Pop quiz, hotshot: You're Nintendo and you realize that you haven't released a classic game on your Nintendo Switch Online service in more than a month, but you don't want to take any attention away from your hot new Zelda game. What do you do? Apparently, the answer is to dump a bunch of Super Mario Advance games on the service, all of which are ports of games previously available on the Switch. On May 26th, we'll be getting three more Super Mario Advance games, including ports of Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island. That's cool, I guess, but are any of these games worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Nintendo Power and more classic magazines to see what the critics said about these games when they first came out. So, go and grab a cape and a box full of vegetables, because this is another super-sized episode of the Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


If you grew up in the 1980s and 90s, then there was an expectation whenever Nintendo released a new console. You see, no matter how big or small the system was, Nintendo would always pair the launch with a Mario platformer. You saw the original Super Mario Bros. with the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mario Land on the Game Boy, Mario World on the Super NES and, of course, Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64. So, when it came to Nintendo's next-generation handheld, all eyes were on what Mario game would launch with the Game Boy Advance. Unfortunately, instead of coming up with something new and original, Nintendo decided to bring back an old favorite – Super Mario Bros. 2. Specifically, it was an updated version of the 16-bit All-Stars version released a decade earlier, but it was still Mario 2. Did that disappoint die-hard Nintendo fans? Probably not. But we're here to see what the critics said back when this happened.

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Super Mario Advance good scores, but you could tell that there was some disappointment in the game choice. For example, Shoe argued that while “Mario Advance is an improved version of the already practically perfect game,” “most people would probably agree with me that Super Mario 2, although great, is the least favorite in the series.” He liked that the original stuff was preserved nicely, but was annoyed by the new voices. Mark also enjoyed this re-release, concluding that “if you've never played Mario 2 before, you'll love Mario Advance: Solid platforming action, with four very different playable characters, air-tight control, and the added twist of an alternate dimension for all the levels. If you've already played Mario 2 to death (like me), there are a few cool additions, but nothing worth getting excited about.” EGM ended up giving Super Mario Advance an average score of 8.3 out of 10.

While Electronic Gaming Monthly may have held back their enthusiasm, it was Nintendo Power that seemed the most annoyed by this re-release. Giving it 3.5 out of 5, Drew called the game “primitive by comparison to Rayman.” Alan twisted that knife, asking the question on everybody's mind: “Why remake Super Mario Bros. 2 when Super Mario Bros. 3 is an infinitely better game? Yawn. Mario Bros., on the other hand, is a fine piece of work, adding an extra star to Super Mario Advance's score.”

While Nintendo Power may have been down on it, Game Informer had no problem giving the game an average score of 8.9 out of 10 and highly recommending Super Mario Advance. The same goes for GamePro, who gave the game a 4.5 out of 5 and called it: “the weirdest and most underrated of Mario's many surreal adventures.” “Mario Advance may not be the most impressive showcase for the Game Boy Advance's power, but it's great for a nostalgic trip, great for a road trip ... hell, it's just plain great.” This seems to be how a lot of the fans reacted, which led to Nintendo releasing three more of these Mario Advance games on the GBA. Thankfully, they are all better than this first installment.

After launching the Game Boy Advance with a port of Super Mario Bros. 2, many figured that Nintendo would follow this up with another title from Super Mario All-Stars. But as long-time Nintendo fans will attest, when you expect the company to zig, they always zag, making it hard to know exactly what they'll do next. Instead of getting an updated version of Super Mario Bros. 1 or 3, they jumped right to Super Mario World, the beloved Super NES pack-in game. While everybody agreed that Super Mario World was a great platformer, the question remained: Were the critics enthusiastic about this re-release?

When it came to Electronic Gaming Monthly, the answer to that question is an enthusiastic “yes.” John started his review with a simple question: “One of the best platform games of all time is now available in handheld form for only $30 ... honestly, what more could you ask for? The GBA conversion of Super Mario World is almost flawless, with just a few minor quirks that only hardcore fans of the original will notice.” Chris took this time to make a controversial confession: “Of all the Marios, World's my least favorite – but I still love it. It's like trying to decide which color of Skittles is best: They're all good. The improvements are welcome but unnecessary. Will anyone honestly play as Luigi? Maybe if you have to do everything, but he's too slow and awkward.” EGM ended up giving Mario Advance 2 an average score of 9 out of 10, a big improvement over the first game.

