“The Story of Super Mario’s Lost Levels and Nintendo’s e-Reader Innovation”

Currently, with the launch of new technologies and the advancement of console and game systems, DLC is very common. However, years ago, having new content for games already released was practically inconceivable.

Logically, we are not talking about game continuations, but new content, such as new stages, new enemies, new abilities, etc.

But as all companies are always looking for new ways to attract consumers, or to profit more from their games, Nintendo, in 2002, decided to innovate. So, that year, the Japanese giant launched its device named as e-Reader.

This device works as a kind of QR Code reader, so the user could add new content to games that have already been released. And which franchise did they choose to debut this new system? If we are talking about Nintendo, it is logical that it will be its “mascot”, the “Super Mario“.

But how did that happen? At the time, it had been about 14 years since the game “Super Mario Bros. 3” had been released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, the popular NES. However, considering the time and limitations, nothing more of the game had been released since then.

It was then that, with the creation of the portable Gameboy Advance and the e-Reader device, Nintendo decided to bring something new to the Mario game. And that’s how 38 extra stages of “Super Mario Bros. 3” became available through special cards present with the purchase of “Super Mario Advance 4”.

The problem with the new levels of ‘Mario’ and the e-Reader

“Super Mario Advance 4” is actually nothing more than the game “Super Mario Bros. 3” adapted for the Game Boy Advance (GBA).

The issue that generated a certain problem is that the e-Reader was not a device accessible to everyone. Therefore, these new phases – which are called lost levels – have not been played by virtually any fans.

Logically, over the years and the evolution of the internet and technologies, various emulators began to appear, which allowed – not legally – fans to play the lost levels.

However, it was only recently that Nintendo finally officially released current players to access these old levels “lost” in time. The company has made an emulator available so that, through the Switch, users can get this access!

That is, the lost levels can now be available through the official GBA emulator, without the need for any other device or card. Just access the game “Super Mario Advance 4” and finally enjoy the 38 hidden levels.