Mario (マリオ?) is the main protagonist of the longtime Super Mario series and Nintendo's flagship mascot. Normally the hero, Mario uses his trademark jump and combat abilities to defend the peaceful inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom and the world from powerful and foul villains such as his archnemesis Bowser (known as Koopa in Japan). When not adventuring, Mario participates in a variety of sporting events, parties and other fun activities with his younger twin brother Luigi and thousands of friends from his many adventures. Mario is well-known as one of, if not the most famous video game character in the world.
Mario has appeared in multiple crossover titles alongside Sonic the Hedgehog, in particular the Mario & Sonic sub-series.
Early rivalry[edit | edit source]
Nintendo was once brutal business rivals with Sega during the 1990s; this rivalry peaked in the 16-bit era (Super NES/Super Famicom vs. Sega Mega Drive/Genesis), especially in North America. As such, Nintendo and Sega often attempted to put each other down through their games. Examples include the appearance of Sonic's shoes in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (see image), and the blue hedgehog enemies of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island called "Harry Hedgehog", both released on the SNES. In the Sonic children's book, Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Secret Admirer, there is a sign outside Robotropolis that reads "No Nintendo Playing".
In an American commercial for the original Sonic the Hedgehog game, Bernita Stokes, President of Humans Against Genesis (H.A.G.), criticizes the game by saying, "Why can't he be more like that nice boy Mario?" next to an animated Sonic who is seen on the cover of the box. He instantly mocks her and blows a raspberry at her, showing that Sonic held resentment towards that authority to be like Mario. Dr. Robotnik-like, she quickly got angry and tried to attack Sonic but he speeds by her out of the box and into the TV screen, while she angrily calls after him "little brat".
Another infamous commercial for the same game features a salesman at a video game store, trying to sell the then-newly released Super Nintendo Entertainment System, itself playing Super Mario World to a customer at its launch price of $199.95 USD. The Nintendo console is shown alongside Sega's Mega Drive playing the original Sonic the Hedgehog, being sold for $149.99 USD. The fast-paced action of Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as Sega Genesis' lower price grab the customer's attention, and the customer decides to buy the Genesis and Sonic the Hedgehog game, disappointing the salesman, who desperately wanted him to buy the Super NES and the Super Mario World game instead.
A similar commercial (which is for Super Mario All-Stars) is set in a classroom. The teacher says that Super NES gets 4 free games and Genesis gets no free games at all. While a student wearing a Sonic T-shirt doesn't pay attention, the other kids study.
Nintendo and Sega would continue their rivalry in the latter half of the '90s with the release of the Nintendo 64 and Saturn, respectively. However, with the release of the Sony PlayStation in the 32-bit era, both consoles, especially Sega's, failed to compete (although the N64 did have many successful titles in its library) against their new rival, and Sega followed suit with the Dreamcast. By the early 2000s, the next generation had Nintendo producing the GameCube while Sega on the other hand transitioned into 3rd-party, ironically making Sonic games for the console as well as the Game Boy Advance and multiple others such as the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. At this point, Nintendo and Sega began to develop an unlikely close relationship.
In 2007-2008, Mario and Sonic started appearing in official crossovers on the Nintendo Wii and DS (which proved a huge shock to the gaming industry), making their companies' fierce business rivalry come to an end.
Game appearances[edit | edit source]
Mario & Sonic series[edit | edit source]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games[edit | edit source]
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In the Wii version and Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Mario appears as one of the playable characters. It is also the first game to feature Mario and his cast compete in the Olympics with Sonic and his cast.
In both versions of the game, Mario has the following characteristics and icons:
| Icon | Skill Type | Stats | Emblem |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:MarioOlympicGames icon.png | All-Around | File:Mario-Stats.png | File:MyS emblem Mario.png |
In the Mission Mode in both the Wii and Nintendo DS versions of the game, Mario has to beat a set of five missions, which will unlock a final mission. Clearing all six missions will award the player with the Mario Emblem. These missions include:
- Wii:
- Long Jump: Jump perfectly from the foul line! - Run at maximum speed and perform the best jump right before the foul line 1 time(s)!
- 100m Freestyle: Finish in the specific placing! - Finish in 1st place!
- Skeet: Shoot targets with the small crosshairs! - Shoot down 1 or more targets with the small crosshairs (The crosshairs are reduced to the smallest size.)
- Trampoline: Perform difficult moves consecutively! - Perform difficult moves 5 times in a row!
- Dream Fencing: Win with a Special Move! - Finish the match with a Special Move to win!
- 100m: Beat your rival! - Finish before Sonic! (Your overall place doesn't matter.)
- Nintendo DS:
- Long Jump - Jump successfully three times for a total of over 20m!
- Vault - Score between 7.000 and 8.000!
