Super Mario remake series
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The Super Mario remake series was created by Nintendo as a program to modernize their games for the Game Boy system. The series consists of updates to all the Mario Bros. console games in the Super Mario Bros. series which spanned both the Nintendo Famicom and Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Famicom and Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Most of the games also feature the original Mario Bros. arcade game created in 1983 with increased graphics and more enemies, and are updated with character voices, increased color and graphics, new enemies, new bonuses and secrets, more difficult obstacles, and even some new abilities.
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Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is an update of the original 1985 Famicom/NES hit game Super Mario Bros. The update was distributed in 1999 for Game Boy Color. The game was left unmodified from the original NES version, not featuring the graphical updates of the Super Mario All-Stars version. It did however have an on-cart save feature. After completing the game, access is given to play The Lost Levels (in the game itself, called For Super Players), a sequel created in Japan for this game that came to the U.S. only in Super Mario All-Stars. It also features a "Challenge" mode, the ability to play as Luigi at any time, and a multiplayer racing mode. Integration with the new Game Boy Printer allowed players to print certain parts of the game.
Super Mario Advance
Super Mario Advance is an update of the 1988 Famicom/NES hit game Super Mario Bros. 2, known in Japan as Super Mario USA. Super Mario 2 itself is a remake of Doki Doki Panic, for the Famicom Disk System. The update was distributed in 2001 for Game Boy Advance. Due to it's unusual background, the game features gameplay that isn't coherent with other games in the series, and as such is seen largely as the "black sheep" of the official Mario series. Nintendo's decision to choose it as the Game Boy Advance launch game is seen by many as misguided, when Super Mario World would have been a far better choice for launch, considering it's role in selling the SNES. Nonetheless, it was the best-selling launch game and the GBA certainly hasn't had a weak launch, showing that the game does have novel appeal for Nintendo fans. This was ported from the Super Mario All-Stars version of the game, with updated graphics and refinements. For this version, voices were added to key characters as well as new obstacles and a save feature , which gave renewed life to this game.Also included was an extra challenge of finding hidden Yoshi eggs in each level. For these reasons, most gamers see this as the definitive version of Super Mario Bros. 2.
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World
This is a re-release of the 1991 SFC/SNES hit game Super Mario World. The update was distributed in 2002. One of the most popular games of all time, the port was very well recieved, and many retro gamers were surprised at how well the GBA could handle the flagship SNES title. Nintendo marketed it heavily, and it became the best-selling Super Mario Advance game. Due to the larger port size from a SNES cartridge, this game featured few additions. One such addition was the advent of new collectible coins featuring Princess Peach Toadstool in each level, similar to the "Dragon Coins" in the original, which allowed the coins to be collected again on multiple plays. A status screen was also added that kept track of the amount of 'exits' that had been found. A controversial change, however, was a subtle one; in the SNES version, if Fiery Mario or Caped Mario took a hit, they would revert to small Mario, whereas in this version they revert to Big mario, effectively giving the player an extra hit point, making the game easier. The status screen also reduced the difficulty in finding the hidden exits in the game. The large cult fanbase of Super Mario World was angered by this, but essentially accepted it due to the otherwise high-quality of the port. Super Mario Advance 2 was a killer game for the GBA, and was one of it's most popular games.
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
This is a port of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, originally released in 1995 on the SNES and Super Famicom. Seen critically as one of the best games of the 16-bit era, Yoshi's Island was originally hurt by its release at the end of the SNES' life. Fans were eager to see it re-released, and it was indeed a big hit, despite receiving noticeable less marketing than Super Mario Advance 2. The most recent of the titles in this list, the game featured no changes to its formula, as the graphics and sound were among the best of the SNES. One major addition was added though; 6 new levels, one for each world, could be unlocked. These were all large, challenging and unique, like the previous secret levels, and fit seamlessly into the game, and fans were very pleased with the addition. This is seen as the definitive version of Yoshi's Island, and gave the game a lot more life as it was released in the peak of the GBA's success, to make up for it's raw deal with the SNES.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3
This is an updated version of the 1990 Famicom/NES hit game Super Mario Bros. 3. The update was distributed in 2003. The game was updated heavily from it's original incarnation, as it was noticeable older than the last 2 Mario Advance games. This version is taken from the Super Mario All-Stars SNES cart, which has highly improved graphics; extra polish has been given to this version, especially with sound and music. The game also featured extra levels that could be unlocked with the e-Reader. Despite the reported high quality of these levels, the decision was widely criticised, as the e-Reader never caught on outside of Japan, so Western gamers could not play these levels. It is widely stated that Nintendo should have included the levels on the main cart. Nonetheless, the game was very well recieved by both retro gamers and those used to more modern games, and reflecting it's status as the best-selling stand-alone game of all time, it sold hugely. Only Super Mario Advance 2 sold more copies in the series.
Super Mario 64 DS
Super Mario 64 DS is an updated version of the 1996 Nintendo 64 hit Super Mario 64. The update was distributed on November 21, 2004 and included redesigned models and Textures; the ability to play as Luigi, Wario, and Yoshi; 30 new stars/5 new mini-courses; and 36 touch-screen mini-games. See main article for more details.