Stock up on mushrooms and put on your favorite frog suit, because today is Mario Day. It's a day all about celebrating one of the most important, influential and prolific video game heroes of all time. To help give the Italian plumber his due, we're going to dig through the Review Crew archives for the ultimate 2D Mario marathon. That's right, we're going to be looking at all of his 2D platformers on Nintendo Switch Online, including the 1985 original, the incredible sequels, his move to the portable screen, the 16-bit adventures and even a few re-releases on the Game Boy Advance. Yeah, that's a lot of Mario, but are all of these games actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Super Play, GamePro, Nintendo Power and more classic magazines that reviewed these games back when they first came out. Strap into your favorite go-kart and throw that warp whistle away, because you're not going to need for our Mario marathon. This is Nintendo Classics Review Crew!

SEE MORE: Nintendo Classics Game Archive


If you grew up in the 1980s, then I don't need to tell you how big of a deal Super Mario was. Hell, here we are, nearly fourty years later, and the Super Mario Bros. movie was one of the biggest money-makers of the year. Mario was not only a system seller for Nintendo, but he also pulled America's video games industry out of the void that was the Great Games Crash. He was a video game superstar, to the point where he got his own movie, TV show and even breakfast cereal. He was so big that Sega spend the entire second-half of the 1980s trying to come up with a competing mascot. But, look, I get it, we all know how big Super Mario Bros. was when it came to selling home consoles, but what did the critics think of this seminal platformer?

If you've watched this show before, then you already know that getting reviews from the mid-1980s is a little tricky, since the few magazines of the time didn't have proper, scored takes. But once again, the British press comes through. Going back to 1987, The Games Machine said that to play Super Mario Bros. is to get hooked. “Simple to understand, it is therefore easy to play. Nintendo's small-sized controller takes some getting used to, but perseverance reaps its own reward, because the graphics and sound are splendid, combining to make a game that is colourful, jolly and in places pleasantly frustrating as you try to work out the best route round a problem.” The Games Machine gave Mario an 89%.

Before you get heated about the low score, it's worth mentioning that most of the other critics gave this game a near perfect score. For example, you saw Computer & Video Games give Super Mario Bros. a 95%, which just so happens to be the exact same score you saw in Nintendo Magazine System. But if you're looking for a higher number, then let's check in with ACE magazine and their ridiculous one-thousand-point scale. Giving it a 955, they called Mario “the undisputed king of cutesy platform-style arcade adventures. It looks dead simple as Princess Daisy pleads ‘Save me Mario, save me' at the beginning. But simple it certainly is not – with eight levels, each containing four separate worlds to be explored. The game is crammed with levels, warps and hidden treats such that you never tire of playing.”

All in all, this is pretty much what I expected out of the Super Mario reviews. This was a great first entry that everybody liked, some more than others. Let's see if the same can be said about the sequel.

When it came to releasing a sequel to the mega-popular Super Mario Bros., Nintendo had a choice to make. They could release the Japanese sequel (a substantially more difficult carbon copy of the original game) or they could turn an entire unrelated game into the next Mario installment. They chose the latter, giving Americans a version of Super Mario Bros. 2 that barely resembled the first game. Looking back now, Nintendo made the right choice. While the gameplay is a bit different, the core platforming is still in place and the dream world is a lot more colorful and fun than Mario's so-called “Lost Levels.” But that's my opinion, let's see what the critics said back when Super Mario Bros. 2 first came out.

In the case of The Games Machine, they liked this sequel even more than the original. “To say that Super Mario Bros. 2 is playable is like saying the Cray X-MP is quite a fast machine – the game redefines the word playable and is far and away a major leap over the original. It's involved, deceptively tricky, has major improvements in the graphics and sonics league, and, most importantly of all, is superlative fun to play.” They gave it a 92%, up from the 89% they gave Super Mario's first outing.

Believe it or not, this was one of the game's lower scores. We saw Nintendo Magazine System give the sequel a 96% in a capsule review in their first issue, while it landed at 910 on ACE's ridiculous one-thousand-point scale. Of course, the highest score came from Computer & Video Games, who gave it a 97% and called it “a stunning sequel which oozes class and playability. The best Nintendo game yet released – miss it at your peril.” They explained that “what makes Super Mario Bros 2 so great is its playability. It packs in it a multitude of surprises and unusual features, and combines it with challenging and unbelievably addictive gameplay. The difficulty level is set exactly right, allowing you to get just a little bit further every go, but with eight big and tough worlds to conquer, there's more than just a fortnight's play here – we're talking months to discover all the secrets of Super Mario Bros 2.”