- Shooting - Shoot down all the red clays only!
- Dream Long Jump - Land on one of the three small islands!
- Dream Boxing - Counter five times!
- 100m - Beat Sonic when he's in top condition!
In both the Wii and Nintendo DS versions of the game, the player can also earn the Mario Crown by getting all gold and 1st medals using Mario.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[edit | edit source]
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In the Wii version and Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Mario appears as a playable character. In the Wii version, Mario also has the special skill, the Spin, as well as the Spinning Jump special skill on the Nintendo DS version of the game, which he can use in certain events to gain speed. It is also the second game to feature Mario and his cast compete in the Olympics with Sonic and his cast.
In both versions of the game, Mario has the following characteristics and icons:
| Icon | Skill Type | Stats | Special Skill | Flag | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wii | DS | ||||
| File:Marioicon.png | All-Around | File:Mario-Wii-Stats.png | File:Mario-DS-Stats.png | File:Mario flag.jpg | |
In the Wii version of the game, a Mii costume based on Mario can be unlocked in the game after winning five gold or/and 1st place medals in any Olympic/Dream Events with Mario and then buying the costume in the boutique.
In Adventure Tours mode in the Nintendo DS version of the game, Mario is one of the mode's two protagonists, along with Sonic. Over the course of the plot, Mario is a silent protagonist; he has no dialogue of his own, and only makes short noises that express his emotions, just like Sonic. In Adventure Tours mode, the player can control Mario while navigating the map and switch between him and Sonic at anytime. Mario in particular can go down pipes and use power-ups. Mario is as well as one of the first two characters to be selectable in events, along with Sonic. During the events of Adventure Tours mode, Mario and Sonic learned that Bowser and Dr. Eggman had kidnapped the Snow Spirits and caused the snow to melt, thus disrupting the Olympic Games. Soon after, they united and embarked on a journey through the different lands of the Olympic park. On the way, they met their many friends and enemies, and saved the individual Snow Sprites. At the end of the plot, Mario and Sonic defeated Bowser and Dr. Eggman, and finally brought the snow back, thus allowing the Olympic Games to go on. After completing the main plot, the heroes can also complete the challenges that Bowser Jr. and Metal Sonic have left for them. After beating the challenges Metal Sonic and Bowser Jr. decide to follow Mario and Sonic around to get better which the heroes seem OK with. After beating their respective archnemesis for the second time, they decide to follow Mario and Sonic as well to improve their skills causing the heroes to let Dr. Eggman and Bowser join.
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit | edit source]
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In the Wii version and Nintendo 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mario appears as one of the playable characters. In the Wii version, Mario also has the special skill, the Spin, which he can use in certain events to gain speed. It is also the third time Mario and his team took part in the Olympics Games with Sonic and his team.
In this game, across both versions, Mario has the following characteristics and icons:
| Icon | Skill Type | Stats (Wii) | Class (3DS) | Special Skill | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Marioicon.png | All-around | File:Mario stats.png | Heroes | Spin | File:Mario flag.jpg |
In the Wii version of the game, a Mii costume based on Mario can be unlocked in the game by either winning it through a Scratch Card or paying ten blank cards.
In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, Mario belongs to the Heroes class and can only take part in sports events selected for this class. Mario and Sonic also return as protagonists in the game's story mode. Like in the previous title, they both have no dialogues, only speaking using singular noises to express their emotions. During the events of the mode, Mario and Luigi arrived in London for the Olympic Games, only to find a colored fog enveloping the city. Finding Toad collapsed in the Main Stadium, Mario and Luigi came across Fog Imposers of Sonic and Tails, whom they defeated, which made them disappear. Seeking to lift the fog by defeating more Fog Imposters, Mario, Luigi and Toad set off with Omochao into the thickest part of the fog. There, they found Dry Bowser and a Dry Bones, whom they defeated in an event. Afterward, Mario and Luigi destroyed the local Fog Machine spreading the fog, thus clearing the area of the fog. Noticing that Hyde Park was still foggy however, Mario and Luigi went there to investigate. Upon their arrival, they found Peach, Daisy, Amy, and Blaze, who had already cleared the area of the fog. Following then a lead from Rouge, Mario and Luigi went to the British Museum to discover the truth behind the mysterious fog. On their way to the museum, they met Sonic and Tails, with whom they joined forces with to destroy the remaining Fog Machines. They soon after managed to clear the grounds of the British Museum by defeating Eggman Nega and destroying his Fog Machine. In the museum, the heroes discovered that the fog came from an Fog urn in which the Phantasmal Fog was sealed up in. Now, however, it was being used by Dr. Eggman and Bowser. When Charmy Bee then returned from some reconnaissance, Mario and his friends decided to split up and find the bad guys and their Fog Machines in different parts of the city. At Eton Dorney, Mario and Toad found Wario about to destroy a Fog Machine. However, when the machine turned out to be a hologram, Toad and Mario followed Eggman, who was in the area, to the real Fog Machine. After Wario and Waluigi took care of the machine and both Eggman and Metal Sonic, Mario left Eggman in their hands and returned to the stadium, with the fog having been removed from everywhere around London, where he told his friends about everything.
