Mario Quiz Cards

From the Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia
Revision as of 09:25, October 31, 2022 by 1468z (talk | contribs) (→‎Cards)
Jump to navigationJump to search

It has been requested that more images be uploaded for this article. Remove this notice only after the additional image(s) have been added. Reason: Scans of the cards

The box the 1995 Mario quiz cards came in. From an ebay listing.
The box the cards came in.

The Mario Quiz Cards are a set of informational quiz cards licensed by Nintendo and published by Atlas Editions and Newfield Publications from 1995 to 1997. They follow a specific format that usually features an illustration of a Mario franchise character with a word bubble that asks a multiple choice question. A separate illustration follows that features some of the characters and is related to the question. On the back of each card is the answer to the question, along with a detailed explanation accompanied either by a photograph or an illustration. The cards cover a wide variety of topics, including science, history, astronomy, and geography. Cards were promoted and delivered monthly via mail.

Occasionally, the cards attempt to reveal something about the characters that is not shown in the games of the Mario franchise, or depict them performing activities that Nintendo (particularly Nintendo of America) would never allow them to do in the games, which are marketed primarily to children. Cards that depict these activities include:

  • A card asking who Cyrano de Bergerac was shows a more romantic side to Mario's personality than is shown in games.
  • Mario shows himself to be capable of playing kendo in a card asking what weapon that martial art uses.
  • On a card asking why it is important to know one's blood type, Dr. Mario reveals Princess Peach to be blood type O positive.
  • Two religion-related cards, one shows Mario reading the Quran and praying to Allah (God in Arabic), and the other shows Mario reading a Bible.
  • A card asking what Greenpeace is shows Mario and Luigi protesting against nuclear weapons.
  • Luigi is shown reading a history book in a card that asks when the Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler rose to power.
  • Princess Peach is shown attending an organized rally for the Equal Rights Amendment.
  • A card asking when Prohibition was shows Mario chasing a Goomba toting around a bottle of alcohol.
  • One of the cards has Mario listening to the Fab 4, a supposed parody of The Beatles, while Mario himself sports a bowl-cut similar to one of the band members of the Fab 4. The card in question asks what important event happened in Candlestick Park on August 29th, 1966, the place and time the Beatles performed their final full public concert.
  • A card asking where a person would find both the Grand Ole Opry and Graceland shows Mario wearing the iconic outfit of Elvis Presley.
  • A card asking what a sweatshop is, displaying a bear character working in substandard conditions.
  • Mario wearing The Cat in the Hat's trademark headwear along with Luigi holding a plate of green eggs and ham on a card about Dr. Seuss.
  • Mario with a rifle and hunting dog on a question about wildlife regulation.
  • Mario discovering a (presumably) magic oil lamp on a question about Arabian Nights.

Some cards use Bowser's "King Koopa" design from the cartoons, recolored to match his game counterpart. Also, one card has Luigi's clothes in Mario's colors. In the user manual, some of the character's names are incorrect or misspelled: Cheep Cheep is labeled as "Cheap Cheap", Spiny Egg is labeled as Bob-omb, Koopa Paratroopa is labeled as Paragoomba and Toad is labeled as Toady.[1]

Cards

This section is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it is being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

Arts, Sports & Leisure

Beliefs & Legends

By Air & By Sea

Domestic Animals

Geography

History

Human Body

Land Transportation

Medicine

Meteorology

Oceans & Seas

People of the World

Plants & Trees

Science & Technology

Social Life

The Story of Life

The Universe

Wild Animals

1 - Despite the front of this card featuring artwork of a pterodactyl, the correct answer on the back of the card is "None of them"; no dinosaurs could fly, as pterodactyls were pterosaurs, not dinosaurs.

References

  1. ^ Mario Quiz Cards User Manual, pgs. 4, 5.