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!"
: Donkey Kong Classics (09/1988)
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
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.
Arcade: Donkey Kong (1981 (JP))
: Super Mario Bros. (05/1987)
6. Mario Bros.
Mario (Alt.)
Fighter
N/A
1000 G
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!
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!
: Donkey Kong Classics (09/1988)
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
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!
Luigi recently celebrated his 30th anniversary with the Year of Luigi, but all that attention just made him even more shy and awkward. In Smash Bros., Luigi takes a lot of cues from his brother in fighting style, adding flair to moves like Super Jump Punch. His taunts, however, are truly unique.
Luigi recently celebrated his 30th anniversary with the Year of Luigi, but all that attention just made him even more shy and awkward. In Smash Bros. (as in life), Luigi tends to follow his brother's lead, but he adds his own flair to moves like Super Jump Punch. His taunts, however, are 100% Weegee.
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (03/2013)
With the Year of Luigi long gone now, it's up to you to prove to everyone that Mario's cowardly co-star is still awesome. He may share a lot of moves with his brother, but he still puts his own spin on things. When you Super Jump Punch a foe just right, for example, the noise he makes is epic. His taunts are pretty funny too. Try them!
Arcade: Mario Bros. (09/1986)
: Luigi's Mansion 2 (03/2013)
7. Super Mario Bros.
Luigi (Alt.)
Fighter
N/A
1000 G
Luigi may sulk when his down taunt is used, but his little dejected kick can actually hurt a nearby enemy fighter. It can even trigger a meteor smash! Notice an enemy leisurely hanging from the edge? Run over and pout on the edge—that foe will be the one with something to pout about!
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (03/2013)
Luigi might look a bit sulky when you use his down taunt, but when he does it next to another fighter, it can get in a little hit – well, a "little hit" that can also sometimes be a meteor smash! Say you spot a fighter hanging off the edge of the stage. Just give them a pout and a kick with this taunt, and they'll fall to their doom.
Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach continues to prove that "powerful" and "cute" are not mutually exclusive. In Smash Bros., Peach uses her dress to float above the fray, suddenly descending and attacking with numerous weapons. A frying pan? Umbrella? TOAD?! Where does she keep it all?
Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach continues to prove that "powerful" and "cute" are not mutually exclusive. In Smash Bros., Peach uses her dress to float above the fray, suddenly descending and attacking with numerous weapons. A frying pan? An umbrella? TOAD?! Where does she keep it all?
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Princess Peach (02/2006)
The Mushroom Kingdom's princess isn't just a pretty face – she's also strong and crafty. She can dodge attacks by gliding through the air, and she's hiding all sorts of stuff under that dress: a frying pan, a tennis racket, a golf club...even a Toad! If you're planning to take on Peach, just know that she's more than ready for you!
: Super Mario Bros. (05/1987)
: Super Princess Peach (05/2006)
9. Super Mario Bros. 2 & 3
Peach (Alt.)
Fighter
N/A
1000 G
Peach may be a princess, but that doesn't mean she shies away from an honest day's work. Her down special Vegetable is basically farm labor, and the fruits...er, vegetables of her work can be thrown. An angry-looking vegetable will do extra damage, too! She can also pull up Bob-ombs, or even a Mr. Saturn!
Peach may be a princess, but that doesn't mean she shies away from an honest day's work. Her down special Vegetable is basically farm labor, and the fruits...er, vegetables of said labor can be thrown. An angry-looking vegetable will do extra damage too! She can also pull up Bob-ombs or even a Mr. Saturn!
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Princess Peach (02/2006)
Peach normally sticks to tasks befitting a royal, but her Vegetable special is pretty much farm labour! You can tell how much damage the veggies will do by looking at them. Happy/indifferent ones just do a bit, while the ones that just look sick of life do a lot. And the ones that look like Bob-ombs or Mr. Saturn aren't veggies at all!
The archenemy of Mario and the reason Peach spends more time kidnapped than in her own castle. His plans aren't always the best, and occasionally he even finds himself on Mario's side. In Smash Bros., he's a serious heavyweight who laughs off weaker attacks. Hit him hard to send him flying!
Mario's archnemesis and the reason Peach spends more time in "another castle" than in her own. His plans almost never work out, and he occasionally even finds himself on Mario's side. In Smash Bros., he's a serious heavyweight who laughs off weaker attacks. You've gotta hit him hard to send him flying!
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario 64 (09/1996)
Mario's princess-kidnapping arch-enemy. Yes, he's quite the villain, but he can also be a bit of a buffoon, too. And sometimes, he even ends up on Mario's side! As a serious heavyweight, he's tough to launch, and using standard attacks on him will only make him laugh. If you want to send him flying, make sure to whack him really hard!
: Super Mario Bros. (05/1987)
: Super Mario 64 (03/1997)
8. Bowser's Minions
Bowser (Alt.)
Fighter
N/A
1000 G
Bowser makes good use of his heavy physique with his down special Bowser Bomb, slamming down with his bottom. If he's on the ground, he'll jump into the air before crashing down. Also, he can gain a bit of altitude if you press the special button repeatedly while executing Whirling Fortress, his up special.
Bowser makes good use of his heavy physique with his down special Bowser Bomb slamming down with his backside. If he's on the ground, he'll jump into the air before crashing down. Also, he can gain a bit of altitude if you press the special button repeatedly while executing his up special Whirling Fortress.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario 64 (09/1996)
Down special Bowser Bomb makes good use of Bowser's bulky physique to crush opponents. If you use it on the ground, he'll jump first, hitting anyone on the way up with his horns, then hit for a combo on the way down. When you use his Whirling Fortress up special in the air, press the button repeatedly to climb higher.
In the 1990 puzzle game Dr. Mario, Mario threw on a white coat and decided to take a shot at that whole "medicine" thing. In this game, he's a balanced fighter who can throw Megavitamin capsules and nimbly deflect blows with his Super Sheet. He's not quite as quick as normal Mario, but his attacks deal a bit more damage.
: Dr. Mario (10/1990)
: Dr. Mario Online Rx (05/2008)
In Dr. Mario, released in Europe in 1991, Mario threw on a white coat and decided to have a bash at the whole medicine thing. In this game, he's an all-rounder who can throw Megavitamin capsules and nimbly deflect blows with his Super Sheet. He's not quite as quick as normal Mario, but his attacks deal a bit more damage.
: Dr. Mario (06/1991)
: Dr. Mario & Germ Buster (05/2008)
77. NES
Dr. Mario (Alt.)