Some time later, the fog returned, this time spreading over all of London with increased intensity. Mario, Sonic, Tails, and Luigi later rescued Cream and Cheese from their fog imposters at the stadium. Afterward, the group and Omega traveled to Stonehenge to follow a clue from an amnesiac Omega. There, the heroes found the lid for the Fog urn, which they took with them. Omega, who had regained his memory files, also informed them that Eggman and Bowser had set up their base inside Big Ben. The heroes subsequently went there while defeating more Fog Imposters, but Toad could not go any further, so he was taken away by Omega. Mario, Sonic, Tails, and Luigi then traveled to Big Ben, where they faced Eggman and Bowser, who were empowered by the Phantasmal Fog. However, Mario and Sonic managed to win the clash. Mario and Sonic then destroyed the Master Fog Machine, returned the Phantasmal Fog to its urn and sealed it. After the fog was gone, Eggman and Bowser explained that they wanted revenge for not being invited to the Olympic Games. It turned out, however, that their invitations had been lost, but they could still take part in the competition if they signed up in time. Soon after, Mario and Sonic performed at the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games.
In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, a badge of Mario can also be obtained from the badge machine.
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[edit | edit source]
In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Mario appears as one of the playable characters. In this game, Mario has the special skill, the Spin, which he can use in certain events to gain speed. It is also the fourth time Mario and his team took part in the Olympics Games with Sonic and his team.
In this game, Mario has the following characteristics and icons:
| Icon | Skill Type | Special Skill | Biography | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Marioicon.png | All-Around | Spin | The hero of the Mushroom Kingdom brings his energy, enthusiasm, and world-famous jumps to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games. | File:Mario flag.jpg |
In Legends Showdown, Mario is on the fourth team, along with Peach, Blaze, and Silver. Also, a Mii costume based on Mario can be unlocked in the game by completing all challenge.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[edit | edit source]
In the Wii U version, Nintendo 3DS version, and arcade version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Mario appears as a playable character. It is also the fifth game to feature Mario and his cast competing in the Olympics with Sonic and his cast.
In the Wii U version of the game, Mario is available from the beginning and playable in all events. Also, a Mii costume set based on Mario can be unlocked in the game by completing Mario's Carnival Challenge. However, it must be collected in two separate parts, each with their own stat changes.
In the Wii U version of the game, Mario has the following characteristics, description and icons:
| Icon | Skill Type | Stats | Playable event(s) | Biography | Flag | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Speed | Technique | |||||
| File:Mario Sonic Rio Mario Icon.png | All-Around | 6 | 7 | 5 | All events | This cheerful hero is known for his red cap and mustache. He's incredibly athletic, and excels at nearly any sport he tries. He and his brother Luigi are currently competing to see who can win the most Olympic medals. | File:Mario Sonic Ro Mario Flag.png |
In Road to Rio Mode in the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, Mario has his own gym, which the Mii can choose from to prepare for the Olympics. During the events of the game, Mario and Sonic disappeared after their Olympic medals went missing from the museum and their gyms were accused of having stolen them, creating a disagreement between the gyms. In truth though, Mario and Sonic went into hiding to investigate the thefts. With the help of the Mii, however, the heroes discovered that Dr. Eggman and Bowser were behind everything, whom they eventually defeated and recovered the stolen medals from.
In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game of the game, Mario is available from the beginning and has the following characteristics:
| Artwork | Stats | Playable event(s) | Challenged in Road to Rio? |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Mario Rio.png | File:Rio2016Stats3DSMario.png | All events | Template:✗ |
In the arcade edition of the game, Mario is available from the beginning and has the following characteristics:
| Icon | Skill Type | Stats | Recommended Events | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Speed | Technique | |||
| File:Marioicon.png | Balance | 6 | 6 | 6 |
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Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020[edit | edit source]
In the Nintendo Switch version and arcade version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Mario appears as a playable character. It is also the sixth game to feature Mario and his cast compete in the Olympics with Sonic and his cast.
