Super Mario Bros.

Platform(s):

New Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 2DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U

Release Date:

September 1985

Genre:

Platformer, Side-Scroller

Creators:

Nintendo

E (Everyone)

No Descriptors

Story & Themes

Super Mario Bros., being the first game in the series, establishes the tried-and-true storyline. Bowser has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, and Mario must travel through the Mushroom Kingdom to save her. As Mario (and Luigi while playing in local co-op mode) travels through the game's levels, he collects coins, picks up special items, and defeats enemies by either jumping on their heads or using a power-up. The final level of the game takes place at a castle and features a final showdown with Bowser.

Difficulty

Super Mario Bros. is not too difficult and is on par with the challenge level of other Super Mario games.

Heads Up!

Violence The game's violence is very minimal. Enemies are defeated by being jumped on, hit by a Koopa shell, or struck by one of Mario's fireballs after he has picked up a Fire Flower.

Consumerism Super Mario Bros. is a part of the massive Mario Bros. franchise, so some consumerism is implicit. However, there are not any microtransactions or the like in the game.

Discrimination Princess Toadstool in Super Mario Bros. is a prime example of the damsel in distress trope. She exists solely to be saved, and plays no larger part in the story.

Conversation Starters

Which level is your favorite? Why?
How do you feel about the damsel-in-distress trope as it pertains to Princess Toadstool (Peach)? Why is it problematic or harmful? Can you can think of other examples of the trope in popular media?
Why do you think the Super Mario series has been so successful and lasted so long? What about this game and the others makes it special?

Heads Up!

Genre:

Platformer, Side-Scroller

Interests / Subjects:

Collecting,
Fantasy,
Retro Gaming

COMPETENCIES / INTELLIGENCIES:

Collaboration,
Communication skills,
Hand-eye coordination

REGION OF ORIGIN:

Japan

ONLINE PLAY:

Cannot be played online

DIFFICULTY SETTINGS:

Violence:

1 / 5

Scary Imagery:

0 / 5

Sex & Nudity:

0 / 5

Strong Language:

0 / 5

Substance use:

0 / 5

Consumerism:

3 / 5

Super Mario Bros.

Story & Themes

Difficulty

Heads Up!

Conversation Starters

Genre:

Interests / Subjects:

COMPETENCIES / INTELLIGENCIES:

REGION OF ORIGIN:

ONLINE PLAY:

DIFFICULTY SETTINGS:

Violence:

Scary Imagery:

Sex & Nudity:

Strong Language:

Substance use:

Consumerism:

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