Mario

Mario is an Italian video game character created by Nintendo and the company mascot. Mario originally appeared in the 1981 arcade title Donkey Kong. Soon after, Mario became the main protagonist of his own franchise, the Mario franchise, with the release of the Game & Watch title Mario Bros. The game also introduced Mario's younger but taller twin brother, Luigi, who soon made his first major appearance in the arcade title Mario Bros. Since Super Mario Bros., Mario is frequently tasked with rescuing Princess Peach from the antagonist Bowser within the Mushroom Kingdom. His main adventures consist of 2D side-scrolling adventures and 3D platformers, and Mario has appeared in a wide variety of spin-off genres, including role-playing games, sports titles, and fighting games.

Originally a carpenter, Mario's profession has been established as a plumber since the arcade Mario Bros., although Mario has still fulfilled several careers, like a tennis player, a kart racer, and even a doctor (as Dr. Mario), depending on the premise of the game.

Character development

The existence of Mario stems from the fact that Donkey Kong was originally supposed to be a Popeye game, but since Nintendo could not secure the rights, they were forced to create their own characters. Mario was the replacement of Popeye, while Pauline replaced the damsel Olive Oyl and Donkey Kong replaced the antagonist Bluto.

Mario had other names while the arcade title Donkey Kong was being developed. Mario was originally named Ossan, a term in Japanese for a middle-aged man, and other names included Mr. Video Game, Mr. Video, and Jumpman. The design featured red overalls and a blue shirt to ensure the arms were visible, while the inclusion of a cap and mustache solved the problem of animating hair and a mouth on the limited hardware of the time.

A common misconception is that Mario was named Jumpman throughout the Donkey Kong era. It was his name used in the game's instructions in the American release. Nintendo of Japan gave their American subsidiary the choice to rename the character to something less generic. Minoru Arakawa (the president of Nintendo of America at the time) and warehouse manager Don James decided upon the name Mario, the namesake of Nintendo of America's landlord at the time, Mario Segale. The decision was made late during localization, which is why Mario is still named Jumpman in the instructions, but the arcade flyer refers to him as Mario.

In Japan, both the arcade instructions and flyer for Donkey Kong identified Mario as a nameless player, written as プレイヤー. For Game & Watch title Donkey Kong, the instructions refer to him as Kyūjo Man, written as 救助マン, which literally translates to rescue man. Since Donkey Kong Jr., Mario has been known by his name in Japan.

Donkey Kong appearances

Donkey Kong

In Donkey Kong, set at a construction site, Mario has to go through four stages (25m, 50m, 75m, and 100m) to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong. Mario's most iconic role is in 25m, where he has to jump over barrels thrown by Donkey Kong.

Donkey Kong Jr.

In Donkey Kong Jr., Mario is standing guard of a cage that Donkey Kong is imprisoned in while holding a whip. Mario is actually the main antagonist, while the hero is Donkey Kong Jr., whose goal is to rescue his father.

Mario appearances

Mario Bros.

In Mario Bros., Mario and his younger brother Luigi are in the sewers of Brooklyn, New York, battling monsters that appear from the Warp Pipes. The game established both brothers' primary career of plumbing, despite them rarely fulfilling the role in the games.

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros.

In the plot of Super Mario Bros., Mario and his brother Luigi go on a journey to rescue Princess Toadstool from King Koopa and free the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario is uniquely seen wearing a brown shirt and red overalls. Mario's default form is Little Mario, who is roughly the size of a Goomba and slightly shorter than a Koopa Troopa. Throughout this adventure and subsequent entries of the Super Mario series, Mario can power-up by obtaining items, including a Super Mushroom to become Super Mario, a Fire Flower to become Fire Mario, and a Starman to become Invincibility Mario.

Super Mario Bros. 2 (Family Computer Disk System)

In the original Super Mario Bros. 2 for the Family Computer Disk System, Mario and Luigi go on another journey to save Princess Toadstool, which establishes the recurring narrative throughout the Super Mario series. The game is essentially a harder variation of their initial journey in Super Mario Bros., with additional obstacles. The game is exclusively single-player, and from the title screen, the player can choose to play as either Mario or Luigi.

Mario retains his role in the game's reissues, including the Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels remaster on Super Mario All-Stars and the Super Mario Bros. for Super Players mode in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe.

Super Mario Bros. 2

In the rest of the world, Mario starred in a different Super Mario Bros. 2, a result of Nintendo converting Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic into a Mario title. As a result, when Super Mario Bros. 2 released in Japan years later, it was titled Super Mario USA. Mario is depicted with a red shirt and blue overalls, consistent with his main clothing.

Super Mario Bros. 2 features Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad in an unusual journey. Just like the original Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, the goal is to free the land of Subcon from the 8-bits. Since enemies cannot be defeated from a stomp, Mario or another character has to pluck out and throw turnips at enemies to defeat them. Mario would not face many of these enemies in later adventures except Bob-ombs and Pokeys.

A major difference from Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic is that all of the events are a dream of Mario's, revealed in the ending after the characters defeat Wart. Mario wakes up for a few seconds before falling back asleep.

Super Mario Bros. 3

In Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario and Luigi go on a journey to save not only the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser but also the Mushroom World that he attempts to conquer with the help of his seven children, the Koopalings. Mario has a more expansive journey compared to the first Super Mario Bros., and the game introduces four more power-ups, most notably Raccoon Mario, as well as Tanooki Mario, Frog Mario, and Hammer Mario.

