Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Encyclopedia
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3, released in Japan as , is a platform
video game that was developed and published by Nintendo
for the Game Boy Advance
handheld game console
. It was first released in Japan, and then later released in Europe, North America, and Australia. It is an enhanced version of the Nintendo Entertainment System
video game Super Mario Bros. 3
, and is based on the remake found in Super Mario All-Stars
for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
. It is the fourth and final release in the Super Mario Advance series, and was first revealed at Nintendo's conference at the E3 2003 convention, containing several enhancements, including the addition of Mario
and Luigi
's voices by Charles Martinet
, the ability to scan e-Cards into Nintendo's e-Reader
to add certain content, and a multiplayer mode based on the original arcade game
Mario Bros.
for the Nintendo Entertainment System
. Players take control of either Mario or Luigi, adventuring through eight kingdoms of the Mushroom World to defeat the seven Koopa Kids and Bowser, who have taken the seven magic rods from the kings of these seven kingdoms, transforming them into various creatures. Players are able to make use of several basic techniques such as running, jumping, and swimming. The objective of each stage is to reach a certain goal, which is typically a black background with a rotating box containing either a mushroom, flower, or star. Players access the levels by exploring various maps; once a level is complete, players may not replay it until they beat the game. This map has several features on it, such as bridges that lower after completing a level or Hammer Bros. that wander around the map. There are several kinds of levels, including a dungeon level and an airship
level. Outside of the main mode of play, players may also play a remake of the Mario Bros.
game, which has been included in all Super Mario Advance games previous to it. It supports anywhere from one to four players.
It retains the power-ups from Super Mario Bros. 3, including the basic power-ups of the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Starman, as well as the Super Leaf, Tanooki Suit, Frog Suit, and Hammer Bros. Suit, all introduced in the original release. The Super Mushroom increases the player-character's size; the Fire Flower gives him a fireball attack; the Starman makes him invincible; the Super Leaf gives him a tail that lets him attack enemies by spinning and allows him to fly; the Tanooki Suit is a modified Super Leaf, giving him the ability to turn into a statue; the Frog Suit allows him to jump high and swim faster; and the Hammer Bros. Suit gives Mario a hammer projectile. Less common power-ups include a whistle, which allows players to go to other lands; a hammer, which allows them to gain access to new areas; and a cloud, which allows them to skip one level.
's e-Reader
, allowing players to scan certain e-Cards into the device utilizing two Game Boy Advance
s, the e-Reader, and a copy of Super Mario Advance 4. Once a card is scanned, it adds certain content to the game. One of the most prominent features included is the ability to add stages to the game; the player is allowed to have 32 extra stages on one copy of the game. E-Card types also include the demo card, which allows players to view tips and tricks as performed by the developers for certain stages; the power-up cards, which allow players to add certain power-ups to their inventory, depending on which card they have; and the switch card, which causes changes to the game, such as adding projectiles from Super Mario Bros. 2
and causing enemies who have been hit by fireballs to turn into coins. Two item cards introduce new items to the game. The most common of the two is the Cape Feather card, which gives players said item from Super Mario World
.
. Its graphics and engine are based on the Super Mario All-Stars
version of Super Mario Bros. 3
, the original version for the Nintendo Entertainment System
. It was designed by Mario series
creator Shigeru Miyamoto
. It adds Mario's trademark voice acting as contributed by Charles Martinet
, and features the Mario Bros.
mini-game contained in other Super Mario Advance remake series. It introduces compatibility with Nintendo's e-Reader
device, allowing players to add or view various things, including power-ups, stages, upgrades, and demonstration videos. It also allows players to create their own videos, with the game automatically recording players' progress through each level, erasing whatever is not saved. As of its reveal, it was slated for a September 11, 2003 release in North America. While Shigeru Miyamoto
and Takashi Tezuka
were less involved in earlier Mario remakes, they became involved as producers and supervisors with this game.
