Super Mario is a popular game series that has been on the market since 1985, making it one of the oldest in our technological gaming history. The games are developed by Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto, becoming one of the biggest giants in the industry that created a gaming revolution. In 2021, a survey was conducted in England asking people if they were familiar with Super Mario, and a whopping 91% of respondents recognized the popular character. Today, we will delve into the amazing and rich history of Super Mario.
The Super Mario series is most known for, well, Super Mario himself, and his counterpart Luigi. For those of us who are old enough to have experienced the fun, the journey began with Super Mario Bros for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, a 2D side-scrolling platformer. What Mario is perhaps most famous for is rescuing Princess Peach, the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, time and time again from the villain King Koopa (Bowser), who kidnaps and takes Peach to his castle.
Throughout the series, we witness endless variations of the adventures Super Mario must go through to save the princess, and we get to meet his brother, Luigi, the mushroom Toad, the green “horse” Yoshi, and the rest of the fantastic crew that Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo have created for us.
We believe that Super Mario will be one of the game series that survives the longest in gaming history. Each game brings something new, a different way of playing, new characters to meet, and new stories to be told. Super Mario continues to embed itself in us to this day, and Miyamoto proves every day why the little plumber might be the world’s most popular gaming character.
The Rich History of Super Mario
The idea behind Super Mario can be debated, whether it started in 1983 when Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka together created an arcade game they called Mario Bros, or as early as 1981 when Mario also appeared as the character “Jumpman” in the first Donkey Kong game.
When Miyamoto worked for Nintendo, he wanted to develop a game that would appeal to a broad audience, including those who were not experienced gamers. Later in 1985, Nintendo, along with Miyamoto, released the first Super Mario game, as mentioned earlier, Super Mario Bros for the NES console. Since then, there have been nearly 30 different Mario games developed by Nintendo and the team.
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As a global pop culture icon, Mario is recognized worldwide, and his distinctive face and characters have been featured on a variety of products, from clothing and toys to breakfast cereals and other merchandise. He has also hosted several major events, including the Olympic Games in games like “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.”
The little plumber has also been a significant driver of Nintendo console sales. From NES and SNES to Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch, Mario games have been among the most sought-after titles for each new platform, contributing to the increased sales of Nintendo hardware.
Super Mario games have always been known for their innovative and engaging gameplay. From the early side-scrolling platformers to the transition to 3D with Super Mario 64, Nintendo has continuously explored new game mechanics and ideas, keeping the series fresh and exciting.
Unprecedented Success for Super Mario and a Gaming Revolution
Super Mario is one of the most successful gaming franchises the world knows. Almost every game in the series has sold tens of millions of copies, except for a few. Each game is an innovation, figuring out how to make Super Mario feel like a new idea. And the factors that made Super Mario as big as he has become, are not few.
Mario has a kind of universal appeal, as Mario and his adventures appeal to people of all ages. The stories are often simple and easy to understand, and the characters have become iconic symbols recognizable even to those who are not avid gamers. This has helped expand the target audience and make the games accessible to everyone.
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The gaming revolution Super Mario sparked also demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt to various game genres, from platformers to racing, sports, role-playing, and more. This ability to offer variety has helped maintain the interest of a broad audience over time.
The game series has been a cornerstone for many, bringing with it lasting friendships, intense rivalries, and joy for hundreds of millions of people. Super Mario has influenced the gaming industry more than we can ever imagine and was created by a man who had a deep passion for his craft.
The Super Mario Games
In the story of Super Mario, we will also take a look at most of the titles released by Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto. Some titles may be missing here, but we will try to cover the most important ones in the series.
Some facts about Super Mario and the general game series, along with some we didn’t include in the images:
- Super Mario Sunshine (2002): This game, released for the Nintendo GameCube, took Mario to the Isle Delfino, where he used a water gun called FLUDD to navigate through the game and combat pollution.
- New Super Mario Bros. series: Starting with “New Super Mario Bros.” on the Nintendo DS back in 2006, this series combines a traditional side-scrolling effect with modern graphics. It has since received several sequels, including “New Super Mario Bros. Wii,” “New Super Mario Bros. 2,” and “New Super Mario Bros. U.”
- Super Mario Maker series: These games, including “Super Mario Maker” and “Super Mario Maker 2,” give players the ability to design and share their own Mario levels. This has led to a massive online community of level creators exploring what other players have made.
- Paper Mario series: This series stands out with its unique visual style, where characters appear as paper-crafted figures. Games, including “Paper Mario” and “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,” focus heavily on storytelling and role-playing elements.
