The Development History of Super Mario Bros. | 35th Anniversary (Documentary/Retrospective)

Note: I misspoke at 25:46 regarding Super Mario World's release. It was 1990, not 1999.

It's been 35 long years since Super Mario Bros. first released to the world. Whether you're new to side-scrolling platform games or are a long-time fan, this documentary shows a retrospective look at Super Mario Bros. for its 35th Anniversary.

Table of Contents

I - Intro | 0:00
II - The Golden Age | 2:37
III - The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With One Jump | 5:24
IV - Early Prototypes | 10:06
V - Super Mario Design | 15:04
VI - Memory Limitations | 19:39
VII - Release | 21:51
VIII - Legacy | 24:46

This documentary's purpose is to take a look back at one of gaming's all-time classic side-scrollers, Super Mario Bros., originally for the Nintendo Entertainment System. I take a dive into its development, give a summary on its story and attempt to explain how Super Mario Bros has impacted gaming since its release 35 years ago.

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♦ Specifically, my Ocarina of Time Documentary may be of interest:

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#SuperMarioBrosDocumentary #SuperMarioBros #SMB #Anniversary #Development #History #Retrospective #VGDocs #VGDocs #VGDocumentary #VideoGameDocumentary #VideoGameDoc

[Metal-Gear-Moogle]

It's amazing how well the 1985 SMB game has held up. It's just as fun to play today 38 years later. The visuals, sound, music and gameplay have a certain timeless charm about it

[Rizky-Gumilar]

Still can't imagine a world without Nintendo. They are truly the pioneer of gaming revolution.

[MrFarnanonical]

7:45 the original super Mario bros had to fit in a 40kb rom cart. The later mario games used bank switching to add more space, without bank switching, the NES had space for 256 8/8 sprite tiles. and 256 background tiles. They simply didn't have enough space for Yoshi.

For only 40 kilobytes SMB had a lot of levels, the fact that they were able to cram so much into 40k, suggests to me that lack of familiarity was not an issue.

[GTV-Japan]

This was a really good video. Very well done! I liked it! Happy to be one of the first thousand viewers because this is going to get a million someday. If it doesn’t, it’s a crime!

[Pan_Z]

19:11 the birth of the "not a bug, but a feature" adage.

[Shivamgamer-]

you people deserve more views and subs.
Amazing work.

[Andy-mvqj]

This was so great to watch! Thank you!! I still have my NES and SMB, got them for Christmas in 1988

[noctiscaelum]

The legend! Super Mario Bros...beautiful documentary....

[WowItsBow]

Just discovered your channel and I have been binge watching all of your retrospects. All of your videos are really well made, you totally deserve more subs. This particular video going through development history is my favorite by far! Keep up the good work!

[jimmillr]

The Development History of Mario 64 next? Also shocked this only has 500 views this video is amazing!

[habibishapur]

Old school developers who had to worry about squeezing every literal bit of performance out of their products, in an industry that wasn't anywhere as profitable as it is nowadays will always have my respect. That sounds like hell lol

[ronaldhenson]

Super mario will always forever be my favorite childhood nintendo character

[JCofficial]

There’s no way this doesn’t have at the very least 100, 000 views.

[MrBallerinakaka]

Actually Discovered Your Video & Channel While Searching on Developement History in Youtube. I Knew I Took 3 Years To Discovery! Also I Actually Learnt SMB Developement History Throughout This Video Which Pretty Interesting! I Kinda Wished More Peoples Found Your Video & Channel! ❤

[retropalooza]

No no no there is no Mario brand bmw I've checked....there ya go miyamoto enjoy that smoke...this channel clearly endorses it

[mariahanover]

Mario Bros has some of the most frantic gameplay in later levels, I don't know how you can call it slow.

[cerval]

You should really consider making a documentary on the Elder scrolls series. There's so much history to unpack there from the early games before and after Morrowind all the way to Skyrim. I feel like these would get you a lot of views and be successful for your channel... as well as satisfying my need for more content lol.

[maraxussrafhael]

Amazing video, God bless you and your family, bro! Keep it uP!

[weskirkland]

Played it in 1985 when it was brand new and state of the art in 1985. Still play it now 38 years later on my original NES with hdmi adapters. Also have it on my retropie system.

[DavidBadilloMusic]

24:21 Actual translation from Spanish: "All disheveled because I didn't have time for anything other than to put on my flip-flops and a swimsuit... I go to the beach and the tide was already up... Jesus!" 😄