In the Nintendo Switch version of the game, Mario also appears as one of the protagonists in the story mode. In this mode, Mario and Sonic showed up for the Olympic Games where Toad brought them a gaming system called "Tokyo '64" addressed to them from an anonymous sender. Soon after Luigi showed up, Bowser and Dr. Eggman appeared as well, causing Luigi to get frightened and drop the Tokyo '64 he was holding and turn it on, causing Mario, Sonic, Eggman, Bowser and Toad to get sucked into the Tokyo '64. Inside the heavily pixelated world of the Tokyo '64, Mario, Sonic and Toad learned that the Tokyo '64 was a trap made by Eggman and Bowser, but it had backfired by sucking the villains in too. Although Eggman claimed there was no way out, he convinced Bowser to compete in the Olympic Games featured inside the Tokyo '64 so they could win gold medals, prompting Mario and Sonic to follow them and compete in the digital Olympic Games too.
Mario soon beat Bowser in an event after Sonic took down Eggman. Afterward, Mario and Sonic heard from Toad, who had head from Eggman that to escape the Tokyo '64, they had to collect gold medals. As the heroes tried to confront the villains though, Mario and Sonic discovered Eggman and Bowser had snuck away. As Mario and Toad set out to look for Bowser, Sonic left to follow a lead to Eggman's whereabouts. Mario and Toad soon found Bowser at Sumida River and intercepted him when he tried to escape, only to lose him when they were distracted. Reuniting with Sonic, the heroes reported that their foes had gotten away and were probably meeting somewhere. Eventually finding Eggman and Bowser in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Mario and Sonic came face-to-face with the villains. After Toad made Eggman admit that there was a way out of the Tokyo '64, Mario proceeded to challenge Eggman after Sonic told the villainous pair off, and won. Afterward, Mario and Sonic trailed Eggman and Bowser, who were hiding something, to Nippon Budokan where Bowser was preparing for another event. After Bowser was beaten by Sonic, the villains split up to devise a new plan in an undisclosed location, although not before Bowser teased the heroes by telling them that the medals will not be enough to get them out. Suspicious, Sonic decided to find the Eggman and Bowser's secret place. Nearby at the Tokyo Roads, Mario and Sonic reunited with Toad, who saw someone who looked like Eggman going off in a taxi. After Sonic caught up to the taxi however, the heroes discovered that "Eggman" was actually a Picky impersonating him. However, after the Picky mentioned a big flame, the heroes realized they could find Eggman and Bowser at the Olympic Cauldron in the National Stadium. There, they decided to stay back and figure out what they were up to.
Eventually, Mario, Sonic, and Toad heard Eggman say that by inserting fourteen gold medals into fourteen keyholes underneath the Olympic Cauldron, they could return to the real world. However, Eggman and Bowser soon noticed Mario and Sonic eavesdropping nearby, prompting them to hurry out and get more medals. Mario and Sonic pursued them to the National Gymnasium. After Eggman lost another event to Sonic though, a screen that said that "Power-up Items" from Eggman Nega were on the way appeared. As mysterious items fell all over the digital world, Eggman and Bowser hurried out to get them and use them to win medals. Knowing they would be at a disadvantage against Eggman and Bowser if they got those power-ups, Mario and Sonic left to stop them. In the Tokorozawa Shooting Range, they found Eggman, who used a "Miracle Roll" power-up to amplify his skills. Regardless, Mario beat Eggman. Seeking more Miracle Rolls, Eggman left the scene, prompting Mario and Sonic to follow him. With Toad's aid, they found a Miracle Roll on top of Tokyo Tower, which they worked together on to keep from Eggman and his Badniks using the Tornado. Afterward, Sonic and Mario hurried out to stop Eggman and his Badniks from finding more Miracle Rolls. They later came across the Museum, which held a Miracle Roll, but was under lockdown by Bowser's minions to ensure no one but Bowser could get his hands on it. After Mario acquired the Miracle Roll, he tried it out on himself for Sonic to see, only to discover that it had no effect him. Regardless, the heroes decided to keep the villains from getting more of them.
Finding Bowser at Lake Sagami, Mario stood by while Sonic beat a Miracle Roll-empowered Bowser in an event. Afterward, Bowser left to find Eggman. Eventually, Mario and Sonic found Eggman and Bowser at the National Stadium. There, Eggman answered Mario's challenge to test their power, only to lose. Despite the heroes' victory however, Eggman noted that he could just call Eggman Nega for more power-ups. When he did however, everything around them began flickering, which was a sign that the Tokyo '64 was running out of battery. After Eggman responded to Sonic's inquiry that they would all vanish if the battery died out, Bowser promptly challenged Mario and Sonic to another event. Having no choice, Mario and Sonic accepted the challenge. At the Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground, Mario stood by while Sonic beat Eggman. Afterward, Mario and Sonic met Eggman's challenge in the final event in the National Stadium. Knowing the villains would play dirty, Mario and Sonic gave their medals to Toad for safekeeping. When Mario later beat Bowser in the Marathon event, Bowser knocked out Mario and Sonic and tried to take their medals, only to discover that they were gone. While Dr. Eggman tried to come up with a new plan, Sonic reminded them that they did not have much time left and that they should team up to get out. Eventually, Eggman and Bowser agree to help. The group thus went to the Olympic Cauldron and placed the gold medals into the keyholes. Soon after, a column of light appeared to take them back to the real world. While this was happening however, everything around them began to flicker again, signifying that the battery had run out. The group subsequently began to fade away while unable to reach the escape route. Fortunately, they were saved in the last second when Tails and Luigi replaced the battery on the Tokyo '64. Now restored, Sonic and the others reached the exit and returned to the real world.
