Super Mario Bros. Special

Super Mario Bros. Special
Developer(s)	Hudson Soft
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)	NEC PC-8801 Sharp X1
Release date	1986
Genre	Platformer
Rating(s)
Mode(s)	Single player
Media	5.25-inch floppy
Input

Super Mario Bros. Special was developed by Hudson Soft and released in 1986 for the NEC-PC8801 and Sharp X1 series of Japanese PCs. SMB Special was the first Nintendo-licensed sequel to Super Mario Bros., released shortly before Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Two years earlier, Hudson Soft had released a similar follow-up game for Mario Bros., entitled Mario Bros. Special.

While superficially very similar to the original Super Mario Bros., the game features original levels and lacks a screen-scrolling mechanism. Jumping and running physics also differ from the original, providing a more challenging experience than Super Mario Bros.. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the level timer runs much faster than in the NES/Famicom game. Returning was Mario's Hammer from Mario Tennis, alongside a variety of past foes from earlier arcade Mario titles, and new, exclusive items.

Due to the PC88's technology being slightly inferior to that of the NES/Famicom, the graphics and audio differ slightly from the original NES game as well, although they are closely emulated, and the game does not include Luigi or a multiplayer mode.

The Sharp X1 version does contain partial scrolling and better graphics but gives Mario a slighly shorter jump.

New Enemies

Hudson's staff took these enemies from earlier Mario games, none of which can be stomped, and provided them with new names:

• Tarusar (Barrel) - Originally from Donkey Kong. Can be defeated with a hammer or a bump from below.
• Sigebou (Fire) - Originally from Donkey Kong.
• Chokichoki (Sidestepper) - Originally from Mario Bros. Can be defeated with a fireball or a bump.
• Nakaji (Fighter Fly) - Originally from Mario Bros. Can be defeated with a fireball or a bump.
• Tsurara (Icicle) - Originally from Mario Bros. Can be defeated with a fireball.

New items

• Hachisuke (a.k.a. Hu-Bee) - The bee from the Hudson Soft logo. If Mario finds this item, he will be awarded 8,000 points.
• Hammer - The same power-up from Donkey Kong. It even behaves similarly.
• Clock - Upon picking this up, Mario will get a "Time 100 Up" for the level's timer.
• Wing - Collecting this causes Mario to briefly act as if he is swimming in the air.
• Lucky Star - Found only in World 4-1, it has the appearance of an atom. If Mario collects it, all enemies on-screen will be defeated.

Staff

Main article: List of Super Mario Bros. Special staff

Gallery

• 

  Hachisuke

• 

  Wing

• 

  Hammer and barrels

• 

  Lucky Star

• 

  Icicles and Sidesteppers

• 

  Fighter Flies

• 

  Fire

• 

  Clock

External Links

• Strange and Wonderful NEC PC-8801 Games (various games covered, including Super Mario Bros. Special)
• Universal Game List entry for Super Mario Bros. Special
• More information on Super Mario Bros. Special
• More information on Sharp X1 version

Mario series
Platformer	Donkey Kong (1981) • Mario Bros. (1983) • Mario's Cement Factory (1983, G&W) • Mario's Bombs Away (1983, G&W) • Mario Bros. Special (1984, PC88) • Punch Ball Mario Bros. (1984, PC88) • Wrecking Crew (1985, NES) • Super Mario Bros. (1985, NES) • Super Mario Bros. Special (1986, PC88) • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986, FDS) • Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988, NES) • Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988, NES) • Super Mario Land (1989, GB) • Super Mario World (1990, SNES) • Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992, GB) • Hotel Mario (1994, Philips CD-i) • Mario Clash (1995, VB) • Super Mario 64 (1996, N64) • Wrecking Crew '98 (1998, SFC) • Super Mario Sunshine (2002, GCN) • New Super Mario Bros. (2006, NDS) • Super Mario Galaxy (2007, Wii) • New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009, Wii) • Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010, Wii) • Super Mario 3D Land (2011, 3DS) • New Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012, 3DS) • New Super Mario Bros. U (2012, Wii U)
Role-Playing Games	Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996, SNES) • Paper Mario (2000, N64) • Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003, GBA) • Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004, GCN) • Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005, NDS) • Super Paper Mario (2007, Wii) • Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009, NDS) • Paper Mario: Sticker Star (2012, 3DS) • Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (2013, 3DS)
Ports and Remakes	Donkey Kong (1982, G&W) • Mario Bros. (1983, G&W) • Vs. Super Mario Bros. (1986, Arcade) • All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. (1986, FDS) • Super Mario Bros. (1987, G&W) • Super Mario All-Stars (1993, SNES) • Donkey Kong (1994, GB) • Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (1994, SNES) • BS Super Mario USA (1997, SNES) • Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (1999, GBC) • Super Mario Advance (2001, GBA) • Super Mario Advance 2 (2002, GBA) • Super Mario Advance 4 (2003, GBA) • Famicom Mini Series (2004, GBA) • Classic NES Series (2004-2005, GBA) • Super Mario 64 DS (2004, NDS) • Virtual Console (2006-current, Wii) • Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition (2010, Wii) • Virtual Console (2011-current, 3DS)