Mario Bros. Special

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Not to be confused with Super Mario Bros. Special.
Mario Bros. Special
The box art for Mario Bros. Special
Box art of the PC-8801 version.
Developer Hudson Soft
Publisher Hudson Soft
Platform(s) PC-6001mkII/PC-6601, PC-8001, PC-8801mkII, PC-9801, FM-7, Sharp X1, Sharp MZ-1500, Sharp MZ-2200, Hitachi S1, and SMC-777
Release date PC-8801, PC-8001mkII, PC-6001mkII/PC-6601, Sharp X1, Sharp MZ-1500, Sharp MZ-2200, FM-7, Hitachi S1, SMC-777
Japan August 1984
PC-9801
Japan 1985[1][dead link]
Genre Retro/Platformer
Mode(s) Up to two players simultaneously
Media 5.25-inch floppy, Cassette

Mario Bros. Special (マリオブラザーズ スペシャル) is a game developed and released by Hudson Soft in 1984. The game had versions for the PC-6001mkII/PC-6601, PC-8001,[2] PC-8801mkII, PC-9801, FM-7, Sharp X1, Sharp MZ-1500, Sharp MZ-2200, Hitachi S1,[3] and SMC-777,[4] most of which had noticeable differences between each other (palette, sound, flow of gameplay, etc.). About two years after Mario Bros. Special and Punch Ball Mario Bros. were released, Hudson released Super Mario Bros. Special.

Gameplay[edit]

Like Punch Ball Mario Bros., the game is not a straight port of Mario Bros., but more of a sequel. It has adjustments to the game's graphics and sounds and even a Time Limit. Players start with four lives but there is no way of getting an extra life.

There are four different wraparound screens. In the first, Mario must make his way to the top of the screen through four platforms with moving gaps, avoiding enemies in later stages. Once there, he must hit five switches, twice each, and quickly make it to either side before the switches deactivate.

For the second stage, Mario must jump on trampolines to stun enemies and kick them off, avoiding a green fireball once it appears. Once all enemies are gone, a platform will appear at the top of the screen, and jumping onto it will complete the stage.

In the third stage, Mario must take the lift up to the top Conveyor Belts and collect disappearing dollar signs while avoiding enemies, which can be stunned by jumping on the conveyor belts while they're on them like the trampolines above. Once six dollar signs have been collected, a ring will appear at the top of the screen, and getting onto the moving platform, from there onto the top middle one, and touching it will complete the stage.

Finally, the fourth screen is a bonus stage with no enemies. If Mario collects all eight dollar signs before the time runs out, a ring will appear at the top for extra bonus points. In later stages, the platforms have moving gaps like the first screen.

Enemies[edit]

Excluding fireballs, there can be no more than six enemies per phase. Unlike in Mario Bros., enemies do no change color or move faster after righting themselves up or becoming the last enemy on screen. There are two ways of dispatching enemies. The first way is to jump over or right next to them and hit a platform or object above the player. This will not permanently defeat them but send them back to the pipes to respawn and awards 100 points. The second and permanent method is to stun them while they are on the trampolines or conveyor belts and kicking them for 800 points. Defeating multiple enemies in a row will give higher scores.

  • Shellcreeper - behaves like the enemies in the original game, they first appear in Phase 2.
  • Sidestepper - acts identically to Shellcreepers but will have an angry face after righting themselves. They make their introduction in Phase 6.
  • Fighterfly - hopping enemies that are difficult to stun, they first appear in Phase 9.
  • Green fireball - this invincible enemy only appears in trampoline stages whenever Mario lingers too long in one area beginning with Phase 2. Like in the original game, it travels horizontally in a wavy pattern.
  • Red fireball - also invincible, it only appears in conveyor belt stages starting with Phase 35. It makes diagonal patrols in the space between the top platforms and the moving platform. Starting in Phase 51, it is joined by a second red fireball.

Pre-release and unused content[edit]

The July 1984 issue of Micom Basic Magazine had screenshots published by Hudson Soft to advertise the then-upcoming game. Since this was prior to release, there are several differences between these screenshots and the final game. The most notable changes were made to the third stage, which was seemingly going to simply be a harder version of the second stage with conveyor belts in place of the trampoline. Interestingly, the early version of the second stage has its trampoline layout reversed, while the conveyor belt layout of the early version of the third stage matches the trampoline layout of the final second stage.

Trivia[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • Flyer promoting both Mario Bros. Special and Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū.

  • Title screen of the game.

  • Phase 1, 5, etc. Holes constantly move in the platforms.

  • Phase 2, 6, etc. Trampolines bounce enemies onto their backs.

