The Ghost of RubangB on 06 July 2008
Pitfall was 1982.
Donkey Kong was 1981.
But in both games once you started a jump you couldn't turn around in mid-air.
Then with SMB1, he completely re-invented it with adding much more control to jump height, jump distance, jump speed, running speed, ducking/sliding, etc., completely revolutionizing the control and freedom you have with your character.
