Mario: Difference between revisions

Mario's main weapon is the [[hammer]] in ''Donkey Kong'', although Mario often uses the hammer as a weapon in ''Super Mario'' RPGs. Mario is usually associated with fire in the spinoffs, based on his [[Fire Mario]] form from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' Mario can, in some games, such as ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'', control fire without a [[Fire Flower]], although the first game where he actually starts using this power regularly is ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.

Mario is typically known as a plumber since ''Mario Bros.'', although he started as a carpenter in ''Donkey Kong''. Although he is best known for being a plumber, the games rarely portray Mario being directly involved in plumbing. Other media, such as ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'' and ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'', however, put a much bigger emphasis on Mario's job. According to the live-action segments in ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'', Mario works a menial job at [[Super Mario Bros. Plumbing|Mario Brothers Plumbing]] in Brooklyn, just barely able to make enough money, and sometimes complains about a dull life. Despite this, he and Luigi seem to excel at their jobs, as it is stated that they have one of the best plumbing in [[New York City]]. Also according to the show, Mario has received his plumber training from the [[Brooklyn Plumbers Academy]], founded by [[Salvador Drainotto]], whom Mario holds to great respect. Mario is also skilled with various plumbing tools throughout the show's episodes, such as the [[All Purpose Portable Plumber's Helper]] and [[Plumber's Putty]], which he uses to assist him and his friends in some hazardous situations. In 2016, a bio on the Kids section of the Nintendo Co., Ltd. site indicates that plumbing was Mario's former occupation; the bio on ''Mario Portal'' reconfirmed this.<ref>[https://kotaku.com/mario-is-officially-no-longer-a-plumber-1799118840 Mario Is Officially No Longer A Plumber]. ''Kotaku''. Retrieved October 4, 2017.</ref> However, as of March 2018, the Japanese profile was updated to state that Mario is still a plumber,<ref>Schreier, Jason (March 6, 2018). [https://kotaku.com/mario-is-officially-a-plumber-again-1823545849 Mario Is Officially A Plumber Again]. ''Kotaku''. Retrieved February 2, 2020.</ref> and that statement is further confirmed by ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]''.<ref>''"Mario works as a plumber with his little brother Luigi."'' – Loading screen tip, ''Super Mario Bros. Wonder''</ref>

In addition to plumbing, Mario has dabbled in various other occupations. One of his most notable recurring alternate careers is in medicine, as his alter-ego [[Dr. Mario]], who stars in [[Dr. Mario (series)|an entire spinoff series]] and is even a separate character in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' games. Mario is also known for his participation in a wide variety of spinoff sports games, including but not limited to golf, tennis, basketball, hockey, soccer, and both kart and motocross racing. He also participates in a wide array of Olympic events and has even made a cameo as a referee in ''{{wp|Punch-Out!! (NES)|Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!}}'' Another series-specific recurring role Mario takes is as the president of the [[Mario Toy Company]] in the [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' games]].

Mario and Princess Peach have been friends since childhood. As adults, Mario often saves Peach, and she usually rewards him with a kiss on the cheek or nose, a [[cake]], or even both. The German ''[[Club Nintendo (magazine)|Club Nintendo]]'' comic "[[Warios Weihnachtsmärchen]]" even reveals that they spent their graduation ball in school together, and in the official guide of ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'', the description for the level [[Baby Mario and Baby Peach: Dynamic Duo]] states they have teamed up as babies to stop evil before the "romantic entanglements" of their adult lives. Contrariwise, in a video published on the [[Play Nintendo]] channel on {{wp|YouTube}}, Mario and Peach are described simply as friends.<ref>Play Nintendo (February 11, 2023). [https://youtu.be/KD2GUHxME5c?t=102 DIY Nintendo Cards! 🤭 <nowiki>|</nowiki> Craft with Mario, Peach & Bowser <nowiki>|</nowiki> @PlayNintendo]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved February 16, 2023.</ref> In ''Super Paper Mario'', while both Mario and Luigi deny a relationship when [[Luvbi]] asks if Peach was Mario's "lady friend," Luvbi also comments that the princess "looms large in his regard" and then wonders if Mario had a "one-sided crush." Many other sources, however, do portray Mario and Peach as having an ongoing romantic relationship as well as a friendship, such as the official European ''Super Mario'' website listing Peach as Mario's girlfriend and ''[[Mario Party 5]]'' calling Peach and Mario's team "Cutest Couple." When Mario gets kissed by Peach, he often blushes heavily and becomes embarrassed and/or infatuated before celebrating. In ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'', Peach calls Mario her "knight in shining armor," and in the first ''Paper Mario'', one of the [[Toad (species)|Toad]]s tells Mario to take Peach on a date to [[Star Hill|Shooting Star Summit]]. In ''[[Super Princess Peach]]'', after Peach rescues Mario, she enthusiastically calls and runs towards him, and they happily dance together in celebration, with Mario revealing flowers in his hat and another one in between his hair as he holds her in his arms. [[Rosalina]] refers to Peach as Mario's "special one" in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', with the two seen holding hands toward the ending of the game. [[Lubba]] refers to Peach as Mario's "special someone" in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]''. ''Mario Power Tennis'' even goes as far as showing Mario himself telling Peach of his love for her in her victory scene, which she responds to by smiling and blowing a kiss to him and Luigi, causing them to become lovestruck. Also, in Mario's victory scene in ''Mario Power Tennis'', Peach gives him a small kiss on the cheek. In ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', after kidnapping her, Bowser declares his intention to make Peach marry him, and Mario's main motivation is to stop Bowser from taking Peach's hand in a forced marriage, separating her from him. In ''Luigi's Mansion 3'', after Luigi rescues him, Mario refuses to escape and leads Luigi to rescue Peach, and when he finds her imprisoned in a [[painting]], he is devastated, crying in despair for her. When Luigi catches up to him, Mario pleads with him to free her if he is talked to.