Fighter
N/A
1000 G
Mario and Dr. Mario are only slightly different. Basically, Dr. Mario is stronger, but his MD slows his speed and lowers his jump. He also has a move Mario doesn't: Dr. Tornado, a down special that can trap opponents before launching them. You can move left and right while doing it and press the button repeatedly to rise into the air.
: Dr. Mario (10/1990)
: Dr. Mario Online Rx (05/2008)
Mario and Dr. Mario are only slightly different. Basically, Dr. Mario is stronger, but his heavy coat affects his speed and jumping. He also has a move Mario doesn't: Dr. Tornado, a down special that can trap opponents before launching them. You can move left and right while doing it and press the button repeatedly to rise into the air.
The mysterious Rosalina lives in the Comet Observatory with the Lumas. In Smash Bros., Rosalina and Luma can fight in different places at the same time. If you can trap someone between Rosalina and Luma, you'll be able to unleash incredible damage with their joined attacks!
Rosalina and the Lumas have been close ever since she travelled the galaxy with one of the little star-like creatures. Now, the commander of the Comet Observatory appears in this game, with her trusty companion fighting alongside her. Their greatest strength is being able to attack together at the same time.
: Super Mario Galaxy (11/2007)
: Super Mario 3D World (11/2013)
11. Super Mario Galaxy
Rosalina & Luma (Alt.)
Fighter
N/A
1000 G
Rosalina can pull in items and projectiles around her with her Gravitational Pull move. Her up special Launch Star is a diagonal jump and, though harmless, it has exceptional range. You also have some control over Rosalina's trajectory when she uses it.
With a flick of Rosalina's wand, the move Gravitational Pull draws in items – even ones that are stuck somewhere. Her Launch Star up special is a diagonal jump that can be aimed slightly. It doesn't deal any damage, but it helps you jump higher and stay in the air longer, making it ideal for getting back to the stage easily.
Bowser's beloved, spoiled son sports a bandanna with a large mouth drawn on it. Like his father, Bowser Jr. longs to take Mario down. In Smash Bros., he'll fight from inside his heavily armed Junior Clown Car. The Clown Car takes less damage than Bowser Jr., so mind your positioning.
: Super Mario Sunshine (08/2002)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
Bowser's probably a big fan of his son, what with him hating Mario just as much as dear old Dad does. The tyke's Junior Clown Car is packed with gadgets and gizmos to throw at enemies! By the way, he's extra vulnerable when he jumps out of it, but...you wouldn't dream of attacking the cute little fella then, would you?
: Super Mario Sunshine (10/2002)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
16. New Super Mario Bros.
Bowser Jr. (Alt.)
Fighter
N/A
1000 G
The Clown Kart Dash special move turns the Junior Clown Car into a kart. If you change direction while driving it, it'll spin and do more damage. When you use his up special, Bowser Jr. leaps from his Junior Clown Car, dropping it on the foes below.
: Super Mario Sunshine (08/2002)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
The Clown Kart Dash special move turns the Junior Clown Car into a kart. If you change direction while driving it, it'll spin and do more damage. When you use his up special, Bowser Jr. jumps out of the Junior Clown Car, letting it hit opponents. Try to catch opponents with it while you're directly over them to hit them on the head!
The leader of the Koopalings, with aggressive tendencies to match. He's easily recognized by his tall, blue hair. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he makes his appearance in World 1. You might think he's tough, with his blue fireballs and shell spins, but his patterns are actually pretty easy to read.
The youngest of the Koopalings, with a serious case of little-brother syndrome to match. He's easily recognized by his tall, blue hair. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he makes his appearance in World 1. You might think he's tough, with his blue fireballs and shell spins, but his patterns are actually pretty easy to read.
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
The leader of Bowser's Minions, with aggressive tendencies to match. He's easily recognised by his tall, blue hair. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he makes his appearance in World 1. You might think he's tough, with his blue fireballs and shell spins, but his patterns are actually pretty easy to read.
The biggest of the Koopalings. Morton stands out due to the three strands of hair on his head and...oh, the big star on his face. He's more brawn than brains, and in New Super Mario Bros. 2, he appears in World 4, where he'll stay glued to the spot until you attack him. Maybe he just can't be bothered to move!
The biggest of the Koopalings. Morton stands out because of the three strands of hair on his head and...oh, the big star on his face. He's more brawn than brains, and in New Super Mario Bros. 2, he appears in World 4, where he'll stay glued to the spot until you attack him. Maybe he just can't be bothered to move!
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
The biggest of Bowser's seven minions. Morton stands out due to the three strands of hair on his head and...oh, the big star on his face. He's more brawn than brains, and in New Super Mario Bros. 2, he appears in World 4, where he'll stay glued to the spot until you attack him. Maybe he just can't be bothered to move!
Of all the Koopalings, Wendy's the only girl. She's bold, bossy, big headed, and sees Peach and Daisy as her rivals. Despite her tomboyish nature, she's not afraid to show off her feminine side with a pink bow and heels. In New Super Mario Bros. U, she shows off her graceful ice-skating skills with a spin or two.
Of all the Koopalings, Wendy's the only girl. She's bold, bossy, and big headed, and she sees Peach and Daisy as rivals. Despite her tomboyish nature, she's not afraid to show off her feminine side with a pink bow and heels. In New Super Mario Bros. U, she shows off her graceful ice-skating skills with a spin or two.
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
Of Bowser's seven minions, Wendy's the only girl. She's bold, bossy and big-headed, and sees Peach and Daisy as her rivals. Despite her tomboyish nature, she's not afraid to show off her feminine side with a pink bow and heels. In New Super Mario Bros. U, she shows off her graceful ice-skating skills, too, with a spin or two.
One of the Koopalings. Iggy wears black-rimmed glasses, has hair that's sort of pineapplish, and is known for being a bit of a prankster. He talks in a cutesy way but laughs like a maniac. Also, he seems to like taming Chain Chomps, and in New Super Mario Bros. 2, he gets a rampaging Chain Chomp to help him take on Mario.
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
One of Bowser's Minions. Iggy wears black-rimmed glasses, has hair that's sort of pineapplish, and is known for being a bit of a prankster. He talks in a cutesy way but laughs like a maniac. Also, he seems to like taming Chain Chomps, and in New Super Mario Bros. 2, he gets a rampaging Chain Chomp to help him take on Mario.
