Mamma mia! Thought you'd seen it all when it came to Super Mario Bros remakes? Well, prepare to be pleasantly surprised!
A talented developer has just completely recreated the legendary 1985 game on… Game Boy! And not just anyhow.
Developed with GBStudioa tool for creating Game Boy games, this project called Super Mario Bros Mini includes absolutely all the levels of the original game. But this is only the tip of the iceberg, because the developer has gone even further by adding a second complete quest with 8 new worlds, new power-ups and even new bosses!
And as if that wasn't enough, it has also integrated a randomizer mode for the more adventurous among you. Enough to indefinitely renew the gaming experience and rediscover this classic from a completely different angle.
On the technical side, it’s the work of a goldsmith. The sprites and animations have been meticulously adapted to the constraints of the Game Boy, while retaining the charm and playability that made the success of the original. The controls are perfectly calibrated and respond to the finger and the eye. On PC, you can use keyboard arrows or WASD to move, Alt/Z/J to jump, and Ctrl/X/K to run. The Enter and Shift keys serve as Start and Select, respectively.
But the most impressive thing is that you can play it in three different ways: Directly in your web browser, by downloading the ROM to use it on an emulator or on a real Game Boy if you have the necessary hardware!
To access bonus features like level selection, second quest or randomizer mode, simply press B in the main menu. A little well-kept secret that multiplies the possibilities of play.
The attention to detail is remarkable. The music and sound effects, provided by artist Michirin, have been specially adapted to the audio capabilities of the Game Boy. The result is nostalgic as can be and will instantly take you back into the atmosphere of the 90s.
What is fascinating about this project is that it demonstrates that with imagination and perseverance, we can push the technical limits of a console that is more than 30 years old. It's also a great example of what can be achieved with GBStudio, this free and open source tool that allows anyone to create their own Game Boy games.
For budding hackers and developers, the source code is available on GitHub. This is a great opportunity to learn by studying how such a project was carried out technically.
In short, whether you are an unconditional Mario fan, nostalgic for Game Boy games or simply curious to discover a remarkable project, I can only advise you to try Super Mario Bros Mini. It's free, it's excellent, and it proves that the passion of independent developers can give birth to extraordinary projects.
Try Super Mario Bros Mini
