Review: Dr. Mario
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:While you can start on any stage between 0 and 20, there's no way to save a game in progress. To pause a game, press START on your controller. Time needed per session:Most of the earlier levels can be completed in minutes, but later levels have a lot of viruses to clear. As a ballpark average, set aside fifteen minutes to half an hour to give yourself time to play.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | No - this is a great game for Christians There really isn't anything here to worry about - you're just clearing blocks in a bottle after all! |
Screenshots
Game Overview
One of the easiest ways to know if a game was successful is to watch how often it's ported, remastered, and re-released down the line. Dr. Mario, a puzzle game for the NES, is a great example of this, as some version of it has been available for nearly every Nintendo console. This review is strictly for the original NES version, but the basics apply to the other versions too.
Like other NES puzzle games, it took a lot of inspiration from Tetris - pieces fall one by one through the play field, and the player needs to clear them by manipulating them in a certain way. This makes quick reflexes just as important as planning, which scratches a particular itch and keeps players coming back for more.
Shockingly, the manual for the NES version actually includes a story to introduce the game. In short, after saving the Mushroom Kingdom and having many other adventures, Mario decided to settle down by becoming a virologist - a scientist who studies viruses. This turns out to be great timing, as a plague has started to spread through the Mushroom Kingdom and Dr. Mario's new vitamin pills just might be the cure.
As for the gameplay itself, it's very simple: Dr. Mario will toss a colored pill into the waiting medicine bottle, and you need to move or rotate it into position. When four or more of the same colored blocks (including viruses) are lined up, they'll disappear and anything that isn't supported will fall down. This falling mechanic allows you to set up elaborate chain reactions (or just dig yourself out of trouble), so it's worth trying to master.
Once the current bottle is free of viruses, you'll move to the next stage with a fresh bottle. There isn't an end to this, so try to rack up a good high score and give yourself a challenge by starting at a higher level or by having the pills fall at a faster speed.
That's about it for this title - NES games were not exactly known for being elaborate - but it's enough to be fun for a few rounds, and it's easy to see why it's a classic. That said, finding the original NES cartridges might be the hard way to go about playing this one. Try looking for a modern re-release, such as the version available through Nintendo Online.
Like other NES puzzle games, it took a lot of inspiration from Tetris - pieces fall one by one through the play field, and the player needs to clear them by manipulating them in a certain way. This makes quick reflexes just as important as planning, which scratches a particular itch and keeps players coming back for more.
Shockingly, the manual for the NES version actually includes a story to introduce the game. In short, after saving the Mushroom Kingdom and having many other adventures, Mario decided to settle down by becoming a virologist - a scientist who studies viruses. This turns out to be great timing, as a plague has started to spread through the Mushroom Kingdom and Dr. Mario's new vitamin pills just might be the cure.
As for the gameplay itself, it's very simple: Dr. Mario will toss a colored pill into the waiting medicine bottle, and you need to move or rotate it into position. When four or more of the same colored blocks (including viruses) are lined up, they'll disappear and anything that isn't supported will fall down. This falling mechanic allows you to set up elaborate chain reactions (or just dig yourself out of trouble), so it's worth trying to master.
Once the current bottle is free of viruses, you'll move to the next stage with a fresh bottle. There isn't an end to this, so try to rack up a good high score and give yourself a challenge by starting at a higher level or by having the pills fall at a faster speed.
That's about it for this title - NES games were not exactly known for being elaborate - but it's enough to be fun for a few rounds, and it's easy to see why it's a classic. That said, finding the original NES cartridges might be the hard way to go about playing this one. Try looking for a modern re-release, such as the version available through Nintendo Online.
Points of Interest
Secrets await at the 5, 10, 15, and 20 mark
Completing one of these levels on Medium or High speed will reward you with a short cutscene. These animations are simple, but they're pretty neat. They show the three viruses sitting on a treetop as something flies overhead. What exactly flies overhead depends on the level, and there's a special surprise for beating level 20 on High!
Two Player Mode
The original NES version features a competitive two player mode where players can compete to see who can eliminate all of the viruses in their bottle the fastest. Players also have the ability to "attack" each other: clearing five or more pieces at once will send two random pieces into your opponent's bottle.
It's a fun twist on the formula, but depending on exactly how you're playing the game, this option might not be available. For example, you'll need two NES controllers in order to play this mode on the actual hardware.
It's a fun twist on the formula, but depending on exactly how you're playing the game, this option might not be available. For example, you'll need two NES controllers in order to play this mode on the actual hardware.
Only 2 Songs
When you start a game, you can select from three music options: Fever, Chill, and off. This feels like a low point for me, as other puzzle games on the NES managed to have at least three unique songs, and I can't say I'm a fan of either choice that Dr. Mario offers.
Concerns and Issues
Nothing really
Since you're effectively clearing colored blocks, there isn't much room for offensive content in this game. The closest you can get is the animation for clearing level 15 on High - a witch flies across the sky on a broom.