As Mario had a laugh from seeing the others readjusted from being inside the Tokyo '64, he and Sonic were approached by Eggman and Bowser, who wanted to settle the score with the two heroes in a 100m event. Accepting the challenge, others would join the event as well. After the heroes won the match, the Olympic Games were ready to commence.
In the Nintendo Switch version of the game, Mario is playable in both the 2020 and the 1964 events, the latter in which Mario possesses his sprite-based appearance from the original Super Mario Bros., and has the following characteristics:
| Artwork | Skill Type | Biography | Wears unique clothing between events |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Mario Tokyo.png | All-Around | A cheerful plumber and everyone's favorite superstar. He stands up to Bowser with his jumping skills and all-around athletic ability. | ✓ |
In the arcade version of the game, Mario is playable in both the 2020 and the 1964 events, the latter in which Mario also possesses his sprite-based appearance from the original Super Mario Bros., and has the following characteristics and icons:
| Icon | Skill Type | Stats | Wears unique clothing between events | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Speed | Technique | |||
| File:M&S Tokyo 2020 Mario icon.png | All-Around | 6 | 6 | 6 | ✓ |
Super Smash Bros. series[edit | edit source]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit | edit source]
- See also: Mario (SSBB)
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario makes his third appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series as a playable fighter. In this game, Mario is a starter character, making him available from the beginning.
In gameplay, Mario is an average sized middle-weight character that possesses fast and low lag attacks across his moveset, as well as a strong capacity for combos. Additionally, Mario's Cape works as an noteworthy gimping and disrupting tool, his Fireball is an effective and useful projectile, and even an effective out of shield option in his Super Jump Punch. However, Mario has also some weaknesses due to the game's overall mechanics. For example, nearly all of his attacks have poor reach. He is also easily gimped, and he has poor KO potential despite having them improved after Super Smash Bros. Melee. As a result of the latter, he has no other effective finishers outside of his forward and up smashes, which makes it difficult for him to score a KO. Lastly, his rather standard abilities are outshined by the abilities of most characters.
In the Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary, Mario is one of the many characters from the World of Trophies that got caught up in the schemes of Tabuu and his minions, whom they would work to defeat together.
Mario also appears in the game as several Trophies and Stickers:
| ID | Name | Image | Description | Acquisition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | PAL | ||||
| 1 | 87 | Mario | File:TrMario.jpg | A familiar overall-clad figure who is Nintendo's flagship character. His courage and jumping ability have seen him through countless adventures. He's a multitalented plumber with the knowledge of a physician, a top-notch golfer, and a veteran tennis umpire. Is his jumping prowess a boon from his girder-climbing days? | Clear Classic Mode with Mario. |
| 250 | 88 | Mario Finale | File:TrMario finale.jpg | Mario with a Smash Ball, unleashing his ultimate attack. The twin dragons of flame he releases wallop all characters in range. The flames spread up and down, so it's best to release them from the edge of the screen at an appropriate height. His flaming eyes are proof of his excitement for this explosive attack. | Clear All-Star Mode with Mario. |
| 46 | 95 | Striker Mario | File:TrStriker mario.jpg | A team captain in Super Mario Strikers, which features combat- style soccer that allows fighting and items. Mario proves to be a great all-around player, well balanced on offense and defense, and he wields a critical shot—the Mega Strike—that can chalk up a maximum of six goals! Mario is easily identified by the "M" marks on his spikes. | Clear Classic Mode on Very Hard. |
| 48 | 97 | Paper Mario | File:TrPaper mario.jpg | A legendary hero whose adventure unfolds when he sets out to rescue Princess Peach from the nefarious clutches of Count Bleck. He has the ability to flip the world from 2-D to 3-D and back again. If he grabs a Mega Star, he'll transform into a pixelated giant Mario. In this state, he's invulnerable and capable of stomping through enemies and obstacles with ease. | Clear Classic Mode with all characters. |
| Image | Name | Page | ID | Area of Effect | Effect | User | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | PAL | ||||||
| Mario & Yoshi (Super Mario Sunshine) | 9 | 24 | Indirect | Attack +13 | Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser | ||
| Mario (Mario Superstar Baseball) | 12 | 33 | N/A | Carry Home-Run Bat | Everyone | ||
| Mario (Mario Kart DS) | 25 | 60 | Leg | Attack +22 | Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser | ||
| Mario (Super Paper Mario) | 38 | 97 | Electric | Attack +20 | Everyone | ||
| Mario & Luigi (Mario & Luigi: SS) | 41 | 103 | Flame | Resistance +19 | Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser | ||
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U[edit | edit source]
- See also: Mario (SSB3DS/WU)
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, Mario made his fourth appearance as a playable fighter in the Super Smash Bros. series. In both versions of this game, Mario is a starter character, making him available from the beginning.
