Mario

"It's-a me, Mario!"

- Mario

Mario serves dual roles as the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom and Nintendo's mascot. Mario was created by Shigeru Miyamoto in 1981, where he first appeared in the video game Donkey Kong in arcades. In this game, he was referred to as Jumpman.

But one thing most people don't know about this game is that Nintendo was originally going to do sell a Popeye game, since they had the license to. However, they lost the license, before finishing the game, bringing Nintendo into trouble. So they quickly arranged the young Programmer Miyamoto to program his first own game, which became Mario's debut.

Jumpman was renamed Mario when an employee at Nintendo of America's office in New York City pointed out the similar physical appearances of Mario and Nintendo's Italian landlord, Mario Segali. According to popular legend, this connection was made when an ill-tempered Segali burst in on a meeting to collect rent. The purpose of the meeting was to find a better name for Jumpman.

Mario is one of the most recognizable video game characters of all time. He is best known for rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser along with his brother, Luigi, by using his many powers, among them his amazing jumping ability.

Early Life
Main article: Baby Mario In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, when The Stork was delivering two babies, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, the evil Magikoopa, Kamek, stole Luigi and Mario fell to Yoshi's Island. The Yoshis helped Mario get his brother back. Mario and Luigi then went to their homes and into the arms of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mario.

In the sequel, Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Luigi and all the babies in the Mushroom Kingdom were kidnapped by the Kamek and Bowser from the future. Baby Mario, with the Yoshis, Baby Peach, Baby Donkey Kong, Baby Bowser and Baby Wario saved all the babies.

According to the Official Super Mario 64 Player's Guide, Mario spent some of his life in Brooklyn; enough time to be called a "Brooklynite" in fact. The details of this period are unknown, but eventually Mario returned to the Mushroom World to save Princess Toadstool.

Humble Beginnings
Mario's history started in the hit arcade game Donkey Kong. His occupation was as a carpenter. "Jumpman" was a nickname given to him because of his exceptional jumping skill. His pet ape, Donkey Kong (now known as Cranky Kong) was apparently abused by Mario (Jumpman), as seen during the events of Donkey Kong Circus. He vengefully kidnapped his girlfriend Pauline and climbed a huge building, likely a building in Big Ape City, an urban area of Donkey Kong Island. After dodging barrels and living fireballs, Donkey Kong finally faced him in a showdown at the top of the building. At the end of the fourth level, Donkey Kong lays unconscious on a pile of girders, while Mario and Pauline embrace. In the direct sequel Donkey Kong '94, Donkey Kong woke up at this point, grabbed Pauline, and climbed even higher up the building. Mario gave chase and confronted the ape. After Donkey Kong was finally caught and captured, Pauline and Mario (Jumpman) finally had some peace.

Mario returned and guarded Donkey Kong's (still Cranky Kong) cell during the events of Donkey Kong Jr.. Donkey Kong Jr. (who is currently known as Donkey Kong) tried to save his dad, with Donkey Kong Jr. taking Mario's role, Mario taking Donkey Kong's role, and Donkey Kong taking Pauline's role. This was also the only game where Mario was depicted as a villain, though since not much is revealed in the story it is unclear why. Donkey Kong Jr. eventually saved his dad, and both ran away into the jungle.

Mario went down to the sewers during the events of Mario Bros. Mario's occupation was changed to a plumber, which was more fitting with the pipe theme of the game. Here Mario and his younger brother, Luigi, cleaned the sewers of monsters.

Construction Workers
Mario had a job as a construction worker during the events of Wrecking Crew. Mario and Luigi were constructing a building when strange creatures, such as living dinosaur wrenches, and living Eggplant Men attacked them. Mario and Luigi had to defeat them all and destroy each room of the building to stop them.

Mario and Luigi soon discovered the source of the attacks and found out that it was their boss, Foreman Spike. Although unknown why Foreman Spike wanted to kill them, Mario defeated the evil Foreman Spike with his trusty Hammer.

A Strange New World
After stumbling down a mysterious green sewer pipe, Mario and Luigi ended up in the Mushroom Kingdom in the game Super Mario Bros.. The brothers soon learned that the evil Koopa King, Bowser, had transformed the inhabitants of the kingdom into various objects (such as blocks) and kidnapped the princess, to prevent her undoing his spell, inorder to conquer the kingdom. Mario decided to traverse the many lands, defeat Bowser and his troop, and rescue Princess Peach.

To battle the evil Koopa Troop and traverse the difficult new world, Mario used his famed jumping ability to reach high ledges, avoid falling down the bottomless pits and enable him to stomp hard enough to knock out most (unprotected) enemies. Mario could also find Power Ups - in the form of Super Mushrooms, Fire Flowers and Stars - by punching one of the various the ? Blocks open that were spread throughout the land. With the use of the these power ups, Mario would become either Super Mario, were he would double in height and be able to break brick blocks, Fire Mario, were his clothes changed to red and white and he could throw Fireballs, or Invincible Mario, were he would flash different colours and couldn't be killed by enemies (running out of time and falling down pits still could).

When Mario reached and infiltrated one of the first seven Fortresses, he would have to fight a False Bowser on a bridge hanging over Lava, which would be guarding one of the Mushroom Retainers. Mario eventually reached the final fortress where he would fight the real Bowser in a similar manner to the false ones. Although Mario had fought Bowser before when they were both babies during the events of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, this was the first time he remembered fighting Bowser (due to the fact that babies don't have good memories). After Mario dropped the bridge's support Axe, Bowser fell in defeat and Mario found Princess Peach in the back of the Fortress and gained a reputation as a savior of the Mushroom Kingdom.

In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Bowser kidnapped the princess again. So, it was up to Mario and Luigi to save her again. Mario traversed partly through the same area as before, but the areas seemed to be experiencing a windy season, and the enemies seemed to have gotten stronger in an attempt to stop Mario this time. But even so, Mario succeeded in defeating Bowser again and rescuing the princess.

Hero of the Dreams
One night, during the events of Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario dreams that he opens a door (at the top of a staircase he has just ascended) that reveals the strange new world of Subcon to him. upon entering, he hears a plea of help to undo a spell cast upon the land by the evil frog king, Wart, before he wakes up. The next day, while on a picnic with Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad, Mario spots a cave similar to the one in his dreams, causing him to investigate and find the same door from his dream. Remembering the plea for help, Mario explains the situation to the other three and sets out to free the captive land.

Out of the four playable characters, Mario was the second most powerful, the second fastest and second highest jumper. After defeating Wart's minions and reaching his fortress, Mario engaged the frog king himself in combat. In order to defeat him, Mario had to throw seven Vegetables into Wart's mouth (which would cause an allergic reaction). After Wart was defeated, the Subcons restored the dream realm and hold a celebration in honor of Mario and his friends saving them, at this point Mario is shown to wake up in bed as though nothing happened.

Seven Lands in Peril
The kings of the Mushroom World are transformed by Bowser's magic during the events of Super Mario Bros. 3. Bowser returns with his seven Koopalings. Mario had to take all of their Magic Scepters and transform the kings back to the their original Toad forms. After all kings were saved, Mario made his first visit to Bowser's Castle in Dark World. He ultimately in the end saved the Princess and defeated the evil Koopa Clan. Not only did Mario save the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario saved the Mushroom World as one of the greatest heroes.

Adventures in Dinosaur World
Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach took a vacation to the strange Dinosaur Land during the events of Super Mario World. Mario and Luigi went to Yoshi's house and read a letter saying that he and his friends had been kidnapped by Bowser, who also made off with the Princess. The heroic plumbers immediately set out to save them, faced many strange new enemies along with their old foes, including the Koopalings (each of whom was guarding a captured Yoshi Egg).

Using the help of the Yoshis and their long enemy-swallowing tongues, Mario finally liberates Dinosaur Land and all those who had been taken captive by Bowser. Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Yoshi celebrated the rest of the vacation at Yoshi's House, watching the seven Yoshi Eggs hatch.

''Mario and the Seven Koopa Hotels
In this unknown game, Both Mario and Luigi received an invitation from Princess Peach for a picnic during the events of Hotel Mario. Both went to the Mushroom Kingdom, only to find a note written by Bowser stating that he and the Koopalings had turned the Kingdom into their own personal resorts and retained Peach as a "permanent guest" in one of his seven Koopa Hotels. After destroying most of the Koopaling hotels, Mario fought Bowser in his own hotel and defeated him. He then received a kiss from Princess Peach, then congratulated the player as 'The best ever'.

Sharp Shooting
Mario used an energy gun called a Super Scope during the events of Yoshi's Safari. Bowser takes over the kingdom of Jewelry Land and steals twelve magical gems. This caused a disturbance in the ground and caused Jewelry Land to split into the Light Realm and the Dark Realm. Princess Peach's good friend, Prince Pine and his father, King Fret, are in trouble along with their kingdom. Mario, riding Yoshi, headed for Jewelry Land with the new weapon Princess Peach gave them.

