Nintendo E-Reader Unlocks Ultimate Mario Levels

[Tom Goldman]

Nintendo E-Reader Unlocks Ultimate Mario Levels


Some of the coolest Super Mario Bros. levels can only be played with a method that many probably never even knew existed.

Nintendo's e-Reader, released in 2002, wasn't the type of gadget the name refers to today. It hooked up to the Game Boy Advance and consumers could buy trading cards to swipe through it to play full NES games or to add content to existing games. The e-Reader didn't really take off, with many dismissing its capabilities, but those people probably never saw these e-Reader exclusive Mario levels.

Nintendo sold packs of cards that when swiped unlocked levels in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 that contain elements from all of the Mario games mashed together, or even totally new ones. Remember the cape powerup from Super Mario World for the SNES? The e-Reader brings it to Super Mario Bros. 3, along with items to dig up from Super Mario Bros. 2, the steel lifts from Super Mario Bros., and countless other level design elements and enemies from most of the Mario titles.

These levels can only be played by using e-Reader cards that are sure to be nearly impossible to find now. 12 cards were released in the U.S., with another 24 in Japan, for a total of 36 unique levels that the majority of people have never touched. From the video here showing the mashed-up elements, they look like something Mario fans might want to hunt for. I know I'm going to unearth my e-Reader and see if I've got any of the cards lying around.

Joystiq [http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=132824]

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[Dr. wonderful]

Wow, epic fail on our part huh?

It's seems all sort of old easter eggs are coming out, wonder who is next.

 

[OceanRunner]

This could start a gold rush for those E-Readers and cards.

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

Why didn't we figure this shit out years ago?

Well, people didn't discover the trick to play as Master Hand in Melee until 8 years after the game released.

 

[ranger19]

Wow, that's... pretty awesome. How did I not know about these? Maybe Nintendo could have focused a bit more on the advertising.

I could see some cool ideas from this. The collection of both American and Japanese levels sound like together they would make a perfect WiiWare game. Or maybe with camera capabilities, the 3DS could have similar functions as an e-reader, taking a picture of the bar code on a card? I always enjoyed collectible card games but they were too expensive; this seems like it would have similar collectable elements without the cost.

Why didn't we figure this shit out years ago?

Well, people didn't discover the trick to play as Master Hand in Melee until 8 years after the game released.

Wait, no way. You can play as the giant hand?!

 

[zombie711]

the e-reader is a piece of crap. could not get my pokemon cards to work on it.

 

[Rasputin1]

Watched that whole vid.. Damn that music was relaxing.

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

Why didn't we figure this shit out years ago?

Well, people didn't discover the trick to play as Master Hand in Melee until 8 years after the game released.

Wait, no way. You can play as the giant hand?!

[gametrailers=701341]
EDIT: Just posted the video instead.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Damn it! I would love to play some of those levels.

 

[tomtom94]

If I hadn't been told otherwise, I'd have thought that was just a (admittedly very good) hack.

Wow, that's...really cool.

 

[Fappy]

That looks so fun

Why do I have the sudden urge to play Super Mario 64 though???

 

[pmeier]

Oh wow, this is pretty cool.
Although I don't understand why they didn't just include those with the game.
I would have probably bought it if it had.

Also,

12 cards were released in the U.S., with another 24 in Japan, for a total of 38 unique levels that the majority of people have never touched.

Wouldn't that mean that there are 36 levels not 38?

 

[Calhoun347]

I still have my E-reader.

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

12 cards were released in the U.S., with another 24 in Japan, for a total of 38 unique levels that the majority of people have never touched.

Wouldn't that mean that there are 36 levels not 38?

Math is hard. Let's go shopping!

I'm actually more enthusiastic about these levels than SMG2, which I haven't gotten around to playing yet. There's just something neat about seeing all that stuff mixed up together.

 

[ranger19]

EDIT: Just posted the video instead.

Whoa...

I'm going to have to do this when I get home and dominate one of my friends at the game. Mua ha ha!!

 

[Jared]

What is it with all these old and ancient easter eggs? I agree its epic, but...a few decade late?

 

[Tom Goldman]

Oh wow, this is pretty cool.
Although I don't understand why they didn't just include those with the game.
I would have probably bought it if it had.

Also,

12 cards were released in the U.S., with another 24 in Japan, for a total of 38 unique levels that the majority of people have never touched.

Wouldn't that mean that there are 36 levels not 38?

Ha ha. Maybe. Yes. What?

 

[edgeofblade]

This is the lost holy grail of Nintendo. The value of these cards is about to go through the roof...

 

[McShizzle]

Ummm.... Not exactly news, but I suppose some folks may not have known about it.

 

[manaman]

I still have my E-reader.

I never could find one. I couldn't find the reader or the cards, and yet I did know about them. I remember seeing advertisements for them, and probably would have picked on up.

What is it with all these old and ancient easter eggs? I agree its epic, but...a few decade late?

Few decades? That was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2002. Less then a decade late. Some people like me remember seeing ads for this, but could never find it. It's no wonder it sold poorly.