Super Mario Crossover 3.0 trailer released

“What is Super Mario Crossover?”, one could ask.

In summary: There is a website that features free online games, and some other zaniness, called ExplodingRabbit.com. Exactly three years ago today, they released a humble little game called Super Mario Bros Crossover (seriously, go try it at that link).

The appeal of the digital version of that original adventure is ludicrously brilliant and brilliantly ludicrous. The game is basically a browser version of the original 8-bit Super Mario Bros, but with the option of playing as other characters from classic NES franchises. You can battle as the guy from Contra, or complete it as Samus Aran from Metroid, or perhaps you want to see what the Mushroom Kingdom feels like as Mega Man.

It has become a great success, a worldwide phenomenon, and one of the most popular, well-known, utterly free browser games in history, with multiple versions being released at the site to cover subtle-but-enhancing upgrades and further celebrate the power of double-jumps and mash-up fun.

Now, fans can drool at the prospect of 3.0, since the trailer dropped on YouTube.

Watch the brand-new trailer, and let it blow up your brain:

Clearly, the team at Exploding Rabbit is aiming for a bit more this time, and some of the new wrinkles look intriguing. Not only can you play as Mega Man, but as some of his classic foes as well? The same goes for Simon Belmont, of Castlevania fame; not only can you control him, but a skeleton enemy from his games, or even different versions of him from across differing console generations?

Then there are the level designs, which look great — and seemingly seem to switch back in forth, in audiovisual changes, from 8-bit to 16-bit and even less, from Mario-themed to Castlevania-themed and otherwise.

Not to mention, of course, that players will now have a choice of difficulty levels.

Crazy stuff. Thanks to Pro Jared for the tip.

Looks like fans of retro gaming insanity have something to look forward to in May/June of 2013.