Mario and Yoshi, riding through many unexplored stages, fought Bowser's Koopalings. Mario wasn't the only one with weapons as each of them possessed their own special weapon. Bowser, all geared up, fought Mario using many cheap tricks such as throwing bombs. Nevertheless, Mario and Yoshi beat him and saved another kingdom of the Mushroom World.

Where's Mario?
Mario was a damsel-in-distress during the events of Mario is Missing!, which strangely takes place in the Real World. Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi went to stop all his Koopalings from stealing valuable landmark artifacts from famous Earth cities, which Bowser needed to fund his plan: he wanted the to buy hair dryers to melt Antarctica and flood the world. The Hafta Havit Mail-Order was his source of hair dryers.

Luigi, scared to go into Bowser's Castle, stayed behind with Yoshi, however Mario then got kidnapped. Using the skills of deduction, Mario was saved and Bowser was launched to the center of Antarctica and split in two.

Journey Back in Time
Mario went to the Real World back in time during the events of Mario's Time Machine. Note that the game is very different for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Bowser stole valuable artifacts from the past in the Real World to build a great "Museum". He, however doesn't realize that it might alter the present forever if not returned immediately. Mario had to stop Bowser from stealing more artifacts and returned the ones he already has to their proper locations, using his own Time Machine. In the Nintendo Entertainment System version, Mario was accompanied by Yoshi, but in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Yoshi didn't appear at all.

Mario first went to Bowser's Museum in Bowser's Castle and took back all the artifacts he has stolen. After meeting many historical figures and returning the artifacts to their proper places, Mario went to stop Bowser. Mario ended up victorious and the world is saved by Mario.

New Rival?
Mario received a distress signal from the distant land of Sarasaland during the events of Super Mario Land. The princess of Sarasaland, Princess Daisy was captured by the purple alien Tatanga. Tatanga had also taken many of its residents captive. Mario got to use many new vehicles such as the Sky Pop and Marine Pop on his adventure. Mario saved Princess Daisy after defeating Tatanga and returned back to his home in the Mushroom Kingdom. But while he was saving Sarasaland, a doppelgänger of Mario called Wario seized Mario's Castle (which currently doesn't exist and was likely replaced by Mario's Pad).

Mario tried to return to his castle (which he doesn't know that it is under Wario's control yet) during the direct sequel, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. He had to travel through many lands and fight many bosses which strangely weren't there on his way to Sarasaland. Mario finally got to his castle and fought Wario. After being defeated, Wario revealed that the events in Super Mario Land and all the bosses in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins were planned and hired by him. Mario then became victorious and got his castle back.

Dimension Invasion
Mario battled strange machine-like creatures from another dimension during the events of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Many things have changed, Mario even gets his own house. Mario first went to confront Bowser who had again captured Princess Peach (which by now is a recurring event). Mario walked to Bowser's Keep (Bowser's Castle) which is strangely located near Mario's Pad in this game. Mario battles Bowser atop a Kinklink and rescues Peach. Then a huge sword called Exor struck the castle from atop and knocked them all to various spots in the Mushroom Kingdom. Fortunately, Mario fell through the Pipe on top Pipe House (Mario's Pad) and landed right on his bed.

Mario discovered that the Star Shards that grants dreams had been stolen by a group called the Smithy Gang run by Smithy. These criminals had not only stolen the Star Shards, they had caused much trouble to the Mushroom Kingdom. On this quest Mario was joined by Mallow, Geno, Peach, and even Bowser. They traveled through much of the Mushroom Kingdom in search of the Star Shards protected by the Smithy Gang's strongest members. After all Star Shards were collected, Mario had to go to Smithy's dimension and fight him once and for all. Mario of course had to reach it through Bowser's Keep which was inaccessible when Exor destroyed the bridge. With the help of Mallow's parents, King and Queen Nimbus, Mario had passage through a special cloud bus. When they finally got there, Mario defeated Exor and went to Smithy's dimension via Exor's mouth.

Mario's journey wasn't over as Smithy had even more minions at his disposal. After many grueling battles Mario faced Smithy, who was inevitably defeated and once again the Mushroom Kingdom was saved by Mario.



Castle Rescue
Mario went to Princess Peach's Castle during the events of Super Mario 64. Mario goes to Princess Peach's Castle after he received an invitation to eat cake. Upon entering the door, he heard Bowser's voice and learned that the Princess has been captured again. Mario entered the Painting Worlds created by Bowser's magic and saved some of the Power Stars that he scattered. With the help of the Toads advice, he finally collected enough Power Stars and faced Bowser for the last time. Using his new tail-tossing skill he hurled Bowser into a spiked bomb and ended his terrible reign. Princess Peach thanked him with a kiss and finally bakes him that cake.

Another Castle Rescue
In the game's remake, Super Mario 64 DS, Mario was joined by Luigi and Wario, instead of traveling to the castle alone. They were invited to the castle for cake and in excitement, they rushed to the castle. Yoshi saw them go inside and wondered why they hadn't come out yet. Yoshi then went inside the castle and searched for keys to the three locked doors holding them captive. He saved Mario, who then eventually saved the other two.

Using their unique abilities, they rescued many Power Stars and defeated Bowser's minions. After they collected enough Power Stars, only Mario could face Bowser for the third last time. Princess Peach kisses Mario and decides give Yoshi, Mario, Luigi, and Wario the cake she had promised them.



Back with the Crew
Mario had to brandish his infamous Hammer during the events of Wrecking Crew '98. Mario came back to the Mushroom Kingdom from one his quests and discovers that it was overrun with many of Bowser's new fortresses. The result of all this construction was a withering Mushroom Kingdom.

Mario decided to stop Bowser by destroying his buildings. Foreman Spike also made a reappearance, this time helping Bowser. His trusty Hammer was a great help on this adventure, as it helped him wreck and destroy Bowser's many new fortresses. The heroic plumber defeated all his foes and the Mushroom Kingdom was saved yet again.

Paper Quest
Mario once again is invited to Princess Peach's Castle during the events of Paper Mario. However this time Mario is invited to a party at the castle. Mario rushed to the castle. Mario made his way through the bustling party guests and was chatting with Princess Peach in the throne room. However, Bowser broke in to the castle through the window and using the power of the Star Rod, defeats Mario. He then usurped the castle bringing it high in the air and then tossed Mario out of the shattered window. Mario landed in a small jungle located on the outskirts of Goomba Village. Goombas, being a proficient enemy in many of his quests, surprised Mario with their hospitality. Mario gave his many thanks and headed back to Toad Town via Goomba Road, together with the Goomba's families eldest child, the young adventurer Goombario.

Mario heard a Star Spirit called Eldstar asking for his help. The Star Spirit requested that he speak to him on Shooting Star Summit, in which he had more strength to speak better. Once there, Mario met many other Star Spirits asking for his help. He learned that Bowser had imprisoned them in special cards and has given them to his strongest minions. Mario then set out a quest in search of the Star Spirits. Mario made many new friends and partners on his long grueling journey and eventually collected all seven Star Spirits. Mario returned to Shooting Star Summit where he gained access to Star Way. Mario acquired a new ability called Star Beam and was transported to Bowser's Castle from the Star Shrine. While Mario and his team were at Bowser's Castle, they saved the many prisoners and fought Bowser at the top of the castle.

Using his dirty tactics, Bowser broke all routes of escape and used his Star Rod to fight. Mario and the team could not defeat Bowser while he was using the Star Rod, so they instead used Star Beam to weaken his power. The reluctant Bowser was unaffected by it and shook the beam's power off. Watching the team's defeat, Peach asked the people of the Mushroom Kingdom to help Mario and his friends fight through their wishes. Twink helped her convey this message of hope through her wish and suddenly Mario woke up from his fainted status. He recovered all his health and learned a new upgraded version of the Star Beam called Peach Beam. Mario and company, fresh and ready to go, faced Bowser to round two. Mario shot the Peach Beam at Bowser, leaving him defenseless and ready for a fair fight. Mario and his friends defeated the evil Bowser and once again saved the Mushroom Kingdom. The castle returned to ground from whence it came from and another party is held there later. The power of wishes is restored and once again and the Mushroom Kingdom was saved by Mario and company. After a parade led by Luigi, Mario takes Peach to his place where they watch the fire works.



