Dr. Mario (GB)

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Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario - GB - USA.jpg
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

Dr. Mario - GB - Title Screen.png

The silent title screen.

Dr. Mario - GB - Gameplay 1.png

The main menu.

Dr. Mario - GB - Gameplay 2.png

Playing the fifth round.

Dr. Mario - GB - Gameplay 3.png

Round clear.

Dr. Mario - GB - Gameplay 4.png

Game Over.

Dr. Mario - GB - Gameplay 5.png

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

Credits

(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.

Game Rip

Format

Download

GBS.png


Ripping Game Boy music is an arduous process that is beyond the scope of this site. The music was recorded in NEZPlay.

Audio Devices

The game uses the Game Boy's DMG-CPU B. The game uses Hirokazu Tanaka's sound driver.

Releases

  Japan.svg   Japan
Dr. Mario - GB - Japan.jpg
Title: ドクターマリオ (Dr. Mario)
Platform: Game Boy
Released: 1990-07-27
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
  USA.svg   USA
Dr. Mario - GB - USA.jpg
Title: Dr. Mario
Platform: Game Boy
Released: 1990-12-??
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
  EU.svg   EU
Dr. Mario - GB - Europe.jpg
Title: Dr. Mario
Platform: Game Boy
Released: 1991-04-30
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
  Australia.svg   Australia
Dr. Mario - GB - Australia.jpg
Title: Dr. Mario
Platform: Game Boy
Released: 1991-??-??
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
  Asia.svg   Asia
BoxMissing.png
Title: Dr. Mario
Platform: Game Boy
Released: 1991-??-??
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
  USA.svg   USA
Dr. Mario - GB - USA (Players Choice).jpg
Title: Dr. Mario (Players Choice)
Platform: Game Boy
Released: 1997-??-??
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
  USA.svg   USA
BoxMissing.png
Title: Dr. Mario (Best Buy Game Boy Pocket Bundle)
Platform: Game Boy
Released: 1998-??-??
Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Links