It was shown at several video game trade shows, including E3, the Nintendo Gamers Summit, the Games Conference, and the European Computer Trade Show
, It was once announced for a North American release on September 22, 2003, but was delayed. It was first released in Japan on July 11, 2003, and later in Europe, North America, and Australia on October 17, 2003, October 21, 2003, and February 23, 2004 respectively. The release of Super Mario Advance 4 was accompanied by series of e-Cards, which numbered four, with only the first two series released outside of Japan due to the failure of the e-Reader. The game was bundled with three e-Cards, and an exclusive promotion held by Wal Mart early in its release in North America offered anyone who purchased the game multiple exclusive e-Cards. The fact that the stages from the e-Cards are not stored on the game but on the cards themselves, IGN
speculated that Nintendo would be able to expand the game indefinitely.
's Craig Harris criticized the inclusion of Mario Bros.
in it due to its prominence in every Mario Advance title beforehand. However, he did show excitement for the e-Reader functionality. Fellow IGN writer Fran Mirabella III praised the gameplay, adding that the e-Reader functionality makes it more appealing. They listed it among the 10 best upcoming Game Boy Advance games of 2003. In their hands-on, 1UP.com
anticipated being able to play Super Mario Bros. 3 again, showing excitement for the new levels and abilities. GameSpot
's Brad Shoemaker commented that the announcement of this re-release would make gamers happy. He later added that the enhancements made and its "immense popularity" could make it the best Game Boy Advance Mario title. Fellow GameSpot writer Ricardo Torres called the e-Reader functionality a "pleasant surprise" that would add replay value to the game.
based on 25 reviews, making it the third highest-rated Game Boy Advance game. It is also the second highest-rated Mario video game on Metacritic as of May 20, 2010, behind Super Mario Galaxy
. It also holds an aggregate score of 92.25% based on 37 reviews, making it the third highest-rated Game Boy Advance game and the 135th highest-rated video game. Super Mario Advance 4 has also been commercially successful; it sold in excess of 2.88 million copies in North America, 718,207 in Japan, and at least 100,000 copies in Europe, earning a Silver sales award from the ELSPA. The Guardian
attributed an increase in revenue by 2.1% to sales of Super Mario Advance 4, which they describe as strong. It debuted in the United Kingdom
as the 20th best-selling game of its week of release. For the week ending December 28, 2006, it was the best-selling Game Boy Advance game in North America. It has been nominated for several awards, winning some of them; it won best Game Boy Advance platform game from both IGN and its readers, the former calling the new levels "phenomenal". GameSpot
nominated it for best platform game of the year, while its readers awarded it best Game Boy Advance game of the year. GameSpy
named it the ninth best Game Boy Advance game of 2003, while its readers named it the sixth best.
Pocket Gamer
gave it a perfect score, calling it "Mario hop-n-bop action at its finest" and "as great as it ever was". GameNow similarly gave it a perfect score, commenting that it was designed to keep players playing. Play Magazine
gave it a perfect score, calling the challenge perfect. They praised its quick save feature, as well as the additional e-Reader features. Electronic Gaming Monthly
praised its controls and stages, as well as its visuals, nothing that they are good for an "old, trippy 2D game". Nintendo Power
praised the game for remaining a quality game since its release. Yahoo! Games
praised it as surpassing the original, including its Super Mario All-Stars remake. Author William Abner called it the "quintessential side-scrolling platform game", though noting that it showed the Game Boy Advance's limitations rather than its strengths. The Detroit Free Press
Heather Newman gave it a perfect four out of four stars, while USA Today
called it a great game. Game Informer
s Dan Ryckert criticized the naming system employed, describing it as "boneheaded", also criticizing the method by which players use the e-Cards. A Game Informer reviewer praised it as their favourite game ever, expressing delight that the game has a "finally ... [has a] high quality port".