Luigi Shines
Mario played his second role as damsel-in-distress during the events of Luigi's Mansion. Mario went to check out a mansion that Luigi mysteriously won. There, a huge Boo called King Boo overpowered Mario with his many Boos and imprisoned him within a portrait. King Boo was apparently mad at Mario for harassing his kind during his past adventures. Luigi came later to find out why his brother didn't come back. Luigi overcomes his cowardice and finally captured all Boos using his Poltergust 3000. He then faced King Boo, who had possessed a Bowser suit. After he defeated King Boo, Luigi took Mario's portrait and reverted the plumber back to his original form, using Professor Elvin Gadd's Portrificationizer in reverse.

Vacation Time
After Luigi saved him from the painting he was imprisoned in by King Boo, Mario took a well deserved vacation with Peach and Toadsworth during the events of Super Mario Sunshine. Upon arriving on the Pianta populated Isle Delfino however, Mario was branded a criminal. Apparently, an impersonator of Mario called Shadow Mario had been vandalizing Isle Delfino with a strange type of slime called Goop. Confused, Mario took a defensive hearing of his so called "crime". Using a smart portable water pump named FLUDD, Mario had to clean the whole island of Goop and return the Shine Sprites back to the Shine Gate. During this adventure, Mario also saved the many Yoshi sub-species of Isle Delfino. Mario started cleaning up the isle and found out who his impersonator was. It was Bowser Jr., Bowser's youngest son. He kidnapped Princess Peach and took her to the volcanic Corona Mountain. After Mario defeated Shadow Mario in Episode 7 of every level, Bowser Jr. flooded Delfino Square. Mario went to Corona Mountain and Bowser and son, bathing in a tub of hot Slime Goop. Flipping the tub upside down, they fell and Isle Delfino was saved. Mario then was finally able to enjoy his vacation with Peach and the others.

The Power of Brothers
After Mario's vacation, Mario ventured with his brother Luigi through strange lands during the events of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. An ambassador from the Beanbean Kingdom came to visit Princess Peach. However, the ambassador was actually a fake and was one of the most wanted criminals in the Beanbean Kingdom. Cackletta was this wicked impersonator and stole Princess Peach's voice. Toad came running to Mario's Pad warning him about Princess Peach's voice dilemma. As soon as Mario came out of his bathroom, he sped to the castle passing up his brother. Luigi followed him and there they met Bowser, adding more to their troubles. Mario fought Bowser, but Peach spoke and interrupted their fight. As she spoke, explosives dropped from her mouth and shook up the castle. Bowser, outraged that another villain has stolen his spotlight, suggested that they go to the Beanbean Kingdom with his Koopa Cruiser.

Cackletta's apprentice, Fawful caused the Koopa Cruiser to crash causing Mario and Luigi to land on the Beanbean Borderlands. Mario and Luigi went to the Beanbean Castle after rescuing Prince Peasley from his horrible transformation. After saving Queen Bean, Mario headed out to find the four scattered Beanstar Pieces. Going through a long journey around the Beanbean Kingdom, they managed to get all Beanstar Pieces. Before they went to exchange the Beanstar Pieces with Cackletta, they went to the Beanbean International Airport expecting Princess Peach. Clearing the Airport of a few Piranhas, Peach's Plane landed on the runway. Mario, surprised to see Princess Peach talking in her normal voice, asked how she got her voice back. After the Princess's visit, Princess Peach requested to go to Little Fungitown. During their short stay, she got kidnapped and Mario went to Joke's End to save her. Using a clever trick, they saved Princess Peach.

However, Bowletta (Cackletta's possessive body of Bowser), took over Bowser's Castle and attacked the Beanbean Castle Town. Mario and Luigi asked Blanbladon to take them to the flying fortress in the sky. After defeating many Koopalings and strong enemies, they reached the throne room. When they defeated Bowletta she sucked them into her body where they had to fight Cackletta's Spirit. Mario and Luigi finally finished Cackletta and her spirit. They escaped from the crumbling castle in time and saved the Beanbean Kingdom.

Time Traveling
Mario and his brother Luigi took a trip back in time during the events of Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Mario and Luigi were at Princess Peach's Castle, watching Princess Peach take a trip to the past using Professor E. Gadd's Time Machine powered by the Cobalt Star. Toadsworth got overworried about the princess' return, and fainted. Mario therefore went over to Toadsworth's Room to get the Refreshroom and revived Toadsworth from his fainted state. However a few minutes later the Time Machine returned, but not with Princess Peach. A large green fungus called the Junior Shrooboid attacks Mario and Luigi. They managed to beat the monster. Afterwards, a Time Hole appeared in the center court of the castle.

Mario and Luigi looked at it in awe, when Toadsworth came and accidentally knocked Luigi into the Time Hole. Mario went in to save him and they went back in time. They landed on the starting road to Hollijolli Village, fighting more and more strange creatures. They saw the village damaged and ruined by many Shroobs and Shroob UFOs. Mario and Luigi helped the Hollijolli Mayor out of a chimney he got stuck in while he was trying to escape. They then got assaulted by a wave of Shroobs and Shroob UFOs. They then left the two brothers lying on the ground. Meanwhile, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi came to their rescue and finished the remaining Shroob foes.

Baby Bowser helped them escape for because of Baby Peach's incessant crying. They boarded his Koopa Cruiser and crash landed into Bowser's Castle as a result of the Shroob UFOs aerial attacks. Mario and Luigi looked for their younger selves and headed for Baby Bowser's room. There, a Time Hole was located and the four Mario Bros. headed back to the Princess Peach's Castle of the future. Professor E. Gadd spoke to them and advises that they go find pieces of the Cobalt Star Shards.

Mario and the others noticed the new Time Holes that sprung up around the castle. They met Toadiko and Toadbert who told them about the Shroobs and the Princess Shroob. They finally collected all five Cobalt Star Shards, and broke the barrier of the Shroob Castle (previously Princess Peach's Castle) and went for the Shroob Princess. The Mario Bros. defeated the Shroob Princess and even the Elder Princess Shroob and prevailed. Professor E. Gadd discovered that the chemical makeup of the babies' tears can revert all of the Shroob's Shroobification. Thus, all the victims of the Shroobs were saved by the four Mario Bros.

Pinball Mario
Mario became a pinball during the events of Mario Pinball Land. Mario, Princess Peach, and a group of Toads went a fair and were enjoying a day of merriment. Princess Peach rode a special ride, the Air Cannon, made by Professor E. Gadd. The machine turned Princess Peach into a pinball and allowed her play a special pinball game. Two of Bowser's Goombas took advantage of her pinball state and changed direction of the cannon, and shot her to Bowser's Castle.

Mario used the machine to become a pinball and followed Bowser through five different worlds with some Toads trailing behind. The Toads controlled flippers and hit the red-clad hero with them to prevent him from rolling off the course. Mario also had to use the power of the Power Stars to pass each world. Mario used his pinball powers to defeat Bowser and save Princess Peach.

Rivalry Revived
Mario, the famous superstar of the Mushroom Kingdom, gets his own toy company during the events of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong was watching television and saw an ad for the super-famous Mini Mario Toys. Donkey went to all stores, but they were all sold out. Ever so furious and frustrated, Donkey Kong stole the Mini Mario Toys from the Mario Toy Company itself.

Mario attempted to chase his old rival down and saved the Mini Mario Toys. After saving all of his toys and putting them in the Toy Chests, Mario taught Donkey Kong a lesson (but out of pity, gave him a Mini Mario of his own). The Mario Toy Company was then saved by the founder himself, Mario.

The Minis March
Mario's Mini Mario Toys were so successful that Mario opened a theme park for them during the events of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. Mario is launching the opening of the Super Mini Mario World Theme Park along with the new Mini Peach, Mini Toad and Mini Donkey Kong toys. Pauline made an appearance, having the honor of cutting the premiere ribbon of the Super Mini Mario World Theme Park. Donkey Kong was immediately smitten with her. Donkey Kong ran up to her and presented her with a Mini Donkey Kong toy. She instead accepted Mario's Mini-Mario Toy and Donkey Kong was left heart broken. Donkey Kong kidnapped her and went up the elevator of the Mario Toy Company. Mario sent the small Mini Mario Toys after him and the march of the minis began.

The Mini Mario Toys cleared the paths for Mario, liberating the elevators and allowing Mario to go up floors. When Mario reached the final floor, he saw Pauline sitting in comfort and drinking tea. Donkey Kong came and instead of fighting Mario, felt guilty. Pauline and Mario felt sorry for Donkey Kong so the three celebrated the opening of Super Mini Mario World Theme Park together.

Land of Darkness
Peach asked Mario to come to a land called Rogueport during the events of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. She found a treasure map leading to powerful artifacts called Crystal Stars. By the time he gets there, Peach was kidnapped by a group known as the X-Nauts. They needed to use her as a vessel for the Shadow Queen so that the leader of the X-Nauts, Sir Grodus, can use her power to aid him in world domination. Mario met an intelligent Goomba called Professor Frankly. He told Mario the history of Rogueport and revealed the secret of The Thousand-Year Door.

