
  • An iconic hero who became a worldwide mascot
  • Impact that lasts on the industry and its economy

A cultural icon

Super Mario Bros. reaches far beyond video games: advertising, cinema, merchandise, and more recently the film The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), a box-office hit. The original game is still studied in game design as a model of learning through play.

Quick facts

Type Side-scrolling 2D platform video game
Developer/Publisher Nintendo
Release September 13, 1985 on Famicom (Japan); NES in North America in late 1985
Creators Shigeru Miyamoto (director) and Takashi Tezuka
Composer Koji Kondo
Sales More than 40.24 million copies (best-selling game on NES)
Structure 8 worlds of 4 levels each (1-1 to 8-4)

🍄 Want to keep the adventure going? Discover our Mario toys in the shop.

FAQ

  • When was Super Mario Bros. released?
    The game was released on September 13, 1985 on the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan, developed and published by Nintendo. It arrived a little later on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in North America (late 1985).
  • Who created Super Mario Bros.?
    The game was directed by Shigeru Miyamoto, with Takashi Tezuka assisting on the design, and music composed by Koji Kondo.
  • How many worlds does the game have?
    Super Mario Bros. has 8 worlds, each divided into 4 levels, running from level 1-1 to level 8-4.
  • What is the story of Super Mario Bros.?
    Bowser, king of the Koopas, has invaded the Mushroom Kingdom and kidnapped the princess (called Princess Toadstool back then, now Princess Peach). Mario (and Luigi in two-player mode) set out to save her across eight worlds.
  • Why is Super Mario Bros. so important?
    It helped revive the video game industry in North America after the 1983 crash, popularized the side-scrolling platformer and sold more than 40.24 million copies, making it the best-selling game on NES.

Conclusion

Super Mario Bros. is not just a cult game: it is a foundation of the modern video game. Thanks to its precise gameplay, its graphic charm, its unforgettable music and its power to amaze, it remains a timeless work — essential for understanding the history of the medium.

The whole saga

From Donkey Kong in 1981 to the Switch episodes: our guide retraces the whole Mario saga, console by console.

🎮 All the Mario video games →
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