Game Talk Posts
Nelson Schneider - wrote on 2011-03-24 20:40
It's interesting to note, though, that back in 1990 when SMB3 was released, my tolerance for sitting in front of a screen capped at a half hour. Even when I first got access to the Internet, I'd only use it in half-hour sessions. This tendency also explains why SNES RPGs lasted for months instead of days.Now I spend probably 12 hours per day staring at a screen.
Jonzor - wrote on 2011-03-22 17:48
Aside from Metroid, I've never really been a speed run guy either, and even then only because th at was kind of Metroid's thing (emphasis on was). I was just using that as a reference point. Hence, the not looking at a clock while doing it.But yeah... 12 hours... there's no way it takes me even remotely that long.
Nelson Schneider - wrote on 2011-03-22 16:47
Eh, I've never understood the appeal of speed runs.I'm surprised SMB3 is only a 3-hour game, though. I think I clocked-in at around 12 hours when I cleared the entire GBA remake.
Jonzor - wrote on 2011-03-22 09:58
Well, the record for a 100% Super Mario Bros. 3 speed run is about 1:24, but I'm sure it was way longer than that. Two and a half hours? Maybe 3? Last time I did it was a few years ago, and I wasn't really watching the clock in the first place while doing it.
Nelson Schneider - wrote on 2011-03-22 01:43
How long did this single-sitting run of every level take?
Jonzor - wrote on 2011-03-22 01:32
Actually, I've done it more than once. Just to clarify.
Jonzor - wrote on 2011-03-22 01:32
*raises hand*On the NES, one sitting. I miss college.I wrote a review calling this the single best game ever, so I guess I apply here.The length of Super Mario 3 is variable, depending on how much time you have, I guess. In 30 minutes, you could probably have played/beaten any level you want, which doesn't feel unreasonable to me in 1990. I never held "length" against it, because the game was what you made it.If your singular goal is to "beat" the game, then yeah, warp your heart out, but you're making a choice to shorten the game. I can start up my copy of Super Mario World and boil the game down to a few levels, but that's because I'm deciding to skip 90% of the game.
Alex - wrote on 2011-03-20 13:58
The length of the game is exactly why it is not a perfect game for me. The game is awesome, but it is difficult to just turn on and play because you have to start all over, from the beginning...and it is a long ass game. Super Mario Bros (NES) is easy to get into and play but the game is not quite as robust. It's a tough call but still one of the best on the NES (Super Mario Bros 3 that is).
Chris Kavan - wrote on 2011-03-20 11:09
I can't say for certain I played the entire game straight through without warp whistles, but over sessions I'm relatively sure I did play through each world.The reason Super Mario Bros. 3 is such a great game is that it represents a huge leap from the first and second installments. The control is much better, the power ups are more varied and fun and finally, we get a solid story with real heroes and villains that you get some form of personality and connection to. Super Mario World would further bolster this transformation, but, for the time, this game was way ahead of the competition. Plus, I think the game was generous enough with extra lives that you could get through it in one setting - but, I agree, it may not have been the best thing for the NES.
Nelson Schneider - wrote on 2011-03-19 12:53
So, I'm curious, how many of you guys who think this is the best game ever have actually been able to play through the entire thing; as in play every level?What I perceive to be this game's greatest flaw (and thus why I gave is a 4/5 instead of a perfect score) is that it is an epic, incredible, polished 2D platformer without a way to save. It's just too much game for one sitting! On the NES, this game essentially boiled down to World 1 and World 8 plus two warp whistles.I did give the Game Boy Advance remake a perfect score because it fixed that problem, and I was actually able to play every level over the course of about a month. I certainly wasn't going to leave my NES on for that long back in the '80s!
