I'm going to have to back up the game I brought into the tournie, Mario Bros. 3.
Again, where this is a classic Mario game which I still long to complete, it appeals so much to me, it's such a badass game that you can replay over and over again.
For Mario 64, it took me from 1998-2003 to complete it originally, then when I got it on the Wii, it took me a week.
I like games that give a good challenge and they both do that, but where Mario 64 was easier to beat on the second time out, Mario Bros. 3 still challenges me as an avid gamer, it probably means I'm shit because I can't complete it, but I still try.
Where Mario 64 may have put the N64 on the map, Mario Bros. 3 evolved Mario into a series that was here to stay, I mean this game sold 11 Million copies on the NES alone, a feat that no game has managed on a single console to this date. It's so friendly and it has a warm feeling to it, from the funky music, to playing two player to the map levels.
One thing you must remember is that Mario Bros. 3 did that no Mario did prior is they made two players as interactive as possible by letting people take turns on the levels, you have to plan and work together to get two whistles to get to world 8, all Marios prior to this only had play as far as you can until you die, then it's your friends go. It plays fair ball for two player action, plus when you lose all your lives, it's not complete game over, you can keep going.
One thing that I didn't fully like about Mario 64 is while it was amazing with it's other worlds, it felt very limiting. I mean you couldn't use your power ups for too long, I mean yes it would make the game easier if it did, but it took some of the fun out because you had to solely do the missions inside, you had to do this or you died. SMB3 provided some extras and fun in the levels outside of the time limit.#
I have to back Super Mario Bros. 3 because it's fun, interactive, replayable and there was more than just rescuing the princess, I mean Mario could turn into a flying racoon, how fucking cool is that alone?!