Own the Original Mario Bros. Arcade Machine

Long before Mario stomped Goombas or refereed boxing matches, he worked as an ordinary plumber cleaning out New York’s sewers in Nintendo’s classic Mario Bros. arcade game. Originally released in 1983, Mario Bros. is a one or two-player game. The latter made possible with the introduction of Mario’s brother, Luigi. The goal of the game is simple: score as many points as possible by collecting coins and defeating enemies, which can be kicked away after they’ve been knocked upside down. Of course, like many classic arcade titles, the game’s difficulty quickly ramps up. After a few levels, the enemies become more numerous and more difficult. And obstacles like the indestructible fireballs appear. If you touch an enemy, you’re toast. But you can quickly even the odds by hitting the iconic POW block, which will upend all of the enemies that are crawling or resting on the platforms. But don’t delay! The stunned enemies will eventually get back up and charge after you.

While it may not feature memorable tunes or magic mushrooms, Mario Bros. is an excellent action title that provides simple, fun, and challenging gameplay with its compact playfield and continuous onslaught of enemies. And the addition of a second player opens the door for some uber-competitive play sessions, which is when Mario Bros. truly shines. You can play as Luigi and school your friend by grabbing coins left and right while he struggles with the Shellcreepers and Sidesteppers.

The original Mario Bros. delivers loads of fun. It’s a true classic. And it belongs in your coin-op collection.

Own the Nintendo game that started the legacy. Purchase a vintage Mario Bros. video game from eBay today.