This heavy guy is one of the Koopalings and likes throwing his weight around. His pink sunglasses might not make him seem evil, but the speed he can go from slacker to soldier certainly does. In Super Mario Bros. 3, he causes earthquakes to stop Mario in his tracks, all while attacking with blasts of magic. Nasty stuff!
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
This heavy guy is one of Bowser's Minions and likes throwing his weight around. His pink sunglasses might not make him seem evil, but the speed he can go from slacker to soldier certainly does. In Super Mario Bros. 3, he causes earthquakes to stop Mario in his tracks while attacking with blasts of magic. Nasty stuff!
The smallest and nimblest of the Koopalings, Lemmy is a little rascal with a wacky, childlike look on his face. In New Super Mario Bros. U, he's the boss of World 1 and rides a giant ball while his colorful mohawk sways in the breeze. Don't underestimate him, though—his ball attacks are trickier than they look!
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
The smallest and nimblest of Bowser's Minions, Lemmy is a little rascal with a wacky, childlike look on his face. In New Super Mario Bros. U, he's the boss of World 1 and rides a giant ball while his colourful mohawk sways in the breeze. Don't underestimate him, though – his ball attacks are trickier than they look!
The cleverest of the Koopalings, easily recognized by his big tufts of hair. He's got a mature air about him, but he likes to show off and can sound a bit pompous. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he's the boss of World 7 and torments Mario by firing homing magic blasts and floating too high in the air to be jumped on.
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
The cleverest of Bowser's Minions, easily recognised by his big tufts of hair. He's got a mature air about him, but he likes to show off and can sound a bit pompous. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he's the boss of World 7 and torments Mario by firing homing magic blasts and floating too high in the air to be jumped on.
A race of charming mushrooms that dwell in the Mushroom Kingdom, they prefer to be called Toads... Come to think of it, that's an odd name. It's not like they're very good jumpers. Captain Toad can't jump at all! What's that? ToadSTOOLS? ...That makes more sense.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario Bros. 2 (10/1988)
A charming tribe of mushroom people from the Mushroom Kingdom. "Toad" seems like a bit of an odd name for them, though. Like...they may be small, and some are green, but there's nothing really frog-like about them. Captain Toad can't even jump! Oh. Wait. Hold on a sec. "Toadstools"... Nooow it makes sense!
This special grass first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2, where plucking it revealed hidden items. It works exactly the same way in Smash Bros.—if you pluck the grass, maybe you'll find a game-changing object! If only cleaning an unkempt lawn would reveal such neat things...
: Super Mario Bros. 2 (10/1988)
A patch of overgrown grass with an item buried underneath. Grass like this grew all over the place in Super Mario Bros. 2, and Mario and co. could pull it up to get all kinds of handy items for their quest. It works the same way in this game: pull it up to get an item. Who knows what it'll be?
This mysterious mushroom will cause you to grow several times your normal size. Once you've grown, the power of your attacks and your ability to launch your opponents will increase. However, being so large—and such an easy target—may not be so great in a fight with lots of enemies...
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: New Super Mario Bros. (05/2006)
This mysterious mushroom will just keep sliding until it bounces off a wall. If you touch it, though, you'll grow and grow and grow! You'll get stronger and be harder to launch, but you'll also be a much easier target. Maybe standing out so much during a fight isn't such a good idea...
Becoming giant and looming over your foes is pretty great, yeah? Well, that won't happen if you get this mushroom. It looks a lot like the Super Mushroom, but it's a slightly different color and its face is... unhappy. If you use this mushroom, you'll shrink down and be easy to send flying.
: Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (08/1993)
: Super Mario 3D Land (11/2011)
So, you thought you'd nabbed a Super Mushroom, eh? Nope! Now you're tiny! If you'd looked more closely, you'd have seen it was a slightly different colour – it was a Poison Mushroom. Now you're mini, weak and very launchable. At least dodging's not hard when you're this size!
You may recognize these star-shaped items as they bounce across the stage. Picking one up will grant you a short period of invincibility. You can't wipe out enemies just by walking into them—like in Mario games—but you can still attack without fear. Your foes will be running scared!
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario World (08/1991)
You'll see one of these little stars bouncing along the stage from time to time. Touch it to become invincible! (Well, for a while, at least.) Unfortunately, they don't work exactly the same way as they do in the Mario series, so you won't damage anyone just by walking into them – you'll still need to put some effort in.
This green box will make you the ultimate defensive character, turning you into solid metal for a short time. You won't flinch from enemy attacks, even in midair, and it is much harder to launch you. On the other hand, you fall like a brick. Getting hit will reduce the duration of this item.
: Super Mario 64 (09/1996)
: Super Mario 64 DS (11/2004)
Whack this box to turn into a metal you! You won't flinch when attacked – even in mid-air – and you'll be harder to launch. Now, the downsides: you'll move slower, fall faster, and recovering when you fall off a stage will be a nightmare. Also, it's only temporary, or lasts until you've taken a certain amount of damage.
If there is one thing I've learned from Mario Kart, it's that lightning can strike without a cloud in the sky. Picking this up will hit your foes with a character-shrinking blast of lightning, making them really easy to launch into the distance. If you get struck, you'd best run until the fight is fair again.
: Super Mario Kart (09/1992)
: Mario Kart 8 (05/2014)
Don't let sunny weather fool you! Lightning can strike at any time. This mighty force of nature can make you feel small...and actually make you small, too. In this state, you'll be quite weak and easily launched, so just try to stay out of everyone's way until you go back to normal. THEN you can get your own back!
When you try to throw this item, you'll instead transform into a Bullet Bill and fly in the direction you were throwing. Anyone in your path will be knocked away. Be careful, though, since you fly fast and can barely steer—not to mention that foes can deflect you. KO them, not yourself!
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Mario Kart DS (11/2005)
Turn into a Bullet Bill and charge into your enemies to send them flying. The direction you fly in is pretty much set when you use it. You'll be unstoppable, but on the other hand, you'll fly so fast that you might end up a victim of your own bullet-y...ness. Anyway, be careful!
A rotating row of fireballs found in the Mario series, most often as a fiery obstacle in Bowser's Castle. In this game, you can swing the fire bar at your enemies! It's a powerful weapon, but as you hit people with it, the fireballs go out, one after every two hits. And no fire means no fun.
