List of Super Mario Bros. pre-release and unused content
This is a list of pre-release and unused content for the game Super Mario Bros.
Early iterations[edit]
Initial concepts for Super Mario Bros. show a greater focus towards attacking enemies. Specifications of the controls show that originally, the up arrow of the 
was used to jump, and the 
would be used to kick when empty-handed, use a rifle, or a "beam gun" when flying on a cloud.[1] The bullet-shooting mechanic would later become the fireballs shot by Fire Mario.[2]
The game was initially divided between ground and sky segments, which had Mario riding a rocket and shooting enemies. Tezuka later changed the idea from a rocket to a cloud.[3] The sky-based bonus areas of the final game are a remnant of this idea.[2]
Shigeru Miyamoto initially wanted Mario to ride a dinosaur-like creature in the game, but technical limitations of the Famicom prevented the concept from being implemented. This idea eventually evolved into Yoshi, who was able to be introduced in Super Mario World for the more powerful Super Famicom.[4]
The development sketches included in Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition show that the game initially had screen-by-screen scrolling (similar to the later-released Super Mario Bros. Special) rather than continuous scrolling as in the final version.[5]
Concept artwork was released in Super Mario Maker promotional videos. In one piece, it is shown that the Turtle Tribe were tentatively named and designed after the Shellcreepers from Mario Bros., in addition to a cut enemy resembling unshelled Koopa from Super Mario World.[6] Another piece shows a cut cannon-operating turtle resembling a Hammer Brother.[7] The red Koopa Troopa's Japanese description in one of these sketches states that it would "walk a little faster," similar to how the red Shellcreepers behaved compared to their green-shelled counterparts. Other unused enemies from these sketches contain a Koopa Paratroopa with a seemingly pterosaur-like head, a Spiny-like enemy that would "start a fire with concentric steps," and an early version of Bowser referred to as the "Boss Creeper." Additionally, Bowser's description mentions "hitting an energy ball from below" and states that the player could "jump and move by passing through the floor vertically", suggesting that his boss battles would have been much different.
More concept artwork would be revealed two days after the game's 38th year since its Japanese release, which showed an early version of the Fire Flower that looked somewhat like the Power Flower from Super Mario 64 DS with a "P" on it, as well as an enemy resembling a serpentine dragon with three spikes on its head and an underbite akin to the final game's Goombas (similar to the Snake enemies in Mario Clash).[8]
Visible checkpoints were considered in development.[citation needed]
The original control scheme
Concept art of the scrapped sky segments
Another piece of concept art for the sky segments
Mario riding a dinosaur-like creature that would later become Yoshi
Several Turtle Tribe members
Close up of Bowser, then named "Boss Creeper"
Other early enemy concepts
An early Fire Flower
A dragon/snake-like enemy
Early, unused poses for Super Mario
Concept art of Princess Toadstool, the mushroom retainers, a Podoboo, and an early tileset
An early green title screen
More concept art of Super Mario, with more unused poses, with what appears to be a propeller hat similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii's Propeller Mushroom
Even more concept art of Super Mario
Early sprites for Small Mario, reusing his walk cycle from Family BASIC
Early sprites of Bowser
Early builds[edit]
"Ending"[edit]
Koji Kondo originally composed "Ending" with an AABA structure, but, since the track would take up too much memory, the "B" portion was cut. The original version of "Ending" was later used for VS. Super Mario Bros. and arranged for Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.[9]
Unused "Game Over" theme[edit]
A simpler version of "Game Over" is present in the game's code.[10]
Unused content[edit]
There is a brown ball that looks similar to the top of the flagpole. Mario can climb it, similar to a vine. When he climbs the object, the sound made when hitting a block from below plays repeatedly.[11]
A short Fire-Bar that rotates counterclockwise quickly, along with a few other Fire-Bars, can be glitched into the game.[11]
Lakitu was supposed to throw Spinies in a curved fashion like he would starting with Super Mario Bros. 3. However, due to a glitch, he throws them straight down instead. This glitched behavior was carried over to Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario All-Stars, and Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, and the behavior is referenced in its Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.[11][12]
The theme that plays at the beginning of Worlds 1-2, 2-2, 4-2, and 7-2, where Mario is entering a Pipe, has a "hurry up" version, even though the timer is locked for this scene and the ensuing levels have Time Limits well above 100 seconds. This unused content presumably carries over to The Lost Levels for Worlds 1-2, 3-2, 5-2, 6-2, A-2, and B-2.
References[edit]
- ^ Iwata Asks: Super Mario 25th, volume 5, part 1 "Using the D-pad to Jump". Nintendo of America. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ^ a b Kevin Gifford (October 20, 2010). "Super Mario Bros.' 25th: Miyamoto Reveals All". 1up.com. Archived August 13, 2016, 20:52:47 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ^ Iwata Asks: Super Mario 25th, volume 5, part 2 "The New Guys, Too!". Nintendo of America. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ^ Pelland, Scott, George Sinfield, Leslie Swan, and Dan Owsen, editors (1991). The Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Redmond: Nintendo of America. Page 31.
- ^ "Mario Development Notes"
- ^ Nintendo (September 14, 2015). Nintendo Digital Event @ E3 2015. YouTube. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Nintendo (September 13, 2015). Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Special Interview ft. Shigeru Miyamoto & Takashi Tezuka. YouTube. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ YTV NEWS (September 15, 2023). Concept Art of the Early Fire Flower and Dragon-like Enemy. YouTube. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ shmuplations, "Koji Kondo – 2001 Composer Interview". Retrieved November 29, 2016
- ^ Bram Oxalate (February 5, 2019). Super Mario Bros - Unused Content. YouTube. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Super Mario Bros. The Cutting Room Floor. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Unused Spiny Egg Behavior on YouTube. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