Now, in case you're wondering, it was Mean Machines that ended up giving the game the lowest score, though you wouldn't know it based on the reviews. Giving it an 89%, Matt argued that Super Mario Bros. 2 is better than the original. “Cute and highly detailed characters and colourful backgrounds really make it look cartoony and fun, and the music and sound effects match the graphics for jolliness. But the gameplay's what's most important, and even in this respect, SMB2 tops the original. All the new characters and the new abilities add a further dimension to the original platform fun.”

In the end, nobody cared about the reskinning or drastic changes made to the gameplay, because Super Mario Bros. 2 is both fun and highly playable. Those are the points that kept coming up over and over again. And you know what? I have a hunch that trend will continue with Super Mario Bros. 3.

When Nintendo went to sell people on the Game Boy, they weren't taking any chances. They saw what Super Mario was able to do for the Nintendo Entertainment System, so here we have a brand-new sequel of sorts that shrunk the platforming action down to fit on a smaller screen. The result was Super Mario Land, a fun and competent launch game that looked and played similar to the Nintendo Entertainment System classic, yet had enough of its own quirks and charm to standout as its own thing. These days it's probably best known for introducing the world to Princess Daisy, but I always liked that it wasn't afraid to take chances – like suddenly becoming a 2D shoot ‘em up.

When it came to the reviews, the critics were ready to call this another Super Mario classic. Well, everybody except Electronic Gaming Monthly, who actually had the lowest score, giving the launch game an average of 7.75 out of 10. Jim called it “a great Game Boy game! Excellent scrolling graphics make Mario Land look and play just like Super Mario Bros. All the bad guys, mushrooms and other features from the original are here, along with new characters, 1ups, hidden coins and more! A portable Super Mario Bros.!” Donn was the big hold-out, giving the game a lower score of 7 out of 10: “Like Super Mario Bros. on the NES, Super Mario Land is filled with the same kind of running and jumping action. There are loads of secret things to uncover, and new screens that add to the Super Mario theme. This is the best Game Boy game I've seen so far.”

Similar to EGM, other magazines liked Mario Land without falling in love with it. A good example of that is Nintendo Power, which went with a 4.1 out of 5, slightly lower than you might expect. Mean Machines, on the other hand, couldn't wait to gush. Giving it a 90%, Matt said that the game had “playability to the nth degree! This game is guaranteed a semi-permanent place in my Game Boy, along with Tetris, of course. They don't come much better than this, with great graphics and a tough challenge.”

If you're looking for the absolute highest score, then look no further than Computer & Video Games. Paul Rand gave the game a score of 93% in issue 96, raving about the graphics, sound, playability and value. “Virtually a scaled-down replica of the arcade and big brother Nintendo console classic, you play the part of Mario in this multi-level quest for his girly, stolen by a vicious kid-napper. Hectic action combined with remarkable graphic and rousing tunes and effects ensure yet another thumbs up for the Game Boy.”

Look, there's no doubt about it, Super Mario Land is the most exciting part of this Nintendo Switch Online drop, and it's not even close. Although incredibly short, this is a game bursting with charm and personality. It's not my favorite Mario game, but this Game Boy launch title is still worth playing through 35 years later.

Look, I don't need to tell you that Super Mario Bros. 3 was popular. I know you; you know; everybody knows it. There was a whole commercial where the entire world was literally chanting his name, and, at the time, it definitely felt like that matched our reality. And to hype us up even more, The Wizard hit theaters with a message that nobody could dispute – Super Mario Bros. 3 is the best competitive video game ever made. Okay, maybe The Wizard lied to us, but Super Mario Bros. 3 was such a big deal that it made is completely forget about that 16-bit console war that was ramping up. With warp whistles, crazy suits and so many weird secrets to uncover that Nintendo Power dedicated a whole issue to it, Super Mario Bros. 3 was a pop culture phenomenon.

