LogFAQs > #914164246

#8. Super Mario Bros.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/43/f4/c3/43f4c3cd400643f63e0cac465908d212.jpg

It is kind of amazing how well the original Super Mario Bros holds up. Jakyl may argue with me here, but it basically codified the most popular gaming genre for a decade and was the first of its kind in so many ways. Holding down the run button to jump over bigger gaps? Killing enemies by jumping on them? The power-up? The 1-Up? All were either invented or solidified in SMB.

Many games of this era, and trailblazing games in general, get held to lower standards and often get placed on "best ever" lists because they simply broke new ground. Hell, I see people still praising Assassin's Creed 1 because it opened the door to a new style of game--and AC1 sucks. But the praise of SMB is not unwarranted. I legitimately had a great time running through this game, trying to assess the exact point in which I passed the furthest stage I'd gotten to as a kid, and then ultimately beating a surprisingly challenging final world.

But... there is also a reason why this is the lowest Mario game on the list. The controls can feel a bit slippery at times, which leads to many annoying moments that forced me nearly break my controller. The Bowser fights are notoriously repetitive and mechanically uninteresting (I found the best strategy usually just involved kamikaze-ing into Bowser as Super Mario and running straight to the axe). And of course, the level of polish graphically and otherwise just doesn't compare to the later entries.

Despite its flaws, Super Mario Bros. remains probably the oldest game that I can still genuinely enjoy to play to this day, and its place among the greats is quite deserved.

Not good
11. Sonic the Hedgehog

Fine
10. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Great
9. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
8. Super Mario Bros.
7.

Excellent
6.
5.

Spectacular
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3.

All-timers
2.
1.
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"A more mature answer than I expected."~ Jakyl25
"Sephy's point is right."~ Inviso