I will copy and paste this story I wrote years ago:
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I just remember this one time I played Super Mario Bros. and it was probably one of the most intense games I have ever played in my entire life.

I was invited out to see a friend that I have not seen in ages. She is kind of a gamer nerd like me, and she wanted some old school Nintendo action, so I brought over my original NES. Somewhere along the line, she told me to beat Super Mario Bros.

Now, Super Mario Bros is either a hit or miss with me when it comes to actually completing the game. On other versions where they let you save, it's a cakewalk. However, as just about anyone who has even heard of video games know, the NES version of SMB has to be completed in one sitting without the use of saves. Sure, there is the continue trick if you get a game over, but I usually quit when I get my first game over when I play SMB.

I start playing getting all pumped. I am sitting there talking trash about how a blind person could beat the very first level with his foot. So what happens? I run Mario off a god damned cliff. I literally hung my head in shame. I almost wanted to quit right then and there, but I had to press on. There was no turning back.

I mosey my way through the game in great shape. Using the two warp zones, I make my way to world eight. I was still Fire Mario. Four more levels to go. **** was getting real.

So what happens after informing my friend that I have a good chance of beating the game? I run straight into the first enemy. I become small Mario. I am truly devastated by this tragic event. But I couldn't back down...not now. Bowser was four levels away, and there was no chance in hell he was keeping MY Princess.

Nothing significant happens until world 8-3. Whenever I got a mushroom, I ended up getting clobbered by the Hammer Bros. What was going on? I can usually make it to 8-4 without much difficulty. I get nervous as I sense my friend losing all hope in me. I then cause Mario to be fatally wounded by a Bullet Bill. I am now on my last life.

This was it. I abandoned my Big Mario strategy and just ran like hell. Everything was going fine until I reached the part where TWO Hammer Bros. surround you on an even playing field. One hammer brother to the left...and one to the right...I had to keep moving before all hope was lost and the Princess would be in Bowser's castle forever. It was now or never. By the hair of Mario's mustache, I caused him to breeze past his perilous situation, and I now faced the challenge of the last level: 8-4. My hands were shaking. My brows were furrowed. It was almost as if I was born for this moment.

Right when the level started, I realized something. If the Super Mario Bros. universe were real, my situation in the game would be pretty accurate. The real Mario would have no lives. He would only have one shot at this. Just like I did. I took a couple of real deep breaths, and I pressed onward.

Right before Bowser near the end of 8-4, there is one last Hammer Brother to conquer. Since I was still small Mario, there was little room for error. Plus, after passing said Hammer Brother, I would have to clear a lava pit with a fireball that pops right out of it! If I were big Mario, or if I had more lives--NO, WAIT!! I couldn't afford to think that way! I had to BE Mario!!

I cleared the last Hammer Brother, sailed over the lava pit, and the fireball was a fraction of a second too late in burning Mario to death. But now...now...Bowser was right in front of me. Mocking me with that hideous smile, conveniently moving fire breath, and barrage of hammers thrown in my direction. To me, this wasn't just a game anymore. I saw an opening in Bowser's defense, and I ran as fast as a chunky Italian plumber could.

This wasn't just about me beating Super Mario Bros. for the millionth time. This was for the Princess, the Mushroom Kingdom, and all those little asexual Toad dudes!!

I slipped under Bowser's jump by a single pixel, and all was over. Mario broke the bridge where our climatic battle took place and Bowser fell to his fiery death.

I saved the Princess, The Mushroom Kingdom, and my dignity.

The best part is that I didn't even have to use my A-K. I gotta say it was a good day.
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There are things I don't agree with how I said what I said, and my skill with Mario games has increased tenfold since then. Still, that was one of the funnest games of SMB I ever had.