Topic: Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Wii U VC) Review Mini

[Daan]

A second GBA is not needed to enjoy everything this game to offer.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/41794/super-mario-advance-4-super-mario-bros-3-wii-u-vc-review-mini

Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of my favorite games, period. I always adored the level designs, which are beautiful when you perform it all in great succession. Changing into Raccoon Mario was where it was at for me and flying about with the suit remains one joyful memory. Even though I hadn’t played the game in a few years, it  all came back to me when I picked up Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3  on the Japanese Wii U Virtual Console.

This version looks fantastic both on the television and the screen of the Wii U GamePad. The only gripe that I have is the sound. There is nothing wrong with the music, but the chants by the Mario and Luigi remain an annoyance of mine. I never liked them in the GBA Mario games, but it is something that I have to accept, I suppose.  It also always takes a little while to get used to the GBA button setup, but after a level and a half you just want to keep going. I played through the game in just a few days and it was more addicting than remember. The changes that were implemented in this version make it also a game that also everyone can enjoy and instantly replay - the Power Meter lasts longer, you can carry shells to new areas and you can play any level you want after beating the game.

The best quality about this release isn't even all of that, because Nintendo saw fit to drop a major bomb - this Virtual Console version of Super Mario Advance 4 has all the e-Reader levels ready for you to play and enjoy. While we don't know if this will be implemented in a possible western release , it better be. These levels range from retro remakes to insane levels that  will challenge you in brand new ways. This means that even if you have played Super Mario Bros. 3  many times, there is still something extra to keep you engaged more than other typical GBA Virtual Console releases.

[michaelbaysuperfan616]

If they release this in America I will be getting it. I got an e-reader just for this game.

[lolmonade]

Ugh, those voice clips were the worst as a kid playing this game.  I can still hear it in my head "Woo hoo, just what I needed!" each time you pick up a stupid powerup.


The e-reader levels would be the primary reason i'd pick this up, never got the chance to play those.

[Mop it up]

How many e-Reader levels are there in total? Is this game worth buying just for them? I'm not interested in having yet another form of SMB3, but I'm certainly interested in what would be new levels to me.

[Shaymin]

There's 38 levels in total (including one thought to be unavailable even for emulation for years.

[UncleBob]

Yeah, something of interest, the original GBA release only allowed 32 levels to be saved at once and the level could only be saved to the cart once it had been completed.

This has all 38 levels (with official US Translated names - a first!) loaded and uncompleted.

Basically, Nintendo modified the original release to give us this bonus.  Thanks, Nintendo!

[Luigi Dude]

**** YEAH!!!

Super Mario Bros 3 is still my favorite 2D Mario so to finally be able to play it along with all 38 of the e-Reader levels will be incredible.  99.9% percent of the population had no way to play all these levels in the original release considering how many were region exclusive and some were very rare even to the Japanese audience since certain stores had exclusive ones as well.  Hell, 38 new levels is almost half a Mario game so to get it on the Virtual Console for the price of a normal GBA game is an amazing deal. 

People can complain about the Virtual Console all they want but stuff like this is what makes the service easily worth it.

[UncleBob]

People can complain about the Virtual Console all they want but stuff like this is what makes the service easily worth it.

In theory, I agree - except that we rarely get stuff like this.

Perfect example - the GameBoy version of Pac-Man has an *amazing* multi-player version of Pac-man locked behind hardware restrictions (2 GameBoys, link cable, and two copies of Pac-Man.  Seriously, try to find someone else who bought a copy of Pac-Man for the GameBoy...)  Meanwhile, multi-player is completely inaccessible on GameBoy VC titles.  Boo-urns, Nintendo.  Boo-Urns.

[pokepal148]

People can complain about the Virtual Console all they want but stuff like this is what makes the service easily worth it.

In theory, I agree - except that we rarely get stuff like this.

Perfect example - the GameBoy version of Pac-Man has an *amazing* multi-player version of Pac-man locked behind hardware restrictions (2 GameBoys, link cable, and two copies of Pac-Man.  Seriously, try to find someone else who bought a copy of Pac-Man for the GameBoy...)  Meanwhile, multi-player is completely inaccessible on GameBoy VC titles.  Boo-urns, Nintendo.  Boo-Urns.

Or better yet: any Gameboy game with SGB support.. Or not being able to get into that GBA only shop in the Oracle games.

[UncleBob]

People can complain about the Virtual Console all they want but stuff like this is what makes the service easily worth it.

In theory, I agree - except that we rarely get stuff like this.

Perfect example - the GameBoy version of Pac-Man has an *amazing* multi-player version of Pac-man locked behind hardware restrictions (2 GameBoys, link cable, and two copies of Pac-Man.  Seriously, try to find someone else who bought a copy of Pac-Man for the GameBoy...)  Meanwhile, multi-player is completely inaccessible on GameBoy VC titles.  Boo-urns, Nintendo.  Boo-Urns.

Or better yet: any Gameboy game with SGB support.. Or not being able to get into that GBA only shop in the Oracle games.

The Advance shop for the Oracle games is a great example.

Nintendo games have so many neat little hidden (and not so hidden) treasures, that when something like this (or Pokemon Snap on the Wii Virtual Console with the photo export option) comes along, it's freaking amazing that Nintendo has taken the extra time to give us access to it - but it really irks me that they don't do this more often.

Even in SMA4 - we got the levels, but we have no way to access the extra Power Ups (Feather, Boomerang, etc.) or the switches (the Veggie switch was a personal favorite... but I'd really love to have access to the Red Switch that never got released in the US).  Come on, Nintendo - don't hold back.

[pokepal148]

Like you're already doing individual emulators for each game for no reason, you literally just had to trick the game into thinking it's being played on a GBA with the Oracle games. There's literally no excuse for that one.

[Mop it up]

Even better yet: why can't original Game Boy games use the GBC colour schemes? The system even already has a GBC emulator so I don't see why it wouldn't be possible...

[UncleBob]

13 years ago, I was trying to complete my Animal Crossing Card collection and playing Super Mario Advance 4 with e-Reader levels.

Today, I'm trying to complete my Animal Crossing Card collection and playing Super Mario Advance 4 with e-Reader levels.

Man, Nintendo, don't you get sick of reusing the same old ideas?