About

<h2>Overview</h2><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0">Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 was a Game Boy Advance enhanced port of the NES game <a href="/super-mario-bros-3/3030-10299/" data-ref-id="3030-10299">Super Mario Bros. 3</a>. Super Mario Advance 4 was released in 2003, with several enhancements--mostly graphical. The gameplay of the NES version is retained, with minimal to no changes. Super Mario Advance 4 was well-received among critics, who praised the game's classic gameplay and updated graphics.</p><h3>e-Reader Support</h3><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/7465/1295480-super_mario_advance_4__super_mario_bros._3_e_reader_cards__series_1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1295480" data-size="small" data-ratio="1" data-width="160" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 160px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:100.0%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/7465/1295480-super_mario_advance_4__super_mario_bros._3_e_reader_cards__series_1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1295480"><img alt="e-Reader cards" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/7465/1295480-super_mario_advance_4__super_mario_bros._3_e_reader_cards__series_1.jpg" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/7465/1295480-super_mario_advance_4__super_mario_bros._3_e_reader_cards__series_1.jpg 160w" sizes="(max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px" data-width="160"></a><figcaption>e-Reader cards</figcaption></figure><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0">Super Mario Advance 4 also contained e-Reader card support. One Game Boy Advance System with an e-Reader device and one GameBoy Advance System with Super Mario Advance 4 would be linked up together so a player could transfer items or game videos from Super Mario Advance 4 trading cards that are scanned with the e-Reader. In addition, the e-Reader cards could unlock new levels or items.</p><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0">World-e (bonus levels akin to <a href="//www.giantbomb.com/star-road/3035-3394/" data-ref-id="3035-3394">Star Road</a>-style stages unlocked via the e-Reader cards) had 30 levels, 20 of which were only released in Japan. This new Super Mario Bros. 3 world had 3 minigames that could be unlocked by collecting Advance coins, available only in the World-e levels. However, because of the e-Reader's limited production run, only Japanese players could collect enough Advance coins to play all 3 minigames.</p><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0">Notably, all Wii U Virtual Console releases of Super Mario Bros. 3: Super Mario Advance 4 include the entirety of the e-Reader levels.</p><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0"> </p><h2>Gameplay</h2><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/775/215349-1170016832_00.png" data-ref-id="1300-215349" data-size="small" data-ratio="0.66666666666667" data-width="240" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 240px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:66.7%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/775/215349-1170016832_00.png" data-ref-id="1300-215349"><img alt="Super Mario Advance 4 improved on the graphics of the original game." src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215349-1170016832_00.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215349-1170016832_00.png 240w" sizes="(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" data-width="240"></a><figcaption>Super Mario Advance 4 improved on the graphics of the original game.</figcaption></figure><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0">Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 retains the original game's gameplay. The game is a 2D side-scrolling platformer, where the player controls either <a href="/mario/3005-177/" data-ref-id="3005-177">Mario</a> or <a href="/luigi/3005-370/" data-ref-id="3005-370">Luigi</a> as they guide him through the level. The goal of the game is to get to the end of each level (eight of which are in one world). After completing a level, the player can move on to the next level, and at the end of the world, the player has to fight one of <a href="/bowser/3005-337/" data-ref-id="3005-337">Bowser</a>'s Koopalings. Along the way, however, there are many other baddies to contend with; <a href="/koopa-troopa/3015-2557/" data-ref-id="3015-2557">Koopas</a> and <a href="/goomba/3015-2891/" data-ref-id="3015-2891">Goombas</a> to name a few.</p><figure data-align="left" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/7465/1032567-super_mario_advance_4___super_mario_bros._301.png" data-ref-id="1300-1032567" data-size="small" data-ratio="0.66666666666667" data-width="240" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 240px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:66.7%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/7465/1032567-super_mario_advance_4___super_mario_bros._301.png" data-ref-id="1300-1032567"><img alt="Super Mario Advance 4 includes an upgraded version of the original Mario Bros." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" sizes="(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" data-width="240" class="js-lazy-load-image" data-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/7465/1032567-super_mario_advance_4___super_mario_bros._301.png" data-srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/7465/1032567-super_mario_advance_4___super_mario_bros._301.png 240w"><noscript><img alt="Super Mario Advance 4 includes an upgraded version of the original Mario Bros." src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/7465/1032567-super_mario_advance_4___super_mario_bros._301.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/7465/1032567-super_mario_advance_4___super_mario_bros._301.png 240w" sizes="(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" data-width="240"></noscript></a><figcaption>Super Mario Advance 4 includes an upgraded version of the original Mario Bros.</figcaption></figure><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0">To help him on his quest, Mario has a variety of power-ups (many of which were introduced in Super Mario Bros. 3). With series' regulars like the <a href="/super-mushroom/3055-49/" data-ref-id="3055-49">Super Mushroom</a> (grows Mario in size), <a href="/fire-flower/3055-10/" data-ref-id="3055-10">Fire Flower</a> (gives Mario the ability to throw fireballs), and <a href="/starman/3055-23/" data-ref-id="3055-23">Starman</a> (grants Mario temporary invincibility), there are other power-ups such as the Super Leaf (gives Mario the ability to fly), <a href="/tanooki-suit/3055-38/" data-ref-id="3055-38">Tanooki Suit</a> (gives Mario the ability to fly and the ability to turn into a statue), <a href="/frog-suit/3055-40/" data-ref-id="3055-40">Frog Suit</a> (Mario is much faster at swimming underwater), <a href="/hammer-bros-suit/3055-1247/" data-ref-id="3055-1247">Hammer Suit</a> (Mario can throw hammers, much like a Hammer Bros.), and <a href="/kuribos-shoe/3055-12/" data-ref-id="3055-12">Kuribo's Shoe</a> (Mario can jump around in a large shoe--even jumping on spikes--crushing those who stand in his way).</p><p data-right-indent="0" data-left-indent="0">Also included on the cartridge is a remake of the arcade and NES classic <a href="/mario-bros/3030-19726/" data-ref-id="3030-19726">Mario Bros.</a> It does have multiplayer support for up to four players (although all four have to have a separate cartridge).</p>