The Shadow Queen once took control of Rogueport, enslaving and killing many of its citizens. To achieve this, she created the Crystal Stars and used them to give her great power. The Four Legendary Heroes used the power of the Crystal Stars against her and she was imprisoned in the Thousand Year Door for a millennium. Mario set out to collect all seven Crystal Stars. Gaining many new partners and finding all Crystal Stars, Mario went through the Thousand Year Door. There he found Sir Grodus standing before the Shadow Queen's room. Mario defeated Sir Grodus, but was then ambushed by Bowser and Kammy Koopa. This gave Grodus time to escape with Peach to the Shadow Queen's room. When Mario got there, Grodus had awakened the Shadow Queen herself, taking control of Peach's body. Mario had to fight her possessed form and using the help of the Rogueport citizens' wishes, Mario prevailed.



Hero in Distress
Mario was once again a Damsel-in-Distress during the events of Super Princess Peach. Bowser sent an army of Hammer Bros. and Goombas to invade Princess Peach's castle. Mario, Luigi, and the Toads, busy defending the castle, were caught by a bunch of Hammer Brothers. Princess Peach and a special umbrella named Perry given to her by Toadsworth, escaped in the nick of time. Mario and the others were sent to Vibe Island, the source of the enemies power. There they had no power to escape so Princess Peach went there to rescue him. Princess Peach defeated Bowser using her new "emotional" powers and this time, was the hero. Towards the end when Mario is rescued, he picks Peach into his arms and gives her some flowers.

Father and Son
Mario went back to his side scrolling roots during the events of New Super Mario Bros. Surprisingly, Princess Peach is kidnapped by Bowser Jr., not Bowser. Mario and Princess Peach were taking a stroll around Princess Peach's Castle. On their way back, the castle was struck by lightning, possibly from Lakithunder. Mario rushed to the castle being distracted and forgetting about Princess Peach. Princess Peach was then captured by Bowser Jr. and Mario gave chase.

Mario had his classic battle with Bowser at the end of the first world, dropping him into the lava and turning him into Skeleton Bowser. The reluctant Bowser Jr., took Princess Peach through eight different worlds. Mario finally confronted the large Koopa and had to fight Skeleton Bowser, who was then defeated again. Bowser Jr. revived Bowser to his natural self and they both battled Mario together. Mario turned out victorious and received a kiss from Princess Peach.

Flipped
Mario and Luigi were once again called into action in Super Paper Mario. Mario and Luigi sit in their house one day when they hear the news that Princess Peach has been kidnapped. The Mario Bros. rush to Bowser's Castle, thinking he has the princess, but he didn't. Later, a strange new enemy named Count Bleck shows up and kidnaps Luigi and Bowser. It also turns out Count Bleck has Princess Peach too.

Mario later goes to the Flipside, a strange town between dimensions. Mario later finds Bowser and Princess Peach who decide to join with Mario in his quest to stop Count Bleck. Mario must go through eight chapters to get eight Pure Hearts. Mario also encounters new enemies like O'Chunks, Dimentio, Brobot, Mimi, Nastasia and even his brother Luigi; now called Mr. L because Nastasia, an assistant of Count Bleck, brainwashed him (however he joined Mario once freed by Dimentio and sent to The Underwhere).

After collecting the eight Pure Hearts, Mario, Princess Peach, Bowser, Luigi and some pixls face Count Bleck. After defeating Bleck, Dimentio, a former minion of Bleck, turns on him and teleports him to Dimension D to deal with him later. Then Dimentio, the Chaos Heart and Luigi merge together to form Super Dimentio as the final boss. After defeating Super Dimentio, Count Bleck and Tippi get married to stop the Void.

A Chase of Galactic Proportions
During the night of the Star Festival, Mario receives a letter from Princess Peach telling him that she is waiting for him at the castle and wants to give him something. Suddenly, Bowser invades, turning the festival into chaos. He captures Princess Peach by ripping the castle from it's foundation, lifting it into space. Mario makes to the castle in time as it is lifted up trying to protect Peach. Mario then is blasted off the castle by Magikoopa, and wakes up on the "Gate to the Starry Sky." He meets Princess Rosalina, who lends him a white Luma, who gives him the ability to spin. This was the same Luma Peach was holding at the star festival.

After retrieving the first Grand Star, Mario is transported to the Comet Observatory, which acts as a hub area. After retrieving six Grand Stars, he is able to travel, with the help of Rosalina, to the center of the universe, where Bowser is planning to take over the universe with his Galactic Reactor. Mario and Bowser then battle as Bowser Jr. holds Peach captive. After defeating Bowser, Mario retrieves the seventh and final Grand Star and saves the Princess as she was falling from Bowser Jr.'s airship. Suddenly, the Sun explodes and transforms into a black hole, sucking in everything in the universe including the castle and the observatory. The white Luma is also sucked in, saddening Mario greatly. Fortunately all the Lumas together destroy the black hole, scattering the galaxies and planets to where they were. Soon Mario wakes back up and finds himself back in Mushroom Kingdom with Peach, Bowser, and other characters he had met during his travels. It is showed in the end that Mario's Luma is alive and happy on a planet.

Mario Kart Series


Mario has even started his own series of racing tournaments, starting with Super Mario Kart. Mario is an average weighted driver, making him very versatile and usable in many situations. Mario's stats are very similar to his brother, Luigi. His karts are usually based on his red color and have average stats like him. In Mario Kart Arcade GP, Mario had a new look to his kart. He raced with a couple other key Mario Kart characters, plus Pac-Man series characters. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario was a middleweight, allowing him the option of both middleweight and heavy karts. His partner was Luigi and his item was the red Fireball. His Kart was called Red Fire.

Mario Party Series
The hero parties on with his own series of annual Mario Party series. Mario is always represented by his trademark red color. The mini-games test Mario's luck, skill, and endurance and reward him with coins. In the first three Mario Party games, Mario aimed to become the superstar. Though Mario doesn't have many distinguishable abilities from the other Mario Party characters, the most notable difference is Mario's ability to use the Fireball Orb in Mario Party 7. Whenever Mario used an Orb on a space, the space would have Mario's "M" insignia. As revealed in the official artwork of Mario Party 4, Mario's item of choice is the Mega Mushroom. Mario's Duel Mode partner is the defensive Koopa Troopa in Mario Party 3. He also challenged the player for the Courage Stamp if he was not selected. Throughout the series, Mario's famed jumping ability is also evened out with the other characters, leveling the playing field.

Super Smash Bros. Series
Mario has been playable in every Super Smash Bros. game to date. Mario has retained his balanced abilities even when fighting characters from other series. He brought with him many items, stages, and characters to compete in the tournament. Mario's alter-egos Dr. Mario and Metal Mario followed as well. Mario is usually portrayed as a "main" character alongside Link, Kirby, and Pikachu. He does not need to be unlocked in any Super Smash Bros. and is always playable at the start. This may be true as well in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Mario's skill is reflected by the player, as mentioned by the Adventure mode Mario trophy.

Role in Subspace Emissary
In the beginning, a trophy of Mario and Kirby are thrown into an arena. The two come to life and fight. The player chooses the one to play with. If Mario is chosen, the opponent will be Kirby. After the battle between the two, Mario resurrects Kirby. However, this breaks the laws of the Smash universe, and therefore, the Subspace Army ambushes the two. Peach and Zelda come to help and they are all confronted by the Ancient Minister. After seeing the two R.O.B.s setting up a bomb, Mario runs to try and stop it, only to be blasted away by Petey Piranha. Afterwards, he seems to meet Pit after the latter has descended from Skyworld. In the October 10 trailer "Sonic the Hedgehog Joins the Brawl!", Mario and Sonic are seen together fighting the Subspace Army, which suggests that Sonic may team up with Mario. No official word has been revealed as of yet, however, as it may have been shown simply for demonstration.

Mario Golf Series


Mario is an all-around golfer in the Mario Golf series. He has played along with many Humans during his many campaigns and games. As the plumber's popularity was greatly rising in the Mario Golf series, he got his own fan club in Mario Golf for the GameBoy Color. After graduating from Caddie Master, the player had the option to face Mario. The plumber could also be challenged near the end of Mario Golf Advance Tour.



Mario Tennis Series
The red-clad hero also doubles as a tennis player in the Mario Tennis series. Like in other Mario sports games, he is an all-around tennis player. The infamous plumber made an appearance at the end of Mario Tennis (GBC). In the game, he is considered a "legendary" character and is only playable in Exhibition Mode. After the player had won the Island Open Tournament, the player would have the honor of challenging him. Following the same theme as the Mario Golf series, Mario could be faced at the end of the game.

