Super Mario | The Iconic Video Game Hero

Super Mario is one of the most famous and beloved video game characters of all time. He is the protagonist of the Super Mario series, which has sold over 380 million copies worldwid. He is also a staple of Nintendo’s franchises, appearing in games such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, Super Smash Bros., and many more.

Super Mario was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, a legendary game designer who also created Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox. Miyamoto wanted to make a game that featured a character who could jump over obstacles and enemies. He was inspired by the arcade game Popeye, which had a similar gameplay mechanic. He originally named his character Jumpman, and gave him a red cap, overalls, and a mustache to make him easy to animate1.

The first game to feature Super Mario was Donkey Kong, released in 1981. In this game, Mario had to rescue his girlfriend Pauline from a giant ape named Donkey Kong. The game was a huge success and established Mario as a popular character. However, it was not until 1985 that Mario got his own game: Super Mario Bros., released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This game introduced Mario’s brother Luigi, his arch-enemy Bowser, and his love interest Princess Peach. It also introduced the Mushroom Kingdom, a colorful and whimsical world filled with pipes, coins, blocks, and power-ups. The game was a masterpiece of design and innovation, and is widely considered one of the best games ever made1.

Super Mario Bros. spawned many sequels and spin-offs, each one expanding and improving on the gameplay and graphics of the previous one. Some of the most notable ones are:

Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988): This game added new power-ups such as the Tanooki Suit, the Frog Suit, and the Hammer Suit. It also introduced the world map, which allowed players to choose different paths and levels.

Super Mario World (1990): This game introduced Yoshi, a friendly dinosaur who could eat enemies and spit them out as projectiles. It also featured more diverse environments such as forests, caves, and castles.

Super Mario 64 (1996): This game was the first to use 3D graphics and allowed players to explore large open worlds with full camera control. It also introduced new moves such as the wall jump, the long jump, and the triple jump.

Super Mario Sunshine (2002): This game took place on a tropical island called Isle Delfino, where Mario had to clean up the mess caused by a mysterious villain named Shadow Mario. It also featured a new device called FLUDD, which could spray water or hover in the air.

Super Mario Galaxy (2007): This game took place in outer space, where Mario had to travel across different planets and galaxies with varying gravity and physics. It also featured new power-ups such as the Bee Mushroom, the Boo Mushroom, and the Spring Mushroom.

Super Mario Odyssey (2017): This game featured a new mechanic called Cappy, a sentient hat that could possess enemies and objects. It also featured more realistic settings such as New Donk City, a parody of New York City.

Super Mario is not only a video game hero, but also a cultural icon. He has appeared in movies, TV shows, comics, books, merchandise, and even theme parks. He has inspired generations of gamers and creators with his charm, courage, and creativity. He is truly a legend in the history of gaming.