Here was the bomb dropped by Nintendo on Twitter yesterday: 2025 marks 40 years since the existence of the original Super Mario Bros. Four decades? Imagine it: almost old enough to be aged before any single soul reading this website. And indeed, they’re right: that tune NEVER gets old. You know that tune. Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dun… da-da-da-daaah. It’s etched in our shared gamer lens of consciousness.
An official video commemorating the occasion was released by Nintendo America, and the player’s response on the corresponding side has gone crazy ever since. The more that nostalgia starts to flood in, you could smell an old CRT television and touch the joy that came with the clunky NES controllers.
Julian literally went time traveling back to 1992 in that comment: “Wow guys, watching and listening to this has taken me back to 1992 sitting in front of my tv playing on my NES console with my two controllers, my bunch of casettes, the bulky adapter, my pistol-shaped controller and all the fun and joy aboard, unforgettable.” Damn, that’s some very specific memory right there.
But the anniversaries are a running ground for gamers to voice their concerns on what needs improvement from the company, which is a classic thing to do. There’s a whole string on the Nintendo Switch Online ranking system evoking the same debate in replies all over. People are confused by why the Mario classics have some ratings while Keks just tries to keep explaining, “That’s the rating for NSO.” Poor fellow, it’s free customer service.
Mike really blew a lot of ideas: “do know what would be interesting if you could do the wii mario’s four players on screen at once and 1 and 3’s taking turn multiplayer……imagine something like two teams of three players or four players taking turns in the world playing the levels.” Okay Mike, that’s… actually kind of a cool idea? Nintendo should hire this man.
The patent threats may also be happening-the MirirPaladin joked: “nintendo will now patent the act of pressing a button and having a character jump” which… honestly wouldn’t surprise me at this point given their history with copyright stuff. And AdderTude went full conspiracy mode: “Let it be known that Nintendo is filing patents on basic game mechanics to prevent competition. Why the hell would you guys file patents for summoning companions and animal mounts? Are you seriously that anti-consumer and anti-competition??” Yikes, someone’s angry.
But mostly? Pure love for that mustachioed plumber who basically created the platforming style of getting around in-game. Steph’s comment hit different: “Mario is so important to me. It’s been 20 years now that I have been playing Mario games and I sincerely enjoy every single one and deeply cherish every moment and memory. Mario will always, and I truly mean always be in my heart and in my life. Forever ❤️ Happy 40th Anniversary!”
Even simple comments like “ITS SO NOSTALGIC AND GOOOOOOOD 😁” made by SpeederLight1 speak to exactly how everyone is feeling. That utterly straightforward joy that Mario has spread throughout multiple generations now.
Some players are already demanding. G. Fitz straight-out demanded the “Rerelease 3D All Stars,” which… yeah, that limited time release was kinda bogus Nintendo, not gonna lie. Then came in Tails Morado: “You miss one opportunity after another. This was the perfect moment to remake the original SMB with modern graphics, extra levels and why not, even calling it Mario Anniversary. But nah. You just don’t care.” Oof, shots fired.
But for the most part, it’s appreciation for arguably the most important game in history. As Omar Al Raisi stated: “This game was a trailblazer. It inspired so many games developers & studios to take inspiration and build games and expand storylines within games. Iconic.”
He’s not wrong – without Mario, and today, simultaneously, would look completely different from the view of gaming. Side-scrolling platformer may not exist as we know it. Power-ups? Mario was the first. Secret warp zones? Mario. The perfect balance of challenge and accessibility? Mario.
The crazy thing is that after 40 years of gameplay, the game is still just fine. One can turn on the original Super Mario Bros from the Nintendo Switch Online right away and still have fun as the controls are tight, levels are brilliant, and the music… well, the music is gaming comfort.
The mind-blowing thing is realizing how many people have played the game throughout its 40 years. The families of multiple generations. The parents who played it on the NES and then started playing it in the Switch with their children. Talk about legacy.
Nintendo hasn’t really made any announcements about 40th Anniversary just yet; then again, 2025 is far away. Something, however, is definitely cooking in their lab; maybe the so-called Switch 2 is going to hit with a Mario anniversary edition or they’re going to frustrate everybody by finally soiling the mustached Italian plumber’s name with a fresh remaster of Super Mario Bros.
Whatever. They’ve just got to do something big. There’s an insane milestone for Mario after forty years; therefore, he must be celebrated. Here’s wishing another 40 years of powering through Goombas, collecting coins, and saving Princess Peach. Then again, Peach will be kidnapped by the time this article is finished.
And, uh, yeah-ahem-what was I saying? Oh, yeah: Mario rules, gaming rules, and that theme is now in my head forever. Thanks a lot, Nintendo.