A rotating row of fireballs found in the Mario series, most often as a fiery obstacle in Bowser's Castle. In this game, you can swing the fire bar at your enemies! It's a powerful weapon, but for every two times you swing and hit someone with it, one of the fireballs will burn out. And no fire means no fun.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: New Super Mario Bros. U (11/2012)
A rotating row of fireballs found in the Mario series, most often as a fiery obstacle in Bowser's Castle. In this game, you can swing the fire bar at your enemies! It's a powerful weapon, but for every two times you connect when attacking with it, one of the fireballs will go out. And no fire means no fun.
This special hammer is several times stronger than the regular hammer. While wielding it, jumping repeatedly will let you float in the air. It doesn't appear often, so grab it when it does! However, watch out for the squeaky version. It looks like the normal one but is really useless.
: Wrecking Crew (10/1985)
This special hammer is much stronger than the normal one. And on top of that, it has a special ability – press the jump button repeatedly while holding it to float in the air. These things don't show up often, though, so if you see one, grab it fast! Just watch out for Golden Squeaky Hammers – they look the same, but do exactly zero damage.
This Fire Flower won't transform you like in the Mario series, but it will still let you unleash some fiery damage! Holding down the attack button lets you spew fire at your opponents, dealing constant damage to them. You can also throw it at them, but it just doesn't look as cool that way.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
Unfortunately, picking this up won't get you a cool outfit like in the Mario series, but you can still use it to shoot fire, and that's what matters. It doesn't do much damage on its own, but fire it continuously and it'll all add up! If you get bored, just throw it at your opponent, but don't expect a massive explosion or anything.
This enemy lacks any kind of subtlety—a fuse on its head, a slowly turning key in the back, and two short legs to carry its little bomb body. You can figure out what happens next. When a Bob-omb starts flashing, you better start running!
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. U (11/2012)
A bomb for a body, burning fuse on top, two little legs and a wind-up key spinning away on the back... We probably don't need to tell you what's going on here. Now, that doesn't happen too often! Then again, who knows? Maybe some people will look at a Bob-omb and think it's an eight ball having an identity crisis.
Use this item to make a game of freeze tag chillingly literal. Once thrown, the first character to touch the Freezie will be frozen solid, turning into an easy target for a beating. If you happen to be on the receiving end, it's time to try and move around quickly to warm yourself up!
Use this item to make a game of freeze tag chillingly literal. Once thrown, the first character to touch the Freezie will be frozen solid, turning into an easy target for a beating. If you happen to be on the receiving end, it's time to try to move around quickly to warm yourself up!
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: Super Mario Advance (06/2001)
This item will slide along the ground until someone picks it up. Then the first person it hits will get frozen in a block of ice and be a sitting duck for any attacks that come their way. Careful, though – if you attack a Freezie and make it break, you might get frozen yourself! If that happens, do some wiggling around to get free!
Once thrown, this guy will move across the ground and damage anything—except you—in its path. You can make the Hothead bigger by hitting it with attacks, much to your opponents' dismay. If you make it really big and powerful, it may just carry you to victory!
: Super Mario World (08/1991)
: Super Princess Peach (02/2006)
Throw this on the ground and it'll slide around, damaging everything in its path, except you. You can make the Hothead get bigger and more powerful by attacking it with fire and lightning, and it's pretty impressive just how big and powerful it can get!
The green shell of the Koopa Troopas. The launching power of this weapon is incredible in the right hands, but you should be careful; if it hits a wall, it may bounce back toward whoever threw it. If you see it coming back at you, just jump on it to stop it. It's like playing Super Mario Bros.!
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario Kart (09/1992)
You might have noticed these shells look a lot like the ones Koopas have. Throw, attack or jump on one to send it careening off, launching enemies and causing chaos as it goes. Then jump on it to bring it to a stop, or let it rebound off a wall, or... Hold on! What is this? Super Mario Bros.?
Looks like someone had a nice snack and didn't bother to clean up afterward... As you may suspect, stepping on a banana peel sends you falling to the ground and exposes you to attacks. You can throw these at your opponents too, but please clean up when you're done, all right?
: Super Mario Kart (09/1992)
: Mario Kart Wii (04/2008)
HEY! Put that banana peel in the bin! ...Oh, you're going to trip up your opponent with it? Carry on, then. Of course, picking up and throwing banana peels at people is disgusting, but they'll have a hard time keeping their defences up if they're putting on a one-man slapstick act, so...go ahead.
A strong attack on a soccer ball will set it on fire, and any enemies hit will go flying from the impact. Depending on how you hit it, the ball will fly in different directions. Luckily, no one has to retrieve it if you send it off the stage—this ball will return to the battlefield for some time.
: Soccer (03/1987)
: Mario Strikers Charged (07/2007)
Attack a football to ignite it and send it blazing through the air into any hapless foe in its path. The direction it goes in depends on how you attack the ball, so put some thought into it to cause some devastating effects. The ball comes back if you miss, so try as many times as you need to!
This special block first appeared way back in Mario Bros. Hitting it will send enemies flying into the air. You can avoid the shock waves by shielding at the right time or jumping into the air. After being triggered three times, a POW Block will vanish into thin air—don't waste it!
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (12/2009)
These blocks first appeared in Mario Bros. Hit one to make the whole area shake and knock opponents off their feet if they're on the ground. If someone looks like they're about to hit a POW Block, try to jump or put your shield up to avoid the shock wave. They can be hit three times before disappearing entirely.
The devastating blue Spiny Shell that normally appears in the Mario Kart series. This shell seeks out the lead racer and ruins his or her day. In Smash Bros., it will hover above one of the fighters before crashing down and exploding. Avoiding the impact can be challenging.
: Mario Kart 64 (02/1997)
: Mario Kart 8 (05/2014)
In the Mario Kart series, these blue shells play a big role, tearing down the track at a frightening speed before crashing down on whoever's in first place. When thrown, it'll hover around above a fighter's head, and after a short while drop down and blow up. If you find one targeting you, get ready to dodge that explosion!
Boomerang Mario would use this item to collect faraway items and defeat distant enemies. In Smash Bros., it can be thrown up, down, left, or right. If you throw it, you can catch it again on the return trip. The boomerang gains power with each throw, so try to keep catching it!
As thrown by Boomerang Mario! He used this to hit enemies and collect faraway items. Here, though, you can throw it up, down or to the side, then touch it when it flies back to catch it. Simple! And as long as you don't drop it, it'll get more and more powerful with every throw, so make sure you do catch it, all right?
Transform into an adorable version of your normal self thanks to some raccoon ears and a fluffy tail. Unfortunately, you won't be able to fly through the air like Tanooki Mario—but you can hover for a bit by wiggling that tail. Hold the jump button while airborne to pull off this cute tactic.