In this game, Mario is a middleweight character. While still a balanced character, he has received notable improvements in several areas in comparison to his previous appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series (partially due to the changed gameplay mechanics). Most of his moves are lacking many forms of lag, making him fairly difficult to punish in the face of most of the cast. Also, despite lacking in utility, his combo game is the most potent it has ever been. He also has a versatile moveset with various advantages, his dashing and air speeds are faster, his recovery has improved (despite being linear), and his jump is higher. However, he still has a number of weaknesses: his overall range is below average, he is ineffective when it comes to out-camping other characters, his damage output has been lowered, and he lacks consistent KO setups. In fact, his average abilities and skills do not allow him to get the advantage over other opponents fast enough. Also, several of his key techniques, while having received improvements in certain areas, have also had some advantageous mechanics removed. Still, Mario retains a lack of overall lack of severe weaknesses.
Each version of the game also comes with their own Trophies of Mario:
| Name | Picture | Category | Trophy Box | Description | Acquisition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | PAL | NA | PAL | ||||
| Mario | File:SSB4TrophyMario.png | Fighter | 6: Mario Bros. | As iconic as iconic gets, this gaming celebrity is known for saving the world from Bowser. He's got amazing jumping skills and makes use of a wide range of transformations. In his free time, he plays too many sports to count. In Smash Bros., he's a well-rounded fighter you can rely on. Say it with me: "It's-a me, Mario!"
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It's-a him! Maaario! Whether he's wearing one of his special outfits or just his normal blue dungarees, this running, jumping, Bowser-bashing, princess-saving hero is an all-round superstar. And in this game, he's got enough tricks up his sleeve to deal with anything. If you don't know which fighter to pick, Mario's a solid choice.
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Clear Classic with Mario. | |
| Mario (Alt.) | File:SSB4TrophyMarioAlt.png | Fighter | N/A | Super Jump Punch is an up-special move that lets you leap high into the air, carrying any fighters you strike along with you. You'll be invincible for a moment after you launch this attack. The default side-special move, Cape, will flip a fighter around, making it easy to send a foe who's trying to grab the edge of the stage to their doom!
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Mario's Super Jump Punch takes you high into the air, and if you catch an opponent with it, they'll go up with you. Try to hit them at the very start of the move to do the most damage. His default side special, Cape, can flip fighters around. If you're really crafty, you can even use it to keep someone from getting back on the stage!
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Purchase at the Trophy Shop for 1000G, after clearing Classic with Mario. | |
| Mario Finale | File:SSB4TrophyMarioFinale.png | Final Smash | 90: Final Smashes 1 | Break the Smash Ball and unleash Mario's Final Smash. Mario will fire a devastating blast of fire in the direction he's facing. The attack covers a wide range and travels far, so it's best to fire this from one side of the stage to the other. The damage is impressive, and it can actually carry foes right off the screen! | When Mario gets his hands on a Smash Ball, he can activate this Final Smash. Flames spiral outwards in two intertwining stream, catching opponents in the wide blast with ease. It deals plenty of damage, and can also push foes off the screen entirely. Fire it from an elevated position to take full advantage of its vertical range! | Clear All-Star with Mario. | |
| Mario + Standard Bike | File:SSB4TrophyMarioStandardBike.png | Series Related | 10: Super Mario Kart | In Mario Kart Wii, bikes were the big, new thing. This Standard Bike M is, as you'd expect, a very standard bike—its speed, weight, acceleration, handling, off-road, drift, and mini-turbo stats are all decidedly middle of the road. This makes it a great choice for Mario Kart beginners or for series veterans trying out bikes for the first time.
