A faithful companion whom will play Smash Bros. with us.

How can he still be so popular?


Throughout the history of the gaming industry, there may perhaps be no more recognized a figure as Mario. At first glance, a diminutive Italian plumber seems an unlikely character to define video games. But his appeal has truly stood the test of time, as Mario is arguably the most enduring franchise character in all of gaming.

But why is this? Why does Mario continue to be such a force in gaming after more than 25 years? How does he still entertain us and keep our attention? Why has he survived when so many other gaming mascots have fallen by the wayside, becoming unpopular or altogether forgotten? The answer to these questions is not simple. To start to approach the answers, we first have to know where this Mario fella came from.

In the earliest days of video gaming, games consisted of abstract representations of objects. Pong used white bars to simulate ping-pong paddles. A slightly concave triangle served as a ship in Asteroids. For the most part, that was how gaming in the Atari era was defined. It was very unrealistic, and as a result, impersonal.

Mario was not the first unique character to appear in a video game. That title is generally given to Namco’s Pac-Man, a legend in his own right. But Mario was Nintendo’s first foray into the character-based gaming realm. He made his debut in Donkey Kong, although under a different name: Jumpman. By the time he came States-side, he was called by his current name. Donkey Kong was the genesis of Mario’s appeal. The game was exceedingly popular, and Mario began to be a recognized face in the arcades.

Mario did not gain true mainstream recognition until his debut on the Nintendo Entertainment System. When Nintendo decided to break into the home console market, Mario was in the vanguard. Super Mario Bros. was (and still is) one of the best-selling video games of all time. Mario reached unprecedented levels of fame for a video game character. This was later expounded upon in the subsequent games in which Mario starred. Not only platform games, but also a vast variety of games from other genres: sports, puzzle, and even RPG.

So now, you may ask, why are you telling me things I know? Why the brief bare-bones history that anyone who’s been conscious over the last decade or two already understands? Well, it’s very simple. We know Mario as he is today, and what he means to the gaming world. However, Mario would not be king of the roost if he didn’t have this history. The context in which Mario is placed helps define his role as gaming’s face to the world, Solid Snake and Master Chief notwithstanding.

So why is Mario still popular? Undoubtedly this is in no small part due to the nostalgia factor. Gamers nowadays have grown up with Mario. They’ve seen him evolve as they’ve matured. Mario has gone from a single pixelated sprite to a living, breathing character, with many new adventures and friends to help him. And as he’s evolved we’ve been there for most every step of the way. He’s a companion, a friend who is always there.

It also helps that Mario’s presence seems ubiquitous. Nintendo has adopted Mario as their mascot, and as such, they place him in countless games, and not just the types of games that made him popular. Mario is an athlete. He can often be seen in games playing soccer, tennis, baseball, golf, and kart racing, to name a few. He has been involved in in-depth RPG-type adventures, traveling new lands and battling enemies. Even in games that have nothing to do with him, Mario often manages to make an appearance. (My personal favorite cameo is Mario in a stained glass window in Hyrule Castle in Ocarina of Time.)

However, Mario’s presence in all these games helps him transcend his position as a mere Nintendo mascot. Mario is not simply a jumble of polygons. His universal presence in many games allows him to take on a symbolism far beyond his original role. His versatility and omnipresence represents gaming’s vibrancy and diversity. He’s not a brand name for Nintendo, he is a mark of gaming itself.

As I mentioned earlier, Mario was one of the first characters in the history of gaming. At the beginning, it was fairly simple. He was simply a guy whose girlfriend had been kidnapped by a giant monkey. Not too complex, easy to get your head around. But as he began to go on more adventures, a new world developed around him, with supporting characters, new adversaries, and a vast setting to explore: The Mushroom Kingdom.

What is the import of this? Simple. When a world is built, a place where a character can exist, the character comes to life. You don’t see the mechanics of the game for merely what they are. Instead, you empathize with the character. It no longer is the rote process of leveling characters or enhancing a character’s abilities to win. It’s a way of living in the setting, and you come to empathize with the character you play. Some things in the Mushroom Kingdom are patently absurd at times, but in context, it becomes a perfectly understandable world that Mario interacts with. And as you as a player interact with Mario, that world becomes more real to you, and consequently so does Mario.

Mario has also always been Nintendo’s trailblazer. Every Nintendo home console except the GameCube and Wii has launched with a Mario title. And oftentimes, that Mario title is the best selling for that console. Super Mario Bros, Super Mario World, and Super Mario 64 all brought new modes of gameplay. Mario has always been the one to lead Nintendo’s innovation charge, whether it was through 2D sidescrolling, a fully immersive 3D environment, or to show us how to use this new touch screen for gaming. He is the familiar face that shows us what is in store.

I’m often reminded of the startup screen for Mario 64. For those who remember it, that screen featured Mario’s head, smiling and greeting you. At the time, 3D gaming was viewed with a tad of skepticism. Yes, it was a giant leap in how we played games. But early 3D games were plagued with control problems, as well as occasional horrific camera control. Mario 64 was among the first (if not the first) game to hit precisely the correct note in 3D gaming, showing the true potential of the new genre. That opening screen of Mario smiling always made me laugh, as if to say that this game would not be hard to enjoy, this game was fun, and Mario was here to show us just how fun it was. Mario’s familiar face puts us at ease, knowing that if he’s on the job, we’ll be in for a treat.

Mario is popular and enduring, one of the most recognizable faces in gaming. There is little to dispute that fact. How he earned that position is a result of a long journey that originated in the early days of video arcades. But he has stayed on top for a multitude of reasons. His likeability, his familiarity, and his versatility all come together into a character that is synonymous with gaming as a whole. Mario is now, and always has been a staple of the gaming world. Now that the next generation is here, I look forward to exploring this new world with Mario at my side.

This guy's house blew up because of a lawn mower.

Rawr.

Kirby.

Over $9,000.

I heard this statement is true.

Daisy

*Luigi

Bowser

I liek Mudkipz.

Macromedia Fireworks.

I can't name a specific game in general. But if I really had to, I'd say Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Gamecube.

NES - Super Mario Bros. 3
SNES - Super Mario RPG/Super Mario World/SMW2: Yoshi's Island/Kirby Superstar
N64 - Super Mario 64/Paper Mario
GB - Super Mario Land
GBC - Mario Tennis GBC
GBA - Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
GCN - Super Smash Bros. Melee/Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
NDS - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Wii - Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Soon to be Super Smash Bros. Brawl)

The DS, I can't believe there are still n00bs out there that question this. The DS is clearly the better system, and to those who want to deny it... Just take a look at the sales.

Super Smash Bros.

Of course no one looks forward to rejection, I mean if you did... That probably means you're an emo.

Looks like someone learned something in school today.

Gliscor (Ground/Flying)

Snorunt (Ice)

Hippowdon (Ground)