Dr. Mario

Dr. Mario is the persona Mario takes in the Dr. Mario series of games. Under this character, Mario dons a lab coat, a head mirror, and a stethoscope around the neck. He first appeared in his titular game, Dr. Mario. Dr. Mario and Nurse Toadstool, his assistant nurse, work at the Mushroom Kingdom Hospital, where Dr. Mario eliminates Viruses and other diseases by using Megavitamins, which is the standard for subsequent games starring him. Dr. Mario, however, has appeared additionally as a separate unlockable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Dr. Luigi also appears in his own game, as a spin-off to Dr. Mario.

Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario marked his first appearance in a puzzle game with the same name, Dr. Mario. The game set a basis to future Dr. Mario games, where Dr. Mario periodically throws Megavitamins inside the bottle, and the player controls them to land on Viruses, which spawn at the bottom. By stacking three or more halves of Megavitamins on a virus of the corresponding color, the Virus disappears. As such, blue Megavitamins eliminate blue Viruses (Chill), red Megavitamins eliminate red Viruses (Fever), and yellow Megavitamins eliminate yellow Viruses (Weird). Removing all viruses on the screen advances the player to the next level.

Dr. Mario 64
Dr. Mario 64 is the first game of the series to include a storyline, although the gameplay remains similar to its predecessors. In the plot, Mad Scienstein robs Dr. Mario of his Megavitamins and brings them to his master, Rudy the Clown. Dr. Mario, as well as Wario, who wants to sell the Megavitamins for money, set off to defeat the two. In the end, it is revealed that Rudy is actually sick and Scienstein was ordered to retrieve the magical healing pills from Dr. Mario.

Story Mode of Dr. Mario 64 pits Dr. Mario or Wario against various villains in Vs. matches of Virus busting. It also features the original game, known as Classic Mode.

Dr. Mario has received subtle aesthetic changes, including a tie, and his proportions have been changed to be less stubby overall, reflecting on Mario's changes himself.

Dr. Mario Online Rx
In Dr. Mario Online Rx, a WiiWare game, players can control Dr. Mario, but they can also choose to play as any Mii stored in their Wii. Dr. Mario serves a similar role as his debut game; he takes Megavitamins from his bag and throws them into the bottle. The game features Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, allowing vs. matches to take place around the world.

Dr. Mario Express
Dr. Mario Express has the same design as Dr. Mario Online Rx, but unlike the Wii version, it does not offer a multiplayer mode or feature the "Virus Buster" mini-game. 3-D objects are cel-shaded in this game.

Nintendo Comics System
Dr. Mario appears in Nintendo Comics System's adaptation of Dr. Mario, which was entitled "The Doctor Is In... Over His Head". Mario and Princess Peach, expecting a plumbing emergency, enter the Mushroom Kingdom General Hospital, although they find no emergency. Dr. Waldo Bloom insists so and makes Mario his research assistant, calling him Dr. Mario. After touring through the hospital, Dr. Waldo takes them to his laboratory where he shows them the Viruses, and he explains that the Viruses have been multiplying. The original Viruses, inside the jar, soon break free and introduce themselves as Chill, Fever, and Weird. Eventually, after discovering that matching the colors of stacked Megavitamins can destroy Viruses, Mario manages to defeat them.

Princess Peach then advises Dr. Bloom play golf and return only he is done with the game, but Mario notes that Dr. Bloom is a bad golfer, which means Dr. Bloom will be off duty for a long time. Princess Peach then suggests Mario to be both a plumber and a doctor, which Mario agrees to do so.

Club Nintendo
Dr. Mario also appears in the German Club Nintendo comic "Süße Weihnachten" where he helps Bowser who suffers from stomachache during Christmas Day. Bowser has Viruses in his stomach, and Dr. Mario advises him to take bitter pills instead of marzipan.