Now, I bet you're expecting me to say that the critics at the time gushed about the game in breathlessly hyperbolic reviews. And ... you would be right. That's exactly what happened. Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game an average score of 9 out of 10, which may not sound like much, but tied the game with Mega Man 3, Ninja Spirit and Strider as the magazine's second-best reviewed game of the year. Steve called it “the largest, most detailed, graphically superb, audio enhanced, three-meg masterpiece loaded with perfect power-ups and extraordinary execution, most fun-to-play game I've seen on the Nintendo. This is one of the few games that comes close to a perfect ‘10' rating.” Ed agreed, arguing that “Nintendo has done the impossible. They created a game as close to perfection as you can get. Take the best from Super Mario Bros., add the changing personalities of Super Mario Bros. 2, and beef it up with 3 meg of power, hundreds of secrets, and hidden items, and you get the best game ever made for the NES.”

Before we talk about the highest scores, I first want to draw your attention to what I feel is the most surprising score. It comes from Nintendo Power, who gave Super Mario Bros. 3 a 4.5 out of 5, putting it below Ninja Gaiden II and Castlevania III as the magazine's third-best reviewed game of 1990. Of course, this was a time when Nintendo Power's reviews were basically multi-page strategy guides so they didn't bother expanding on the opinions, but I felt like it was worth mentioning anyway.

If you're looking for the truly high scores, then we need to take a trip to Britain. That's where you're going to find pretty much every publication giving Mario 3 a score of 98%, including both Mean Machines and Nintendo Magazine System. This was also the score you saw at Computer & Video Games, which concluded that it was “the best game ever.” “Honestly, Super Mario Bros. 3 is so astoundingly brilliant in every way, shape and form, I'm sorely tempted to go out and buy a Nintendo simply for this cartridge. Graphically, it's untouchable. Sound is incredible. The instantly recognizable Mario effects make an appearance along with some great new ones. There is so much to collect, so much to kill, so many locations to find and explore, it's a puzzle as to how the creators had the imagination to come up with a game quite like this, let alone cram it all into one cartridge. What else can be said about this, the game to beat all games? Simply this – Super Mario Bros. 3 is one in a million, the Mona Lisa of video gaming. To compare it to anything else would be an insult.”

It's true, Super Mario Bros. 3 was a landmark game that has withstood the test of time. No matter how bad things get, I always know that I'm going to have a great time with this game, and that's what makes it a true classic. So, if you're the one person who hasn't played Super Mario Bros. 3, then get on it. You won't be disappointed.

Only one year after Super Mario Bros. 3 became the biggest video game in the world and showed up on the big screen in The Wizard, Nintendo released the 16-bit follow-up, Super Mario World, along with their brand-new Super NES console. In fact, they packed it in with the unit, making sure that every early adopter got a piece of the plumber. While it didn't show off the system's special effects like F-Zero or Pilotwings, there's no question that this was the most -hyped cartridge to launch with the Super NES. But did all that hype translate to stellar scores? Let's find out.

Yes, every critic on the planet loved Super Mario World, don't be crazy. However, Electronic Gaming Monthly was a little disappointed. Ed explains: “Easily the best Mario adventure yet, but I had hoped that Nintendo would do more with the game than just make another Mario adventure. This should show off the system's capabilities, but there just aren't enough special effects when compared to other Super NES games.” Sushi-X also gave the game a 9 out of 10, concluding that World is “the ultimate Mario adventure. Super Mario World is a perfect subtitle, with 96 areas to explore. Everything just plain blew me away. Only one game in this genre rates higher in my book, but since tens are impossible, Sonic will have to share the same rating.” It's worth noting that Mario and Sonic fought to be the Game of the Year, but EGM ultimately sided with Sonic in 1991.

From here, it's just a race to see who can give Super Mario World a higher score. Nintendo Power tied with EGM with a 4.5 out of 5, while ACE used their ridiculous one-thousand-point system to give the game a score of 910. And then there's Super Play, who gave the game a 94% and argued that Super Mario World is “an amazingly deep and playable platform game, and a credit to Nintendo.” That said, they also gave us this caveat: “Although true Mario lovers tend to prefer the third game on the NES, this is a real landmark in console game history.”

