Mario
The main playable hero in Super Mario Bros., who travels through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool.
Documented for this version
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move left or right Super Mario Bros.; directional control on the NES controller. |
|---|---|
Arrow Down | Crouch or enter a pipe Available when the stage provides a suitable pipe or platform. |
Arrow Up | Enter an upward pipe or climb Context-sensitive in Super Mario Bros. |
A | Jump Super Mario Bros. |
B | Run faster or throw fireballs Fireballs require Fire Mario. |
Start | Pause or begin play Used by the NES controller. |
NES Zapper Trigger | Shoot Duck Hunt; point the Zapper at the screen. |
NES Zapper Light Gun | Aim Duck Hunt requires the Zapper and compatible display. |
The cartridge contains separate Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt games.
Duck Hunt uses the NES Zapper rather than standard controller buttons.
Button labels may appear as printed on the original NES controller.
How it plays
Super Mario Bros. uses a side-scrolling view. Players run through increasingly difficult stages, jump over hazards and enemies, collect coins and power-ups, and reach the flagpole at the end of each course. The adventure is divided into eight worlds, each containing four stages, with limited lives and a time limit.
Duck Hunt is played from a first-person viewpoint with the NES Zapper. Game A presents one duck at a time, Game B presents two, and Game C uses clay targets. Successful shots advance the round, while missed targets reduce the available chances.
Plan your run
In Super Mario Bros., learn the layout of each stage before spending power-ups. Keep moving, use blocks and pipes to find safer routes, and preserve lives by avoiding unnecessary risks near pits and moving enemies.
In Duck Hunt, aim slightly ahead of moving ducks and fire only when the target is comfortably inside the screen. Game B requires faster target switching, while Game C rewards careful timing against the smaller clay targets.
Meet the cast
The main playable hero in Super Mario Bros., who travels through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool.
Mario’s brother and an alternate playable character in two-player mode.
The hunting dog that retrieves downed ducks and reacts to the player’s performance.
Before you begin
Use the first World 1-1 mushroom and fire flower to practice power-up timing.
The NES Zapper requires a compatible CRT television for normal operation.
Duck Hunt’s dog appears after each attempt and indicates the result.
Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt is a Nintendo Entertainment System cartridge that combines a side-scrolling platform game with a light-gun shooting game. Super Mario Bros., developed by Nintendo R&D4, follows Mario through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool, while Duck Hunt, developed by Nintendo R&D1, challenges players to shoot flying ducks or clay targets with the NES Zapper. The package offers two very different play styles: precise running and jumping in Mario’s adventure, and quick aiming in Duck Hunt. Both games were widely recognized as approachable demonstrations of the NES hardware, and the combination cartridge became one of the system’s most familiar retail releases.
Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial Team
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