Overview
- The DS platformer marked its 20th anniversary Friday, with outlets publishing fresh retrospectives on its impact.
- The game remains the best‑selling title on Nintendo DS, with about 30 to 30.8 million copies sold by 2016.
- It blended side‑scrolling levels with 3D‑era moves like wall jumps and ground pounds and introduced Mega and Mini Mushrooms.
- Its success launched the 'New Super Mario Bros.' line on Wii, 3DS, and Wii U, which some writers say grew repetitive and slowed bolder 3D entries until Odyssey on Switch.
- Many recall it as a first Mario game on DS thanks to single‑cart local multiplayer and accessible design, and some call for a modern re‑release on Nintendo Switch Online without any announcement from Nintendo.