History of Mario: Difference between revisions

'''[[Mario]]''' is the main character of the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]]. His history spans decades of media primarily in video games, but it also includes cartoons, books, and other promotional materials. Though Mario is usually the main protagonist in his appearances, he has also played other roles across his history with ranging significance, such as a captive that needs to be rescued (such as in ''[[Mario is Missing!]]'', ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'', and ''[[Super Princess Peach]]'') and a minor supporting character (such as in several games of the [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series]] and ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''). He has even served the role of a villain very rarely, such as in ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]''

==Background==

[[File:Stork and Babies Artwork - Yoshi's New Island.png|thumb|150px|The [[Yoshi's Island (series)|''Yoshi's Island'' games]] show Mario's and Luigi's twin births through a stork delivery, a {{wp|White stork#Storks and delivery of babies|reference to European folklore}}.]]

Mario is featured in ''Mario the Juggler'', a Game & Watch game based on the very first one, ''[[Ball]]''.

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==''Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!''==

[[File:Mario and Luigi surrounded by the mushroom people.png|thumb|Mario and Luigi surrounded by mushroom people]]

==''Golf: Japan Course'' / ''Golf: U.S. Course''==

==DIC cartoons==

In the ''Super Mario'' cartoons produced by [[DIC Entertainment]], Mario and Luigi are shown to be plumbers from [[Brooklyn]]. According to the first two animated series, Mario and Luigi arrived in the Mushroom Kingdom while out on a house call; they are shown working on a bathtub in an old woman's house when they are suddenly sucked down the drain, transporting them to the Mushroom Kingdom, where they save Princess Toadstool from King Koopa for the first time. The series depicts Mario as the pasta-loving older brother of Luigi.

===''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!''===

[[File:ShowLiveSegment.PNG|thumb|left|Mario seen with Luigi in the live-action segment of the show]]

{{quote2|Welcome to Mario Kart!|[[Mario]]|[[Mario Kart 64]] </span>and<span> ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''}}

In the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series, both in the mainline series and the [[Mario Kart (series)#Arcade games|''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' subseries]], starting with ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', Mario has always been a playable character and, except in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', is usually available at the start. In games where characters are divided into weight groups, Mario is a middleweight character with all-around stats. Numerous racecourses throughout the series have been named after Mario, usually as [[Mario Circuit]] and often in the [[Flower Cup]].

===''Super Mario Kart''===

In the first installment, ''Super Mario Kart'', Mario and Luigi are two of the only middleweight characters in the game, a feature that is present until ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', where Peach and Yoshi are reclassified as middleweights while adding Birdo and Waluigi as middleweights. Mario as a computer-controlled opponent uses [[Super Star|Star]] power, which gives him invincibility. ''Super Mario Kart'' also features one Mario Circuit per [[cup]] of increasing complexity, but the Mario Circuits typically have minimal hazards aside from [[oil slick]]s and pipes and off-road shortcuts that can be taken with a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]].

[[File:Mario Yoshi's New Island.png|thumb|Mario revealing himself in ''Yoshi's New Island'']]

The [[Yoshi's Island (series)|''Yoshi's Island'' series]] takes place while Mario and Luigi are babies, who are referred to as [[Baby Mario]] and [[Baby Luigi]], respectively. In entries of that series, the [[stork]] delivers Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to their parents but is intercepted by [[Kamek]]. He succeeds in capturing only Baby Luigi and the stork, while Baby Mario is rescued by [[Yoshi]]. The goal of the series is for Yoshi to rescue Baby Luigi so the stork can safely reunite the two brothers to their parents.

In ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]'', adult Mario is disguised as a live Warp Pipe named [[Mr. Pipe]], and he helps Yoshi and Baby Mario by giving them needed items. He reveals himself in the end credits, where he eventually vanishes, presumably going back to his own time period.

==''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''==

[[File:Crankys Video Game Heroes DKC2.png|thumb|left|Mario's cameo in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'']]

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{{quote|Mario Pinball Land!|Mario|Mario Pinball Land}}

In ''[[Mario Pinball Land]]'', Mario waits in line with Princess Peach to try the [[Sky Cannon]]. After two Goombas turn the cannon to fire Peach into [[Fiery Stage|Bowser's castle]], he travels through the stages as a pinball to rescue her. Once Bowser is defeated, the two are reunited and ride an attraction together.

==''NBA Street V3''==

Mario is also featured in several tabletop games that promote Nintendo, including [[Nintendo Monopoly]], where he costs $400, replacing the Boardwalk, the most expensive space in the game. On the ? Block and Coin Block (later Block) cards, he replaces Mr. Monopoly. Mario is also one of the four base characters in the Standard Edition (five in the Collector's Edition) of [[Monopoly Gamer]]. Mario is also featured in ''Super Mario'' branded games, including but not limited to [[Super Mario Chess|''Super Mario'' Chess]] (as the king) and [[Super Mario Checkers & Tic Tac Toe|''Super Mario'' Checkers & Tic Tac Toe]].

==References==