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Clear the "Oh Yeah, Luigi Time!" event, and unlock Dr. Mario. | ||
| Name | Picture | Category | Description | Acquisition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | PAL | NA | PAL | |||
| Mario | File:SSB4 Trophy Mario.png | Fighter | As iconic as iconic gets, this gaming celebrity is known for saving the world from Bowser. He's got amazing jumping skills and makes use of a wide range of transformations. In his free time, he plays too many sports to count. In Smash Bros., he's a well-rounded fighter you can rely on. Say it with me: "It's-a me, Mario!" | It's-a him! Maaario! Whether he's wearing one of his special outfits or just his normal blue dungarees, this running, jumping, Bowser-bashing, princess-saving hero is an all-round superstar. And in this game, he's got enough tricks up his sleeve to deal with anything. If you don't know which fighter to pick, Mario's a solid choice. | Clear Classic with Mario. | |
| Mario (Alt.) | File:SSB4 Trophy Mario (Alt).png | Fighter | Super Jump Punch is an up-special move that lets you leap high into the air, carrying any fighters you strike along with you. You'll be invincible for a moment after you launch this attack. The default side-special move, Cape, will flip a fighter around. Keep a foe from returning with this move! | Mario's Super Jump Punch takes you high into the air, and if you catch an opponent with it, they'll go up with you. Try to hit them at the very start of the move to do the most damage. His default side special, Cape, can flip fighters around. If you're really crafty, you can even use it to keep someone from getting back on the stage! | Clear All-Star with Mario. | |
| Mario (With Propeller Box) | File:PropellerBoxTrophy3DS.png | Series Related | Mario with his head in a Propeller Box. He looks like something you'd see in a parade. But wait! That propeller isn't just for show—Mario can use it in the middle of a jump to go even higher. And it'll slow his fall back to the ground too! | It's Mario, but with a Propeller Box on his head. It looks like some kind of weird parade costume... Unlike a parade costume, though, the propeller isn't just for show - Mario can use it mid-jump to send himself soaring into the air, and then float gently back down to the ground afterwards! | Random | |
| Mario + Standard Kart | File:StandardMarioTrophy3DS.png | Series Related | Customizing your ride is part of the fun of Mario Kart 7. Choose the best frame, tires, and glider to make your own dream machine! You can come up with some outlandish combinations, but I think Mario looks best when you keep things simple. | Customising your kart in Mario Kart 7 is a lot of fun. Pick your favourite frame, tyres and glider, and make your mark out on the track! Maybe your favourites are the basic ones. Nothing wrong with that! Flashy is all well and good, but there's something to be said for "simple-but-effective". | ||
| Mario (Gold Block) | Mario (With Gold Block) | File:GoldBlockheadMarioTrophy3DS.png | Series Related | Oh no! Has the karma for smashing all those blocks finally caught up with Mario, and now he's doomed to wear a block on his head forever? Not at all! This Gold Block gives Mario coins whenever he runs and jumps. Cha-ching! Everyone loves getting more coins! | Uh-oh! is this payback for all the blocks Mario's smashed over the years?! Oh, wait. It's actually an awesome bonus! With the Gold Block on his head, running and jumping make that familiar sound: Da-ding! Da-ding! Da-di-di-di-di-ding! That's right - you get coins! Coins galore! | |
| Paper Mario | File:PaperMarioTrophy3DS.png | Series Related | The paper-thin Mario from the Paper Mario series recently quested for the wish-granting Royal Stickers. These magic stickers are for more than just collecting, though. Mario can use them to change his paper world, and nothing helps him in battle more than a sticker! | A paper-thin version of Mario from the Paper Mario series.. Most recently, he set off on a sticker-packed adventure to find the wish-granting Royal Stickers. Stickers aren't just for collecting, though - they're for making bridges, opening ancient doors, and even for taking on foes in battle! | ||
| Mario Golf: World Tour | File:GolfMarioTrophy3DS.png | Series Related | Looks like Mario is really on his game today! Or he just sent his ball off the course and into the trees—it's hard to tell. Getting a ball out of the rough is part of golf! It adds a bit of adventure to the game, though the undersea course in this world tour probably adds more. | Mario looks like he's having a good game here! Or maybe he's just whacked his ball out of sight and into the trees. It's anyone's guess, really. Well getting a ball out of the rough can still be fun. Things like that give the game a touch of adventure, which is something world tour is just full of - especially the underwater course! | ||
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit | edit source]
- See also: Mario (SSBU)
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario made his fifth appearance as a playable fighter in the Super Smash Bros. series. In this game, Mario is a starter character, making him available from the beginning.
In gameplay, Mario is a short, middleweight character. Also, like in previous Super Smash Bros. titles, Mario's attributes have undergone another overhaul. However, in comparison to other returning fighters, Mario has not received many direct changes. Regardless, the changes made to the game's mechanics have impacted Mario to a higher degree, as they slightly heightened his learning curve, yet made his playstyle more rewarding. Overall, Mario has received a slight decrease in certain areas without any mayor updates to his skillset.
