Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe retains the timeless run-and-jump formula that made the original 1985 game a household name, while adding a wealth of new content to keep veteran players engaged. You’ll guide Mario through familiar worlds—lush plains, treacherous deserts, icy peaks, and lava-filled castles—using precise platforming mechanics. Whether you’re stomping Goombas, clearing Koopa Troopas, or strategically tossing fireballs, the core controls feel tight and responsive on the Game Boy Color.

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Beyond the main quest to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser’s clutches, Deluxe introduces a Challenge mode that tasks you with collecting coins under time pressure, as well as a two-player Versus mode. In Challenge mode you’ll encounter redesigned level segments that push your platforming skills to the limit, while Versus mode lets you trade turns with a friend (via link cable) to see who can rack up the highest score. These additions breathe new life into the classic stages and encourage repeated playthroughs.

For completionists, the game also features a comprehensive Records system, an Album for reviewing unlocked artwork, and a Toy Box packed with fun collectibles. Each time you find 50 or 100 coins, stomp hidden turtles, or clear specific stages, you earn stamps and profile points. These extras reward exploration and mastery, turning what was once a straightforward side-scroller into a miniature sandbox of secrets and challenges.

Graphics

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe makes impressive use of the Game Boy Color’s palette, transforming the original’s monochrome visuals into vibrant, eye-catching sprites. Each world boasts its own distinctive color scheme—emerald grasslands, golden desert sands, sapphire ice fields—that helps keep the experience fresh as you progress. Character animations remain smooth and expressive, capturing Mario’s famous jump pose and Bowser’s menacing roar with remarkable clarity.

Level details like brick patterns, coin shimmer, and background motifs are all faithfully rendered, yet enhanced with subtle shading and color gradients. Even on the Game Boy Color’s small screen, each tile feels distinct, making it easy to judge jumps and spot hidden blocks. The user interface is clean and unobtrusive, displaying your coin count, lives, and time remaining without interrupting the flow of play.

When you unlock The Lost Levels—Nintendo’s ultra-challenging follow-up to the original—you’ll notice a deliberate shift in palette choice and level design. These stages are more unforgiving, featuring tighter platforms and sneaky pitfalls, but the modest graphical tweaks ensure they stand apart from the main game. Overall, Deluxe demonstrates that 8-bit classics can still look stunning when given a subtle color upgrade.

Story

The narrative premise remains charmingly simple: Bowser and his dark magic have transformed the inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom into stones, bricks, and even mushrooms, while holding Princess Toadstool captive in a distant castle. With the fate of Toad Town at stake, Mario the humble plumber embarks on a perilous journey to undo Bowser’s curse and restore peace. The straightforward storyline provides just enough motivation to power through each world’s challenges.

Although the plot doesn’t evolve dramatically as you advance—Mario’s objective is clear from the outset—the inclusion of brief cutscenes and castle victory screens punctuates each world with a sense of progress. Defeating one of Bowser’s minions releases a group of petrified Toads, offering a small but satisfying narrative reward for your efforts. These moments build anticipation for the final showdown in Bowser’s ominous fortress.

For players who unlock The Lost Levels, the story becomes an even steeper ascent of trials rather than a tale of rescue. These bonus stages feel like a hidden chapter in Mario’s saga, pitched at veterans hungry for a more punishing narrative arc. While Deluxe doesn’t expand the lore dramatically, it does offer fans multiple ways to experience Mario’s classic heroics and revisit the Mushroom Kingdom in both familiar and fiendish new forms.

Overall Experience

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is more than a simple port—it’s a love letter to Nintendo’s marquee franchise, bolstered by thoughtful extras that extend replay value. The smooth platforming, newly styled color graphics, and handful of bonus modes ensure that both newcomers and longtime Mario enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy. It’s an ideal purchase for anyone seeking a compact, engaging adventure on the go.

While purists may argue that the original’s difficulty and charm speak for themselves, Deluxe manages to strike a balance between nostalgia and innovation. The added Challenge and Versus modes shine at social gatherings, and the Records, Album, and Toy Box systems give solo players incentives beyond simply beating Bowser. You’re unlikely to feel short-changed, even if you’ve completed Super Mario Bros. dozens of times before.

On the downside, some may find the Game Boy Color’s screen size a limitation, especially when trying to decipher fast-moving enemies or distant platforms. However, the game’s overall polish and robust content library more than compensate for any minor visual constraints. In the end, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe stands out as a stellar example of how classic titles can be revitalized for handheld play without losing their original magic.

Retro Replay Score

8.5/10