  • Phase 3, 7, etc. Conveyor belts and lifts

  • Phase 4, 8, etc. Bonus stage

  • Pre-release version of the first stage, circa July 1984

  • Pre-release version of the second stage, circa July 1984

  • Pre-release version of the third stage, circa July 1984

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://nintendoera.com/discussing-hudsons-mario-games-with-native-japanese-speaker-bando/
  2. ^ Mario Bros. Special (NEC PC-8001) Tape Dump and Scans
  3. ^ Mario Bros. Special - Versions Comparison
  4. ^ Image of the box of the SMC-777 version.

External links[edit]

[Edit]
Mario games
Platformers Super Mario series Super Mario Bros. (1985, NES) • 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) • Super Mario 64 (1996, N64) • Super Mario Sunshine (2002, GCN) • New Super Mario Bros. (2006, DS) • 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) • Super Mario 3D World (2013, Wii U) • Super Mario Maker (2015, Wii U) • Super Mario Run (2016, iOS/iPadOS/Android) • Super Mario Odyssey (2017, Switch) • Super Mario Maker 2 (2019, Switch)
Donkey Kong /
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series 		Donkey Kong (1981, arcade) • Donkey Kong (1994, GB) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004, GBA) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2006, DS) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (2009, DSiWare) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! (2010, DS) • Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move (2013, 3DS) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (2015, 3DS/Wii U) • Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (2016, 3DS/Wii U)
Mario Bros. series Mario Bros. (1983, arcade) • Mario Bros. Special (1984, computer) • Punch Ball Mario Bros. (1984, computer) • Mario Clash (1995, VB)
Wrecking Crew series VS. Wrecking Crew (1984, VS) • Wrecking Crew (1985, NES) • Wrecking Crew '98 (1998, SFC)
Other Mario Bros. (1983, G&W) • Mario's Cement Factory (1983, G&W) • Super Mario Bros. Special (1986, computer) • Mario & Wario (1993, SNES) • Hotel Mario (1994, CD-i) • Super Princess Peach (2005, DS) • New Super Luigi U (2013, Wii U) • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2014, Wii U) • Super Mario Bros. 35 (2020, Switch)
Ports and remakes Crazy Kong (1981, arcade) • Donkey Kong (1982, G&W) • VS. Super Mario Bros. (1986, VS) • Super Mario Bros. (1986, G&W) • All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros. (1986, FDS) • Kaettekita Mario Bros. (1988, FDS) • Super Mario Bros. (1989, NGW) • Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990, NGW) • Super Mario World (1991, NGW) • Super Mario All-Stars (1993, SNES) • Donkey Kong (1994, NGW) • Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (1994, SNES) • BS Super Mario USA (1996, SNES) • BS Super Mario Collection (1997, SNES) • Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (1999, GBC) • Super Mario Advance (2001, GBA) • Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (2002, GBA) • Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (2003, GBA) • Famicom Mini Series (2004, GBA) • Classic NES Series (2004-2005, GBA) • Super Mario 64 DS (2004, DS) • Virtual Console (2006-current, Wii/3DS/Wii U) • Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition (2010, Wii) • Luigi Bros. (2013, Wii U) • Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (2016, 3DS) • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2018, Switch/3DS) • New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019, Switch) • Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020, Switch) • Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. (2020, G&W) • Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021, Switch)
Tech demos snd_test (Unknown, SNES) • Super Mario 128 (2000, GCN) • New Super Mario Bros. Mii (2011, Wii U) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong Wii U demo (2014, Wii U)
Canceled games Super Mario's Wacky Worlds (CD-i) • Mario Takes America (CD-i) • VB Mario Land (VB) • Super Mario 64 2 (N64DD)
Mario Kart series Main Super Mario Kart (1992, SNES) • Mario Kart 64 (1996, N64) • Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001, GBA) • Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003, GCN) • Mario Kart DS (2005, DS) • Mario Kart Wii (2008, Wii) • Mario Kart 7 (2011, 3DS) • Mario Kart 8 (2014, Wii U) • Mario Kart Tour (2019, iOS/iPadOS/Android)
Arcade Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005, arcade) • Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007, arcade) • Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013, arcade) • Mario Kart Arcade GP VR (2017, arcade)
Other Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (2020, Switch)
Ports Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017, Switch)
Tech demos Mario Kart for Nintendo GameCube (2001, GCN) • Mario Kart XXL (2004, GBA)
Canceled games VB Mario Kart (VB)