Mario Superstar Baseball
The multi-talented plumber has also played baseball in Mario Superstar Baseball. Again, Mario is a balanced character although Mario is a bit of a slow runner. Mario's special ball is the classic Fireball, which dazzles other players with smoky speed. Mario's abilities are very similar to Luigi's. Mario's default team is the Mario Sunshines which mostly consists of the non-playable characters from Super Mario Sunshine.

Mario Hoops 3 on 3
Mario has even ventured onto the world of basketball in Mario Hoops 3 on 3. Fortunately, Mario was a successful basketball player as he had a extraordinary jumping ability. To use his Special Shot, the player had to had to tap the "M" to shoot a vicious Fire Shot. Once again, Mario is a balanced character.

Dance Dance Revolution
Mario danced to save the Mushroom Kingdom during the events of Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix. Waluigi went to Truffle Tower to gain Music Keys and grant him the power to "hypnotize the rhythm less masses". However, after he opened the door, all but one key flew to various locations in the Mushroom Kingdom. One of the music Keys went down the sea, another one to Mushroom Park and another one to Freeze Mountain. Toad, who saw this occur, rushed to tell Mario. If all keys were not returned, they could fall into the wrong hands.

Ever the hero, Mario set out to find all four Music Keys, along with Toad. Using his S.S. Brass to navigate, Mario challenged the key owners to dance-offs. Mario then faced Waluigi (and other creatures) to a dance-off and got all four Music Keys back.

After getting the keys, Bowser stole them. Bowser went to his castle and Mario followed him with the S.S. Brass. Mario did the "Final Dance Off" with him and got the Music Keys back. They then were all returned to the Truffle Tower.

Mario Strikers
Mario is once again all-around in Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged. His super strike is the Fire Strike and his special ability in the sequel is Super Mario!.

Olympics
Mario also appears in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, where he is classified as an "All Around" character, and is well rounded in any event.

Physical Description and Traits
When Mario appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, his clothing was much more realistic than it was in Super Smash Bros. Mario's distinctive look is due to technology restrictions in the mid-'80s: with a limited number of pixels and colors, the programmers could not animate Mario's movement without making his arms "disappear" if his shirt was a solid color; they did not have the space to give him a mouth; and they could not animate hair, so Mario got overalls, a mustache, and a cap to bypass these problems. Mario's creator Shigeru Miyamoto has also stated when interviewed that Mario wears a cap because he finds it difficult to draw hair.

When Mario was first conceived, he looked, more or less, as he does today: a short, plump man with the trademark hat, brown hair, black mustache and overalls. He normally wears blue overalls on top of a red shirt, but such was not always the case. Originally, he wore red overalls on top of a blue shirt – almost exactly the opposite of what he wears now. The American Super Mario Bros. 2 was the first appearance of his modern outfit (the box had the red overalls-on-blue shirt, but the game itself had a blue overalls-on-red shirt); however, it was Super Mario Bros. 3 that standardized today's blue overalls-on-red shirt outfit. (Incidentally, the original Super Mario Bros. has neither in-game; Mario wears a brown shirt with red overalls). Mario's outfit rarely changes, though he's known to change it on occasion if the situation calls for it. For example, in Super Mario Sunshine, Mario wore short sleeves instead of his usual long sleeved shirt, and could even forgo this entirely in favor of a more tropical shirt design worn over his normal shirt, which he always wore with sunglasses.

Powers and Abilities
Mario is always associated with the element of fire. Also, he is the second best jumper in the Mushroom Kingdom, only bested by Luigi. Mario is an excellent driver, and has skills with many sports.
 * Mario's first and trademark ability is his Jump, which allows him to leap high two stories, while doing two flips and a twist. He is also capable of several variations, including the Back Flip and the Spin Jump.
 * Mario has very powerful feet, which have trampled innumerable enemies, toppled Fortresses and even crushed spaceships. When timed correctly, he is able to do this 100 times in a row.
 * In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Mario was able to "transform" into other characters, which came in handy, as he is a silent protagonist. This was not one of his attacks, however.
 * Mario can use simple physical attacks, including punching and kicking.
 * Mario can perform many standard moves in the Marioverse, such as the Ground Pound.
 * In Super Mario 64, Mario possessed superhuman strength. He could carry and throw the very large King Bom-omb, despite the king being far larger then him. An even more impressive feet is during the battles with Bowser, Mario can grab him by the tail, spin him around and throw him. Mario spins Bowser around faster the more spins. The more Mario spun, the farther he threw Bowser (he could either throw Bowser a few feet, or well over a hundred feet).
 * Mario's first weapons were the Hammer in Donkey Kong and the Fireball in Super Mario Bros. Mario often uses the Hammer as a weapon in Mario RPG's. Mario can, in some games, control fire without a Fire Flower power-up.
 * Mario has eight power-ups that allow him to fly; the Raccoon Suit, the Tanooki Suit, the Cape Feather, the Wing Cap, the P-Wing, the P-Balloon, the Bee Mushroom, and the Red Star.
 * In Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario had the ability to transform into a Hammer Bro with the ability to throw hammers at his enemies or a Frog which let him swim faster and jump higher.
 * Mario has two other caps he can wear, the Metal Cap and Vanish Cap, which turn him into Metal Mario and make him invisible, respectively.
 * Mario even has his own fighting style. Although he never really uses it in his games, he does use the martial arts in a Super Mario Bros. 3 comic. In the comic, while fighting Lemmy Koopa, Mario says, "Good thing I know karate!" In the following panel, Mario jumps many times in a rapid motion, dodging all of Lemmy's attacks with ease.
 * In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario became more paper-like, and could become Flat Mario, Paper Tube Mario, Paper Airplane Mario, and Paper Boat Mario.
 * In Super Paper Mario, Mario was given the ability to flip between dimensions.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario will have a special attack called the Mario Finale.
 * Mario is able to hold his breath for a long period of time, as seen in Super Mario Bros. and numerous later games. However, in Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy he isn't able to hold his breath for as long.
 * Mario seems to not be bothered by certain temperature levels, even in volcanoes and tundras.
 * Mario is extremely intelligent. He is a doctor, a pilot, an artist, a carpenter, a musician, an electrician and of course, a plumber.
 * Mario is very strong. In Super Mario World, he is seen lifting a fortress out of the ground and then throwing it. Also, in various games, he is able to battle brutes such as Donkey Kong and Bowser with ease.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario runs inhumanly fast in reaction to seeing a Subspace Bomb. He is also able to keep up with the world's fastest hedgehog

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Special Moves
Mario, like all his partners, gains a new special attack when he rises up a level. Here is a list of them:


 * Jump – Starting Attack
 * Fire Orb – Level 3
 * Super Jump – Level 6
 * Super Flame – Level 10
 * Ultra Jump – Level 15
 * Ultra Flame – Level 18

Roles
Mario usually takes on the role of the hero, however, he was the main Antagonist in Donkey Kong Jr., and a soul in distress in Mario is Missing, Super Mario 64 DS, Luigi's Mansion, and Super Princess Peach.

Characteristics
Despite his lengthy history, Mario is, in many ways, an undeveloped character, with many details of his accepted biography having been created through complex lore spawned from the imaginations of comic book artists, cartoon writers, and fans. What is generally known about Mario is that he is a plumber who stands for what is right and has a love for Italian food. Mario has proven himself to be an excellent fighter, all-around sports player, and partier in Mario spin-off titles.

Officially, Nintendo producers have stated that Mario's biography is kept simple in order to make the character versatile and reusable in many different games and situations. Mario is indeed one of the most underdeveloped characters in the Marioverse, with characters such as Bowser and Princess Peach having more complex, consistent, and unique back stories. In fact, his brother Luigi has even gained more of a personality in recent games, while Mario has stayed "flat".

Over the course of his many games, Mario has rescued a number of women(and men) from captivity (including Pauline, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, as well as other people in distress such as Prince Pine.) and has become regarded as a great hero in the Mushroom Kingdom. There is no definitive time line for the events in the various games, most of which could be placed in nearly any order.

Mario is always seen as a kind-hearted and brave hero. He is willing to risk his life to save the lives of millions from a large amount of evil.

Luigi
Luigi is Mario's one and only brother. His abilities are very similar to Mario's, however he still looks up to Mario as a role model. Unlike Mario, his personality is being quirky and a coward. Mario usually goes on his adventures without him, leaving him behind. Through the years, Mario and Luigi have always maintained a unique "brotherly love" for each other which is further proven in Luigi's Mansion.

