Mario Bros

Bringing arcade action to the Commodore

Released in 1987 for the Commodore 64/128, Mario Bros made its way from the arcade to home computers, allowing fans to experience the classic platform action on their own machines. Developed by Nintendo and published by Ocean Software, this version of the game stayed faithful to the original arcade title while making some adaptations to fit the capabilities of the Commodore hardware. Players controlled Mario (and Luigi in two-player mode) as they cleared pipes and defeated enemies in the familiar platforming environment.

Classic gameplay with a Commodore twist

The objective in Mario Bros on the Commodore 64/128 remained much the same as in the arcade: players had to knock enemies from beneath platforms and then defeat them by flipping them over. The gameplay included the iconic “flipping” mechanic, as well as the cooperative two-player mode where one player could control Mario and the other could take on Luigi. While the Commodore version was limited by graphical and audio constraints compared to the arcade, the core fun of the original was still present, with smooth platforming and challenging levels.

A piece of retro gaming history

The 1987 release of Mario Bros on the Commodore 64/128 was a milestone in bringing arcade games to home systems. It was one of the early examples of popular Nintendo franchises making the jump to personal computers, and it helped to establish Mario as a household name beyond the arcades. The cassette release, packaged for home users, remains a nostalgic part of gaming history, especially for collectors of retro games. This version of Mario Bros continues to be remembered for its contribution to the legacy of the Mario series and its influence on platforming games.

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