Mario Party series Main Mario Party (1998, N64) • Mario Party 2 (1999, N64) • Mario Party 3 (2000, N64) • Mario Party 4 (2002, GCN) • Mario Party 5 (2003, GCN) • Mario Party 6 (2004, GCN) • Mario Party 7 (2005, GCN) • Mario Party 8 (2007, Wii) • Mario Party 9 (2012, Wii) • Mario Party 10 (2015, Wii U) • Super Mario Party (2018, Switch) • Mario Party Superstars (2021, Switch)
Handheld games Mario Party Advance (2005, GBA) • Mario Party DS (2007, DS) • Mario Party: Island Tour (2013, 3DS) • Mario Party: Star Rush (2016, 3DS) • Mario Party: The Top 100 (2017, 3DS)
Arcade Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (2004, arcade) • Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party 2 (2005, arcade) • Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher (2009, arcade) • Mario Party Kurukuru Carnival (2012, arcade) • Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher 2 (2013, arcade) • Mario Party Challenge World (2016, arcade)
Other Mario Party-e (2003, GBA)
Sports games Mario Golf series Golf (1984, NES) • Family Computer Golf: Japan Course (1987, FDS) • Family Computer Golf: U.S. Course (1987, FDS) • NES Open Tournament Golf (1991, NES) • Mario Golf (1999, N64) • Mario Golf (1999, GBC) • Mobile Golf (2001, GBC) • Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (2003, GCN) • Mario Golf: Advance Tour (2004, GBA) • Mario Golf: World Tour (2014, 3DS) • Mario Golf: Super Rush (2021, Switch)
Mario Tennis series Mario's Tennis (1995, VB) • Mario Tennis (2000, N64) • Mario Tennis (2000, GBC) • Mario Power Tennis (2004, GCN) • Mario Tennis: Power Tour (2005, GBA) • Mario Tennis Open (2012, 3DS) • Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (2015, Wii U) • Mario Tennis Aces (2018, Switch)
Mario Baseball series Baseball (1989, GB) • Mario Superstar Baseball (2005, GCN) • Mario Super Sluggers (2008, Wii)
Mario Strikers series Super Mario Strikers (2005, GCN) • Mario Strikers Charged (2007, Wii) • Mario Strikers: Battle League (2022, Switch)
Other Donkey Kong Hockey (1984, G&W) • Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race (1987, FDS) • Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally (1988, FDS) • Super Mario Race (1992, GwB) • Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (2006, DS) • Mario Sports Mix (2010, Wii) • Mario Sports Superstars (2017, 3DS)
Ports New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis (2009, Wii)
Canceled games Super Mario Spikers (Wii)
Role-playing games Paper Mario series Paper Mario (2000, N64) • Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004, GCN) • Super Paper Mario (2007, Wii) • Paper Mario: Sticker Star (2012, 3DS) • Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016, Wii U) • Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020, Switch)
Mario & Luigi series Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003, GBA) • Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005, DS) • Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009, DS) • Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (2013, 3DS) • Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (2015, 3DS)
Other Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996, SNES)
Remakes Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (2017, 3DS) • Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018, 3DS)
Canceled games Super Mario RPG 2 (N64DD) • Super Paper Mario (GCN)
Dr. Mario series Main Dr. Mario (1990, NES) • Dr. Mario 64 (2001, N64) • Dr. Mario Online Rx (2008, WiiWare) • Dr. Mario Express (2008, DSiWare) • Dr. Luigi (2013, Wii U) • Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (2015, 3DS) • Dr. Mario World (2019, iOS/iPadOS/Android)
Other VS. Dr. Mario (1990, VS) • Dr. Mario (1993, GwB)
Remakes Tetris & Dr. Mario (1994, SNES) • Nintendo Puzzle Collection (2003, GCN) • Dr. Mario & Puzzle League (2005, GBA)
Luigi's Mansion series Main Luigi's Mansion (2001, GCN) • Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (2013, 3DS) • Luigi's Mansion Arcade (2015, arcade) • Luigi's Mansion 3 (2019, Switch)
Remakes Luigi's Mansion (2018, 3DS)
Tech demos Luigi's Mansion (2000, GCN)
Educational games Mario Discovery series Mario is Missing! (1993, MS-DOS/SNES/NES) • Mario's Time Machine (1993, MS-DOS/SNES/NES) • Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters (1993, MS-DOS/SNES) • Mario's Early Years! Fun with Numbers (1994, MS-DOS/SNES) • Mario's Early Years! Preschool Fun (1994, MS-DOS/SNES)
Other Family BASIC (1984, FC) • Mario Teaches Typing (1991, MS-DOS) • Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (1991, MS-DOS) • Mario Teaches Typing 2 (1996, MS-DOS)
Ports Mario's Early Years! CD-ROM Collection (1995, MS-DOS)
Art utilities Games I am a teacher: Super Mario Sweater (1986, FDS) • Super Mario Bros. Print World (1991, MS-DOS) • Mario Paint (1992, SNES) • Super Mario Collection Screen Saver (1997, PC) • Mario no Photopi (1998, N64) • Mario Artist: Paint Studio (1999, N64DD) • Mario Artist: Talent Studio (2000, N64DD) • Mario Artist: Communication Kit (2000, N64DD) • Mario Artist: Polygon Studio (2000, N64DD) • Mario Family (2001, GBC)
