Super Mario World was a side-scrolling platform game in which two players could work together to navigate the Seven Worlds in order to free the princess and fight Browser at the climax of the game. The team play in addition to the awesome amount of game play hooked us from the start. We decided that before the week was out, we would defeat Browser and win the game. The challenge was on.
He took the Mario character and I took Luigi, his brother. Together we learned about Fire Flowers, Cape Feathers and Super Mushrooms. We started utilizing the new spin jump move, how to fly, and where to find the new power-ups. Later in the game we were introduced to Yoshi, who was a dinosaur companion that we could ride and use to eat enemies. We fought Koopas, Trolls, and learned about the existence of Star Roads. We held our breath as we navigated the final stages of each world's castles and ships and got closer to our goal. We would start playing early in the morning and sign-off bleary eyed late in the night. Each morning we prayed that the console had retained our previous day's work and mapped out our strategy for the challenges that laid ahead.
But of course we experienced more than the fellowship of the game. What really made that week special was the fact that we got a chance to spend extended time together for the first time since we were kids. Beside having a blast trying to overcome the growing challenges of each of the SNW levels, we talked careers, children, life's challenges up-to-that-point and more.
Well, we beat the game, my brother recovered from his surgery, and I returned to work. But even though that week was over thirty years ago, the fun that we had has remained one of our favorite memories. I often wondered if we hadn't had that week when we were both adults would we be as close as we are now? I don't know the answer to that question but I do know this. I'm grateful for a week of vacation days, recovery time and Super Mario Brothers game.
