8-bit character: Difference between revisions

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|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury]]'' ([[List of games by date#2021|2021]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury]]'' ([[List of games by date#2021|2021]])
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'''8-bit characters'''<ref name=art>{{cite|author=Sakai, Kazuya, kikai, Rachel Roberts, and Jenny Blenk, editors|date=2019|title="Metro Kingdom". ''[[The Art of Super Mario Odyssey]]''|format=First English Edition|location=Milwaukie|publisher=[[Dark Horse]]|page=175}}</ref> are animated sprites in the 3D ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' games and ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]''. They resemble two-dimensional sprites from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]]-era of various characters. The attributive noun "'''Pixel'''" is usually applied to different sprites. 8-bit characters are not the same exact individuals they resemble, who often cooccur with these sprites. For example, '''Pixel Luigis'''<ref name=pixel>{{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|title=To celebrate #SuperMarioOdyssey’s one-year anniversary, Pixel Luigis and Pixel Captain Toads have been hidden around the festival area in New Donk City! Can you find all 39 of them? Do a Ground Pound in the correct spots to also collect some coins.|archive=https://nitter.poast.org/NintendoAmerica/status/1056236608872169472#m|archiver=Nitter|language=Japanese|publisher=Twitter|date=27 Oct. 2018}}</ref> are found throughout ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', in which [[Luigi]] himself is a playable character. The relationship between 8-bit characters and the individuals they resemble is not conveyed.
'''8-bit characters'''<ref name=art>{{cite|author=Sakai, Kazuya, kikai, Rachel Roberts, and Jenny Blenk, editors|date=2019|title="Metro Kingdom". ''[[The Art of Super Mario Odyssey]]''|format=First English Edition|location=Milwaukie|publisher=[[Dark Horse]]|page=175}}</ref> are animated sprites in the 3D ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' games and ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]''. They resemble two-dimensional sprites from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]]-era. The attributive noun "'''Pixel'''" is usually applied to different sprites. 8-bit characters are not the same exact individuals they resemble, who often cooccur with these sprites. For example, '''Pixel Luigis'''<ref name=pixel>{{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|title=To celebrate #SuperMarioOdyssey’s one-year anniversary, Pixel Luigis and Pixel Captain Toads have been hidden around the festival area in New Donk City! Can you find all 39 of them? Do a Ground Pound in the correct spots to also collect some coins.|archive=https://nitter.poast.org/NintendoAmerica/status/1056236608872169472#m|archiver=Nitter|language=Japanese|publisher=Twitter|date=27 Oct. 2018}}</ref> are found throughout ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', in which [[Luigi]] himself is a playable character. The relationship between 8-bit characters and the individuals they resemble is not conveyed.


While allusions to the animated sprites of the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' are near ubiquitous in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise, 8-bit characters only occur in 3D platformers, appear as flat images in the environment, and move as if they are alive. In most contexts, an 8-bit character can be directly interacted with.
While allusions to the animated sprites of the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' are near ubiquitous in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise, 8-bit characters only occur in 3D platformers, appear as flat images in the environment, and move as if they are alive. In most contexts, an 8-bit character can be directly interacted with.

Revision as of 20:45, April 16, 2024

8-bit character
Official screenshot of an 8-bit Cat Mario in the Luncheon Kingdom from Super Mario Odyssey. This screenshot demonstrates his appearance in the VR Update.
Screenshot from Super Mario Odyssey
First appearance Super Mario 3D World (2013)
Latest appearance Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021)

8-bit characters[1] are animated sprites in the 3D Super Mario games and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. They resemble two-dimensional sprites from the Famicom-era. The attributive noun "Pixel" is usually applied to different sprites. 8-bit characters are not the same exact individuals they resemble, who often cooccur with these sprites. For example, Pixel Luigis[2] are found throughout Super Mario 3D World, in which Luigi himself is a playable character. The relationship between 8-bit characters and the individuals they resemble is not conveyed.

While allusions to the animated sprites of the original Super Mario Bros. are near ubiquitous in the Super Mario franchise, 8-bit characters only occur in 3D platformers, appear as flat images in the environment, and move as if they are alive. In most contexts, an 8-bit character can be directly interacted with.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Main article: List of Luigi sightings in Super Mario 3D World

Pixel Luigis appear throughout Super Mario 3D World in commemoration of the Year of Luigi. They can be found on the sides of walls, or as 2D figures in the 3D environment. They are of a wide variety of sizes and behaviors, with one snowflake-sized Luigi blowing in the wind and a whale-sized one swimming in the sea. There are no tangible incentives given to the player for encountering a Pixel Luigi.

Pixel Luigis do not appear in the Bowser's Fury campaign of the Nintendo Switch port. Similar cameos appear in New Super Luigi U, but they are inanimate fixtures of the environment made of blocks and terrain.

Super Mario Odyssey

Captain Toad's pixelated form in Super Mario Odyssey
Mario alongside a Pixel Captain Toad in the Cap Kingdom.

