Quick Play Special: Super Mario Bros

Because it's Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary, we're sharing this with everyone. Welcome to Quick Play, the Patreon-exclusive spin-off of the Retrotopia Podcast! This is where we shine a spotlight on games that don't quite fit our main show — maybe they're too short, too weird, or just too wild — but still deserve some love. Each episode, one of us dives in solo to give you a bite-sized review.

Brian is talking about Super Mario Bros., a game about running, jumping, and stomping your way through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from the evil Bowser. Released on the NES in 1985, it’s the platformer that defined the genre and set the standard for video games to come. But this episode isn’t about the gameplay, it’s about the fascinating details behind its creation. From the clever hardware tricks the developers used to squeeze so much game onto a tiny cartridge, to how Shigeru Miyamoto and his team designed Mario’s look and movement with technical limitations in mind, Brian dives into the hidden stories that shaped one of the most influential games of all time.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

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