While GameSpy
's Benjamin Turner found the e-Reader utilization neat, he criticized it as a means by Nintendo to get people to buy the e-Reader, calling it unfortunate that those without the device or the means to use it would be left out. He also criticized the Game Boy Advance's smaller screen for making the gameplay more "claustrophobic". However, he called it an excellent game for Mario fans and newbies alike. GameZone
's jkdmedia commented that while fans found the lack of new content in previous games to be disappointing, the extra content was "shocking" to him, encouraging players to purchase an e-Reader to utilize it. He added that to kids of this era, it would be harder for them to appreciate it, comparing it to kids observing the change in television from black and white to colour or kids seeing Star Wars
coming to theaters. 1UP.com
noted that while the set up to get the e-Reader features was complicated, it was worth it. They commented that the demo cards were hilarious, though bemoaning the limited number of them. They also praised the game, commenting that younger players would get a chance to play it and older players would be able to play it again, praising its gameplay as well as its e-Reader enhancements. Eurogamer
's Tom Bramwell commented that throughout the releases of the Super Mario Advance titles, he was waiting for Super Mario Bros. 3 to be re-released under the brand. He commented that this release was better than 90% of the video games of the 2004 Holiday season, praising Nintendo for the visual improvements over the Super Mario All-Stars release. However, they faulted Nintendo for giving Mario and Luigi voices, calling them annoying to the point where he would turn down the volume.
IGN cited its potential for expansion for why it was the best Mario remake on the Game Boy Advance, praising the original game's gameplay and presentation as well. He added that while it was a significant investment to make use of the feature, it was worth it. IGN's Craig Harris noted Super Mario Advance 4 as an example of a game that makes good use of the e-Reader. IGN ultimately named it game of the month for its release in North America and the 11th best Game Boy Advance game ever made, calling its concept of adding levels "ahead of its time". Game, Set, Watch's Eric Caoili called it a shame that fans could not enjoy the e-Reader levels due to the difficulty of setting everything up, citing their included elements from Super Mario World
and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
. He added that they were also the only two dimensional Mario levels made in between Yoshi's Island and New Super Mario Bros.
GameSpot
's Ryan Davis commented that purists may dislike some minor changes to the original game, they would enjoy the overall experience. He also described the e-Reader levels as "entertaining and fiercely challenging", though criticizing the method of adding them, explaining that it was both clunky and poorly-explained to players. CNN
described the repackaging of the original game on the Game Boy Advance as a "tremendous success."
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
video game that was developed and published by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
handheld game console
Handheld game console
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...
. It was first released in Japan, and then later released in Europe, North America, and Australia. It is an enhanced version of the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
video game Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3
, also referred to as Super Mario 3 and SMB3, is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System , and is the third game in the Super Mario series. The game was released in Japan in 1988, in the United States in 1990, and in Europe in 1991...
, and is based on the remake found in Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario All-Stars, known as in Japan, is a collection of platforming video games that was developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. It contains enhanced remakes of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels , Super Mario Bros...
for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
. It is the fourth and final release in the Super Mario Advance series, and was first revealed at Nintendo's conference at the E3 2003 convention, containing several enhancements, including the addition of Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
and Luigi
Luigi
is a fictional character, featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by prominent game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the slightly younger fraternal twin brother of Nintendo's mascot Mario, and appears in many games throughout the Mario series,...
's voices by Charles Martinet
Charles Martinet
Charles Martinet is an American actor and voice actor, best known for providing the voice of Mario, the titular character in Nintendo's flagship video game franchise. He has held this role since 1994, longer than any other actor. He also voices Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, and a select few...
, the ability to scan e-Cards into Nintendo's e-Reader
E-Reader
The is a device made by Nintendo for its Game Boy Advance portable video game system. It was first released in Japan in December 2001, with a North American release following in September 2002...
to add certain content, and a multiplayer mode based on the original arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
Mario Bros.
Mario Bros.
is an arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. It was developed by Shigeru Miyamoto. It has been commonly featured as a minigame in the Super Mario Advance series and other games...
Gameplay and premise
The gameplay is the same as in the original version of Super Mario Bros. 3Super Mario Bros. 3
, also referred to as Super Mario 3 and SMB3, is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System , and is the third game in the Super Mario series. The game was released in Japan in 1988, in the United States in 1990, and in Europe in 1991...
for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
. Players take control of either Mario or Luigi, adventuring through eight kingdoms of the Mushroom World to defeat the seven Koopa Kids and Bowser, who have taken the seven magic rods from the kings of these seven kingdoms, transforming them into various creatures. Players are able to make use of several basic techniques such as running, jumping, and swimming. The objective of each stage is to reach a certain goal, which is typically a black background with a rotating box containing either a mushroom, flower, or star. Players access the levels by exploring various maps; once a level is complete, players may not replay it until they beat the game. This map has several features on it, such as bridges that lower after completing a level or Hammer Bros. that wander around the map. There are several kinds of levels, including a dungeon level and an airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
level. Outside of the main mode of play, players may also play a remake of the Mario Bros.
