Who could have guessed at the kind of influence, legacy and impact that a simple platform game like Super Mario Bros. would amass? It is, of course, one of the best video games ever made - the definitive platform title, notable not only for its soundtrack cues, visual aesthetic and iconic characters, but for the quality and care with which the game was crafted under the supervision of Nintendo master, icon and guru, Shigeru Miyamoto. As brothers Mario and Luigi, players were invited to traverse a variety of uniquely-designed "worlds," one by one - in an attempt to rescue a captive princess. Stomping goombas and crushing koopas was essential. There have been countless sequels, spin-offs, and imitators ever since, but none truly come close in their attempts to capture whatever it is that makes Super Mario Bros. so great. Still as fun to play now as it was back in 1985, there is no other word that describes this game better than "perfection."
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