The first seven worlds each have a king who has been transformed from a Koopaling's Magic Wand. Mario or Luigi have to defeat the Koopaling at the end of an airship level and retrieve the Magic Wand. Mario and Luigi are supported by Princess Toadstool, who sends them a letter each time after they complete a world. By the time the Mario Bros. complete the seventh world, Sky Land, they receive a letter from Bowser instead, who announces that he has kidnapped Princess Toadstool. Therefore, in Dark Land, the goal of Mario and Luigi's adventure becomes to rescue Princess Toadstool, just like during their entire journey in Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Land

On his first portable journey in Super Mario Land for the Game Boy, Mario goes to Sarasaland and travels through four worlds to rescue Princess Daisy from a purple alien named Tatanga. Uniquely, there are times when Mario utilizes vehicles, including the Sky Pop airplane in the sky and the Marine Pop submarine while underwater. Mario can shoot projectiles from either vehicle.

Super Mario World

In Super Mario World, Mario and Luigi are on a vacation in Dinosaur Land with Princess Toadstool. However, it ends abruptly when Bowser kidnaps Peach once again, forcing Mario and Luigi to embark on another journey to rescue her. The game most notably introduces Mario's recurring dinosaur companion, Yoshi. It also introduces his Caped form, granted by a Cape Feather.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

In Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, set after the events of Super Mario Land, Mario returns from rescuing Daisy only to find that Wario had taken over his castle in Mario Land. Mario goes on an adventure to retrieve the six Golden Coins needed to re-enter his castle and take it back from Wario.

Super Mario 64

In Super Mario 64, Mario goes on a solo journey, without Luigi, to rescue Peach (renamed from Toadstool) from being imprisoned within the castle. Mario accesses the different worlds mostly by jumping into paintings, collecting necessary Power Stars along the way.

The title screen features Mario's head, and the player can interact with Mario's facial features by stretching them. However, the title screen is comparable a tech demo, and it has no effect on gameplay or the progress of the game.

Unlike the previous 2D sidescrolling entries, Mario is not a silent protagonist. Super Mario 64 is the first mainline Mario title in which Mario is voiced by Charles Martinet, a role he would continue to fulfill until retiring in 2023. Mario uses a few stereotypical Italian quips such as "It's-a me, Mario" when starting the game and "Mama mia!" after being kicked out of a painting.

The game marks Mario's first appearance in a three-dimensional game, so he can move around in any desired direction. Mario can perform basic melee moves like punching and kicking enemies, in addition to the usual stomp. Mario can receive either temporary flight, invisibility, and metal ability from caps, provided that he has activated the corresponding ? Switch first. Mario's high jumping ability was also expanded upon to enable him to Double Jump and Triple Jump consecutively.

At the very end, after Mario has recovered 120 Power Stars, he can meet Yoshi on the roof of Princess Peach's Castle. Here, Mario's lives are maximized by Yoshi, and he can also perform an enhanced jump.

Super Mario Sunshine

In Super Mario Sunshine, Mario takes a vacation to Isle Delfino with Princess Peach, Toadsworth, and a group of Toads. He is accused of polluting the island, when the actual culprit is Shadow Mario. With the help of a water tank named FLUDD, whom Mario met on the Delfino Airstrip at the start of his journey, he is forced to clean up most of the goop and recover the missing Shine Sprites, the collective source of bright light at the Shine Gate.

Mario is equipped with FLUDD for most of his journey. While Mario does have acrobatic moves like in Super Mario 64, he does not use as many because a lot of the game controls utilize FLUDD. The only time that Mario is not equipped with FLUDD, besides the intro, is during the secret courses because Shadow Mario snatches it from Mario. However, Mario and FLUDD always somehow reunite after Mario collects the main Shine Sprite of a secret course, and both of them are not separated when they re-enter it.

Mario can wear a Hawaiian-like shirt with Shine Sprite patterns and sunglasses from the sunglasses vendor once he has collected at least 30 Shine Sprites.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is Mario's last appearance on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System but his first starring role in a role-playing game. He goes on a journey to stop Smithy and the Smithy Gang. Along his journey, Mario forms an unusual party consisting of Princess Toadstool, a puffball named Mallow, a wooden doll named Geno, and even Bowser.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario

In Paper Mario, after Bowser steals the Star Rod and uses it to become invincible, Mario must go on an adventure to free the seven Star Spirits whom Bowser has imprisoned in cards. As usual, he also has to rescue Princess Peach. Mario's partners consist of friendly members of enemy species such as Goombario (a Goomba who ironically looks up to Mario), a Lakitu named Lakilester, and a pink Bob-omb named Bombette.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario uses an ancient treasure map, the Magical Map, to trek across the continent in search of Peach and the Crystal Stars. The antagonists are now the X-Nauts and the Shadow Queen. Mario is accompanied by different members of enemy species than before, most notably a Goomba student named Goombella. Some of Mario's partners are not of an enemy species, including Vivian and Flurrie. Mario's paper form allows him to change form, such as into a paper airplane.

Luigi's Mansion

In Luigi's Mansion, Mario is kidnapped by King Boo, and it is up to Luigi to save him. One of Luigi's actions is to say Mario's name, which has no gameplay effect.