Games To Try Before You Die: Super Mario Bros. (NES)

I have been doing these GTTBYD posts for quite some time now, and I never even thought about posting this one. THE GAME THAT STARTED IT ALL! Well, it didn't really start 'it' all but it did create a international icon and changed the way gaming was played forever. When you got your NES game console, you were treated with Duck Hunt and the classic...Super Mario Bros.

What: You play as either Mario or Luigi (If doing the 2 player thing). Run through the Mushroom Kingdom to defeat Bowser, King of the Koopas and save Princess Toadstool (yes, that was her name before it became Peach). Also, if you don't know this whole story now...you might be living under a rock.

Why: This is the game that really started it all, for a lot of people. When I was growing up, this game was played in my NES more times that I could possibly count. It's just that type of game you pick up and play. This game introduced Mario and Luigi as cultural icons. When people even think of video games, they think of Mario first. Even at one time, Mario was a more recognizable icon to children than Mickey Mouse! IT'S TRUE! When I would play a 2-player game with my brother, I was always Luigi (2nd Player for Life!) It also created one of the most recognizable theme songs of all time, which you can always here on cell phone ring tones. Something about Super Mario Bros, just keeps me coming back for more, even if I play the same levels over and over again. It is still just as fun as it was back in 1985 and always will be.

Just imagine video games if we didn't have Mario, where would it be? I don't think it would be as popular as it is today. Nintendo and their Italian plumber pulled the video game industry out of the gutter and brought it back into the living room. Super Mario Bros. is still one of the top selling games of all time. Sure, there will be Call of Duty 1,2,6,9,20045....but Super Mario Bros. will always have the charm of old skool gaming. It's just fun.