Some early, pre-release footage of Super Mario Bros. 3 has made it to the Internet, and it looks a bit different than the classic we love.
It comes from an episode of the Japanese videogame video series, Famimaga, which was released on VHS back in the 80s as a supplement to the Famicom-centric magazine of the same name. The preview shows off some familiar levels along with a host of areas that went unused in the final game. Those with eagle eyes (and good memories) will also note some slight changes in the HUD, which are marked by the person who uploaded the YouTube video.
Largely considered the best Super Mario games of all time*, it's interesting to get a peek at the work in progress. Considering how well the game turned out, there's no reason to think we missed out on anything really worth playing.
* For the record, this is not true. The best one is Super Mario World, and that's final.
@Magnalon
You cant compare the 3D Marios to the 2D Marios. It's just not fair to compare the completely inferior Mario games to the immensly better 2D ones.
Anyways.
Mario 3 > World. World is just 3 on sissy Easy Mode.
@Seph
Ummm - I'm not sure where you were when Mario 64 came out, but that pretty much revolutionized 3D gaming as we know it, two years before Ocarina of Time.
As far as Galaxy 2 is concerned, I think you need to experience the incredible level design yourself - some of the best levels of all time in any platformer are housed within Galaxy 2's disc.
Thank you Nick for kickstarting a pointless argument about trying to pick the best game out of one of the best and most diverse (gameplay-wise) series in video games. Most of them are wonderful, so it doesn't matter which one is 'best', whatever the hell that means.
I will say though that I want another game in the vein of the American version of Mario 2. That game is just so deliciously weird.
Galaxy 2 and Mario 64 have nothing on Super Mario World or Super Mario Bros 3. The galaxy series is okay, but feels kinda stale. I don't know why anyone is even talking about 64... It was great for its time, but it isn't as good as many of the other games in the series.
First, I removed the "one of the" portion of that sentence. The disclaimer thing was added afterwards, and now I realize it doesn't make as much sense as it should.
Second, there's a long running argument about which is "the" best game in the series. It's obviously a stupid argument, one where there is no right answer. The debate quite often centers around 3 and World, with people getting heated when it comes to defending their game of choice. I realize it's a stupid argument, and it's one that I find quite funny, particularly when people get personally worked up over it. If you're upset over the fact that I honestly think World is a better game than 3 (such as Matt, who resorted to name calling), then you really need to get your priorities in order.
And since it's fun to argue over these things (keyword here is "fun"; stop taking this stuff so seriously), I don't like much of the level design in 3, to be honest. When you quickly run through many of them (after taking off with the racoon tail) in under 30 seconds, well... I don't know how I feel about that, even after all of these years.
In summary: if your heart rate rose at all when posting a comment, go take a walk or something.
Nick, this is why I've always liked you: World > 3. Mathematics can prove it, charts back it up, and graphs seal that motherfucker. It's the greatest Mario game of all time, and anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to their very wrong opinion. :o)
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
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Contest:
11:20 AM on 06.20.2011 | 
HELL YEAH!! :D
Deal with it.
I KNEW I wasn't the only one who felt this way!
SMB3 is bad ass, don't get me wrong. but it doesn't beat 96 levels and Yoshi double-jumps.
Yea, most of them are good :D - however, I think Galaxy 2 knocks it out of the park.
You cant compare the 3D Marios to the 2D Marios. It's just not fair to compare the completely inferior Mario games to the immensly better 2D ones.
Anyways.
Mario 3 > World. World is just 3 on sissy Easy Mode.
Any other answer is wrong.
Ummm - I'm not sure where you were when Mario 64 came out, but that pretty much revolutionized 3D gaming as we know it, two years before Ocarina of Time.
As far as Galaxy 2 is concerned, I think you need to experience the incredible level design yourself - some of the best levels of all time in any platformer are housed within Galaxy 2's disc.
You've all just been misinformed.
I will say though that I want another game in the vein of the American version of Mario 2. That game is just so deliciously weird.
And all because of a single giant boot. If there is a bigger power trip than riding that boot in gaming I don't want to know about it.
Troll baiting dumbass is dumb. And yes Super Mario 3 is the best. World has pretty awful level-design by comparison. Yoshi does nothing to fix this.
*if absolute zero is confirmed
First, I removed the "one of the" portion of that sentence. The disclaimer thing was added afterwards, and now I realize it doesn't make as much sense as it should.
Second, there's a long running argument about which is "the" best game in the series. It's obviously a stupid argument, one where there is no right answer. The debate quite often centers around 3 and World, with people getting heated when it comes to defending their game of choice. I realize it's a stupid argument, and it's one that I find quite funny, particularly when people get personally worked up over it. If you're upset over the fact that I honestly think World is a better game than 3 (such as Matt, who resorted to name calling), then you really need to get your priorities in order.
And since it's fun to argue over these things (keyword here is "fun"; stop taking this stuff so seriously), I don't like much of the level design in 3, to be honest. When you quickly run through many of them (after taking off with the racoon tail) in under 30 seconds, well... I don't know how I feel about that, even after all of these years.
In summary: if your heart rate rose at all when posting a comment, go take a walk or something.
i mean, FROG SUIT, HAMMER SUIT, TANOOKI SUIT, POWERUP INVENTORY.
POWERUP INVENTORY
most underrated best platformer ever... or something like that
Otherwise, there's no point in having a comment section if we can't comment...
And yeah, SMW is fo sho the best