If you're looking for the really high scores, then you'll find Nintendo Magazine System giving Mario a 98%, which is the same score we saw from Mean Machines in their 17th issue. 98% is also where Computer + Video Games landed, with Rob Swan addressing the great Mario debate head-on: “I thought there was no way that Mario III on the NES could be topped for sheer playability, but then along comes Mario IV, and blows it away. Super Mario World is a brilliant example of what the Super Famicom is capable of. The graphics are absolutely brilliant, with some fantastic visual gags and the marvelous music. Overall, a totally fantastic game – what more can I say?” Honestly, there's nothing more to say, because it's Mario World, and everybody already has an opinion. If you've never played it before, then what are you doing with your life??

If Nintendo did anything right with their selection of Game Boy games on the Nintendo Switch Online service, it's skipping right past the original Super Mario Land and giving us the far superior sequel. While it doesn't quite feel like the console games, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins brings a lot of new ideas and innovation to the side-scrolling franchise. It also looks great for a Game Boy game and is criminally underplayed, with many die-hard Mario fans skipping right over it in favor of the flashier console games.

The good news is that Electronic Gaming Monthly's Review Crew were not among the people skipping right over it, because they gave Super Mario Land 2 an average score of 8.75 out of 10 in their 43rd issue. Ed raved that “if there ever was a Game Boy game that was a 10, this is the one. Almost, anyway. Nintendo has literally created a new Super NES version and shrunk it into the Game Boy.” Sushi-X was the only critic to not give the game a 9, though said that it was his favorite Game Boy title. “The large adventure, and huge characters help reduce the horrible blurring of the screen somewhat. I'll have to give the Big N a ‘jo well done' salute for this one. Color would be nice.” Oh Sush, never satisfied.

Across the pond, you saw the UK mags largely agreeing with Sushi-X. N-Force ended up giving the game an 87% in their eighth issue. That's the exact same score Nintendo Magazine System gave Super Mario Land 2 in issue 2. Nintendo Power also liked the game, but could only muster up a score of 4.1 out of 5. George raved that “everything about this game is top notch,” while Rob liked the bunny suit thought it was fun flapping Mario's ears and sending him flying over dangerous obstacles. And then there's Jade who makes this bold prediction: “This game is going to be a big hit.” A Mario game is going to sell well? Way to put yourself out there, Nostradamus.

In case you're wondering, the highest score comes from none other than GamePro, who gave Super Mario Land 2 a perfect 5 out of 5. “Super Mario Land 2 is the most fun found on the Game Boy in a long time. The game play is not affected y the little screen, and some stages are more challenging than their 8-bit counterparts. Super Mario Land 2 is the kind of game that you'll play again and again. With so many hidden stages and so much awesome action, your battery bill will run as high as the plumber's bill. With everything and the kitchen sink included, this cart makes other Game Boy titles seem like sink sludge.” And if that doesn't sway you to download Super Mario Land 2 on Switch, nothing will.

Perhaps fearing that angry Mario fans would burst through the doors demanding a new adventure, Nintendo decided to release a stopgap game to hold people over until Super Mario World 2 was ready. That game was Super Mario All-Stars, a compilation that featured completely redrawn ports of Super Mario Bros. 1 – 3, plus the Japanese version Super Mario Bros. 2 released for the first time in the West under the name The Lost Levels. It had only been a few years since the 8-bit release of Super Mario Bros. 3, but fans were more than eager to buy a new version of the game with enhanced 16-bit graphics, especially if it meant that they would be getting new content. What a deal. Let's see if the critics shared that same enthusiasm for this groundbreaking game compilation.

Before we get to the critics who couldn't wait to write glowing reviews, we first need to check in with Die Hard Game Fan, who were a little cranky when it came to Super Mario All-Stars. Just how cranky are we talking about? Check out this review from Skid: “What a thrill, all of my bad memories of 8-bit in living color ... boring, boring, happy, happy. I'm sorry, but the old Mario games just haven't stood the test of time. The music and sound FX are great, but the control is too loose and it's all just too cuddly. I believe it's time to retire Mario for a more ‘90s character.” To be fair to the magazine, the other critics liked it more than Skid, with Sgt. Gamer arguing that “it may just be me, but I can't get too excited about reliving the golden days of 8-bit with some scrolls, better sound and music. This collection of golden moldies is a must for ‘true” Mario fans, but I'm not one of them. This is Nintendo's biggest title for Christmas season, Santa's gonna be traveling light.”