In Super Mario Odyssey, the most prominent 8-bit characters appear on the walls of terrain, often obscured or behind an obstruction. Striking one with a Cap Throw causes it to release an item before disappearing. It reappears in the same spot when the kingdom is exited and revisited. The most recurring 8-bit characters are 8-bit Cat Mario and 8-bit Cat Peach.[1] They are hidden within all but two kingdoms, the Cloud Kingdom and Ruined Kingdom. They are based on the powered-up Cat forms of the same name that debuted in Super Mario 3D World, but are otherwise absent in Super Mario Odyssey. Striking an 8-bit Cat Mario awards Mario with ten coins. An 8-bit Cat Peach releases a Heart. Likely as an homage to Super Mario Galaxy, an 8-bit Rosalina[1] is hidden on the Dark Side and Darker Side of the moon. Striking her releases ten coins, like Cat Mario. 8-bit Cat Marios sometimes fall out of bushes when they are walked through, seemingly caught on a breeze before disappearing.

Beginning on March 14, 2018, Nintendo posted Hint Art on social media that leads to hidden Pixel Luigis. If Mario ground pounds the exact spot as depicted in the Hint Art, a Pixel Luigi pops out and releases 200 coins for the first time he is discovered. Unlike other 8-bit characters, a Pixel Luigi lets out a distorted cry when exposed, and lingers in the environment after being struck. Striking him again makes him twirl. To commemorate the release of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS, Pixel Luigis were replaced by Pixel Captain Toads[2] from July 11 to August 8, 2018.

There are 2D areas in Super Mario Odyssey that are entirely composed of 8-bit sprites on a 2D plane. Mario himself appears in these areas as an 8-bit sprite, as do enemies and platforms. However, 8-bit characters cannot be encountered in these areas. The Prima Games guidebook states 8-bit characters are apparently as old as the fossils found throughout the Cascade Kingdom,[3] some of which resemble sprites of enemies from the original Super Mario Bros.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Main article: Pixel Toad

In the original release of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, scanning the Toad amiibo causes a Pixel Toad to appear in a course, with which the player character plays Hide and Seek. This functionatelity is unlocked through normal progression in the port released on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS.

Though released after the Year of Luigi concluded, the original Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker includes Pixel Luigis throughout the game, just like Super Mario 3D World.

Gallery

Names in other languages

Pixel Luigi

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ドットルイージ[4][5]
Dotto Ruīji
Dot Luigi

8-bit Cat Mario

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ドットネコマリオ[6]
Dotto Neko Mario
Dot Cat Mario

8-bit Cat Peach

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ドットネコピーチ[7]
Dotto Neko Pīchi
Dot Cat Peach

8-bit Rosalina

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ドットロゼッタ[7]
Dotto Rozetta
Dot Rosalina

Pixel Captain Toad

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ドットキノピオ隊長[8]
Dotto Kinopio Taichō
Dot Toad Captain

References

  1. ^ a b c Sakai, Kazuya, kikai, Rachel Roberts, and Jenny Blenk, editors (2019). "Metro Kingdom". The Art of Super Mario Odyssey (First English Edition). Milwaukie: Dark Horse. Page 175.
  2. ^ a b @NintendoAmerica (27 Oct. 2018). To celebrate #SuperMarioOdyssey’s one-year anniversary, Pixel Luigis and Pixel Captain Toads have been hidden around the festival area in New Donk City! Can you find all 39 of them? Do a Ground Pound in the correct spots to also collect some coins.. Twitter (Japanese). (Archived via Nitter.)
  3. ^ Walsh, Doug, and Joe Epstein (2017). Super Mario Odyssey: PRIMA Official Game Guide (Collector's Edition). Roseville: Prima Games. Page 22.
  4. ^ Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). "Super Mario 3D World."『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 235.
  5. ^ @mario_odysseyJP (31 Oct. 2018). 発売1周年を記念して「都市の国」のフェスティバル会場にドットルイージとドットキノピオ隊長が39(サンキュー)人も遊びにきていますよ。会場の気になるところでヒップドロップしてみてください。コインをたくさん手に入れるチャンスです! (期間:11/7(水)23時59分まで). Twitter (Japanese). (Archived via Nitter.)
  6. ^ @mario_odysseyJP (18 Apr. 2019). 本編と同様に、ちょっとしたところにドットネコマリオが隠れているので、是非探してみてくださいね。. Twitter (Japanese). (Archived via Nitter.)
  7. ^ a b Sakai, Kazuya, and kikai, editors (2018). "Metro Kingdom".『スーパーマリオ オデッセイ公式設定資料集』. Tokyo: Tokuma Shoten (Japanese). Page 175.
  8. ^ @mario_odysseyJP (19 Jul. 2018). 『進め!キノピオ隊長』発売記念!8/8(水)まで、全てのお宝写真の場所から「ドットキノピオ隊長」が出現します。この機会にいろいろな場所でドットキノピオ隊長を写真に収めてみては如何でしょうか。. Twitter (Japanese).