Item of the week #16

[Dark Seraphim]

Hammer Bros. Suit



First Appearance: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES, 1988)
Latest Appearance: Same

One of the strongest and rarest of the Mario items, the Hammer Bros. Suit was an exclusive to Super Mario Bros. 3, bolstering impressive offensive, as well as defensive prowess to the player. Similar to the Tanooki Suit in frequency throughout the game, the Hammer Bros. Suit could very well be Mario's strongest transformation in the entire time, up there with Metal Mario and Star Mario in its usefulness.

As the name implies, this item allows Mario or Luigi to don the attire for Bowser's Hammer Bros., complete with armor and an unlimited supply of hammers. Offensively, the hammers are incredibly powerful, having the ability to kill most enemies in the game, including King Bowser himself in the last level! Just like the Hammer Bros. in the game, Hammer Mario throws them in high arcs, so a little tact is needed to hit the target properly. Defensively the black armor Mario dons in this form allows him complete immunity to fire damage as as he's curled up. The only downsides to the Hammer Bros. Suit is the fact that while curled up, Mario loses his ability to slide down hills, and, of course, like with any other Mario power-up, one hit and its gone forever.



FUN FACT: When curled up, Hammer Mario looks exactly like a Buster Beetle, another enemy in Super Mario Bros. 3.

Despite its strength and defense, this was the one and only game to see the Hammer Bros. Suit, and its not been seen again since. However, not everything of the Hammer Bros. Suit was lost, even nowadays, especially in Mario's RPG games, he still uses a Hammer as his primary weapon, albeit he only slams it down now, as opposed to throwing them. Still, it would be nice if we'd get to see a Hammer Bros. Mario again someday . . .

ONE MORE FUN FACT: If Mario is wearing the Hammer Bros. Suit when he defeats a Koopaling, the King will ask him "Hey you! How about lending me your clothes? No dice?! What a drag."

Click to view video.

Item of the week #1: Hammer
Item of the week #2: Boo Mushroom
Item of the week #3: Metal Cap
Item of the week #4: Tanooki Suit
Item of the week #5: Ice Flower
Item of the week #6: Thunderbolt
Item of the week #7: Coconut Gun
Item of the week #8: F.L.U.D.D.
Item of the week #9: Bob-omb
Item of the week #10: Kart
Item of the week #11: Mini Mushroom
Item of the week #12: Boo
Item of the week #13: Warp Pipe
Item of the week #14: Pixl
Item of the week #15: Koopa Clown Car

[PK FIRE!]

Heh got to love an item that breaks they gameplay balnce like a dry twig.

- You stupid dog.

[Valigarmander]

You can kill Thwomps with this.

It's awesome.

[Dark Seraphim]

Originally Posted by Valigarmander

You can kill Thwomps with this.

It's awesome.

I forget, can it kill Boos?

[Valigarmander]

^ Yep. Just about everything.

[Dark Seraphim]

I suppose the only thing I can think of that it doesn't kill are the floating disco balls and the fireballs in the lava, huh? Can't really think of anything else . . . oh and I guess those Boos that are on the long bar/column thing I suppose.

Still would be nice to see something like that come back in something like Mario Galaxy! But then again, I say that about a lot of one-time power-ups (the Power Leaf and Tanooki Suit included!)

Click to view video.

Also, an awesome video with the Hammer Bros. Suit, showing off the king's alternate line when you beat a Koopaling wearing it.

[Metal Mario]

Originally Posted by Dark Seraphim

oh and I guess those Boos that are on the long bar/column thing I suppose.

Actually, I think it kills them too. The white bars remain, but the Boos are destroyed.

The Hammer Bro Suit is an awesome item to use for the second World 7 Fortress. The place is packed with Boos, Thwomps, and Piranha Plants, but the hammers make it a breeze.

[Dark Seraphim]

^ Hey Metal Mario, you'll probabaly know this.

Exactly how many Hammer Bros. Suits were available in Super Mario Bros. 3? I remember one in the Ice World and that's it, were there any more other than that?

[Luigiman7]

best item ever

[Metal Mario]

I don't know precisely how many Hammer Bro Suits there are in SMB 3, but I know there are more than one. They appear in both World 6 and World 7.

[Dr. Furball]

Originally Posted by Dark Seraphim

However, not everything of the Hammer Bros. Suit was lost, even nowadays, especially in Mario's RPG games, he still uses a Hammer as his primary weapon, albeit he only slams it down now, as opposed to throwing them.

Pretty sure that's done in reference to Donkey Kong rather than SMB3.

Anyway, gotta love the Hammer Bros. Suit, or any item that can take out Bowser in one hit.

[Dark Seraphim]

Originally Posted by Dr. Furball

Anyway, gotta love the Hammer Bros. Suit, or any item that can take out Bowser in one hit.

Three hits.

Pretty sure that's done in reference to Donkey Kong rather than SMB3.

You are probabaly right, but the Hammer Bros. might have played a part in it. In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time Baby Mario and Baby Luigi receive the hammers that would become normal Mario and Luigi's hammers from a pair of Hammer Bros. Maybe a subtle reference? Maybe not, I guess its up to all of us to decide.

[CaptHayfever]

^I think that was just so the littler Bros would have littler hammers for reasons of cuteness.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[PK FIRE!]

It could be a nod to SMRPG as you get your first hammer after beating the Hammer bros boss if I recall right.

- You stupid dog.