Of course, Game Fan was the outlier, as every other magazine loved Super Mario and his All-Star collection of games. The next lowest score came from Nintendo Power, who went with a relatively safe 4.1 out of 5. Electronic Gaming Monthly, on the other hand, gave the game a 9.25 out of 10, with one of the critics giving it a perfect score. Ed raved that “All-Stars is a masterpiece from beginning to end. Although it really is nothing new, All-Stars blows the roof off the fun factor! Four fun games with enhanced graphics and music is just too much. The best part is that all those wonderful secrets have been left in.” Martin also loved the game and was one of the few critics to single out The Lost Levels: “As a big Mario fan, you can't say enough good things about this cart. The old 8-bit Marios were great, but converting them to the Super NES has made them even better. The graphics and sound have improved and it plays just as good. The Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2 that never came to the U.S. is my favorite.”

The scores only go up from here. Computer & Video Games gave Mario a 94%, while Nintendo Magazine System went a bit higher with a 95%. Looking for a score of 96%? Well, Super Play has you covered. In fact, Super Mario All-Stars is their second-best reviewed Super NES game of all time. The highest score once again comes from our friends over at GamePro, who gave the game a perfect 5 out of 5: “Who could ask for more? This is the ultimate collector's cart – hundreds of hours of plumbing game play. It's a Mario lover's dream come true.”

While I'm sure there were plenty of Mario fans who would have preferred a proper sequel, there's no question that this All-Star compilation was a big hit with both critics and consumers. It's a shame that it didn't lead to more classic game collections from Nintendo.

These days, we're used to Nintendo taking its time to release new Mario adventures. After all, Wonder came out six-years after Odyssey, and there was a seven-year gap between that and Super Mario Galaxy 2. But that was not the case in during the 8-bit era, as Mario fans had a new side-scrolling platformer to look forward to every couple of years. So, when Nintendo released Super Mario World in 1991 alongside the Super NES, most fans expected to see a follow-up in 1993 or, at the absolute latest, 1994. But that didn't happen. Instead, Nintendo decided to release the true follow-up to Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, in 1995, and that wasn't the only surprise. As the title suggests, this is more of a Yoshi game than a new Mario platformer. Yes, Mario was there in baby form, but clearly there were some big changes between Super Mario World 1 and 2. Let's see if the critics had a problem with these changes.

Spoiler alert: Most magazines loved this sequel and had no problem letting Yoshi take over for a while. That said, there was one outlier – Game Players. Giving it a 7.6 out of 10, Game Players was by far the toughest critic. They complained that “this game looks like a first-generation Super NES title” and that “most of the sounds are straight from Super Mario World.” They concluded that “Yoshi's Island could have been done better. It doesn't really need rendered graphics, just more time put into a project that Nintendo clearly didn't have faith in. Hopefully Nintendo is going to concentrate on these types of games more in the future. They may not appeal to the ‘blood ‘n gore' audience that the company has worked so hard to win over, but there's always a place in gamers' hearts for fun, well-made games.”

Okay, with that out of our system, let's proceed with the gushing. That's right, everybody else loved Yoshi's Island. I mean, the next lowest scores include a 4.2 out of 5 from Nintendo Power and GamePro giving the platformer a 4.5 out of 5. Not exactly terrible scores. The same is true for Super Play, who ended up giving the long-awaited sequel a 94%, making it the magazine's fifth best-reviewed Super NES game of all time. “As the best game since Super Metroid, Yoshi's Island is a testament to Nintendo's untouchable design skills. It won't last as long as is ideal, but that's because you'll be so addicted scrabbling through the thing. How it's going to be topped, I really don't know, but I'm looking forward to seeing it happen.”

Now, when it comes to the highest scores, Die Hard Game Fan came about as close to giving Yoshi's Island an average score of 100% without actually giving it a 100%. That's why we're instead going to turn our gaze to the notoriously grumpy Next Generation, who gave the game a perfect 5 out of 5, something that was extremely rare for a last generation game. “The long-awaited follow-up to Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, does a good job of picking up where the original left off. Although it would be nearly impossible to capture the magic of a Mario game without Mario as the main character, it's encouraging to see that Nintendo can still adventure with enough charm and sophistication to capture the hearts of Mario fans from long ago. You'll find yourself baffled at the task of completing this gargantuan game, but you'll definitely enjoy trying.”