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. 2 (08/2012)
This item gives you cute fuzzy ears and a tail. Remember, when it's just ears and a tail, he's Raccoon Mario – Tanooki Mario is the full suit. You won't be able to soar into the air like in Super Mario Bros. 3, but you can float by holding the jump button while in mid-air.
These elite trooper turtles usually appeared in pairs in Super Mario Bros., wearing helmets and chucking hammers at Mario. When summoned, they'll advance on the nearest opponent and lob hammers in a graceful arc. Sometimes they'll throw in a jump to mix things up.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
Hammer Bros. usually appear in pairs in Super Mario Bros. games. With helmets on heads and hammers in hand, Bowser's elite troops never leg it when Mario shows up. In this game, they appear solo, flinging hammers at the nearest target. They can also jump and throw, so stay sharp!
Flying over the battlefield in a cloud, this member of Bowser's forces persistently chases after Mario. He takes a break from throwing Spiny Eggs to do some racing in Mario Kart 7. When summoned, he'll appear as a sprite and toss Spiny Eggs at those fighting below him.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: New Super Mario Bros. U (11/2012)
One of Bowser's minions. This cloud-riding turtle and general nuisance to Mario made his debut as a playable character in Mario Kart 7. In this game, you can summon a pixellated Lakitu who'll throw Spiny Eggs that will turn into Spinies – beasties with red, spiky shells – when they hit the ground.
This beast frequently appears in the Super Mario series, and it is definitely equal parts bark and bite. No surprise it's often chained to something. In Smash Bros., it's connected to a stump in the ground and will lash out at anyone who gets close. Don't even bother trying to teach it manners.
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
An iron ball with a face, complete with shiny white teeth, that shows up fairly often in the Mario series. They're impossible to tame, so they're almost always chained to a post, and this game's no exception. Seriously, don't go anywhere near them unless you want to end up a Chomp's dinner.
A crooked mustache and a long, red nose—Waluigi has "villain" written all over him. He considers himself Luigi's rival. He's cunning and quick. When summoned into battle, he'll rush the nearest fighters and stomp them into the ground—then thwack them with his foot or tennis racket!
: Mario Tennis (08/2000)
: Mario Kart Wii (04/2008)
Long, red nose? Handlebar moustache? Bendy body? Yep, this lanky schemer is Luigi's rival, Waluigi. In this game, he'll dash over to the nearest fighter and stomp on them to bury them in the ground. Then he'll finish them off with a big kick or a whack with his tennis racket. Ouch!
A giant bullet-like menace from the Mario series. In Smash Run, they want nothing more than to blow up on you. If you trick them into crashing, they'll get stuck and blow up soon after. Beware that lethal blast radius! Beat one before it blows up to get a banzai bonanza of stats. Tricky, but well worth the effort!
This giant bullety menace from the Mario series might look tough, but one jump is typically all it takes to deal with it! In Smash Tour, a Banzai Bill will sometimes charge into a space and explode, destroying any items there. Players caught in the blast will be launched to another space.
: Super Mario World (08/1991)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
A giant bullety menace from the Mario series. In Smash Run, they want nothing more than to blow up on you. If you trick them into crashing, they'll get stuck and blow up soon after. Their blast radius is lethal, so keep well back! Beat one before it blows up to get a banzai bonanza of stat boosts. Not easy, but well worth it!
This giant bullety menace from the Mario series might look tough, but one jump is typically all it takes to deal with it! In Smash Tour, a Banzai Bill will sometimes charge into a space and explode, destroying any items there. Any players caught in the blast will be launched to another space.
This magical menace is one of Bowser's henchmen and shows his face in plenty of titles, even outside of the Mario series. In the Mushroom Kingdom U stage, he swoops onto the screen every so often to transform the stage with his magic. Now and then, though, he'll tease you by not casting any magic at all. He's a sly one, that Kamek.
Kamek is a magic-wielding, robed figure usually seen riding on a broomstick in the Mario series. He teleports around the stage, looking for fighters. When he finds one, he'll cast spells at them. If he hits you with one, your stats will drop. That's no good, since you'll need some power to deal with Kamek's high stamina!
: Super Mario World (08/1991)
: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (10/1995)
Kamek is a magic-wielding, robed figure usually seen riding on a broomstick in the Mario series. He teleports around the stage, looking for fighters. When he finds one, he'll cast spells at them. If he hits you with one, your stats will drop, which, given that Kamek also has high attack power, is the last thing you need.
Sometimes Piranha Plants live in them... That's right! I'm talking about those iconic green pipes. World 7 of Super Mario Bros. 3 was actually called Pipe Land. Jump over pipes! Run along pipes! Enter and exit pipes! ...I'm saying there are a lot of pipes.
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
Jump on top, and then...bloop bloop bloop! Down the pipe! Sometimes, though, they have Piranha Plants inside, so be careful! By the way, did you know that World 7 in Super Mario Bros. 3 is called Pipe Land? It's full of pipes! You sleep in pipes, dream of pipes... Pipes-pipes-pipes-pipes-pipes!
The Goombas' grumpy little faces aren't scaring anyone. In fact, if Mario found himself in front of a sea of Goombas, he'd just get right to stomping! They were once loyal to the Mushroom Kingdom, but they turned traitor when Bowser invaded. One jump's usually enough to take them out. Foes don't come much weaker than this!
Once loyal to the Mushroom Kingdom, the Goombas switched sides when Bowser invaded. Not that it mattered—they weren't really mighty warriors. In Smash Bros., they are equally weak, simply running at you. They must expect to get stomped by now... Don't expect a lot of fanfare for beating one.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario 64 (09/1996)
Once loyal to the Mushroom Kingdom, the Goombas switched sides when Bowser invaded. Not that it mattered – they were never exactly mighty warriors or anything. They're weak in this game too – the worst they'll do is run at you. At this point, they must just be expecting to get stomped on... Don't expect a fanfare if you beat one.
Koopa Troopas are the main representatives of Bowser's army. They are just about as common as Goombas. They know no fear, bravely charging ahead even if it means falling off a cliff or into a hole. They do this in Smash Run as well. Defeating them will reduce them to a shell you can throw.