Super Mario-Kun
Dr. Mario makes a brief appearance in volume 1 of Super Mario-Kun here, when Yoshi falls from the Sky, Mario transforms into Dr. Mario and stuffs a giant Megavitamin in his mouth. Dr. Mario also appears in volume 8 after attacked by a Tweeter, Mario transforms into Dr. Mario. He then reveals a shell underneath a rock and then attaches rocket boosters (which resemble Megavitamins) to it, enabling him, Luigi, and Yoshi to fly on it. This knocks away nearby Snifits.

Super Smash Bros. series


Dr. Mario is an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee. He is unlocked by beating Classic or Adventure mode with Mario without losing any lives, and then beating Dr. Mario. Most of his attacks and moves are nearly identical to his standard self, Mario. However, instead of fireballs, Dr. Mario shoots Megavitamins at his opponents, his smash attack uses electricity instead of fire, and his regular yellow cape is replaced by his doctor's cloak. Dr. Mario is slower in ground than his red counterpart is, but faster in the air, and more powerful than he is. This more than makes up for his lack of good running and jumping skills.

Although Dr. Mario is absent in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, data for Dr. Mario can be found, confirming that he is intended to be in the game in some form. Meanwhile, Dr. Mario's Super Smash Bros. Melee theme can be one of the songs that play in the PictoChat and custom stages. He also has a Sticker after him.

Dr. Mario returns in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U as an unlockable playable fighter, making him and Mewtwo the only cut characters from Super Smash Bros. Melee to return. To unlock him, players must either complete Classic Mode with Mario on at least 4.0 intensity or play 60 matches. Although he retains his dark gray pants from Super Smash Bros. Melee, his design has been updated to include the shirt and tie from Dr. Mario 64. Reflecting the change, Dr. Mario can wear tie-related equipment to boost his defense stat generally, instead of the usual overalls for his counterpart.

Dr. appears relatively unchanged; he retains his original down special move, the Dr. Tornado. He also shares his hidden special moves with Mario, barring the Dr. Tornado. His Final Smash is a variation of Mario's Mario Finale: the flames are replaced with giant pills. Dr. Mario has also gained two new taunts, and one of his victory animations from Melee, which is the one that shares the animation with Mario, has been replaced with a new one, which is him pondering.

Megavitamins
Dr. Mario's neutral B attack makes him shoot Megavitamins. They act the same as Mario's Fireball move, except that the Megavitamins are more powerful (they do 8% instead of 5%). In fact, they are one of the strongest fast-moving projectile in the game. They also bounce in a different path, and make the Dr. Mario sound effects when they bounce (colour line cleared) and hit (virus defeated). Kirby also can use the Megavitamins if he copies Dr. Mario's powers.

In addition, in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, if the player has found the hidden special moves, Dr. Mario can alternately use the Fast Capsule or the Mega Capsule. The Fast Capsule fires weak, quick, horizontal-moving pills. The Mega Capsule is a slow, large, short ranged pill that can pass through opponents.

Super Sheet
Super Sheet is executed by pressing Side + B. The attack is almost the same as Mario's Cape attack, except that Super Sheet is longer, but narrower, and does more damage, around 10%. It is actually one of Dr. Mario's doctor cloaks. Like the Cape, it can change the directions of projectile-based attacks and can also change the position the foe is facing. The attack can also be used to shift the direction of opponents trying to get back on the field. In this case, they will be turned around and will instead jump back on air, rather than jump on the field.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Dr. Mario's Super Sheet can be changed to either Shocking Sheet or Breezy Sheet, provided they are obtained first. Shocking Sheet makes the attack have electric effects at the cost of reflecting projectiles. Breezy Sheet creates a gust that can push opponents.