While it may not have been the sequel that Mario fans expected, you don't see many people complaining about Yoshi's Island. Despite what Game Players said at the time, this is a gorgeous game that has held up surprisingly well. Give it a play, if you somehow missed this classic.

If you grew up in the 1980s and 90s, then there was an expectation whenever Nintendo released a new console. You see, no matter how big or small the system was, Nintendo would always pair the launch with a Mario platformer. You saw the original Super Mario Bros. with the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mario Land on the Game Boy, Mario World on the Super NES and, of course, Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64. So, when it came to Nintendo's next-generation handheld, all eyes were on what Mario game would launch with the Game Boy Advance. Unfortunately, instead of coming up with something new and original, Nintendo decided to bring back an old favorite – Super Mario Bros. 2. Specifically, it was an updated version of the 16-bit All-Stars version released a decade earlier, but it was still Mario 2. Did that disappoint die-hard Nintendo fans? Probably not. But we're here to see what the critics said back when this happened.

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Super Mario Advance good scores, but you could tell that there was some disappointment in the game choice. For example, Shoe argued that while “Mario Advance is an improved version of the already practically perfect game,” “most people would probably agree with me that Super Mario 2, although great, is the least favorite in the series.” He liked that the original stuff was preserved nicely, but was annoyed by the new voices. Mark also enjoyed this re-release, concluding that “if you've never played Mario 2 before, you'll love Mario Advance: Solid platforming action, with four very different playable characters, air-tight control, and the added twist of an alternate dimension for all the levels. If you've already played Mario 2 to death (like me), there are a few cool additions, but nothing worth getting excited about.” EGM ended up giving Super Mario Advance an average score of 8.3 out of 10.

While Electronic Gaming Monthly may have held back their enthusiasm, it was Nintendo Power that seemed the most annoyed by this re-release. Giving it 3.5 out of 5, Drew called the game “primitive by comparison to Rayman.” Alan twisted that knife, asking the question on everybody's mind: “Why remake Super Mario Bros. 2 when Super Mario Bros. 3 is an infinitely better game? Yawn. Mario Bros., on the other hand, is a fine piece of work, adding an extra star to Super Mario Advance's score.”

While Nintendo Power may have been down on it, Game Informer had no problem giving the game an average score of 8.9 out of 10 and highly recommending Super Mario Advance. The same goes for GamePro, who gave the game a 4.5 out of 5 and called it: “the weirdest and most underrated of Mario's many surreal adventures.” “Mario Advance may not be the most impressive showcase for the Game Boy Advance's power, but it's great for a nostalgic trip, great for a road trip ... hell, it's just plain great.” This seems to be how a lot of the fans reacted, which led to Nintendo releasing three more of these Mario Advance games on the GBA. Thankfully, they are all better than this first installment.

After launching the Game Boy Advance with a port of Super Mario Bros. 2, many figured that Nintendo would follow this up with another title from Super Mario All-Stars. But as long-time Nintendo fans will attest, when you expect the company to zig, they always zag, making it hard to know exactly what they'll do next. Instead of getting an updated version of Super Mario Bros. 1 or 3, they jumped right to Super Mario World, the beloved Super NES pack-in game. While everybody agreed that Super Mario World was a great platformer, the question remained: Were the critics enthusiastic about this re-release?

When it came to Electronic Gaming Monthly, the answer to that question is an enthusiastic “yes.” John started his review with a simple question: “One of the best platform games of all time is now available in handheld form for only $30 ... honestly, what more could you ask for? The GBA conversion of Super Mario World is almost flawless, with just a few minor quirks that only hardcore fans of the original will notice.” Chris took this time to make a controversial confession: “Of all the Marios, World's my least favorite – but I still love it. It's like trying to decide which color of Skittles is best: They're all good. The improvements are welcome but unnecessary. Will anyone honestly play as Luigi? Maybe if you have to do everything, but he's too slow and awkward.” EGM ended up giving Mario Advance 2 an average score of 9 out of 10, a big improvement over the first game.

Unsurprisingly, Nintendo Power also liked this sequel more than the original, giving Mario Advance 2 a score of 4.5 out of 5. Jenni explains that “Super Mario World is a brilliant platformer, full of the things the world loves Mario games for – creative level designs, excellent challenges and tricky secrets.” George agreed, concluding that “Super Mario World was the best side-scrolling action game of all time when it was released over 10 years ago, and it still is the best today.”

