RE: https://mastodon.social/@Retrogamebot/117326139002086608

I have to reboost/requote/re-whatever this whenever it comes up. This was MY Super Mario Bros, I loved this game so hard and played it so much and I can still basically run through the entire thing in my sleep.

It's an early Metroidvania which has a unique gimmick - you're cursed by a dragon and change forms, and each form gives you access to new areas, but you lose access to the areas you previously could reach.

For instance, the second curse turns you into "Mouse Man", who is only one block tall and can fit into tiny spaces, and can also walk upside down and sideways on certain blocks. When you follow his "level" path and fight the next dragon, you get turned into a Fish Man, who can swim underwater... but can't climb upside down or fit into one space blocks anymore.

You CAN change back into previous forms, using special rooms that are dotted throughout the map, It's only at the end of the game, when you're near the final boss fight, that you get the ability to change forms at will.