Play Super Mario Advance : Super Mario USA and Mario Brothers Online

Super Mario Advance came out on Game Boy Advance in 2004, a Nintendo release that bundled two very different games into one cartridge. It was a solid addition to the GBA library, a time when having a portable version of older classics felt like a small luxury. The package includes a remake of Super Mario Bros. 2, originally released in the US as Super Mario USA, and a competitive version of the arcade game Mario Bros.

In the main adventure, you control Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad, each with slightly different jumping and running traits. Your goal is to progress through themed worlds, defeating enemies not by jumping on them, but by plucking vegetables from the ground and throwing them, or by picking up enemies themselves to toss. You explore levels screen by screen, hunting for hidden keys to unlock doors and collecting cherries that summon helpful items. The pacing is methodical, more about exploration and puzzle solving than pure speed, though some later levels ramp up the challenge. It feels quirky and distinct, a strange but charming detour from the usual Mario formula.