Dr. Mario
Manufacturer: Nintendo, 1990
Staff:
Developed by: Gunpei Yokoi
Music by: Hirokazu Tanaka
Description:
The object of the game is to help Dr. Mario destroy the most
sickening bunch of viruses around. These miserable germs can only be
destroyed by lining up the appropriate combinations of vitamins as
they fall. And Dr. Mario is relying on your players to help him get
the job done! This game isn't just fun. It's contagious. That's why
players of all ages keep coming back to Dr. Mario for another dose.
History:
Dr. Mario was the first non-action 'Mario game' in which the Mario
character was neither controllable nor playable, and the first
puzzle game he would appear in. Today the game is widely remembered
by many people for the 'Fever' music. Initially some fans called the
game 'Mario 4', since it was the first Mario game to be released
after "Super Mario Bros. 3". The resulting debate over 'what counts
as a Mario game' may have resulted in the decision to name the next
Mario action game simply "Super Mario World".
U.S. Patent 5,265,888 covers Dr. Mario, here is the abstract of this
Patent: A player initially sets the degree of difficulty of a
display type game, and if desired, more than one player may
participate with each player selecting an associated level of
difficulty. First and second objects having different shapes, e.g.
capsules and viruses, and different characteristics, e.g. different
colors or shadings, are displayed in a predefined display area.
First objects are generated based on random number data stored in a
ROM and displayed as 'falling' in a vertical direction across the
predefined display area. Coordinate positions of the first objects
on the display are changed by a player operating a controller.
Second objects are displayed at arbitrary positions in the display
area based on random number data. If a prescribed number of at least
a portion of first objects and/or second objects having the same
type characteristics are detected as being continuously aligned in a
vertical or lateral direction, those continuously aligned objects
are erased. Remaining portions of first objects (or remaining first
objects) previously supported by erased objects are displayed as
falling in the vertical direction to the lower region of the
prescribed displayed area. When all second objects are erased, the
game is successfully completed.
Scoring and tips:
(Point listings below are for low speed. Point totals are doubled
under medium speed, tripled under high speed)
One bug knocked out with pill: 100 points
Second bug knocked out with pill: 200 points (300 total)
Third bug knocked out with pill: 300 points (600 total)
Fourth bug knocked out with pill: 400 points (1000 total)
Fifth bug knocked out with pill: 500 points (1500 total)
Scoring goes on from there, though it's very unlikely you'll get
more than five bugs at one pill drop.
Reset: During the game, press Select+Start+A+B to reset the game.
Bonus objects: Play virus levels 5, 10, or 15 at medium or high
speeds. Wait at the intermission screen that features three viruses
in a tree. A bonus object will appear at the top of the screen. A
different object will appear depending on which level and speed is
currently being played.