Princess Peach


Princess Peach is Mario's assumed romantic interest. She usually plays as the "damsel-in-distress" and is usually saved by her hero, Mario. She usually gives Mario a kiss when he rescues her. Although Princess Peach is not as great at jumping as he is, she can float farther than Mario and reach ledges that Mario couldn't. Princess Peach also saves Mario on occasion by using her wits. Since Peach's debut appearance, the two have been largely speculated to be in a romantic relationship. This is confirmed in the official European Mario website, in which Peach is listed as Mario's girlfriend. There are also other implications from the games that reach the same conclusion. Pauline, his ex-girlfriend, now views Mario as a purely platonic friend; she was his girlfriend in Donkey Kong, and merely a good friend of his in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.

Therefore Mario has spent much more time with Peach and has a closer relationship. It should also be noted, that Mario told Peach he loved her in a victory scene in Mario Power Tennis. Also in Mario Party 5, they are called 'Cutest Couple'. Many characters in the series believe they are dating. Sir Grodus for example may have realized this, and cruelly used it to his advantage against Mario. In Super Mario Galaxy, Mario's relationship with Peach was more explicitely showed. Princess Rosalina even referred to Peach as a his 'special one'. In the official Nintendo Power guide for Yoshi's Island DS, Nintendo even talked about the romantic relationshop between the two.

Bowser
Bowser is Mario arch nemesis and main enemy. Bowser and Mario have had a long history of antagonism and rivalry for Princess Peach. Bowser is much bigger than Mario, dwarfing him in size. However, Mario almost always defeats Bowser one way or another. Bowser always tries to find a way to take Peach from Mario and have her all for himself. Bowser is jealous of Peach's friendship with Mario, as he admits in Super Paper Mario. Their rivalry intesifies in Super Mario Galaxy.

Toad
Toad is Mario's short good friend. Toad usually helps Mario with supporting roles and gives him advice. He did play a playable role in Super Mario Bros. 2 in which his abilities were very close to Mario's. He does seem more of a "helper" than a friend though.

Wario
Wario is Mario's alleged doppelgänger and rival, though he is a considerably less dangerous foe then Bowser. Their clothing looks very similar, however Wario is more driven by greed than by vengeance. Lately, he hasn't shown much rivalry towards Mario. In fact, he participates with him in numerous sports.

Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong is Mario's old enemy from the Donkey Kong Jr. era, in which DK was just a kid. Because of this, Mario is much older than Donkey Kong than it appears. Despite Mario's old conflicts with DK's father, now known as Cranky Kong, he has developed a friendly and somewhat competitive rivalry with Donkey Kong as witnessed in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Donkey Kong regularly takes part in numerous sports with Mario and his friends, often bringing along his eager nephew, Diddy Kong.

Yoshi
Yoshi is one of Mario's oldest friends. Yoshi was basically Mario's mentor and taught him many abilities such as Ground Pounding and jumping. Not to mention he saved and helped Mario when he was a baby. Mario occasionally rides Yoshi, although Yoshi has been known to be as good as Mario on his own two feet.

Princess Daisy
Daisy was rescued by Mario from the clutches of Tatanga in Super Mario Land, and she rewarded him with a kiss upon her rescue. Mario has never explicitly expressed an interest in her, and Daisy hasn't expressed an interest in him either. The two are nothing more than good friends. Also the two do not share dialog. However, in Mario Party 5, Mario and Daisy are given the name "Nice Couple" when paired together, implying that Daisy and Mario could make a good match. They do not share player chemistry at all in Mario Superstar Baseball, meaning the two are not close and also not compatible.

Diddy Kong
Mario is acquainted with Diddy Kong, and they appear to be on friendly terms. The two were seen together in Mario Power Tennis, and also in the ending cutscene for Mario Superstar Baseball Diddy was giving Mario encouragement.

Others
Mario conflicts with Bowser Jr. often. Junior dislikes him, and when challenging him in Mario Superstar Baseball, he said he was going to beat Mario to a pulp. Toadette is another good friend of Mario who helps him out at times. It was hinted she may have a crush on him. They are called 'Marionettes' in Mario Party 8.

Future Appearances
Mario will be appearing in Super Mario Stadium Baseball and Mario Kart Wii where he is one of the playable characters in the game. He will also be appearing in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Clothing
Mario wears many clothing, throughout his many adventures.
 * Hat – The hat Mario wears, it is really important for him because if he loses it he takes more damage. He has had the hat since he was born. In Sunshine, if he lost the hat he would lose health no matter what due to the extreme heat.
 * Mario's Gloves – A pair of white gloves he is rarely seen without.
 * Mario's Shoes – A simple pair of brown work shoes.
 * Overalls – Mario wears blue overalls. Mario can change his overalls in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
 * Mario's Shirts – Mario has a shirt that he always wears.
 * Badges – In RPG games, Mario wears badges.

Portrayals
Mario was voiced/portrayed by:


 * Peter Cullen in The Saturday Supercade.
 * Toru Furuya in The Great Mission to Save Princess Peach.
 * Captain Lou Albano in ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'
 * Walker Boone in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World cartoons.
 * Bob Hoskins in the Super Mario Bros. movie.
 * Mark Graue in ''Hotel Mario.
 * Charles Martinet in most of video games beginning with Mario's Game Gallery.

Cameos
Mario has made cameos in many games. In Punch Out!! for the NES, Mario appears in the audience, and in its remake, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, he is the boxing referee. He, Donkey Kong, and Pauline appeared in a bonus stage of Pinball for the NES, snagged a cameo in Alleyway, waved a checkered flag in F-1 Race, and appeared in many other games. He and many other Mario characters can be found in the Legend of Zelda series, and pieces of furniture, outfits, and wallpaper and carpeting devoted to him can be found in Animal Crossing for the Nintendo GameCube.

Mario makes a cameo appearance at the end of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (as well as Donkey Kong Land 2), as the very best of Cranky's top three video game heroes (Yoshi and Link being the other two). However, if Diddy Kong and his girlfriend, Dixie collect enough DK Coins on their adventure, Diddy Kong can steal the top spot.

Tattle Information
"It's Mario, silly! He's here to save Princess Peach, who was kidnapped by Bowser. Remember? He fights until the bitter end, no matter what enemies attack!" -Lee or a Duplighost, when copying Goombario's Tattle ability.

Catch Card

 * Card Type: Rare
 * Card Description: Our hero is so busy he barely has time to wax his 'stache! He's always leaping between worlds to save the day.

Super Smash Bros. Profile
''Although best known as the mustachioed plumber who battles the Turtle Tribe with his distinct jumping action, this internationally-famous hero has also acted as a referee, a driver, and even a doctor! He's been linked to Princess Peach of Mushroom Kingdom for years, but to this day their true relationship remains a mystery.

Classic
''Known worldwide as Mr. Nintendo, Mario uses his incredible jumping ability to thwart the evil Bowser time after time. While he's best known as a hero, Mario has played many roles, including racer, doctor, golfer, and villain. His tastes have changed over 20 years of gaming; he long ago swapped the colors of his shirt and overalls.

Adventure
''Mario is a character without any glaring weaknesses and plenty of strong attacks: he's even equipped with a Meteor Smash. He's a straightforward character who'll reflect the actual skills of the player. Mario's Cape will turn other characters in the opposite direction and can also reflect missile weapons.

All-Star
''Mass determines how easily a character can be sent flying, as well as a character's physical strength: Mario's mass is the standard upon which other Smash fighters are measured. His Super Jump Punch sends foes skyward in a shower of coins, while the Mario Tornado pulls in nearby foes, spins them silly, and scatters them every which way.

Mario & Yoshi
''Yoshi was first introduced in Super Mario World, and the sight of Mario riding the helpful character soon became an enduring image. Despite his Cape, Mario can't fly while astride Yoshi. The pair can make huge jumps and drift slowly back to earth, though. As a last resort, Mario could leap off Yoshi's back to safety.

Paper Mario
''The Star Rod: Bowser stole it, and Mario wants it back. Bowser vs. Mario is familiar for Mario aficionados, but Paper Mario is novel. What this game brings to the 3D polygon-filled gaming world is its art style: everything is wafer thin! What the visuals lack in realism, they more than make up for in unique artistry.

Mario
''A familiar overall-clad figure who is Nintendo's flagship character. His courage and jumping ability have seen him through countless adventures. He's a multitalented plumber with the knowledge of a physician, a top-notch golfer, and a veteran tennis umpire. Is his jumping prowess a boon from his girder-climbing days?''

Mario (Final Smash)
''Mario with a Smash Ball, unleashing his ultimate attack. The twin dragons of flame he releases wallop all characters in range. The flames spread up and down, so it's best to release them from the edge of the screen at an appropriate height. His flaming eyes are proof of his excitement for this explosive attack.''

Strikers Mario
''A team captain in Super Mario Strikers, which features combat- style soccer that allows fighting and items. Mario proves to be a great all-around player, well balanced on offense and defense, and he wields a critical shot--the Mega Strike--that can chalk up a maximum of six goals! Mario is easily identified by the "M" marks on his spikes.''