Mario Bros.
is an arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. It was developed by Shigeru Miyamoto. It has been commonly featured as a minigame in the Super Mario Advance series and other games...
game, which has been included in all Super Mario Advance games previous to it. It supports anywhere from one to four players.
It retains the power-ups from Super Mario Bros. 3, including the basic power-ups of the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Starman, as well as the Super Leaf, Tanooki Suit, Frog Suit, and Hammer Bros. Suit, all introduced in the original release. The Super Mushroom increases the player-character's size; the Fire Flower gives him a fireball attack; the Starman makes him invincible; the Super Leaf gives him a tail that lets him attack enemies by spinning and allows him to fly; the Tanooki Suit is a modified Super Leaf, giving him the ability to turn into a statue; the Frog Suit allows him to jump high and swim faster; and the Hammer Bros. Suit gives Mario a hammer projectile. Less common power-ups include a whistle, which allows players to go to other lands; a hammer, which allows them to gain access to new areas; and a cloud, which allows them to skip one level.
e-Cards
Super Mario Advance 4, excluding the European version of the game, is compatible with NintendoNintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's e-Reader
E-Reader
The is a device made by Nintendo for its Game Boy Advance portable video game system. It was first released in Japan in December 2001, with a North American release following in September 2002...
, allowing players to scan certain e-Cards into the device utilizing two Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
s, the e-Reader, and a copy of Super Mario Advance 4. Once a card is scanned, it adds certain content to the game. One of the most prominent features included is the ability to add stages to the game; the player is allowed to have 32 extra stages on one copy of the game. E-Card types also include the demo card, which allows players to view tips and tricks as performed by the developers for certain stages; the power-up cards, which allow players to add certain power-ups to their inventory, depending on which card they have; and the switch card, which causes changes to the game, such as adding projectiles from Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2, often abbreviated SMB2, is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System as a sequel to the 1985 game Super Mario Bros. The game was also remade as part of the Super Mario All-Stars collection for the Super Nintendo Entertainment...
and causing enemies who have been hit by fireballs to turn into coins. Two item cards introduce new items to the game. The most common of the two is the Cape Feather card, which gives players said item from Super Mario World
Super Mario World
, subtitled Super Mario Bros. 4 for its original Japanese release, is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo as a pack-in launch title for the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System , and is the fourth game in the Super Mario series...
.
Development and release
Super Mario Bros. 3: Super Mario Advance 4 was first announced on a European release list, then titled Super Mario Advance 4. It was first revealed at the 2003 E3 conference for the Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. Its graphics and engine are based on the Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario All-Stars, known as in Japan, is a collection of platforming video games that was developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. It contains enhanced remakes of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels , Super Mario Bros...
version of Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3
, also referred to as Super Mario 3 and SMB3, is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System , and is the third game in the Super Mario series. The game was released in Japan in 1988, in the United States in 1990, and in Europe in 1991...
, the original version for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
. It was designed by Mario series
Mario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
creator Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer and producer. Miyamoto was born and raised in Kyoto Prefecture; the natural surroundings of Kyoto inspired much of Miyamoto's later work....
. It adds Mario's trademark voice acting as contributed by Charles Martinet
Charles Martinet
Charles Martinet is an American actor and voice actor, best known for providing the voice of Mario, the titular character in Nintendo's flagship video game franchise. He has held this role since 1994, longer than any other actor. He also voices Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, and a select few...
, and features the Mario Bros.
