Dr. Mario (GB)

Dr. Mario

Platform:	Game Boy
Year:	1990
Developer:	Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Dr. Mario is a reflexive puzzle game in the same class as Tetris where you're trying to make lines of colored pills in order to kill bacteria in a jar. It features cartoon graphics of Mario and the bugs to make it look appealing. You can play at 20 different difficulty levels with three different speed settings each. While the game never reached the popularity of Tetris, is has developed quite a following, and many people have played the game enough to beat it on its hardest difficulty level. You can also play with an opponent in two-player mode which allows you to send random pill pieces over to your opponent when you get multiple lines in a row.

Screenshots

The silent title screen.

The main menu.

Playing the fifth round.

Round clear.

Game Over.

The end.

Music

The Game Boy version of Dr. Mario borrows most of its soundtrack from the NES version, but has been altered both in minor and major ways. The title screen music is not present in the Game Boy version, but it is unknown why. It could be due to time constraints. There is only one Clear jingle, and no song following it. Also, the song Fever plays faster than the NES version.

If the player manages to clear four sets of pills and viruses, they will be rewarded with an arrangement of the Invincible BGM theme from Super Mario Bros. (NES).

Hirokazu Tanaka wrote the music in Z80 assembly in his sound driver.

Recording

#	Title	Composer	Arranger	Length	Download
01	Select	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	0:47	Download
02	Fever	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	2:27	Download
03	Chill	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	3:50	Download
04	Clear	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	0:02	Download
05	Game Over	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	0:02	Download
06	VS Game Over	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	1:49	Download
07	Player 1 Multiple	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	0:01	Download
08	Player 2 Multiple	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	0:01	Download
09	4X Chain	Koji Kondo	Hirokazu Tanaka	0:07	Download
10	Ending	Hirokazu Tanaka	Hirokazu Tanaka	1:55	Download

Credits

Ripper:
Recorder: Doommaster1994
Game Credits:
- Not Credited Composer: Hirokazu Tanaka

(Source: Official soundtrack liner notes, verification from composer; game lacks credits)

Because the game was developed at an early time when credits were uncommon, it's no surprise this game doesn't have any. However, the game's composer, Hirokazu Tanaka has verified in various interviews that he is the composer, and has listed the game in his works. He also composed the NES version.