How to Beat Super Mario Bros.

On its surface, Super Mario Brothers seems like a simple game. It only has two types of power ups, a linear and platform based model, no hit points and infinite restarts, but all this hides a fun and rewarding game. Your control of your character and the levels you choose to play are the secret to beating Super Mario Brothers.

Instructions

1. Practice your movement and jumping. Mario can run over single block openings if he's going fast enough. This is the secret to some of the later tricky jumps, particularly in level 8. Mario also has limited control when in the air, so if you're about to fall in a hole, jump just a little and pull back. You may be able to save yourself.

2. Find both of the useful Warp Zones. There are two Warp Zones, one in level 1-2 and one in level 4-2, which will get you to level 8 in no time. The Warp Zone in level 1-2 is after the pipe that leads you out of the underground area. Use the elevator to run along the top of the level (where the score, coins and level are listed), past the exit pipe to a secret room, once there, choose level 4. In 4-2 the Warp Zone is in a vine world that you access by hitting hidden coin blocks. In this Warp Zone, choose level 8. There's a third Warp Zone at the end of 4-2 (which you access like the one in 1-2) but it will only take you to level 5.

3. Watch for patterns in enemy movement. Some things are easy; piranha plants don't come out of a pipe that you're touching, bullet bills don't fire when you are right next to them, green koopas walk off edges while red ones don't and so on. Others are not so easy, such as hammer brothers, throwing and jumping style. By watching and waiting for the right time to move, Mario can avoid many of his enemy's attacks.

4. Use fire power as often as you can. It's easy to get and even easier to lose, so shoot out fireballs as much as possible. When you run through long straight areas, make sure you have a few fireballs in front of you in case an enemy pops up.

5. Memorize the layout of the enemies and platforms in the zone if you're still having trouble with a certain area. You have unlimited restarts in Mario Brothers, and even though you have to begin at the first stage on a level, it should be enough for you to see how things are set up.