Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch)

Super Mario Bros. is a Game & Watch version of the original NES game of the same name. It was released in 1986 as the first of the Crystal Screen series. This version is noted for its transparent screen, weak speakers, and simple sprites. Mario, for example, resembles how he appeared in earlier titles like Mario's Cement Factory. The next release is the extremely rare version that comes with packaging that looks like Family Computer Disk System's mascot Diskun, which was awarded to contestants of the Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race tournament that was held from October 30 to December 15, 1987, in Japan. This special edition, of which only 10,000 were ever produced, was the only version available in Japan as Nintendo had discontinued releasing new Game & Watch titles there after Spring 1985. As such, it lacks the Game & Watch branding and its mold differentiates it from all other Game & Watch units. The special edition updates Mario's sprites to make him more recognizable. In 1988, this game was re-released as part of the New Wide Screen series, which is actually an older series than Crystal Screen series. Like the special edition, this version uses the updated sprites and has better audio, but lacks the transparent screen. A Mini Classics version was released in 1998 that is essentially the same as the special edition and the New Wide Screen version.

The Crystal Screen, special edition, and New Wide Screen versions of Super Mario Bros. have the same gameplay. The overall plot is identical to that of the NES Super Mario Bros., but the game is shorter and simpler.

Story
Story from the instruction booklet: Mario, Help!

I am Princess Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom. I am in the hands of the Bowser, King of the Koopa. Please rescue me and bring back the peace to the Kingdom of Mushroom. But Mario, you must pass through the dangerous 8 Worlds and face all the ferocious enemy that confronts you.

At the end of each world, an illusion of me will be there to guide you to the next world. However, there are also friends around you. On some of the floors you ride on, there are STARMAN and 1 UP MUSHROOM which I have hidden. These will appear when the floor is punched from the bottom with the JUMP button. The STARMAN makes you invincible for 10 seconds and the 1 UP MUSHROOM gives you 1 extra life. This is the utmost I can offer you Mario, and from here on you must use your own strength. Please save me as soon as you can.

Princess Toadstool

Bowser has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, and Mario is off to save her. The difference is that at the end of every level, Mario finds the princess without having to fight Bowser or a boss.

Gameplay
Mario must go through eight auto-scrolling levels without falling and losing a life. When the levels are cleared, Mario must repeat them in the next loop. The second loops and onward have enemies. Further, Lakitus toss a hammer instead of tossing Spinies, and Bullet Bills appear randomly. There is a total of nine loops of increasing difficulty. There are two types of levels: scroll screen levels and timer screen levels. On the scroll screen levels, Mario must travel a given distance displayed on the screen. On the timer screen levels, Mario has to go through the world within a given time. Mario can also obtain 1 Up Mushrooms and Starmen by hitting platforms, just like in the NES version, at certain places during specific events within the game.

The Game & Watch has a 1-bit palette (only black and white). Due to the low-powered CPU, the game does not feature Luigi or multiplayer mode. This is one of the few Game & Watch games that do not have a Game B.

Holding Jump and pressing the Game button starts Mario on L3-1, with 90 distance and enemies enabled.

Characters

 * Mario
 * The Bowser
 * Bullet Bill
 * Alarm Koopa (Alarm character)
 * Lakitu
 * Spinning Flame
 * Princess Toadstool

Levels

 * World No. 1 Canyon
 * World No. 2 Gym
 * World No. 3 Burning Room
 * World No. 4 Channel
 * World No. 5 Hop
 * World No. 6 Beam
 * World No. 7 Maze
 * World No. 7a 3Choice
 * World No. 8 Burning Road

Trivia

 * 34 years later, another Game & Watch version of Super Mario Bros. was made. However, this one is a direct port of the NES original as opposed to the more primitive gameplay of the Game & Watch game.