March 2018 Game of the Month - Super Mario Bros. 3

[obsidianspider]

I’m taking the opposite approach to the goal this month. I’ve never played his game all the way through (playing every stage, no warp whistles), so I’m going to try to complete it. Oh, and yeah, I’m going to mix it up between the original Famicom, All Stars, and Game Boy Advance variants.

[lilbud]

Not going to lie when I say I actually cried when the achievement unlocked.

It took 3 tries to get the achievement, I played hardcore mode up until World 8. I had to enable saves for my sanitys sake, and my controllers sake as well.

Oh, took me 1 hour and 21 minutes to get this.

This isn't too far off from how I felt:

[mediamogul]

@obsidianspider said in March Game of the Month - Super Mario Bros. 3:

playing every stage, no warp whistles

I'm really glad to hear that. This game is a blast all the way through and if I'm being perfectly honest, rushing right to stage eight is one of the least enjoyable ways to play. The last level is a real grind and with warp whistles, it comes without any satisfaction of having already completed some of the most original level designs in all of 2D platforming. Even as a kid, I would always at least warp to world four (Giant Land) and work my way forward from there. I hope you'll continue to post as you move ahead. I can't think of the last time I've heard anyone give a fresh perspective here and I wouldn't mind seeing the game through new eyes.

[lilbud]

@obsidianspider That's actually how I beat the game originally. Something like this:

Beat every level (Mario All Stars version)

Warp Whistles run (NES Version)

2nd Whistles run (NES Version)

[mediamogul]

@lilbud

I'm not 100% sure about the criteria you guys use to determine who picks the game for the following month, whether it's based on time of completion, order in which it was completed, or even if completing it in hardcore mode verses not is a a consideration. However, it's appropriate that you and I finished on the same day, as I believe we're both likely to pick the same option. If there's one game that would have a chance of following 'Super Mario Bros. 3', it's a certain late life NES title from Taito.

[lilbud]

@mediamogul said

I'm not 100% sure about the criteria you guys use to determine who picks the game for the following month

If one person beats the challenge, they pick the next game.

If multiple people beat it, then all of them pick a game and we set it to a poll.

If no one beats it, I pick the next game.

@mediamogul said

If there's one game that would have a chance of following 'Super Mario Bros. 3', it's a certain late life NES title from Taito.

I love Little Samson!

[mediamogul]

@lilbud said in March Game of the Month - Super Mario Bros. 3:

I love Little Samson!

I've seen you mention it a few times as a potential GoTM. Alongside SMB3, it might actually be my favorite NES title. If nothing else, they're definitely my two favorite NES platformers.

[lilbud]

@mediamogul I've actually never beat it, I would definitely make it a GOTM. It's up there with some of my favorite NES games. I wish it wasn't expensive as hell or I'd buy a copy.

Favorite NES games:

1. Mario 1
2. Mario 3
3. Little Samson
4. Kirby's Adventure
5. Contra

[mediamogul]

@lilbud

That's a great list. 'Contra' especially, to me, represents the entire NES experience wrapped up into one package. It's tied to so many memories of birthdays, sleepovers and Jolt cola that even though some of its sequels have arguably surpassed it, they just don't hold a candle. I can actually beat it without the Konami code reliably and I've thought about training for a no-death run. However, I've worked on and put off doing a no-death run of Sunsoft's 'Batman' for a while now and I should probably see that through first. So many games and not enough time.

[lilbud]

@mediamogul Not quite at a no Konami code run yet. The only game I can do a no-death run of is Mario 1.

[mediamogul]

@lilbud
Nice! It's a tough game. World eight alone is no walk through the mushrooms.

[lilbud]

@mediamogul World 8 of Mario 1 has killed so many runs for me. I can usually beat the game in about 10min, providing I don't have bad luck on World 8.

[lilbud]

Today is MAR10 day

[lilbud]

Ok, you know the drill, reply if you completed the challenge. Also, if you did, suggest a game for April.

@mediamogul @obsidianspider I think you two beat the game with the whistles if i'm not mistaken.

[obsidianspider]

@lilbud I played it through with the two warp whistle trick, but I have zero proof as I don't use RetroAchievements, so if you want to let the April game of the month go to someone else, that's fine.

I started playing through going for a completion but didn't get past world 5 in that sitting.

[lilbud]

@obsidianspider Just pick a game, all picks will go into a poll and whichever wins will be it.

[obsidianspider]

@lilbud

Makaimura for WonderSwan

[lilbud]

@obsidianspider is that even playable on the pi?

[obsidianspider]

@lilbud Sure, I'm playing it right now on a Pi 3

WonderSwan is an optional system to set up.

[mediamogul]

@lilbud

I was going to suggest 'Little Sampson', as it seemed to dovetail nicely from SMB3. However, I wonder if everyone isn't burnt out on platformers, no matter how good they are. In that light, I'm going to suggest 'Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'. The challenge would be to aim for 'Gutted Like a Fish', but if no one achieved it, the player with the most cheevos at the end of the month would choose the next game, with ties suggesting as usual.