I agree 1-1 is great but I don't find it exceptional. Most of level-based games (at least during that time) are like that. You learn mechanics by playing easier

I agree 1-1 is great but I don't find it exceptional. Most of level-based games (at least during that time) are like that. You learn mechanics by playing easier levels, no direct verbal tutorials or whatsoever. And it's not really perfect, for example I literally never knew Mario has acceleration in my childhood (granted, I didn't play on NES but in emulator on computers).