These turtles are just as common as Goombas in Bowser's army. They may look meek, but they have the guts to leap off any cliff they come across. If you jump on one, its shell will be yours to kick or throw as you please. Many locations in Mario games are named after these enemies, such as Koopa Beach and Koopa Park.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario Kart (09/1992)
These turtles are just as common as Goombas in Bowser's army. They're brave little soldiers, and nothing will make them stop in their tracks – not you, not holes, not even cliffs. The same goes in Smash Run, too. Once they see a fighter, they'll go right after them. Beat them or stomp on them to turn them into shells you can throw.
These turtles are just as common as Goombas in Bowser's army. They may look meek, but they have the guts to leap off any cliff they come across. Jump on one, and its shell will be yours to kick or throw as you please. Many locations in Mario games are named after these enemies, such as Koopa Beach and Koopa Park.
These guys aren't so much carnivorous as Mario...nivorous. Ahem. There are lots of varieties, like Frost, Wild Ptooie, Ghost, Prickly, Dino, Bone, Elasto-Piranhas, Stalking, Naval... A helpful mnemonic is "Fireballs with Ground Pounds defeat baddies, even super nasties."
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
These carnivorous plants are hungry for one thing – Mario! There are all sorts of them, including the Naval Piranha, Fire Piranha Plant, Inky Piranha Plant, Piranha Creeper, Bone Piranha Plant, Stalking Piranha Plant... But all you need to know is "plants with teeth want to eat Mario".
The red-shelled Paratroopa. Many a time Mario has used these flying turtles as a stepping-stone to victory. In Smash Run, they have better agility than their green brethren but are largely similar. If you defeat them, their wings will fall off and they'll become regular Koopa Troopas again.
These winged foes tend to fly right in front of high places Mario wants to reach, so it isn't all that surprising that he constantly uses them as stepping stones. Jumping on them knocks their wings off, turning them into regular Koopa Troopas. These guys are surprisingly adaptable: they play tennis and basketball, and they can even drive!
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Mario Tennis (08/2000)
Many times have Mario and his friends treated these red-shelled Paratroopas as little more than winged platforms. In Smash Run, they're a lot like green Paratroopas, except a little bit more aggressive. When you attack or stomp on one in Smash Run, its wings fall off, turning it back into a normal Koopa Troopa for good.
These winged foes tend to fly around just in front of high places Mario wants to get to, so it's no wonder he's always using them as a stepping stone. Jumping on them makes them lose their wings, turning them into regular Koopas. These guys have proven surprisingly adept: they play tennis and basketball, and they can even drive!
How many times do you think you and Mario have punched ? Blocks? What if we added up the numbers for the entire world? If you were walking down the street and suddenly found a ? Block just floating there, would you jump up and punch it like Mario?
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: New Super Mario Bros. U (11/2012)
How many times do you think you've made Mario hit a ? Block? How many times do you think everyone in the world's done it...? If you saw one just floating in mid-air while you were walking down the street one day, what would you do? Would you jump up and hit it?
Eating one of these mushrooms will add another you. "1-Up." Even just saying it aloud feels so right. "Was getting more 1-Ups and increasing the number of us the adventure's ultimate objective?" All the Marios got together and discussed this theory. The end.
: Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)
: Super Mario 64 (09/1996)
Eating one of these gives you an extra life. That's right! A whole extra version of you! But it does make you wonder, is getting 1-Up Mushrooms and making more copies of yourself the real goal of any adventure? You can just imagine a bunch of Marios getting together to discuss it...
What hides behind that smooth, white mask? Shy Guys aren't about to show you, that's for sure. In Smash Run, each color of Shy Guy has different characteristics, and the red ones are the best at attacking. They've learned how to deliver a combo of angry punches if they can get close enough!
These bashful baddies are so shy that no one's ever seen their real faces. They debuted in Doki Doki Panic before becoming a Mario series mainstay when that game was reworked into Super Mario Bros. 2. They come in different colors, each with unique characteristics. Some can walk on stilts; others are always on fire!
: Super Mario Bros. 2 (10/1988)
: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (10/1995)
These bashful baddies are so shy that no one's ever seen their real faces. Since their debut, all kinds of different Shy Guys have come out of the woodwork, and in Smash Run, each colour has its strengths. The red ones are better at attacking and hit you with punch combos. Beat them to get your hands on some Attack stat boosts.
These bashful baddies are so shy that no one's ever seen their real faces. They debuted in Doki Doki Panic, then became a Mario series mainstay after that game was reworked into Super Mario Bros. 2. They come in all different colours, each with unique characteristics. Some walk on stilts. Others are always on fire!
Don't look so surprised—even some ghosts are shy! It's like a game of Red Light Green Light: your face means stop, and the back of your head means go. So be very careful if you turn your back. Boo also shows up in the Mario Kart series, making your kart invisible to other racers.
: Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990)
: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (03/2013)
Even ghosts can be shy, and these guys are so shy, they can't even attack you if you're watching! It's kind of like they're always playing a ghostly game of statues. Just don't turn your back on them and you'll be all right! That said, they make fine allies in the Mario Kart series, where they can turn you invisible for a while.
It's a Goomba, only bigger! And much like normal Goombas, the worst they'll do is run at you. Unfortunately, their size actually makes this attack pretty dangerous! They can also stomp to knock you off your feet. They have a lot of health, but they take massive damage from being stomped on, just like a regular Goomba. Fortunate!
These giant-sized Goombas make quite an impression. Some will net you a coin when you jump on them, and others will split up into smaller Goombas. They're often much stronger than normal Goombas, but jumping on them a few times usually does the trick. There's also an even bigger one out there: the Megasparkle Goomba. So shiny!
: Super Mario 64 (09/1996)
: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (11/2009)
It's a Goomba, only bigger! And much like normal Goombas, the worst they'll do is run at you. Unfortunately, given their size, that actually puts you in a lot of danger. They can also stamp to knock you off your feet. They have a lot of health, but you can do major damage quickly just by stomping on them. Huzzah!
These giant-sized Goombas make quite an impression. Some will net you a coin when you jump on them, and others will split up into smaller Goombas. They're often much stronger than normal Goombas, but jumping on them a few times usually does the trick. There's also an even bigger one out there: the Megasparkle Goomba. He's so shiny!
Luigi's trusty tool, the Poltergust 3000. This isn't your neighbor's boring, old vacuum—the Poltergust 3000 sucks up ghosts! It also can find them when they are hiding and can blow them around a room! Why doesn't every family own one of these, I wonder...
Unlike your run-of-the-mill vacuum cleaner, this one sucks up...ghosts! And it doesn't just suck them up – it blows them around, draws them to you, and even helps you find them when they're hidden. Talk about convenient! No home should be without one. No Luigi should be without one, either.