- Mario & Luigi series: These role-playing games, including titles like “Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga” and “Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story,” combine platforming with strategic combat systems and humorous dialogue between Mario and Luigi.
Super Mario Gameplay
The core of the Super Mario games is platforming, where the player controls Mario (and sometimes other characters like Luigi) through various levels filled with platforms, obstacles, and enemies. The goal is usually to reach the end of the level by jumping, running, and overcoming obstacles.
The games are also known for their diverse range of power-ups that give Mario different abilities. Some of the most well-known in the series include the Super Mushroom, which makes Mario larger, and the Fire Flower, which gives him the ability to shoot fireballs from his hands. In later games, Nintendo has introduced new power-ups, such as the Tanooki Suit, which gives Mario the ability to glide and fly in the air.
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Game levels are typically filled with collectibles, such as coins, stars, and other items. These provide players with extra lives, increase the score, or grant access to secret areas. Collecting these items is often key to discovering hidden elements in the game.
Each Super Mario game features different worlds, each with its own unique theme and challenges. These themes can range from grassy plains to snowy mountains, glowing volcanoes, or sky realms.
Since the series began in 1985, the games have evolved to become somewhat more complex but primarily revolve around the same core elements. Battle various enemies, ride on Yoshi, team up with your brother, Luigi, punch Bowser in the face, and rescue the kidnapped Princess Peach.
Super Mario Characters
In the Super Mario game series, we encounter all kinds of characters. Let’s dive into the world that Miyamoto and Nintendo have created for us. We’ll try to include everyone, but there’s a risk that some characters may be left out.
The characters most frequently seen in Super Mario games usually include Mario himself, Luigi, King Koopa, Princess Peach, Toad, Kamek, Piranha Plant, Shy Guy, Koopa Troopa, Goomba, and Yoshi. Occasionally, other characters also make appearances, some more often than others. Some facts about the characters are provided below:
- Mario: This is the main character in the series, an Italian plumber who lives in the Mushroom Kingdom. He is known for his red and iconic hat, blue overalls, and the ability to jump a little too high. Mario is often on a mission to rescue Princess Peach from the evil villain Bowser/King Koopa.
- Luigi: Mario’s brother and an equally well-known character. He is usually a supportive character in the games and has also been the main character in some games, such as the Luigi’s Mansion series.
- Princess Peach: The reigning ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. Peach is often kidnapped by Bowser, and it’s up to Mario and Luigi to rescue her. She is known for her pink dress and distinctive appearance with large eyes, long blonde hair, and a crown resting on her head.
- Bowser/King Koopa: The main antagonist in the series and the king of the Koopa Troop. Bowser often kidnaps Princess Peach in an attempt to take control of the Mushroom Kingdom, but fails every time. He is a large turtle-like creature with an evil agenda.
- Toad: A mushroom-like creature and one of the friendly inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom. Toad is often an ally for Mario and Luigi, and there are several “Toads” with different colors and personalities.
- Yoshi: Often a green dinosaur-like creature that serves as a faithful companion for Mario and Luigi. Yoshi has the ability to eat enemies with his tongue and can also jump even higher than the Mario brothers.
These are some of the many charming and amusing characters we encounter in the Super Mario universe. Nintendo ensures that the franchise grows every day, so if we’re lucky, we’ll get many new additions to the gang as time goes on.
Super Mario Multiplayer
The Super Mario franchise is primarily centered around single-player gameplay, but it also offers opportunities for an additional player, often referred to as the familiar “Player 2.” Here, you usually have the chance to assist Super Mario by controlling his brother, dressed in green, Luigi. The exception to this rule is, of course, in spinoffs like Mario Kart and some other games where more of Super Mario’s friends and foes are involved, such as Super Mario Party and Super Smash Bros, explained a bit better below.
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In many Super Mario games, players have the opportunity to play simultaneously on a shared screen, allowing two or more players to explore levels together. This is particularly common in platform games like the “New Super Mario Bros.” series, where players can collaborate or compete to complete levels. Some Super Mario games allow players to cooperate in the same game by sharing resources and helping each other reach goals. For example, games like “Super Mario 3D World” allow up to four players to collaborate to complete levels.
In addition to cooperative modes, Super Mario has also included competitive gameplay. For instance, the “Super Mario Kart” series is known for offering multiplayer races where players compete to win races using various vehicles and power-ups. Some newer Super Mario games have implemented online multiplayer modes, allowing players from around the world to connect and play together or compete against each other. This is especially true for games like “Super Mario Maker 2” and “Super Mario Bros. 35.”
Last but not least, there is Super Mario Party. This is a dedicated series within the Super Mario universe that focuses on multiplayer party games. Players roll dice, participate in mini-games, and compete to collect stars and coins.