Paper Mario
''A legendary hero whose adventure unfolds when he sets out to rescue Princess Peach from the nefarious clutches of Count Bleck. He has the ability to flip the world from 2-D to 3-D and back again. If he grabs a Mega Star, he'll transform into a pixelated giant Mario. In this state, he's invulnerable and capable of stomping through enemies and obstacles with ease.''

Super Mario Bros. 3

 * Bio: "Don't let Mario's looks fool you. He may be the shortest, chubbiest, most comedic-looking superhero ever to have his own show, but he always finds an ingenious way to overcome the most overwhelming obstacles in his path, and somehow, save the day. Even if it takes turning into a flying raccoon with superpowers, the irrepressible Mario will cleverly and bravely do his best to outwit the villainous Koopa Clan. He continues the quest when wiser heads would quit. Like a true plumber, he will show up at any hour of the day or night, to solve a crisis that ordinary men refuse to even touch. No matter how many times he's tricked, trapped, or defeated, Mario bounces back. His greatest strength is his unconquerable spirit and his willingness to fling himself selflessly into any situation if justice is at stake."

''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

 * Level 1
 * HP: 20
 * FP: 10
 * Speed: 20
 * Attack: 20
 * Defense: 0
 * Magic Attack: 10
 * Magic Defense: 2
 * Special Attacks:
 * Jump:
 * FP Used: 3
 * Magic Power: 25
 * Description: Mario jumps on one enemy. Right before he stomps, push the "Y" button.

''Mario Kart Super Circuit Information

 * Speed: *****
 * Weight: *****

''Mario Tennis

 * Type: All-Around
 * Bio: With a bushel basket of power, decent speed and the ability to play effectively anywhere on the court, Mario is indeed a weapon.

''Mario Party 4

 * Mario's Room:
 * Mario's TV: A blue television.
 * How To Unlock: Defeat Toad in Story Mode with Mario
 * Mario's Table: A small, round gold table.
 * How To Unlock: Defeat Goomba in Story Mode with Mario
 * Mario's Sofa: Basically just a pink sofa, nothing really special at all.
 * How To Unlock: Defeat Shy Guy in Story Mode with Mario
 * Mario's Fridge: A yellow refrigerator with green handles.
 * How To Unlock: Defeat Boo in Story Mode with Mario
 * Mario Doll: A rather plump doll of Mario.
 * How To Unlock: Defeat Koopa in Story Mode with Mario
 * Bowser Vase: A vase shaped like Bowser's head.
 * How To Unlock: Defeat Bowser in Story Mode with Mario

''Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

 * Distance: 212
 * Star Distance: 280
 * Trajectory: Straight
 * Height: 2/5
 * Impact: 2.5/5
 * Control: 1/5
 * Spin: 4/5
 * Bio Quote:
 * Bio:

''Mario Party 5

 * Bio Quote: "Let's a' all have fun!"
 * Bio: The Brooklyn kid who made good is back again for Mario Party 5. Mario's great attitude and luck will do him well in these events. Who knew pumping pipes in New York could lead to a gig like this?

''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
the GRAND PRIX with fireballs in mind"
 * Partner: Luigi
 * Class: Middleweight
 * Personal Kart: Red Fire
 * Special Item: Fireball
 * Course Owner:
 * Acceleration: ***
 * Speed: ***
 * Weight: ***
 * Bio: "You Know Him, you love him - the one and only Mario! He's returned to

''Mario Power Tennis

 * Type: All-Around
 * Defensive Power Shot: Spin Jump Return
 * Offensive Power Shot: Iron Hammer
 * Stats:
 * Power: 2.5/5
 * Speed: 2.5/5
 * Reach: 2.5/5
 * Serve: 3/5
 * Lunge: 3/5
 * Control: 3/5
 * Bio: [Booklet]
 * Bio 2: [Site]

''Mario Superstar Baseball

 * Teams: Mario Heroes, Mario Fireballs, Mario Sunshines, Mario All-Stars
 * Type: Balanced
 * Starting Team Players: Luigi, Monty Mole, Pianta, Noki
 * Status: Team Captain
 * Stats:
 * Batting: 3/5
 * Pitching: 3/5
 * Fielding: 3/5
 * Running: 2.5/5
 * Player Profile:
 * Strong Point: Might
 * Special Talents: Wall Jump, Sliding Catch
 * Trajectory:
 * Field: Center
 * Height: Normal
 * Special Ball: Fireball
 * Default Batting Position: Right
 * Default Throwing Arm: Right
 * Sweet Spot: The "M" on the bat
 * Compatible Relationships: Luigi, Peach, Yoshi
 * Bio: "Everyone's favorite hero. When Peach is in trouble, he always saves the day! A kart racer, tennis player, golf enthusiast, doctor...the list goes on and on, showing that he's a jack-of-all-trades. His trademark fireball will help him in his first foray into baseball."

''Mario Party 7

 * Partner: Luigi
 * Special Orb: Fire Orb

''Mario Kart DS

 * Class: Middleweight
 * Default Karts: B Dasher, Standard MR
 * Unlockable Kart: Shooting Star
 * Bio: "He lent his name to the sport, so it's no surprise that Mario has been at the forefront of the karting scene since it began in 1993. He is the perfect all-rounder; his karts representing the best balance of top speed, acceleration, weight and handling."

''Super Mario Strikers

 * Type: Balanced
 * Super Strike: Fire Strike
 * Bio: [Booklet]

''Mario Hoops 3 on 3 Information

 * Baller Name: The Jumpman
 * Type: All-Around
 * Special Shot: Fire Shot
 * Letter to Tap: M
 * Bio: A versatile player. Mario's steady performance lets him handle anything.

''Mario Party 8

 * Team Names:
 * Luigi: Mario Bros.
 * Peach: Power Players
 * Yoshi: Fan Favorites
 * Wario: Big Starrios
 * Daisy: Flower Players
 * Waluigi: 'Stache Clashers
 * Toad: Fungi Fun Guys
 * Boo: Soul Bros.
 * Toadette: Marionettes
 * Birdo: Super Snozzios
 * Dry Bones: BBQ Ribs
 * Blooper: 'Stache Splashers
 * Hammer Bro: Heavy-Blow Bros.

''Mario Strikers Charged

 * Character Type: Balanced
 * Mega Strike: Mario turns into a fiery Metal Mario before mashing the ball.
 * Super Ability: Super Mario!
 * Deke: Mario rolls forward a short distance.
 * Uniform: Mario wears red armor with blue and white accents.
 * Team Emblem: Signature “M” emblem with flames surrounding it.
 * Team Number: 1
 * Away Entrance: Mario runs up to the opposing sidekicks and tips his hat combatively.
 * Home Entrance: Mario falls from the sky, arms outstretched, making a perfect landing when he reaches the field and saying "Come on".
 * Theme: Alternative Rock
 * Bio: "A mix of fitness, speed and power, Mario brings his heart and determination to every match! His ability to become Super Mario can change the face of any game!"

Bio
''This persistent little plumber developed his skills chasing down a big ape. Now he's taking his All-Around skills to the Olympic Games, where his running and jumping experience should come in more than handy in events like the high jump and hurdles.''

Mario Party DS

 * Collection Info:
 * Character Figure Info:
 * Description:
 * Badge Info:
 * Badge Name:
 * Description:
 * Team Names:
 * Character Voices Info:
 * 1 Happy: ""
 * 2 Sad: ""
 * 3 Superstar: ""
 * 4 Oomph: ""
 * 5 Ouch!: ""

Trivia

 * Mario's Super Mario Strikers jersey number is 1.
 * Mario appeared as the best purchasable character in Nintendo Monopoly. He costs $400, and replaced the Boardwalk.
 * Mario's full name is "Mario Mario", as set forth by the Super Mario Bros. movie. This appears to apply to all continuities in the series, however, beause Mario and Luigi are called the "Mario Bros."
 * Mario has also appeared in Tomytec's Dots.
 * A Mario-statue, completely of wax stands in the Hollywood Wax Museum. This is currently the only wax-statue of a video game character.
 * One of his color changes in Super Smash Bros. Melee is the clothes of the balloon fighter.