Bowser's go-to foot soldiers. They sport red shells and advance forward, but they have the common sense not to walk off cliffs. During Smash Run, they'll advance toward any fighter they see, attacking with their whole body. These Koopas leave red shells when beaten.
These Koopas are a lot like their green counterparts, except their shells are red, and they have the sense not to blindly walk off cliffs or into holes. If one spots you in Smash Run, it'll attack with its whole body, so watch out! Defeat it to turn it into a shell you can throw at other enemies.
These green-shelled Paratroopas from the Mario series come in two varieties: ones that jump toward you, and ones that float in the air until they're swatted down. When you stomp or damage one in Smash Run, it'll lose its wings and be transformed back into a normal Koopa Troopa.
These green-shelled Paratroopas from the Mario series come in two varieties: ones that jump towards you, and ones that float in the air until Mario swans over and jumps on them, using them as a platform. When you stomp on or damage one in Smash Run, its wings fall off, turning it back into a normal Koopa Troopa for good.
With his cute little specs and smiling cloud, it's hard not to love Lakitu...until he starts pelting you with Spiny Eggs. This meanie has been tormenting Mario since the very first Super Mario Bros. game, and his mode of attack is no different here. He'll try and hover out of reach, but only by taking him out can you keep the Spiny rain from falling.
With his cute little specs and smiling cloud, it's hard not to love Lakitu...until he starts pelting you with Spiny Eggs. This blighter has been tormenting Mario since the very first Super Mario Bros. game, and his mode of attack is no different here. Although he loves to hover just out of reach, you'll want to take him out to stop those Spinies coming.
Somebody needs to ask Lakitu just where he gets these spiky-shelled little critters... They start off as Spiny Eggs when he hurls them and then turn into Spinies when they land. They'll immediately head for any fighters in the area. Avoid them or take them out—your choice!
Somebody needs to ask Lakitu just where he gets these spiky-shelled little critters... They start off as Spiny Eggs when he hurls them, then turn into the Spinies we know and..."love" when they land, immediately heading for any fighters in the area! Try dodging just before those spikes touch you, and then move in to attack!
Usually a big cannon with a skull on it is a clear sign that it's time to flee. Running away isn't an option in the Super Mario series, though. It may be known as the Bill Blaster, but it can occasionally fire Koopas or Shy Guys instead. Take it out before it's out of ammo for more goodies!
Usually, seeing a cannon with a skull on it would be your sign to run, and that's true in the Mario series as well...but with Bullet Bills speeding towards you, it's harder than it looks! Despite the name, they'll sometimes fire Koopas or Shy Guys in this game, just for variety. Take it down before it's out of ammo to get more goodies!
These guys are too shy to show you their real faces, so they hide them behind white masks. Some people claim they've seen Shy Guys walking on stilts or even running around on fire! In Smash Run, the blue Shy Guys have better defense than other Shy Guys, but that really isn't saying much...
Just what IS beneath this Shy Guy's mask? Could it be...another mask?! Anyway, Shy Guys come in lots of varieties: some walk on stilts, others are always on fire! In Smash Run, these blue ones have better defence than the others. It's only slightly better, though, so don't worry. Defeat them to get yourself some Defence stat boosts.
Those white masks are just eerie, but it's possible they are better than what actually hides behind them... Anyway, some people claim to have seen tall Shy Guys with longer masks than normal. In Smash Run, yellow Shy Guys are great jumpers, so they'll drop Jump stat boosts when defeated.
Did you know there are lots of different kinds of Shy Guy, including massive ones with giant masks? In Smash Run, yellow Shy Guys are slightly better at jumping than the others. Sometimes, though, they're just too busy bouncing to attack. Take them down to get Jump stat boosts.
Perhaps the white mask just conceals another, whiter mask beneath? There is no way to know, as these shy fellows will never take them off. In Smash Run, the green Shy Guys can run faster than other Shy Guys. You'll have to be quick to catch them, but you'll be rewarded with Speed stat boosts!
Their white masks certainly make them look the same, but on the inside, Shy Guys are very different – some dream of being soldiers or dancers! In Smash Run, the green ones are fast on their feet, so they're quick to close in and hit you with a punch combo. Deal with them to get Speed stat boosts.
If you thought Chain Chomps were bad, wait till you meet Flame Chomps. They use the flames that make up their tail as ammo, and when they run out, they head straight for you and self-destruct. When you defeat one, it'll explode and take out any enemies nearby, and it'll leave a whole load of stat boosts behind, too.
If you thought Chain Chomps were bad, Flame Chomps are so much worse. They use the flames that make up their tail as ammo, and when they run out, they head straight for you and self-destruct. When you defeat one, it'll explode and take out any enemies nearby, and it'll leave a whole load of stat boosts behind too.
These turtles come from the Super Mario series and have one big spike on their backs. Their eyes glow from beneath the edge of their shells, watching you as they approach. In Smash Run, they crawl along walls, floors, and the ceiling. They aren't bothered by projectiles, so you'll have to find other ways to defeat them.
With a massive spike on its back, glowing little eyes peering out from under its shell, and the way it walks along walls and ceilings, this turtle foe from the Super Mario series is pretty creepy. In Smash Run, just touching it will hurt you, and its shell protects it from projectiles. You'll either have to attack it directly or throw it.
This fun item has been popping up ever since it first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. Jumping on it produces coins...reveals hidden doors... The effect is different from game to game. On Golden Plains, the P-Switch will make a ton of blue coins appear. This is a great way to get yourself a large stack!
This switch made its debut in Super Mario Bros. 3 and has been a mainstay of the series ever since. Depending on the game, it can have all sorts of effects. In this one, you can step on it (or attack it, if you like) to make tons of blue coins appear. There's no better way to get yourself a formidable stack of coins!
This beautiful seven-color course is the finale of the Special Cup in Mario Kart 7. Set high above in space, drivers navigate the rings of Saturn and cross craters on the moon. Shy Guys are racing on this course as the fighters compete on and around it, and they have no problem hitting you with their karts.
The Special Cup's final course in Mario Kart 7. This space track takes you through Saturn's rings and the craters on the moon. While fighting on the Rainbow Road stage, you'll fly around and sometimes even descend onto the track itself. Watch out! Shy Guys are having a proper race down there, and they don't brake for anyone!