Unsurprisingly, Nintendo Power also liked this sequel more than the original, giving Mario Advance 2 a score of 4.5 out of 5. Jenni explains that “Super Mario World is a brilliant platformer, full of the things the world loves Mario games for – creative level designs, excellent challenges and tricky secrets.” George agreed, concluding that “Super Mario World was the best side-scrolling action game of all time when it was released over 10 years ago, and it still is the best today.”

You saw similar scores from Computer & Video Games, who gave the game a 9 out of 10. Game Informer went even higher, giving Mario Advance 2 an average score of 9.4 out of 10. However, the highest score once again goes to GamePro, who gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. “This is an easy one, folks. Unless you've got something against lizards with unusually versatile tongues, you'd be nuts not to buy this perfect recreation of one of the finest platform games ever made. Buy it, play it, then think of the potential of a GBA Zelda: A Link to the Past port or the possibilities offered by a new 2D Metroid ... and set your saliva glands to permanent drool.” And would you look at that, GamePro was right. In one of Nintendo's more predictable moves, they ended up giving us a great Link to the Past port, as well as a cool new 2D Metroid sequel.

With the release of Super Mario Advance 3 inevitable, surely Nintendo would take this chance to give us an updated version of Super Mario Bros. 3, right? Nope. They saved that gem for Super Mario Advance 4, and don't call me Shirley. Instead what we got was Yoshi's Island, the follow-up to Super Mario World. While it was well-received when it came out, it had kind of gotten lost in the hype for Super Mario 64. Now was a chance to revisit this 16-bit classic, with the potential of appreciating it even more on the small screen.

Believe it or not, this is the first time Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed Yoshi's Island. That's right, they completely overlooked the game when it first hit the Super NES in 1995. We will never know how they would have rated the original game, but they did give this Game Boy Advance port an average score of 9.2 out of 10. Miguel called it “one of the freshest, most lovingly-crafted side-scrollers that still plays well to this day.” “If you're worried about Yoshi's preschool aesthetics, fret not – its visual style, while primitive, is charming and quickly grows on you.” Mark also liked the game, noting that it “bears all the trademarks of a great Mario game,” including “colorful graphics, spot-on controls and dozens of wildly different levels, all packed with enemies and obstacles that explore every gameplay possibility.”

You also saw high scores from the likes of Game Informer, who gave the game an average score of 8.75 out of 10. Computer & Video Games liked it slightly more, giving it a 9 all the way back in November of 2002. Not surprisingly, the highest score once again came from GamePro, who gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. So predictable. “As the Game Boy Advance grows up, Super NES ports are becoming a less and less welcome sight on store shelves. Yoshi is the exception that proves the rule ... don't miss this nearly lost gem of the Mario universe.” While Yoshi's Island isn't my favorite Mario platformer, it's hard to argue with GamePro's reasoning. Give it a look, if you haven't played it already.

While it was released on the Switch several months ago, I figure that we might as well talk about the final entry in the short-lived Super Mario Advance series. That's right, it's the clunkily named Super Mario Bros. 3: Super Mario Advance 4, a title that is so unwieldy that it probably single-handedly killed the franchise. Terrible name aside, I think we can all agree that this was one of the very best games on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System, but were the critics still in love 13 years later?

The answer is yes, obviously. Shoe called it “one of the best games of all time. Not just on a Nintendo system. Not just for a Mario game. Not just when it first came out many moons and mushrooms ago. OF ALL TIME. Perfect controls. Perfectly constructed stages. Perfect graphics. Perfect game design that delicately balances anyone-can-pick-it-up gameplay with hardcore platforming action that'll make your palms sweat and your stomach churn when you go for those death-defying leaps.” Shane, on the other hand, couldn't help but notice a problem with this series: “Nintendo's sure milking Mario for all he's worth. Remember Super Mario All-Stars on Super Nintendo? That game contains remakes of four classic Mario titles, while GBA owners have to dole out $30 a pop for these tasty chestnuts.”

Most of the other magazines didn't seem all that concerned about the pricing, with Game Informer giving it a 9.8 out of 10 and Nintendo Official Magazine going as high as 92%, making it one of their top-ranked games of the year. About the lowest score you're going to find is a 4.5 out of 5 from GBA World. That's the same score that GamePro gave the game, concluding that “admittedly, Super Mario Bros. 3 seems like a weird step back from Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island, but that doesn't make it less of a classic – it's a test of your true gaming mettle, a must for the Mario completist, and validation for your sense of nostalgia.” Check the game out on the Switch to see if you feel like it's a “weird step back from Yoshi's Island.”