Mario Bros. (US, revision E)

Team up with a friend to battle pests in Mario Bros., a platform and run-jump arcade game released by Nintendo of America in 1983. Players control either Mario or Luigi as they navigate sewer environments, knocking out creatures like Shellcreepers and Sidesteppers by strategically bumping into them—causing them to fall down the pipes. Successfully dispatching enemies awards points, and clearing each stage involves eliminating all threats within a time limit. This North American version introduces a cooperative gameplay element absent in the original Japanese release, allowing for two players to work together against the rising tide of subterranean foes. Scoring is key; players earn extra lives at intervals of 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 points, with settings adjustable via DIP switches – though free lives cease after an initial bonus. Mario Bros. has seen multiple ports to various systems over the years, including releases on Atari platforms, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and several home computers. It represents a key early entry in the Mario franchise, showcasing the core gameplay mechanics that would later define the series.