Use the Directional Pad to move Mario (or Luigi) left and right. Press the A Button to jump. Press the Start Button to pause and resume the action during gameplay. On the Main menu, use the Select Button to cycle through available game modes, and use the Start Button to begin the game.
Game Modes
Mario Bros. offers four different game types:
Game A represents the beginner difficulty. Game B indicates expert difficulty: enemies appear sooner, move faster, and recover more quickly. Both difficulty settings are available in 1-Player and 2-Player game modes.
A 2-Player game requires the use of a second controller. The player using Controller 1 plays as Mario, while the player using Controller 2 plays as Luigi. 2-Player games can be cooperative or competitive, depending on how the players use their respective characters.
Phases
Standard Phases
The object of a standard phase is to defeat all turtles, crabs, and fighter flies that appear in the area. If you succeed, the current phase ends and the next phase begins.
During standard phases, critters emerge from the pipes at the top of the screen. Left to its own devices, a critter will travel in a set direction, dropping a bit closer to the ground each time it reaches the edge of a platform. Once on the ground, an untouched critter enters one of the available pipes and returns to the top of the screen to repeat the process.
To clear a critter from the area, you must first flip the target enemy, and then kick it into the water. Flipping a critter usually involves punching the platform beneath your target. Available POW Blocks can also be used to flip critters. Kicking a critter is simply a matter of touching a flipped enemy before it recovers.
Bonus Phases
During a bonus phase, your goal is to collect 10 coins within a 20-second time limit. As you progress through the game, bonus phases feature new elements like slippery, ice-covered platforms. The first bonus phase appears during Phase 3, after which point a bonus phase appears each time you clear four standard phases.
Basic Gameplay
Moving
Use the Directional Pad to move left or right. It takes a moment to reach top speed, come to a stop, or change direction while running, so plan accordingly. Move beyond the edge of the visible area to appear on the opposite side of the screen.
Jumping
Jump to move between platforms, leap over enemies, or punch objects above you. Jump while moving to leap in the corresponding direction.
Punching
Jump up and hit a platform to deliver a punch to all enemies or objects within the affected area. Use punches to damage or flip enemies, collect coins, or activate POW Blocks. You can also punch a stunned enemy to flip it back onto its feet.
Kicking
Touch a flipped critter to automatically kick it into the water. This clears the pest from the area and takes you one step closer to completing the phase.