Wonderful sketches of the game Super Mario Bros

At Callvention, we are actively studying the design documents of Super Mario Bros. Below are the most interesting discoveries. Some sketches are taken from Nintendo Direct for Super Mario Maker, but most are from the photos we took on the Nintendo window.

1. The title screen was almost completely green.

We all remember the title screen of the first side-scroller about Mario. That is why the discovered alternative design of the Super Mario Bros. title screen , painted by Shigeru Miyamoto or Takashi Tezuka, is so amazing.
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Let's first look at the original version, which we know and love. Below is the final sketch used by programmers to create the Super Mario Bros. title screen.



Surprisingly, in the Nintendo storerooms, an alternative screen, shown below, was preserved. In this version, a green background is used for the logo, which I personally find more vigorous than the final version. It uses the color of brother Mario, Luigi. In addition, the letter “S” in the word “Super” of an alternative sketch is drawn differently.



2. The unrealized enemy of Super Mario Bros.

The second interesting sketch is an opponent who did not initially enter the Super Mario Bros. series. and appeared only in Super Mario World on Super Nintendo.



Shigeru Miyamoto first saw Mario clash with Kupa's turtles (Koopa) without shell. This dream was embodied only in Super Mario World: jumping on the turtles, Mario makes them slip out of their shells in shorts.

The Japanese text next to the sketch in the Cheesemeister translation reads "The shellless Shellcreeper runs naked." In Japan, Shellcreeper is the name of the original turtle-opponents of the Mario Bros. series. Other design translations can be found here .

3. Work on sprites was more accurate than you might think.

The most surprising discovery for Callvention was how pixel artwork resembles the original outline on checkered paper.

As shown in the examples below, the pixel artwork that we see in Super Mario Bros. is incredibly similar to the original design. This is a terrific job considering the technical hardware limitations of the NES. For convenience, sketches are compared to NES sprites provided by Beam Luinsir Yosh with Mario Mayhem .

Goomba



Gumbu (Goomba), the first enemy of Mario in Super Mario Bros., can be found in sketches on the diagonal eyebrows.

Blooper



These underwater creatures called Bloopers are precisely drawn in sprites with four tentacles hanging from the body.

Koopa



Koopa sketches have changed significantly from the Shellcreeper design shown above. Even the sketch does not display a more detailed design of Super Mario sprites. Here, the sketch is similar to the enemies from the arcade game Mario Bros.

Hill Changes



Although visual styles are similar, the hills are significantly different from the original sketches of the game levels. In Super Mario Bros. the hills and mountains are evenly covered with grass, as seen on the sprite. In a video game, the grass always juts out on one square of the sprite beyond the mountain. However, in the original level sketches the grass does not stand for the top of the hill.

Shiny pipes



Even on the level sketches, beautiful shading and tube lighting effects are indicated. The depth added by a slight change in the color of the pipes makes a significant difference in their appearance.

Wait, this is no longer Donkey Kong.



Interestingly, the moving platforms have changed dramatically compared to the original sketches of the game. The sketch is very similar to the platforms from the other famous game Shigeru Miyamoto of that time Donkey Kong. The diagonal elements of the platforms were simplified in Super Mario sprites, which gave them a more rectangular shape known to us.

Different types of vines in Super Mario Bros.





Vine found in Super Mario Bros. above ground level, had a simpler design in the drawings than in a real game. Sketches closer to the vine from Donkey Kong Jr., another game created by Shigeru Miyamoto.

A vine growing under water is also different from the one we see in the game. The final sprites of Super Mario vegetation look much more dangerous and erratic than the original sketches.

Bonuses



Sketches of magic mushrooms perfectly reflect the characteristics of the final sprites. Preserved everything: from spots of random sizes to the classic form of the fungus.

Gait high mario



The original sketch of Mario, passing the level, emphasizes the movement of arms and legs, which will later be animated in Super Mario sprites. Interestingly, the design of his face resembles that of Donkey Kong, the first video game in which Mario appeared.

New information about Mario on the way

Over the next weeks, animations, level maps and other sketches from Super Mario Bros will be published on the Callvention. Subscribe to our Callvention newsletter or follow us on Twitter or Facebook .