Speedrunning
A phenomenon that started relatively early in the Super Mario series is what we call “Speedrunning.” This involves completing a released game as quickly as possible and striving to set new records within various speedrunning categories. Below is a video of the current world record in Super Mario N64, in the 16 Star category. The record is currently held by the YouTuber Suigi from Canada.
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Speedrunners use a variety of techniques to reduce the time it takes to complete the games. This includes running, jumping techniques, exploiting glitches (software errors that can be used to skip parts of the game), and other advanced movements. Some speedrunners are dedicated to finding new glitches and techniques that can further reduce the time. This can lead to games being broken down into their smallest details to identify potential areas for optimization.
The competition to achieve the fastest time is intense, and speedrunners work hard to beat or improve the various world records. Games undergo frequent updates with new strategies and glitches, making Super Mario speedrunning a dynamic environment where everyone collaborates towards a common goal.
Competitions and Tournaments
There are few Super Mario competitions and other tournaments within Nintendo in general. There could be so much more with some of the games they have released, but sadly there is not, such as Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. The latter, however, has received a lot of attention and engagement worldwide, until Nintendo has decided that this is not acceptable. We have written some articles that touch on Nintendo’s views on events and tournaments organized by other entities and individuals. Some have been in collaboration with Nintendo, where they initially approved, but later changed their stance and pulled the plug on the entire event.
As mentioned earlier, speedrunning is a separate tournament within Mario, called “Games Done Quick” (GDQ), and is an annual event series that brings together speedrunners from around the world. Super Mario games, especially the classic platformers, are often prominent during these Super Mario competitions. Participants showcase their skills and compete for the fastest times while also raising money for charity.
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“Super Mario Maker 2” also allows players to create their own levels, leading to a separate category of tournaments and Super Mario competitions where players compete to complete challenging levels as quickly as possible. This category, however, is not as easy to find, but you can often see some of this on the streaming platform Twitch.tv.
In addition to the major international tournaments and Super Mario competitions, several local events take place, including weekly or monthly tournaments held both in game stores and online. It is also common for local communities to organize events where gaming enthusiasts can meet, compete, and share their joy for Super Mario games.
Super Mario’s Reception
In 1985, Nintendo released something the audience had rarely seen before. The gaming world was rapidly evolving and was brand new. Ideas were abundant, and being original at that time would not prove to be particularly difficult compared to today’s market.
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Super Mario was well-received and sparked a gaming revolution like never before. The transition from the arcade became even smaller, and a new hero was born for the NES and Super Nintendo. The game holds a world-renowned status for revitalizing the video game industry after the crash in the early 80s. Before Super Mario Bros., video games were often simple and repetitive, but this game introduced a new standard for design, gameplay, and music.
Super Mario Bros. introduced the platformer genre and had a unique level design that was innovative for its time. Players had to navigate through various obstacles, collect coins, and defeat enemies to rescue the princess. The iconic music, composed by Koji Kondo, helped make the game unforgettable. The main theme is still known worldwide, quickly pulling the nostalgic strings of most people.
Criticism
It’s rare for Nintendo to receive poor reviews for a game, and the lack of negative criticism for Super Mario is nothing but plain truth. Each game feels like something “fresh and new,” reigniting the nostalgic flame for the little plumber. But as always, there are also negative aspects to any matter, and nothing goes unsaid for Nintendo, perhaps the most criticized player in the gaming market. In 2006, IGN ranked Super Mario as the world’s best game franchise, and various other entities have also ranked titles like Super Mario N64 and others as the world’s best games.
Sales
Following massive critical acclaim also bring enormous sales. The series had sold over 380 million copies worldwide in 2021, and the games are among the best-selling globally. As a result, Nintendo will continue to heavily invest in its franchise, ensuring they can provide the audience with new adventures alongside Super Mario.
Nintendo has done an excellent job marketing the Super Mario series, and they have an extremely strong and loyal fan base, ensuring that Super Mario will be a significant part of Nintendo’s focus in the future.
Movies About Super Mario
The Super Mario series is not only game-based; there are also several films dedicated to our red-clad plumber. Many projects have been created in this game universe, with the first being “Super Mario Brothers: Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach,” released in 1986. It is directed by Masami Hata, written by Hideo Takayashiki, and produced by Masakatsu Suzuki and Tsunemasa Hatano.
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There is also a TV series made about Super Mario, released in 1989, created by Andy Heyward and many others. Recently, in 2023, we got another addition to Mario’s adventure on TV with the film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Charlie Day. The film currently has a rating of 7.2/10 stars on IMDB and 59% – 96% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing.
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