The Original Mario Bros. Arcade Classic Series (5 Screw)

Mario Bros 5 Screw is the Arcade Classics Series cartridge of Nintendo's 1983 Mario Bros., in the early five-screw NES shell. Mario and Luigi clear pests from the pipes, one screen at a time. This listing is the loose cartridge only, with no box or manual.

About the Mario Bros 5 Screw NES Cart

Mario Bros. hit North American arcades in March 1983. The Famicom version followed in Japan on September 9, 1983. Nintendo R&D1 made the home version with Intelligent Systems, and Nintendo released it on the NES in North America in June 1986.

Each round is a single screen of platforms. Enemies come in and go out through pipes in the corners. You cannot jump on them. Instead you bump the platform from below to flip an enemy over, then run up and kick it off. Leave it too long and it gets back up.

The POW block in the middle flips every enemy touching a platform or the floor. It only works three times. Touching an upright enemy, a fireball or a fully formed icicle costs a life.

One or two people can play, and the game stars both Mario and Luigi.

Mario Bros Five-Screw Cartridge Details

• Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
• NES release (North America): June 1986
• Original arcade game: 1983
• Developer: Nintendo R&D1 with Intelligent Systems
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Platformer
• Players: 1 or 2
• Shell: 5-screw cartridge
• What you get: Loose cartridge only, no box or manual

About the Five-Screw Shell

Early NES cartridges are held together with five small slotted screws. Outside Japan, Nintendo sold Mario Bros. in its 1986 Arcade Classics Series, with "The Original!" printed above the title on the cover. This copy is the five-screw version. The game inside does not change with the shell. Check the photos of the back of the cart to see the screws.

More Mario and Arcade Classics

We also sell a separate Mario Bros. listing. For the side-scrolling follow-up, see Super Mario Bros., or add the Donkey Kong Jr. 5-screw cartridge. Browse all NES games, or read about Mario Bros. on Wikipedia.

Mario Bros 5 Screw: FAQs

Is this Super Mario Bros.?
No. Mario Bros. is the earlier 1983 arcade game, played on single screens. Super Mario Bros. is the later side-scroller.

How many players?
One or two players.

What does the POW block do?
It flips every enemy on a platform or the floor. You can use it three times.

Does this Mario Bros Arcade Classic cartridge include a box?
No. You get the loose cartridge only, with no box or manual.

Ordering and Shipping

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