Super Jump Punch
The Super Jump Punch is a jumping move Mario, Luigi, and Dr. Mario can perform in the Super Smash Bros. series. It is executed by pressing + Up. When Dr. Mario performs the attack, coins fly out of the enemy, and the foe receives about 10% damage. Dr. Mario's version of the attack is similar to Mario's, but it is more powerful. Also, the sound effect is different than the usual sound made when Mario grabs a coin. Dr. Mario will be put into a helpless state after the move ends. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, however, the move deals one strong blow rather than multiple successive weak hits.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, additionally, Dr. Mario can replace his Super Jump Punch with Super Jump or Ol' One-Two, if the moves are available. Super Jump enables Dr. Mario to gain additional distance, although the attack does no damage. Ol' One-Two gives a fire effect while decreasing the height gained.

Dr. Tornado
Dr. Tornado is Dr. Mario's down special attack, and unlike Mario, he retains this attack in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. The attack is executed by pressing Down +. Dr. Tornado has the same effect as the Mario Tornado, except that it scatters opponents rather than knocking them directly up. The attack can also very lightly pull someone near into the Tornado. Dr. Mario is able to hover in the air when using this attack, by tapping rapidly while using it.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, if the hidden moves are found, Dr. Tornado can be changed into Soaring Tornado or Clothesline Tornado. Soaring Tornado creates wind that pushes foes. Dr. Mario can gain more vertical distance, but there is limited horizontal movement. Clothesline Tornado has high launching power, but limited movement.

Dr. Finale
To activate his Final Smash, Dr. Mario must obtain a Smash Ball by destroying it. Dr. Mario's Final Smash, the Dr. Finale, is a skinned version of Mario's Mario Finale. Dr. Mario shoots two large, slow-moving encircling Megavitamins that moves in a horizontal line. If caught, opponents are trapped and pushed in front of the blast, pushing them toward the blast line until they escape or are KO'd.

Other appearances
In the Nintendo Monopoly, Dr. Mario is seen in one of the ? Block Cards, "Receive for medical services $25". Dr. Mario also makes a short appearance in one strip of Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater. Here, he receives a patient, which turns out to be a Dry Bones, much to his annoyance. Dr. Mario also makes a small appearance as one of the occupations listed in Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up in the "Medical Doctor/Nurse" career page. In WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, Dr. Mario appears in a microgame named after him based on the NES version of the game. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! also features a spoof of the NES Dr. Mario called Dr. Wario.

Additionally, one part of the Super Mario Adventures comic has Mario dressing up as a doctor, although he was not "Dr. Mario" specifically and was acting as a psychiatrist rather than a medical doctor.

Before even the first Dr. Mario game was released, Mario and Luigi referred to each other as "Dr. Mario" and "Dr. Luigi" at one point on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, during the live-action segment "Defective Gadgetry". Later, in the animated Super Mario World TV show episode "King Scoopa Koopa", Mario finishes off his healthy-eating request to a group of cave people with the line "Dr. Mario's orders!". Dr. Mario was given a similar reference in Paper Mario when the thankful Whale told Mario that he should be addressed by the title of "Dr. Mario" after Mario and his partners expelled the Fuzzipede from the Whale's body, thus ending his stomachache.

Remakes & compilations
Dr. Mario, especially his debut game, has also appeared in the various remakes and compilations of several games. Dr. Mario Vs. is made for Vs. matches of Dr. Mario, released for the Nintendo Vs. System. Tetris & Dr. Mario is a remake of the NES game, and it also includes Tetris. Dr. Mario BS Version is a remake of the original game for the Satellaview that includes the graphics and sound from Tetris & Dr. Mario.

Classic NES Series: Dr. Mario, the original Dr. Mario is one of many NES games that are remade for the Classic NES Series on the Game Boy Advance. The game has the same gameplay as the original Dr. Mario. Also for the Game Boy Advance, Dr. Mario & Puzzle League featured Dr. Mario alongside an unrelated game, Puzzle League. Finally, Nintendo Puzzle Collection includes Dr. Mario 64 as part of the various past Nintendo puzzle games.

Name in other languages
Dr. Mario (Charakter) Dr. Mario (personaggio)