In the Adventure Mode of the game, "World of Light," Mario was one of the many fighters that stood up to the threat of Galeem and his army of Master Hands. When Galeem began capturing the fighters, Mario was defeated off-screen. Thus, the fighters (aside from Kirby, who had managed to escape) were held captive by Galeem so that he could clone them and create puppet fighters for evil spirits to control. During the Adventure Mode, several puppet fighters of Mario are used for spirit battles. An evil version of Mario can be fought and defeated so that the true Mario can be awoken and join the fight to defeat Galeem and later Dharkon.
In this game, Mario also appears as Fighter Spirits and a Support Spirit with the following characteristics:
| No. | Name | Image | Series | Acquisition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit | Alternate artwork | ||||
| 1 | Mario | Super Mario Series |
| ||
| 3 | Mario (Wedding) | Super Mario Series |
| ||
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| Image | Spirit Battle | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enemy Fighter(s) | Enemy Power | Stage | Battle conditions | |||
| File:SSBU spirit Mario (Mario Tennis Aces).png | Mario Peach |
8,800 | Wuhu Island | Rule(s): Assist Trophy Enemies (Color TV-Game 15)
| ||
| Name | Type | Class | Music | Acquisition | ||
| Mario (Mario Tennis Aces) | Neutral | ★★★ (Ace) | "Title Theme - Mario Tennis Aces" |
| ||
| No. | Slot Cost | Ability | ||||
| 132 | 1 | Critical Hit ↑ | ||||
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In other media[edit | edit source]
Sonic the Comic[edit | edit source]
The Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions introduced the Marxio Brothers, characters that seem to be a combination of the Mario Bros. and the classic comedians, the Marx Brothers.
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Ironically, Yuji Naka admitted that he actually loves the 1985 Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System title Super Mario Bros. and plays by running through the game's first level as fast as he could, which inspired him to create Sonic the Hedgehog as well as Sonic himself.[2]
- According to Takashi Iizuka, the sport that Mario can beat Sonic in is high jump.[3]
- According to Takashi Iizuka, Mario is now Sonic's best friend amongst Mario's cast of characters, a stark contrast to the mascots' past history.[3]
- Sumo Digital considered making Mario a guest star in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing exclusively on the Wii version. Sega rejected the idea, not wanting to cross contaminate with the Mario & Sonic series.
- Although the Sega Master System did compete with the NES and was successful in PAL regions during the 8-bit era, it failed to gain fame in both Japanese and North American regions to be able to directly compete with Nintendo. At the time, Sega's mascot was Alex Kidd, who does share some surprising similarities with Mario.
- Former writers for the Archie Sonic the hedgehog comic series Ken Penders and Mike Kanterovich originally pitched a story to Sega involving a battle between Sonic and a parody of Mario, alongside two other stories which would end up printed in Sonic the Hedgehog #11. However, the first story would be scrapped, due to Sega's licensing representative at the time forbidding parodies of Nintendo characters in the comic.[4]
- A background character in Sonic the Hedgehog #221 bears a strong resemblance to Mario. Outside of the obvious similarity in clothing, the character in question is also a raccoon, akin to how Mario can transform into Raccoon Mario when using a Super Leaf.
- Despite Mario measuring at 5'1" on a life-sized poster, crossover artwork shows Sonic (who stands at 3'3" according to Sega) to be at least two or three inches taller.
- By using the Sonic amiibo in Super Mario Maker, Mario can transform into a 16-bit form of Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog with the use of the Mystery Mushroom.
- It is also possible to obtain the costume in-game by completing the 100 Mario Challenge mode.
- For the twentieth anniversary of the Super Mario series (2005), various creators made T-shirts for the occasion, and they could be purchased online. A Sonic shirt was made which featured artwork of Sonic wearing Mario's cap.[5]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Mendelsohn, Tom (September 30, 2016). "Mario is only 24 years old, according to creator Shigeru Miyamoto". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ↑ Oliver, Tristan (24 September 2010). Yuji Naka Speaks of Super Mario’s Inspiration. Retrieved on 23 April 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sonic Frontiers: 123 Rapid-Fire Questions With Takashi Iizuka. YouTube. Game Informer (12 July 2022). Retrieved on 13 July 2022.
- ↑ SONIC THE HEDGEHOG. kenpenders.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 1999. Retrieved on 11 January 2023. "Ken Penders: We submitted three story ideas initially, two of which saw publication in issue #11, the third of which was rejected outright by Sega. We had suggested doing a Sonic versus Mario take-off, but the licensing rep at Sega was adamant that we not feature Nintendo's characters even in a spoof."
- ↑ ★ソニックとマリオ、夢のコラボレーションが実現！ (Japanese). Sega (14 Septeber 2005). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved on 26 October 2020.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Template:Mario Wiki
- Mario at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Template:SMW link
Template:Non-Sonic characters de:Mario es:Mario fr:Mario lt:Mario