The week of 6/6/2014 to 6/13/14 [DATES MAY BE ADJUSTED] in Game Genius will be dedicated to classic video games! Today, Friday the 6th [DATES MAY BE ADJUSTED], we will be focusing on two of the most influential video games of all time, and by FAR the most influential platformers of the generation. Super Mario Brothers 1 and 2.


Shigeru Miyamoto thought up and helped developed the titles. In many of his titles that he developed, Miyamoto drew inspiration from experiences in his childhood, and implemented them into his games.

The gameplay in SMB 1 and 2 was, while very linear, much different than current games at the time. Instead of focusing on surviving the longest and getting the highest score, it focused on story and good gameplay. This is partially why it was so influential. No other games were doing this at the time, but since then, most all games have taken a shift away from "highest score" games.

The chief reason why Super Mario Brothers 1 and 2 are so influential though, is the sheer amount of content inside the game. 32 levels in the first game, 20 levels in the second, totaling 15 worlds and 62 levels, equals hours and hours of play. The story stayed solid in both as well, with multiple cutscenes. "Sorry Mario, Princess Peach is in another castle!"

Work in progress contact me if you have questions or want to help.