4. Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario 64 is a momentous game, rivaled in its importance to the gaming industry only by perhaps the original Super Mario Bros. 3D gaming as it exists today was created, defined, and then perfected by Super Mario 64- everything, from the basic idea of 3D movement, to 3D camera control, to the kind of ingenious level design that a 3D game should have, all of that was introduced, and refined to near perfection, in this milestone title. This game, which stood out as a free roaming non linear game, in sharp contrast to the earlier, rigidly linear 2D Mario games, evoked a sense of wonder in so many people that it almost singlehandedly gave the N64 a massive (if momentary) advantage over its rivals. The greatness of this game was such that its successors have basically tried to follow in its footsteps, and none have deviated from the path much since.
The game was a graphical wonder, easily the best looking title at the time of its release, and it had, without question, the best music for any Mario game at that time too. And its vast game world, full to the brim with secrets and neat little glitches, yielded so many urban legends that many of them survive to this day. Indeed, a testament to just how far ahead of its time this game was is the fact that when the DS launched in 2004, eight years after this game’s launch, it had a remake of this game as its marquee title, and sure enough, the remake managed to hold its own against many modern games, and was maybe even better than the last mainline Mario adventure, Super Mario Sunshine.
Few games have been as important or as well made as Super Mario 64 was. It continues to be the blueprint for all modern gaming. The fact that it still misses out on the top spots in this list is not a knock against it, but rather, a testament to the sheer prowess of those other games.
3. Super Mario World (SNES)
Super Mario World is platforming perfection. Let’s just get that out of the way.
Like no other game ever created since, and like no other game since, Super Mario World refined and absolutely perfected the sidescrolling platforming formula that its three illustrious NES predecessors had introduced to millions upon millions of gamers. The controls were perfect, the level design unsurpassed, the graphics timeless, the sound design unparalleled. Super Mario World remains to this day one of the most perfect games ever created, and as far as 2D platforming goes, look no further- this is it.
The best part is, the game holds up so well today. It has aged remarkably well, so that even if you start playing it today, you will not consciously even realize that the game you’re playing was originally released in 1991, nearly twenty years ago. The SNES has often been called a console that houses the most timeless games of all time- nothing exemplifies this better than Super Mario World.
Super Mario World is notable for so much more- for instance, it gave us Yoshi, Mario’s trusty green steed. It had the most imaginative maps. There really was nothing wrong with this game at all, so it’s a slight pity that it never became as popular as it should have, mostly because of Sega’s aggressive advertising that pitched Mario as being for kids, and marketed their rival platformer, Sonic, as the game that all the cool kids played. In spite of all of this, the game is a recognized classic, and one that ultimately sold well- in excess of 20 million copies, in fact- over its lifetime.
If for some reason you haven’t played this game yet, do so now. It’s possibly the greatest favor you can do yourself as a gamer.
2. Super Mario Bros 3 (NES)
Who wasn’t expecting this title to show up on this list? In fact, a great many of you are probably disappointed to see that this game did not make it to number 1, but there are reasons for that. More on that in a bit.
As great as Super Mario World was- and trust me, it was great, italics and all- it was basically following a template that had been set for it by its immediate predecessor, Super Mario Bros. 3, which many viewed as (and was more or less marketed as) the true sequel to the NES breakout Super Mario Bros. (Super Mario Bros. 2 had been a bit of a disappointing aberration, but that’s a whole different issue). Super Mario Bros 3 probably represents the first blockbuster game release, an event so anticipated that it penetrated the mainstream. Magazines covered it, newspapers covered it, TV news stations covered it. People lined up for it. An entire movie was basically made to promote this game. Everybody was eagerly anticipating the release of one of the most hyped media products in history- surely it couldn’t live up to the hype?
It could, and it did, and how. Super Mario Bros. 3 was everything a gamer could have hoped for, a fan could have hoped for, everything we could have asked for, and more. Not only did it follow in the footsteps of the original Super Mario by focusing on what made Mario so great in the first place, it expanded on everything. It gave context to the entire thing by way of a (rather wacky) plotline. It had some of the most memorable levels ever (Airship!). It had some great enemy design. Its power ups have become the stuff of legend (Tanooki Suit!). Its graphics prompted insane conspiracy theories (was Super Mario Bros. 3 all a staged play?) The game was a mammoth hit at retail, selling 18 million copes worldwide, a feat unsurpassed by any non bundled console game until very recently, when the Grand Theft Auto’s and the Call of Duty’s of the world began to sell like gangbusters.
As a game, it has aged incredibly well- the core gameplay remains as arresting as it ever was. The graphics have a quaint charm that doesn’t look like it will go away anytime soon. The music- well, the music is so iconic, there really isn’t much to say about it.
Let’s just put it this way- the Mario that you know today, Mario and his games, as they are today, all owe themselves entirely to this one game. The first blockbuster game ever.
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