You saw similar scores from Computer & Video Games, who gave the game a 9 out of 10. Game Informer went even higher, giving Mario Advance 2 an average score of 9.4 out of 10. However, the highest score once again goes to GamePro, who gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. “This is an easy one, folks. Unless you've got something against lizards with unusually versatile tongues, you'd be nuts not to buy this perfect recreation of one of the finest platform games ever made. Buy it, play it, then think of the potential of a GBA Zelda: A Link to the Past port or the possibilities offered by a new 2D Metroid ... and set your saliva glands to permanent drool.” And would you look at that, GamePro was right. In one of Nintendo's more predictable moves, they ended up giving us a great Link to the Past port, as well as a cool new 2D Metroid sequel.

With the release of Super Mario Advance 3 inevitable, surely Nintendo would take this chance to give us an updated version of Super Mario Bros. 3, right? Nope. They saved that gem for Super Mario Advance 4, and don't call me Shirley. Instead what we got was Yoshi's Island, the follow-up to Super Mario World. While it was well-received when it came out, it had kind of gotten lost in the hype for Super Mario 64. Now was a chance to revisit this 16-bit classic, with the potential of appreciating it even more on the small screen.

Believe it or not, this is the first time Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed Yoshi's Island. That's right, they completely overlooked the game when it first hit the Super NES in 1995. We will never know how they would have rated the original game, but they did give this Game Boy Advance port an average score of 9.2 out of 10. Miguel called it “one of the freshest, most lovingly-crafted side-scrollers that still plays well to this day.” “If you're worried about Yoshi's preschool aesthetics, fret not – its visual style, while primitive, is charming and quickly grows on you.” Mark also liked the game, noting that it “bears all the trademarks of a great Mario game,” including “colorful graphics, spot-on controls and dozens of wildly different levels, all packed with enemies and obstacles that explore every gameplay possibility.”

You also saw high scores from the likes of Game Informer, who gave the game an average score of 8.75 out of 10. Computer & Video Games liked it slightly more, giving it a 9 all the way back in November of 2002. Not surprisingly, the highest score once again came from GamePro, who gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. So predictable. “As the Game Boy Advance grows up, Super NES ports are becoming a less and less welcome sight on store shelves. Yoshi is the exception that proves the rule ... don't miss this nearly lost gem of the Mario universe.” While Yoshi's Island isn't my favorite Mario platformer, it's hard to argue with GamePro's reasoning. Give it a look, if you haven't played it already.

While it was released on the Switch several months ago, I figure that we might as well talk about the final entry in the short-lived Super Mario Advance series. That's right, it's the clunkily named Super Mario Bros. 3: Super Mario Advance 4, a title that is so unwieldy that it probably single-handedly killed the franchise. Terrible name aside, I think we can all agree that this was one of the very best games on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System, but were the critics still in love 13 years later?

The answer is yes, obviously. Shoe called it “one of the best games of all time. Not just on a Nintendo system. Not just for a Mario game. Not just when it first came out many moons and mushrooms ago. OF ALL TIME. Perfect controls. Perfectly constructed stages. Perfect graphics. Perfect game design that delicately balances anyone-can-pick-it-up gameplay with hardcore platforming action that'll make your palms sweat and your stomach churn when you go for those death-defying leaps.” Shane, on the other hand, couldn't help but notice a problem with this series: “Nintendo's sure milking Mario for all he's worth. Remember Super Mario All-Stars on Super Nintendo? That game contains remakes of four classic Mario titles, while GBA owners have to dole out $30 a pop for these tasty chestnuts.”

Most of the other magazines didn't seem all that concerned about the pricing, with Game Informer giving it a 9.8 out of 10 and Nintendo Official Magazine going as high as 92%, making it one of their top-ranked games of the year. About the lowest score you're going to find is a 4.5 out of 5 from GBA World. That's the same score that GamePro gave the game, concluding that “admittedly, Super Mario Bros. 3 seems like a weird step back from Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island, but that doesn't make it less of a classic – it's a test of your true gaming mettle, a must for the Mario completist, and validation for your sense of nostalgia.” Check the game out on the Switch to see if you feel like it's a “weird step back from Yoshi's Island.”