Super Mario Land 1989

Is it still worth playing?

One of four launch titles for the Game Boy, this 1989 platformer has Mario cross 12 side scrolling levels, adapted to the handheld's smaller screen. He is rescuing Princess Daisy in Sarasaland from Tatanga, an evil spaceman. The screen scrolls only to the right, and sections that have passed offscreen cannot be revisited. Two of the twelve levels are forced-scrolling shooting levels, in which Mario pilots a submarine or an airplane and fires at enemies, blocks and bosses. A platforming challenge at the end of a level leads to an alternate exit above the regular one, and to a bonus game that awards one to three extra lives or a Superball Flower power-up. A Mario made for the Game Boy's small screen is still worth seeing.