Re-mastering a classic.

The thing that surprised me most about Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is the fact that it is not merely a conversion of the classic NES game. Like Super Mario Bros. All Stars on the SNES, (which contained Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3 plus the disk drive "sequel" to the original, called "The Lost Levels") it is not merely a opportunistic re-hash of a successful game. Super Mario Bros. All Stars did it by including "The Lost Levels", fixing bugs, and updating all the games’ graphics. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is even more particular in this area: it may not have revamped the graphics, but instead adds so much extras and special features to make it the most complete game on the Game Boy.

The game’s showcase is, of course, the original NES game. Except for adapting the game to the Game Boy’s screen, I had expected the game to be a direct translation from the original with the same classic gameplay -but I was surprised to find a few welcome changes. Many people do not remember this, but the "feel" of the original Super Mario Bros. is different to any of its sequels, most notably in the physics department. In that manner, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe has been improved so that it feels more like Super Mario World. I was also glad that they fixed the glitches in the original game. (Such as Hexadecimal lives and the infamous "Level -1") The game’s graphics remain the same, except for a few touches here and there, and the sound has been left untouched.

However, dig a little deeper into the game, and suddenly you notice how much thought has gone into its making. It is not nostalgic for its own sake, but because the creators know that the game truly is a gem. So much that it provides two other brilliant variations on the theme. The game includes a Challenge mode reminiscent of Yoshi’s Island, (from the SNES) in which you must collect in each level from the main game five Red Coins and a hidden Yoshi egg. Furthermore, learning from such classics as Tetris or even Pokemon, the game also has a VS Mode –in which you compete against a friend (or Boo, if you are playing alone) in eight brand new levels. It is very well thought out, and fantastic fun.

The game keeps surprising you with its depth: after you finish the main game, you find the disk drive-only "sequel" (or at least half of it) which will keep you playing far more than you expected. There is also a Toybox for creating and printing out hundreds of banners, pictures, (which you must get through the main game) and even simple tunes; as well as providing tips for the game, a calendar, and even a horoscope.

When Super Mario Bros. Deluxe was first announced I was skeptical. After all, I already own all the Super Mario games, (from all the way back to the NES) so why would I want another redundant copy of a game I already own? The answer is, as the game boasts, "This time there’s a lot more to do than just save a Princess." With so much special features, it is hard to imagine anyone getting bored with this game: Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is one of the best Game Boy games of all time.