This was actually one of my childhood GBA games growing up, and I remember never being able to get past the third world. I decided to boot this game up on a whim since I recently modded an original GBA, and sort of accidentally ran into 100%ing this game.
For the most part I will be talking about this game as if it was the NES original, but I will add that the added graphical tweaks are all fantastic, and easily makes this the definitive version of Mario 3 in my eyes.
Super Mario 3 surprised me in a lot of ways with just how large and intracate its world is, especially for something that released on the NES. The game has over 90 levels, which is unheard of for that system, with an entire map system that has still yet to be matched by a newer Super Mario game. This game is a technical marvel that has no reason to be as quality as it is, and for that reason I can understand why so many people call this one of the best games of all time.
For myself personally thought, I think that the level design is where this game takes a bit of a nosedive. Around 2/3rd of the levels in this game are either perfectly fine, or some of Mario's best. However, around 1/3rd of the levels are either frustratingly designed, puzzle levels that are a slog to get through, or some of the worst water levels in Mario history. World 3 is the worst in that regard, as it is made up of almost entirely of water levels, and they are all just absolutely terrible.
With that said, this game is still a technical marvel, and easily one of the best 2D Mario games out there. The jump from Mario 1 to this is staggering, and that can not be understated.
.....Super Mario World is way better tho.
For the most part I will be talking about this game as if it was the NES original, but I will add that the added graphical tweaks are all fantastic, and easily makes this the definitive version of Mario 3 in my eyes.
Super Mario 3 surprised me in a lot of ways with just how large and intracate its world is, especially for something that released on the NES. The game has over 90 levels, which is unheard of for that system, with an entire map system that has still yet to be matched by a newer Super Mario game. This game is a technical marvel that has no reason to be as quality as it is, and for that reason I can understand why so many people call this one of the best games of all time.
For myself personally thought, I think that the level design is where this game takes a bit of a nosedive. Around 2/3rd of the levels in this game are either perfectly fine, or some of Mario's best. However, around 1/3rd of the levels are either frustratingly designed, puzzle levels that are a slog to get through, or some of the worst water levels in Mario history. World 3 is the worst in that regard, as it is made up of almost entirely of water levels, and they are all just absolutely terrible.
With that said, this game is still a technical marvel, and easily one of the best 2D Mario games out there. The jump from Mario 1 to this is staggering, and that can not be understated.
.....Super Mario World is way better tho.