How to Master Mario Bros.

Ready to flip some critters?

Mastering Mario Bros. requires precision and timing. Whether you are playing solo or with a friend, understanding enemy patterns and knowing when to bump the POW Block are the keys to surviving the increasingly chaotic phases. The core gameplay revolves around a unique "hit-from-below" mechanic where you must strike the floor directly beneath enemies to flip them over before running into them to kick them off the screen. You can also utilize the POW Block to upend every ground-touching foe simultaneously, though its three uses must be rationed carefully across the 99 phases.

Success requires mastering spatial awareness, as both you and your enemies can wrap around the screen edges, and you must time your movements to avoid hazards like fireballs or the slippery platforms created by Slipices. Your goal is to clear each wave efficiently to trigger point multipliers and survive the escalating speed of the later stages.

Enemies & Hazards

• Fighterflies: Bugs that hop across the screen. They can only be flipped when they are touching the ground between hops.

• Fireballs: Hazards that appear if you take a long time to clear a phase. Green fireballs bounce horizontally, while red fireballs bounce erratically. You may just want to avoid them, but they can be eliminated from a hit below.

• Shellcreepers: Basic turtles that walk in a straight line. All it takes is a single bump from below to flip them over.

• Sidesteppers: Crabs that require two hits from below to flip. After the first hit, they turn red and move faster. Quickly hit again to flip, then kick as usual.

• Slipices: Hazards that coats a platform in ice, making them slippery. Hit from below to destroy immediately; they don't need to be kicked.

Gameplay Tips

• Enemy Collision: Enemies reverse direction upon colliding. Track their patterns to position yourself for the perfect strike.

• Flipping Enemies: The direction an enemy is launched—upward, forward, or backward—depends on where you strike them.

• High-Low Strategy (2-Player): Position one player on a platform directly above the other. The lower player flips enemies from beneath, while the upper player immediately kicks them away. To keep things fair, swap positions between Phases to balance your scores.

• Platform Glitch: While this is mostly a novelty, you can actually phase through platforms from below. Jump straight up and pause the game exactly as your head touches the ceiling (without actually bumping it). If your character disappears upon pausing, you’ve timed it correctly; unpause the game to find yourself standing on top of the platform.

• Respawn Window: After losing a life, you’ll respawn on a temporary platform at the top of the screen. You are safe from enemies while standing there, but the platform vanishes after about 10 seconds. Use this time to scan the stage and ensure your landing zone is clear of enemies.

• "Wraparound" Effect: Enemies can wrap around the screen edges just like the player character. Always monitor the opposite side of the stage to avoid being blindsided by an enemy exiting the margin.

Pro Tips for High Scores

• Blue Enemies: If you leave a flipped enemy for too long, they will get back up. If they are the last enemy remaining, they turn into a faster blue version.

• Point Combo: Striking the floor exactly where two enemies collide will flip both at once. Clear them quickly to kickstart a high-score combo, as defeating multiple enemies in rapid succession yields bonus points.

• Warp Pipes: Enemies enter and exit through the pipes at the top and bottom. Use this to predict their path and set up hits.

Common Pitfalls

• Ignoring Slipice: If you don't destroy a Slipice fast enough, it will coat a platform in ice. This makes it much harder to time your jumps and stops, potentially sliding you directly into an enemy.

• Jumping on Enemies: This is the most common mistake for players used to other Mario games. Jumping on an enemy here will result in an immediate loss of a life.

• Standing Under Pipes: Avoid standing directly beneath the top warp pipes. Enemies emerge quickly, and you will have very little time to react if you are positioned right under their entry point.

• The "Last Enemy" Speed Boost: When only one enemy remains in a phase, it will turn blue and move significantly faster. Many players get caught off guard by this sudden change in momentum.

• Wasting the POW Block: Do not use the POW Block when only one basic enemy is on the screen. Save it for moments when the screen is crowded or when you need to flip a fast-moving "last enemy."

Multiplayer Gameplay Tips

The "Life Steal" (Replacement)

In Mario Bros., teamwork only goes so far—sometimes you just need to stay in the game. If you are playing a 2-player game and run out of lives, you don't have to sit on the sidelines:

• How to do it: While the "Game Over" prompt is active, press the Start button (or the designated "Start" mapped to your controller).

• The Cost: You will instantly respawn by taking one life from your partner's remaining stock.

• Strategy: This is best used if the surviving player has a large surplus of lives, but be careful—doing this without asking is a surefire way to turn a "Cooperative" game into a "Competitive" one very quickly!

Competitive Scoring Strategies

If you want to ensure you end the game with a higher score than Luigi (or Mario), keep these "frenemy" tactics in mind:

• The Bump Sabotage: You can jump and hit the platform directly beneath the other player. This causes them to hop slightly and lose their momentum. If you time this right as they are about to kick a flipped enemy, you can "steal" the kick and the points for yourself.

• POW Block Denial: If your partner is in a perfect position to clear a whole wave of enemies, hit the POW Block early. This flips everything prematurely, often changing the enemy's timing and forcing your partner to adjust, allowing you to swoop in for the kills.

• Coin Hogging: During the Bonus Phases, don't worry about clearing the stage; focus entirely on the path with the most coins. Since there are no enemies, it’s a pure sprint for currency.

• The "Final Enemy" Trap: As mentioned before, when only one enemy remains, it turns blue and speeds up. If you are ahead in points, let your partner take the risk of trying to flip the fast-moving target while you stay safe on a top platform.