The Story of Super Mario Bros. 3: A Retrospective Gaming Documentary

The apex of the 8-Bit Era and for many the greatest game of all time! (Chapter Markers and More Below!)

On October 23, 1988 Super Mario Bros. 3 was first released in Japan. It would go on to be regarded as one of the greatest games of all time.

0:00 GTV ID: Simply Great
0:06 Intro: The Greatest Video Game Ever Made
0:43 Act 1: The Road To October 23, 1988
11:38 CM1 Super Mario Bros 3. for Family Computer (1988) Super Mario Furikake (1987)
12:40 Act 2: Coming to America
22:18 CM 2 Super Mario Bros. 3 for NES (1990) Happy Meal Toys (1990)
23:20 Act 3: The Legacy of Super Mario Bros 3.
29:06 CM 3 Super Mario Bros 3 in France and Mexico (1991) Super Mario Advance 4 (2003)
30:14 Act 4: Secrets Hiding in Plain Sight

Episode information
GTV 59 "The Story of Super Mario Bros. 3" Season 3 Episode 17
Original Airdate: October 26, 2018
Produced October 1-25, 2018
Recorded at Butsudan Studios and edited on my 15" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
Produced with Final Cut Pro and Photoshop, which my job paid for!

Here are other GTV episodes set in the Mario Universe


A lot of this video would be impossible to make without the work of:

Gameplay by World of Longplays. And about 3% of the rest was recorded be me! Mostly Super Mario USA stuff..

If I forgot anything or anyone, please let me know and I will amend it

[TheQueenSpider]

I’ll never forget this game. I was in college when it came out and had a solid B in calculus. I got the game and ended up with a D.

[richterbelmont]

36:45 My favorite SMB3 memory is playing through the game with my dad. I vividly remember playing through World 6 and my mom came home from grocery shopping. She surprised me with the Christmas Cap'n Crunch cereal. Instead of waiting until morning, my parents let me enjoy a bowl of Christmas Capn Crunch cereal with my dad that afternoon while playing SMB3 <3

[livashlin]

My late dad had bought a NES for me when I was a child. To this day my sister and I always reminesce over our childhood especially over Christmas holidays where we'd spend hours playing Super Mario Bros 3. One of the most iconic and memorable part of my childhood that I'll never forget ❤️

[bullfrogjay]

SMB 3 is truely a timeless masterpiece. My brother abd I spent so many hours playing tgis game. I could never get past the "angry sun level" as a kid. The accomplishement I felt beating the first ship I will never forget. I felt like I grew up a bit that day.

[A_Lone_Wolf]

The frog suit also prevents Mario from slipping on ice.

[jamesaitchison]

Mario 3 was released in the UK when I was Thirteen, and the hype around this game is unmatched by any game before or since.
I played Mario 3 for Three Months every single day until I conquered the game finding every secret and destroying every level.
Good times.

Love the video, takes me on a nostalgia trip down memory lane 👍

[billny]

This was a really solid documentary. Great job man. Had me captivated the whole way through, a whole bunch of tidbits I didn't know about the game, all kinds of commercials, some of which I had never seen before, some of which I fondly remember, and of course all our favorite parts of the game itself.

[ccricers]

Mario 3 is one of my all time favorite games, and yes The Wizard was one of the reasons I wanted it. Super Mario World came out later and has much more exploration to it, but Mario 3, it feels more "magical" to me. The worlds, power-ups, and enemies were more creative despite its simpler 8-bit presentation.

[hondascott]

this is gonna sound crazy but i find something very calming or zen like about that yellow mario 3 box art, whenever i see it on a poster or add or vid it just puts me at ease.

[andykapsar]

i wholeheartedly agree. greatest game of all time. the replay value on this game is bonkers. i beat it in like 1990 and i was 7. i can sit down today and still play through it at 36 and its still just as enjoyable.

[RiC_David]

I like your presentation and narration style, it's professional and easy to listen to - you don't sound desperate for the viewer's attention and the content is strong enough to hold its own without speed-talking or forced intensity.

For a 1985 born player like myself, there's nothing new for me here but I enjoy watching regardless and I'm always looking for channels like this.

[GTV-Japan]

Update 11/3** This video has gone to the front page of YouTube! I’m trying to read every comment but so many are coming I might miss a few! **
Please share your experiences and memories of Super Mario Bros 3 with us! Was it on NES, SNES or later? Let's hear YOUR stories!

[LoaderK]

This video was truly a blast from the past. As someone that has grew up on the NES and STILL has the copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 that I got for my ninth birthday in 1990, this video almost made me want to cry. I cannot tell you all of the fantastic experiences I've had with this game in my youth. Keep up the good work.

[segaboy]

My story: This was my birthday present, Sept. 1990. I turned 9. My mom went broke making sure I had a copy and it was the last major NES game I got before Sega Genesis changed my life. This is the first time I've heard the Japanese side of things!

[OutsiderE]

I got this for Christmas 1990. I was 7. Still one of my all time favorite games, and now my kids enjoy it.

[MarshalArnold]

Hands down the best game on the OG NES IMO

[NESADDICT]

Finally beat Mario 3 this year for the first time ever. It was about time.

[walkerhunter]

i cried watching this, it turn backs all of my happy memories

[williamsullivan]

I was 12 years old in 1990 & I remember all of this so well. I believe this is the best video game of all time. I have so much nostalgia attached to this game

[random_gamer_guy]

Still remember all the flute locations and warp pipes even now as a 37 year old. It's my second favourite platformer only to sonic on megadrive. Long live Nintendo, I want a release of SMB3 .