Names Mario is Sometimes Called

 * Jumpman
 * Marioette (by Garro)
 * Royal Mario (by Mervin)
 * Butch Mario
 * Sherlock Mario
 * Mario-san (by Misaki)
 * The Provolone Ranger
 * Crocodile Mario
 * Santa Mario (by Hermie III)
 * Stache
 * Bro (mainly by his brother Luigi)
 * The Great Gonzales (by Yoshi and many others in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door)
 * Mr. Squishy (by Zess T.)
 * Clumsy Crush-a-lot (again by Zess T.)
 * Sir Stomp-on-Stuff (Zess T.)
 * Luigi (by Pennington)
 * Murphy (by Kroop)
 * Marty-o (by the Elder Puni)
 * Maria (by O'Chunks)
 * Super Mario
 * Mr. Nintendo (by Nintendo)
 * Mr. Video Game (by Nintendo)
 * Dr. Mario
 * Master Mario (by Toadsworth)
 * Slick (by Doopliss)
 * Yeti-lip (by Fracktail in his malfunction)
 * Hero of Legend
 * Mr. Jumpsallthetime (by Mr. L)
 * New Bee (by Queen Bee)
 * Mister Man (by Goombella, when she first meets Mario)
 * Marlio (by Captain Olimar in a deleted scene from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga)
 * The Human Blur (by Koopa the Quick)

Names That Bowser Calls Mario

 * Pesky Plumber
 * Pepperoni Plumber
 * Pipe Snipe
 * Faucet Face
 * Faucet Freak
 * Drain Brain
 * Basin Brain
 * Dumber Plumber
 * Two-bit Tortellini Taster
 * Macaroni Mouth
 * Lasagna Lovin' Loser
 * Pipesqueak
 * Plumb Scum
 * Shorty
 * Robo-Router
 * Muttonhead
 * Nozzle Nose
 * Tap Turkey
 * Pain-In-The-Drain Plumber

Quotes
Notable quotes that Mario has said in the cartoons, movies or games.
 * "Lets-a-play!" - Mario Tennis: Power Tour
 * "It's-a-me, Mario!" - Super Mario 64
 * "Let's-a-go!" - Super Mario 64
 * "Mamma mia!" - Super Mario 64
 * "Thank you so much for to playing-a my game!" - Super Mario 64/Super Mario Galaxy''
 * "Get me outta here!" - Luigi's Mansion
 * "Just what I needed!" - Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World
 * "The horror!" - Super Mario Sunshine
 * "Crikey!" - Super Mario Sunshine
 * "Come back here you!" - ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
 * "Come back Here You Big-a Monkey!" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
 * "I love this game!" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
 * "So long King Bowser!" - Super Mario 64
 * "Yay for me!" - Mario Hoops 3 on 3
 * "It's-a me! I've been on fire lately, but I hope you'll challenge me!" - Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
 * "Yahoo for-a me, the winner!" - Mario Superstar Baseball
 * "Woo-Hoo! Bravo, Mario!" - Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World
 * "Gotcha!" - Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World
 * "Let's-a go, little guys!" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong
 * "Don't forget Mr. Miyamoto!" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong
 * "Well, that sure was fun, I had a great time!" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong
 * "Ah that Charles Martinet, nice italian boy!" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong
 * "Fantastico!" - Mario Hoops 3 on 3
 * "Lucky!" - Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
 * "Let's-a get-a going!" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong
 * "Here I go!" - New Super Mario Bros.
 * "Nice of the Princess to invide us over a picnic, eh, Luigi?" - Hotel Mario
 * "Remember. Where there's smoke..." - Hotel Mario
 * "You're the best player ever!" - Hotel Mario
 * "If you need instructions on how to get through the hotels, check out the enclosed instruction book." - Hotel Mario
 * "You know what they say: All toasters toast toast!" - Hotel Mario
 * "Luigi, look! It's from Bowser!" - Hotel Mario
 *  *reading aloud* "Dear pesky plumbers. The Koopalings and I have taken over the Mushroom Kingdom. The Princess is now a permanent guest at one of my seven Koopa hotels. I dare ya to find her if you can." - Hotel Mario
 * "We gotta find the Princess!" - Hotel Mario
 * "Where is the Princess?" - Hotel Mario
 * "This is it, Luigi!" - ''Hotel Mario
 * "Be careful! When you pinch Wendy's pennies, they pinch back!" - Hotel Mario
 * "Hey stinky!" - Mario Party 7
 * "Luigi what's the hold up!" - Luigi's Mansion
 * "Welcome...Welcome new galaxy!!" - Super Mario Galaxy
 * "I'm-a hungry! You got any food?" - ''Mario Teaches Typing 2
 * "Welcome to Mario Teaches-a typing!" - ''Mario Teaches Typing

Quotes in ''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3

 * "Ahh! Reptile breath tornado! I'm a goner!" - "Sneaky Lying Cheating Giant Ninja Koopas"
 * "You're not taking over any land, you Bowser Koopa!" - "Sneaky Lying Cheating Giant Ninja Koopas"
 * "Just what we need, a Miserable Squawking Angry Giant Ninja Parrot." - "Sneaky Lying Cheating Giant Ninja Koopas"
 * "We better get that mummy back where it belongs, before it scares the pasta outta everybody!" - "Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario"
 * "Yuck! A hug from her could be bad for my health! I'd better scram!" - "Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario"
 * "I like long naps, but not that long!" - "Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario"
 * "I can't sleep for ten-thousand years, I'll get too hungry!" - "Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario"
 * "Wrench attack, Luigi! Let's tool on outta here!" - "Princess Toadstool for President"
 * "No more Mr. Nice Guy!" - "Princess Toadstool for President"
 * "Bob-ombs! Next to Koopa himself, they're my most unfavorite things!" - "Never Koop a Koopa"
 * "Give it up! We already flew the Koopa!" - "Never Koop a Koopa"
 * "Tea? With Koopa? Princess, how can you be so nice to Bowser Koopa?" - "Reign Storm"
 * "Don't be a baby, Luigi." - "Toddler Terrors of Time Travel"
 * "Invincible Stars? Invincible timing, Princess!" - "Tag Team Trouble"
 * "Looks like I'm plumber out of luck!" - "Oh, Brother!"
 * ''"Brothers. Ya can't live with 'em. Ya can't live without 'em. - "Oh, Brother!"
 * ''"Aw, meatballs! The TV's on the blink! - "Misadventure of Mighty Plumber"
 * "Take a look, Toad. One Super Mario turn of the wrench, and all that stopped up water will run out of your tub faster than Invincible Mario!" - "A Toadally Magical Adventure"
 * "Let's show that big bad Boom Boom some of our patented Super Mario super moves!" - "Misadventures in Babysitting"
 * "QUIET! You wanna wake the dead? You don't want Koopa to find out we're in his kingdom, do ya?" - "Do the Koopa"
 * "I never saw so many tonsils in all my life!" - "Kootie Pie Rocks"
 * "Sounds like you Mushroomers are spreading mush-rumors." - "Mush-Rumors"
 * "I'd rather face a thousand Koopas than one mermaid mackerel with marraige on her mind! But you can't run from your problems forever!" - "The Ugly Mermaid"
 * "I'd rather marry a fish than swim with one, Luigi." - "The Ugly Mermaid"
 * "I'm just too chicken to be a frog!" - "The Ugly Mermaid"
 * "Brave men die a single death; cowards marry fish-head mermaids!" - "The Ugly Mermaid"
 * "We have been king-sized colossal jerks!" - "True Colors"
 * "Garbage, garbage, on our stoopa, get out of here and go back to Koopa!" - "Recycled Koopa"
 * "Hey, Luigi. Never challenge me to a game of underwater horseshoes." - "The Venice Menace"
 * "This is no time to be Italian, Luigi! Be Polish!" - "The Venice Menace"
 * "Aww, without super powers, we're no match for Super Koopa!" - "Super Koopa"

Quotes in ''Super Mario World

 * "It's a stone, Luigi! You didn't make it!" - Upon seeing Luigi's "Football", "The Yoshi Shuffle"
 * "And there's this nice guy named Santa Claus, who brings presents to all the kids who've been good!" - "The Night Before Cave Christmas"
 * "Now go home and eat some vegetables, Dr. Mario's orders!" - "King Scoopa Koopa"
 * ''"Ugh. Now I know how meatball feels..." - Upon being eaten by Yoshi, "Mama Luigi"
 * "You didn't tell me you were bringing a secret weapon, Luigi!" - "Mama Luigi"

Quotes in Mario Comics

 * "When the going gets tough, the tough read Dirk Drain-Head!" - "Bedtime for Drain-Head"
 * "Tea hea... I mean, tee hee!" - "Cloud Nine"
 * "But I've got drains to drain! Clogs to unclog! Remember... the noble plumber always comes through? Besides, this coat is turning my hair brown!" - "The Doctor Is In... Over His Head"
 * "Eat cake, shell scum!" - "Super Mario Adventures"
 * "I wish Luigi were here, I could blame him!" - "You Again?"
 * "Oh, no! The Princess is being forced to listen to a debate by two Fryguys about the names for the little things on the end of your shoelaces!" - "You Again?"
 * "Stay away, you guys. I overslept, and I have to save the Princess!" - "You Again?"