Mario Bros.
is an arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. It was developed by Shigeru Miyamoto. It has been commonly featured as a minigame in the Super Mario Advance series and other games...
mini-game contained in other Super Mario Advance remake series. It introduces compatibility with Nintendo's e-Reader
E-Reader
The is a device made by Nintendo for its Game Boy Advance portable video game system. It was first released in Japan in December 2001, with a North American release following in September 2002...
device, allowing players to add or view various things, including power-ups, stages, upgrades, and demonstration videos. It also allows players to create their own videos, with the game automatically recording players' progress through each level, erasing whatever is not saved. As of its reveal, it was slated for a September 11, 2003 release in North America. While Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer and producer. Miyamoto was born and raised in Kyoto Prefecture; the natural surroundings of Kyoto inspired much of Miyamoto's later work....
and Takashi Tezuka
Takashi Tezuka
, sometimes credited under his nickname Ten Ten, is a video game designer working for Nintendo. A graduate of the Design Department of Osaka University of Arts, he joined the company in April 1984 and was involved with some of the most critically acclaimed Nintendo series, including Mario and The...
were less involved in earlier Mario remakes, they became involved as producers and supervisors with this game.
It was shown at several video game trade shows, including E3, the Nintendo Gamers Summit, the Games Conference, and the European Computer Trade Show
European Computer Trade Show
The European Computer Trade Show, commonly known as ECTS, was an annual trade show for the European computer and video game industry, which first ran in 1988, with the last event occurring in 2004....
, It was once announced for a North American release on September 22, 2003, but was delayed. It was first released in Japan on July 11, 2003, and later in Europe, North America, and Australia on October 17, 2003, October 21, 2003, and February 23, 2004 respectively. The release of Super Mario Advance 4 was accompanied by series of e-Cards, which numbered four, with only the first two series released outside of Japan due to the failure of the e-Reader. The game was bundled with three e-Cards, and an exclusive promotion held by Wal Mart early in its release in North America offered anyone who purchased the game multiple exclusive e-Cards. The fact that the stages from the e-Cards are not stored on the game but on the cards themselves, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
speculated that Nintendo would be able to expand the game indefinitely.
Pre-release
In his preview of Super Mario Advance 4, IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Craig Harris criticized the inclusion of Mario Bros.
Mario Bros.
is an arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. It was developed by Shigeru Miyamoto. It has been commonly featured as a minigame in the Super Mario Advance series and other games...
in it due to its prominence in every Mario Advance title beforehand. However, he did show excitement for the e-Reader functionality. Fellow IGN writer Fran Mirabella III praised the gameplay, adding that the e-Reader functionality makes it more appealing. They listed it among the 10 best upcoming Game Boy Advance games of 2003. In their hands-on, 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
anticipated being able to play Super Mario Bros. 3 again, showing excitement for the new levels and abilities. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Brad Shoemaker commented that the announcement of this re-release would make gamers happy. He later added that the enhancements made and its "immense popularity" could make it the best Game Boy Advance Mario title. Fellow GameSpot writer Ricardo Torres called the e-Reader functionality a "pleasant surprise" that would add replay value to the game.
Post-release
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 has received very positive reception, considered one of the best Game Boy Advance games ever made. It holds an aggregate score of 94 on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
based on 25 reviews, making it the third highest-rated Game Boy Advance game. It is also the second highest-rated Mario video game on Metacritic as of May 20, 2010, behind Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy
is a 3D platform game developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It was released in most regions in November 2007, and is the third 3D original platformer in the Mario series, after Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. The game follows the protagonist, Mario, on a...
. It also holds an aggregate score of 92.25% based on 37 reviews, making it the third highest-rated Game Boy Advance game and the 135th highest-rated video game. Super Mario Advance 4 has also been commercially successful; it sold in excess of 2.88 million copies in North America, 718,207 in Japan, and at least 100,000 copies in Europe, earning a Silver sales award from the ELSPA. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
attributed an increase in revenue by 2.1% to sales of Super Mario Advance 4, which they describe as strong. It debuted in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as the 20th best-selling game of its week of release. For the week ending December 28, 2006, it was the best-selling Game Boy Advance game in North America. It has been nominated for several awards, winning some of them; it won best Game Boy Advance platform game from both IGN and its readers, the former calling the new levels "phenomenal". GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
nominated it for best platform game of the year, while its readers awarded it best Game Boy Advance game of the year. GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
named it the ninth best Game Boy Advance game of 2003, while its readers named it the sixth best.
