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Dr. Mario

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Dr. Mario
Dr. マリオ
Dokutā Mario
None.png
Developer(s): Nintendo R&D1
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy
Category: Puzzle
Players: 1-2
Predecessor: N/A
Successor: Dr. Mario 64
Release dates
N. America: NES: October 1990
GB: December 1990
Japan: July 27, 1990
Europe: NES: June 27, 1991
GB: April 30, 1991
Australia: NES: June 27, 1991
Ratings
ESRB: E
CERO: A
PEGI: 3
USK: 0
ACB: G
GRAC: A
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Dr. Mario is a puzzle game released for both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy, and the first title in the Dr. Mario spin-off series of Super Mario games. In Japan, both versions of the game were released simultaneously in July 1990. In North America, the NES version was released first in October 1990, while the Game Boy version was released in December. In Europe, the Game Boy version was released first in April 1991, while the NES version was released later, in June 1991.

Development

Originally, the game was known as Virus (as supported by leaked prototypes)[1], and some references to Mario did not exist. Further, the title screen was entirely different not featuring Mario at all. The gameplay (at least in concept) would be the same but the pill movement/clearing would involve curing a sick animal on the left side of the screen.

Blurb

Nintendo Website

"At Mushroom Kingdom Hospital, nasty viruses are on the loose. It's time to give them a dose of Mario's medicine!

In this classic puzzle game, you must eradicate all the viruses in the bottle by spinning and lining up the coloured vitamin capsules as they fall.

The more lines of viruses you clear, the more points you rack up, scoring huge combos. But beware of side-effects: this game may be addictive!"

Story

Mario is now a doctor working at the Mushroom Kingdom Hospital. One day, an experiment gone awry results in the Viruses spreading out of control. Dr. Mario, however, has developed a new vitamin that he believes should be able to defeat the viruses.[2]

Gameplay

Gameplay of Dr. Mario revolves around dropping multicolored Megavitamins on top of same-colored Viruses to clear them out and advance to the next stage. Viruses are colored red, blue, and yellow, while Megavitamins can appear in any combination of two of the three colors and are placed on top of the Viruses, and can be rotated while they are dropping before they are placed on top of a Virus. The player must create a line of four of the same color in order to clear a line or defeat a Virus. If the player cannot clear all the viruses before crossing the top of the play area, the player receives a game over.

Technical Details

Technical Details
Media

NES Game Pak
Game Boy Game Pak
Arcade (Nintendo PlayChoice-10, Nintendo VS. System)
Satellaview
Nintendo Power (SNES, Game Boy)
Game Boy Advance Game Pak
Digital download (Nintendo 3DS, Wii U)

Download size

Nintendo 3DS: 35 blocks
Wii U:

Supported features

Game Link Cable

Input / compatible controllers

NES: NES Controller
Game Boy
SNES: SNES Controller
Game Boy Advance
Nintendo 3DS
Wii U: Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Remote, Classic Controller

Other Releases

Title Cover art Platform Release date(s) Notes
VS. Dr. Mario Arcade (Nintendo VS. System) 1990 A direct port of the NES release of Dr. Mario released for Nintendo VS. System arcade machines. This release of the game removes the "Slow" mode and decreases the amount of points earned from clearing chains of Megavitamins.
Dr. Mario Arcade (Nintendo PlayChoice-10) 1990 A direct port of Dr. Mario released for arcades.
Tetris & Dr. Mario SNES NA: December 1994
EU: July 27, 1995
An enhanced port of Dr. Mario is included as part of this release.
Rev 1 Game Boy Unknown Some pointers may have changed.
Dr. Mario BS Version SNES (Satellaview) JP: March 30, 1997 A port of Dr. Mario, also known as Dr. Mario BS Ban (Dr. Mario Broadcasting Satellite Version) broadcast over the Satellaview service, based on the SNES version of the game included in Tetris & Dr. Mario. The ROM of the game is actually the full Tetris & Dr. Mario game with the other portions of the game disabled.
Dr. Mario SNES (Nintendo Power) JP: January 6, 1998 A direct port of the Satellaview release of Dr. Mario released for the Nintendo Power download service. Unlike the Satellaview release, this version of the game only includes the Dr. Mario game on its ROM.
Dr. Mario SNES (Nintendo Gateway System)[3] NA: 1998 Based on the Japanese Nintendo Power Dr. Mario release, and only released for the Nintendo Gateway System (Nintendo game services for airplanes and hotels).
Dr. Mario Game Boy (Nintendo Power) JP: March 1, 2000 A direct port of the Game Boy version of Dr. Mario released for the Nintendo Power download service.
Classic NES Series: Dr. Mario
(NES Classics: Dr. Mario)
Game Boy Advance NA: October 25, 2004
JP: May 21, 2004
EU: January 7, 2005
A direct port of the NES version of Dr. Mario.
Dr. Mario Virtual Console (Nintendo 3DS) NA: October 4, 2012
JP: July 27, 2011
EU/AUS: March 22, 2012
KOR: May 18, 2016
A direct port of the Game Boy version of Dr. Mario released as a digital download on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS, with added emulator features.
Dr. Mario Virtual Console (Wii U) NA: March 27, 2014
JP: February 26, 2014
EU: February 13, 2014
AUS: February 14, 2014
A direct port of the NES version of Dr. Mario released as a digital download on the Nintendo eShop for Wii U, with added emulator features.

External links

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Dr. Mario on other NIWA Wikis:
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StrategyWiki


References


Super Mario series logo
Platformers
2D
3D
Ports and remakes
Multiplayer-focused games
Mario Kart
Mario Party
Sports
Other games
Role-playing
Dr. Mario Dr. Mario • 64 • + Puzzle League • Online Rx • Express • Dr. Luigi • Miracle Cure • World
Mario vs. Donkey Kong Mario vs. Donkey Kong • March of the Minis • Minis March Again! • Mini-Land Mayhem! • Minis on the Move • Tipping Stars • amiibo Challenge
Crossover games
Misc.
e-Reader applications (Mario Party-e) Free Challenge: Cast Away Mario!  • Mario's Mallet  • Daisy's Rodeo!  • Fast Feed Yoshi!
Wonder Challenge: Lakitu's Luck, Spinister Bowser
Duel Challenge: Bolt from Boo, Time Bomb Ticks!, Wario's Bluff, Balloon Burst!
Applications I Am a Teacher: Super Mario Sweater • Mario Calculator • Mario Clock • Photos with Mario • Shitamachi Ninjou Gekijou (Satellaview magazine)
Related NIWA Wikis:
Super Mario series: Super Mario Wiki icon English Super Mario Wiki icon • MarioWiki icon German MarioWiki icon • Super Mario Wiki (Italian) icon Italian Super Mario Wiki (Italian) icon
Super Mario 64: Ukikipedia icon Ukikipedia Ukikipedia icon
Classic NES series logo