Super Mario Bros. 3 - from Nes to Snes

More information about Super Mario Bros. 3 for the nes can be found here, Images for the nes version can be found here. If you are after more information about Super Mario All stars then click here, and find more images from the game here.

The change from the NES version of the game to the Snes version of the game is quite dramatic. In the below images we compare our two heroes from both game versions. Notice how Luigi is no longer a re-coloured Mario clone, he is now his usual tall lanky self.

Not only did the characters get a make over, the worlds are now different too. Instead of the plain backgrounds of the NES world, the levels now are in 3D.

In SMAS the blooks now only cast a shadow on fellow blocks, this gives them a more realistic feel.

Pipes have been given a nice new coat of paint, giving them a shine. Question blocks are no longer suspended by nails, and even the grass has been given a good sprucing up.

Underground levels were given a more realistic feel in the SMAS remake, nolonger are the backgrounds littered with stars, but now a more cave-like feel is present.

The sky has changed forever in the Mushroom Kingdom, realistic clouds have taken the place of the random item outlines.

The night sky now is filled with clouds and lightning effects when on skyships.

World 8 levels are given different effects.

Fireballs now remain the same colour when in different areas.

Players are forced to fend for themselves when it comes to finding hidden blocks, with brighter stars removed secrets are left...well...more secret.

Graphic glitches have now been fixed, with the sides of the screen being drawn properly in certain levels.

Rotodiscs and Boos have now been given motion tails, perhaps to increase their scary-ness.

The title screen has been changed significantly. Not only has music been added, it can be downloaded here, the page itself has been all-stars-erized, with softer shadows on the lettering, the curtains actually look like curtains, the back ground is more detailed, and several other small changes.

New to Super Mario All Stars is the option of a Battle Game which has a similar play style to that of the battle mode, however there are several new features:

• The objective this time is to win five rounds by collecting five coins from defeated enemies. If the other player dies, the survivor wins the round by default.
• Mario and Luigi start as "Super" and shrink if they touch enemies.
• Mushrooms are released sometimes from the top pipes.
• Boos replace fireballs.
• Koopa Troopas can be stomped, this leaves their shells free to kick.
• The rare red "?" mushroom item adds a new twist. Here's how it works: If Mario and Luigi are both "Super" or both small, they will trade places if one of them touches the mushroom. However, if one brother is super and the other is small, it makes the super brother small and the small brother super, and they do not trade places. I remember this caused a lot of fights when I used to play with my brother ;)

The Map Screen itself has become much more detailed. Note the several different changes bewteen NES and SNES versions of the game.

Each Hammer Bro. Has its own individual Sprite in SMAS, giving the player an indication of what kind of battle lays a ahead

A save option is now available in SMAS, which allows you to save your progress at any time. However, when you start playing a saved game again you will be transported back to the first level of the current map.

SMAS allows you to have up to 4 seperate saved games for each game.

Once you load a saved game, you cannot change the player mode.

SMAS seems to start you with one more extra life, however, the NES version considers "Mario × 0" to be your last life, whereas the SMAS version considers "Mario × 1" to be the last. Since the lives total maxes out at 99 in both versions, and the NES version lets you play on with zero lives showing in the status bar, you have a maximum of 100 lives in the NES version and 99 in SMAS.

The status bar has changed a lot, the M and L for the player have now been coloured in, as well as the Item cards. The dollar sign has also been replaced by a coin.

The item inventory has changed colours, along with several of the items.

Battle mode now issues a warning before the battle begins.

Several changes have been made to the battle iteself: The cards have a different color scheme; the POW Block changed from blue to green; the score boxes at the top are colored appropriately; the victorious character gives the Peace sign.

Starting a Level has also been changed, no longer is there a rectangle framing Mario/Luigi, a circle now frames the character after selecting a level.

Once the screen goes black, the characters are then informed they are about to start.

The level is then revealed.

The level endings have been SMAS-erized, with the white outlines being replaces by 3D colours.

Bonus Rooms have been given a face lift.

Message box text and colours were changed also.

Toad, and his Mushroom houses, have been given a grand makeover

Doors have been remade to look more like...doors.

The King's room has been Jazzed up significantly also.

All of the kings in SMAS have been transformed to characters from previous Mario games.

World 1: Dog to Cobrat (SMB2)

World 2: Spider to Hoopstar (SMB2)

World 3: Spike (SMB3) to Dino-Rhino (SMW)

World 4: Dinosaur to Donkey Kong Jr.

World 5: Bird to Albatoss (SMB2)

World 6: Seal to Monty Mole (SMW)

World 7: Venus Fire Trap (SMB3) to Yoshi

Letters from the Princess have also changed, capitalisation of "Toadstool" has changed on all of the letters.

In the nes version, the Princess is constantly moving, where as in the SNES version the princess only winks once. Click the image to see the wink.

Micro Goombas are now Harder to spot, as the bricks the hide in are given the same shine in SMAS.

World 2-2 has added 3 coins to the level in SMAS, this means you can earn the White Mushroom House without collecting any from the group of four located farthest from the P-Switch.

No longer are you restricted by the 300 second time limit when in pipe travel

In SMAS, an outline of the Tanooki/Frog/Hammer suit flies off with a "bloop" sound effect if you're wearing one when hit.

Water is now transparent, this now allows us to see the full sprite of enemies like Boss Bass.

The SMAS version doesn't let you use the warp whistle while in the canoe.

In world 3-9 Ice Blocks were removed and moved because of a pipe bug.

The water surface in the original 4-4 started out high in the beginning of the stage, then dropped lower after the big wood wall. In the SMAS version, the water surface stays consistent throughout the stage. Compared to the NES version, the water is lower in the beginning, but higher after the wood wall.

In world 5-7 The white block was changed to a blue block. This "fixes" a bug caused by the white block; if you used the white block to fall behind the scenery, then quickly went up and into a nearby pipe, the enemies on the other side could not hurt you.

The world 6 Mushroom house now gives you a Hammer suit, on the nes version of the game it was a random mushroom/fire flower/leaf.

The albino 1-up in 6-3 has been replaced by a standard 1-up .

In world 7-5 the Ice blocks were moved once more in order to prevent the old pipe bug.

Some obvious changes took place in the letter from Bowser.

The world 8 battle ships have regained their missing corner piece.

World 8-1 has been given a very nice make over, with its white outlines given colour, and the black background is replaced with a rather lush green forrest.

8-2 is no longer grey scale, it is now decked out in a brand new 3D colour fest.

The world 8 fortress is now all the one colour. The original NES version was half grey half blue. This all new all Blue fortress actually made it harder for the players in some ways.

Not only has the Princess dyed her hair blonde, she is also now in a brand new stylish pad. It seems the new one doesn't need doors to get into though!

All of the ending scenes changes too.

After "The End" screen, the NES version starts you in a new game with a full inventory of P-Wings. There is no such bonus in the SMAS version, which saves your current inventory. Instead, you push Start to bring up a "Quit / Save&Quit" menu box. After choosing either option, it'll take you back to the SMAS title screen.

All images taken from TMK.