Canceled games Mario Artist: Game Maker / Graphical Message Maker / Sound Maker / Video Jockey Maker (N64DD)
Miscellaneous Games Mario's Bombs Away (1983, G&W) • Pinball (1984, NES) • Alleyway (1989, GB) • Mario's Egg Catch (1990, SMBW) • Luigi's Hammer Toss (1990, SMBW) • Princess Toadstool's Castle Run (1990, SMBW) • Mario the Juggler (1991, G&W) • Yoshi's Safari (1993, SNES) • Undake30 Same Game (1995, SFC) • Mario's Game Gallery (1995, MS-DOS) • Mario's Picross (1995, GB) • Mario's Super Picross (1995, SFC) • Donkey Kong (slot machine) (1996, arcade) • Picross 2 (1996, GB) • Mario's FUNdamentals (1998, Windows) • Picross NP (1999-2000, SFC) • Super Mario Fushigi no Janjan Land (2003, arcade) • Mario Pinball Land (2004, GBA) • Yakuman DS (2005, DS)
Tech demos Mario Demo (1994, VB) • morphdemo (Unknown, N64) • Peach's Castle (2002, GCN) • Mario's Face (Unknown, DS) • DSpeak (2005, DS) • Koopa Troopa Forest (Unknown, Wii) • Mario FPS (Unknown, Wii)
Crossovers Super Smash Bros. series Super Smash Bros. (1999, N64) • Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001, GCN) • Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, Wii) • Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (2014, 3DS) • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014, Wii U) • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018, Switch)
Mario & Sonic series Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007, Wii) • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2008, DS) • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009, Wii) • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009, DS) • Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (2011, Wii) • Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (2012, 3DS) • Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (2013, Wii U) • Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016, Wii U) • Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016, 3DS) • Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Arcade Edition (2016, arcade) • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019, Switch) • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 - Arcade Edition (2020, arcade)
Mario + Rabbids series Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (2017, Switch) • Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (2022, Switch)
Game & Watch Gallery series Game & Watch Gallery (1997, GB) • Game & Watch Gallery 2 (1997, GB) • Game & Watch Gallery 3 (1999, GBC) • Game & Watch Gallery 4 (2002, GBA)
Itadaki Street series Itadaki Street DS (2007, DS) • Fortune Street (2011, Wii)
Other Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle (1997, Satellaview) • NBA Street V3 (2005, GCN) • Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix (2005, GCN) • SSX on Tour (2005, GCN) • Nintendo Land (2012, Wii U) • Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition (2015, 3DS)
Tech demos Chase Mii (Unknown, Wii U)
[Edit]
Computer games and applications
MS-DOS and PC games Donkey Kong • Mario's Early Years! CD-ROM Collection (Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters · Mario's Early Years! Fun with Numbers · Mario's Early Years! Preschool Fun) • Mario's FUNdamentals • Mario is Missing! • Mario Teaches Typing • Mario Teaches Typing 2 • Mario's Time Machine • Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up • Super Mario Bros. Print World • Super Mario Collection Screen Saver
Apple II Donkey Kong • Mario Bros. • Super Mario Bros. Print World
Commodore home computers Donkey Kong • Donkey Kong Jr. • Mario Bros. • Super Mario Bros. Print World
NEC personal computers Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū • Golf • Mario Bros. • Mario Bros. Special • Punch Ball Mario Bros. • Super Mario Bros. Special
Browser Camp Hyrule Donkey Konga Beat • Donkey Konk • Kremling Krunch Game • Mario Sports Complex: Barrel Blast • Virus Attack!
Nintendo Arcade 1-Up Hunt! • Banana Grab • Barrel-Blastapalooza • Bicep Pump • Bowser's Lair Hockey • Cannon Kaos • Dribble Skillz • Dr. Mario Vitamin Toss • Heads-Up • Hurling for Distance • Parasol Fall • Reflex Rally • Super Paper Mario Memory Match • Tetris DS Puzzle Mode • Timber's Balloon Pop • Wario: Master of Disguise Trivia • Yoshi's Egg Toss
Nintendo Kids Club Captain Toad's Dungeon Dash! • Luigi's Word Jumble • Make four with Mario • Mario's Festive Jigsaw Jumble • Mario's Festive Mix-up! • Match-Up Mario • Nintendo Friends Object Hunt • Peach's Puzzle • Poochy's Mix-Up • Shadow Spotter • Yoshi's Mix-Up
Other Banana Bonanza! • Donkey Kong Country Barrel Maze • Kremling Krushin • The Lab (Ask Madame Clairvoya · The Bookshelf · The Drafting Table · PolterCue) • Mario's Memory Madness • Mario Party 4 • Mario Trivia • Rolling Panic • Superstar Shootout • Wario's Whack Attack
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