enigmario is a rad hack of super mario bros. that replaces koji kondo’s melodies with smart chip remixes of tracks from enigma’s mcmxc a.d., essentially giving the game a totally new soundtrack. that the musical selections actually feel appropriate is the best part: the author clearly gave much care to tone and context. and at the same time it’s a distinct shift in tone from kondo’s clear notes of adventure, peril, and victory. there’s a somber quality to the new soundtrack, a warmth that’s frayed at the edges, a relief that’s being consumed by anxiety.

it’s a fascinating exercise. in the same way that poets and playwrights repurpose older, widely-known stories and themes in order to create a kind of intertextuality, romhackers and game developers continuously return to super mario bros.: a known story with known mechanics, thematically resonant and wholly incorporated into the contemporary vocabulary of videogames. everyone who is making a platformer is having a dialogue with super mario bros.

enigmario is apparently based on an earlier hack called “super catholic bros.”, which is disappointing.