Pocket Gamer
Pocket Gamer
Pocket Gamer is a website and video game magazine that focuses on handheld video games. It was launched in 2005 and is published by Steel Media. The publication covers all major portable and mobile gaming formats, including iPhone, Android, PSP and the various versions of the Nintendo DS and was...
gave it a perfect score, calling it "Mario hop-n-bop action at its finest" and "as great as it ever was". GameNow similarly gave it a perfect score, commenting that it was designed to keep players playing. Play Magazine
Play (US magazine)
Play was a U.S.-based magazine focused on video games, anime, manga, film, DVD, television, comics, music and media. Published by Fusion Publishing, Inc. since 2001, Play magazine also had a separate Internet presence on its website, Play Online...
gave it a perfect score, calling the challenge perfect. They praised its quick save feature, as well as the additional e-Reader features. Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
praised its controls and stages, as well as its visuals, nothing that they are good for an "old, trippy 2D game". Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
praised the game for remaining a quality game since its release. Yahoo! Games
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
praised it as surpassing the original, including its Super Mario All-Stars remake. Author William Abner called it the "quintessential side-scrolling platform game", though noting that it showed the Game Boy Advance's limitations rather than its strengths. The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
Heather Newman gave it a perfect four out of four stars, while USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
called it a great game. Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
s Dan Ryckert criticized the naming system employed, describing it as "boneheaded", also criticizing the method by which players use the e-Cards. A Game Informer reviewer praised it as their favourite game ever, expressing delight that the game has a "finally ... [has a] high quality port".
While GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
's Benjamin Turner found the e-Reader utilization neat, he criticized it as a means by Nintendo to get people to buy the e-Reader, calling it unfortunate that those without the device or the means to use it would be left out. He also criticized the Game Boy Advance's smaller screen for making the gameplay more "claustrophobic". However, he called it an excellent game for Mario fans and newbies alike. GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
's jkdmedia commented that while fans found the lack of new content in previous games to be disappointing, the extra content was "shocking" to him, encouraging players to purchase an e-Reader to utilize it. He added that to kids of this era, it would be harder for them to appreciate it, comparing it to kids observing the change in television from black and white to colour or kids seeing Star Wars
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
coming to theaters. 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
noted that while the set up to get the e-Reader features was complicated, it was worth it. They commented that the demo cards were hilarious, though bemoaning the limited number of them. They also praised the game, commenting that younger players would get a chance to play it and older players would be able to play it again, praising its gameplay as well as its e-Reader enhancements. Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
's Tom Bramwell commented that throughout the releases of the Super Mario Advance titles, he was waiting for Super Mario Bros. 3 to be re-released under the brand. He commented that this release was better than 90% of the video games of the 2004 Holiday season, praising Nintendo for the visual improvements over the Super Mario All-Stars release. However, they faulted Nintendo for giving Mario and Luigi voices, calling them annoying to the point where he would turn down the volume.
IGN cited its potential for expansion for why it was the best Mario remake on the Game Boy Advance, praising the original game's gameplay and presentation as well. He added that while it was a significant investment to make use of the feature, it was worth it. IGN's Craig Harris noted Super Mario Advance 4 as an example of a game that makes good use of the e-Reader. IGN ultimately named it game of the month for its release in North America and the 11th best Game Boy Advance game ever made, calling its concept of adding levels "ahead of its time". Game, Set, Watch's Eric Caoili called it a shame that fans could not enjoy the e-Reader levels due to the difficulty of setting everything up, citing their included elements from Super Mario World
Super Mario World
, subtitled Super Mario Bros. 4 for its original Japanese release, is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo as a pack-in launch title for the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System , and is the fourth game in the Super Mario series...
and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, originally released as in Japan, is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the SNES console. Despite its title, this game serves as a prequel to all other games within the established Mario Bros timeline...
. He added that they were also the only two dimensional Mario levels made in between Yoshi's Island and New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros.
is a side-scrolling platform video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. The game was released in North America and Japan in May 2006 and in Australia and Europe in June 2006...
GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Ryan Davis commented that purists may dislike some minor changes to the original game, they would enjoy the overall experience. He also described the e-Reader levels as "entertaining and fiercely challenging", though criticizing the method of adding them, explaining that it was both clunky and poorly-explained to players. CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
described the repackaging of the original game on the Game Boy Advance as a "tremendous success."