Shy Guy makes his debut as a racer in Mario Kart 7 once you win the 150cc Shell Cup. He's a lightweight racer with superb handling. Watch out for the eight Shy Guys racing around the Rainbow Road stage—they'll happily run you over if you get in their way!
Shy Guy makes his debut as a selectable racer in Mario Kart 7, and all you have to do to unlock him is win the 150cc Shell Cup. He's lightweight, like Toad and Koopa, and has excellent handling. The Rainbow Road stage has eight Shy Guys whizzing around the track, so be careful not to get hit, or you'll go speeding off the stage!
Those powerful pectoral fins can turn them into a dangerous airborne threat. Besides Mario games, you can find them in the oceans of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. This critter was also the inspiration for the Cheep Charger in Mario Kart Wii.
These puffy fish use their strong fins to launch themselves high into the air. And they've not only made appearances in the Mario series – they're also bobbing around in the water in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening! They were also the inspiration for the Cheep Charger in Mario Kart Wii.
The danger from Bloopers lies in their erratic movement. Many Marios became squid bait after being lulled into a false sense of security by a Blooper's graceful waltz. The lovely music doesn't help. A Big Blooper lives in Super Paper Mario, if you want to hang out with it.
They might look harmless, but be wary – Bloopers are tough and very territorial. The first time they showed up, they were accompanied by a calming waltz that led many Marios into their waiting tentacles. There's also a huge one, Big Blooper, in Super Paper Mario. If you like challenges, maybe you should try taking it on.
A bothersome enemy protected by a hard shell. Mario's fireballs have no effect on these guys, much to the envy of their Koopa buddies. Buzzy Beetles also like to hang out on ceilings and then rudely drop on Mario as he passes. That sturdy shell gives Mario a major headache!
A troublesome foe protected by a tough shell. Some Buzzy Beetles walk upside-down on ceilings and fall on Mario as he walks past, so watch out! Surely they're going to crack their shells one day, dropping from the ceiling like that... Best to avoid this crazy situation altogether.
Could easily be mistaken for a cactus, except for the eyes and the mouth, and the way they roll...er, stroll... around the desert with such careful balance. Check out the pretty flowers these guys are sporting in Super Mario Sunshine!
Pokeys are a bit like cacti, except with eyes and mouths, and they're made up of prickly balls piled on top of each other. It doesn't exactly make for the most stable body, so they have to wiggle their way around really carefully. Also, the ones in Super Mario Sunshine have pretty flowers on their heads. Definitely worth a look!
If you find a Super Leaf, Mario transforms into Tanooki Mario! His newfound tail works as a weapon and as a propeller to slow his fall. His brother, Luigi, won't turn into a Tanooki, though—he becomes Kitsune Luigi. Wouldn't want to have trouble telling the two apart, would we?
When Mario uses a Super Leaf, he grows a tail and turns into Tanooki Mario, a very handy form indeed. Likewise, Luigi turns into Kitsune Luigi. Both of them can swing their tails to attack enemies, or wag their tails to slowly float down after a jump, almost like they're walking on air.
Statue Mario is invincible and will be ignored by his enemies. If he transforms in midair, he'll do a nice Thwomp impression but he can't move! Well, unless a moving platform carries him into unlucky enemies. Give it a try in Super Mario 3D Land!
Statue Mario's not just invincible – he's invisible to enemies. If Mario turns into Statue Mario in mid-air, he'll slam down and be stuck to the spot. Moving platforms will still carry him, though, and he'll knock down anyone in his way. Try it next time you play Super Mario 3D Land!
In Super Mario Bros., the first enemy Mario encounters is a Goomba. I lost a life to it just seconds after starting! If you add some easily removable wings to that creature, you've got yourself a Paragoomba. Flying mushrooms—that really does just sound nuts.
The first enemy to appear in the original Super Mario Bros. is a Goomba. A lot of people have fond memories of carelessly walking into it and losing a life in two seconds flat. A Paragoomba is a Goomba with wings. Nuts, right? Wrong. Goombas aren't nuts – they're mushrooms, silly!
They must have a bone to pick with Mario. No matter how many times he stomps them, these guys put themselves back together again. Can't they just rest in pieces? By the way, have you noticed how nimble they are in Mario Kart? Skeletons must be really aerodynamic or something...
How these guys are alive when they're just bones is anyone's guess. Jump on one to make it fall apart, but don't expect it to rest in pieces! It'll be back on its feet in no time. These oddly cute little guys also turn up in the Mario Kart series as lightweight racers. Probably because they don't have any skin or muscles weighing them down.
You can't reason with a Thwomp. If you get close enough to try, it will just drop down to block your path. In fact, you can count on Thwomps to always do exactly that—they've gotten really good at it. A Koopa I know swears they work great as a home-security system...
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a Thwomp of your own? If anyone tried to break into your house, it would just go "THWOMP!" right on their head. Yep, a Thwomp would make a great home-security system. Unfortunately, they're not available in shops. Sad times.
Wigglers move in the funniest way. Their name really suits them, don't you think? Pretty easygoing normally, they get downright angry if you mess with that flower on their head. They move faster, which means only one thing—more wiggling!
These wiggly fellows are usually pretty easy-going. Just don't mess with the white flower on their heads – that makes them rather cross. Actually, given that they turn red and start charging around twice as fast, you could say they go totally berserk. If you see one go into double-time-wiggling mode, you might want to stand back a bit.
A baby version of Mario, sans mustache, who first appeared in Yoshi's Island. Still in diapers, he mostly leaves the adventuring to Yoshi unless a Super Star is involved. If that happens, he becomes invincible and runs around with a cape—a little smooth-faced Super Mario!
A baby version of Mario (sans moustache) who first appeared in Yoshi's Island. Since he's still in nappies, it's up to Yoshi to keep him safe. Give him a Super Star, though, and he'll turn invincible, just like grown-up Mario! If only it gave him a moustache too... That would be awesome.
The Bob-ombs are soldiers, and King Bob-omb is their general. Not only does he have a magnificent mustache, a shiny crown, and no key in his back, he also has two arms perfect for winding up his Bob-omb troops. Someone has to do that, right?
The ruler of all Bob-ombs. What makes him different from his explosive subjects is his size, his moustache and the fact that he has a crown. He also doesn't have a wind-up key on his back. Instead, he's got two arms, which he presumably uses to wind up his subjects. ...And now you know who does that job!
The ghosts of Evershade Valley have gone wild under the shadow of the shattered Dark Moon, so Professor E. Gadd of Gadd Science, Inc., asks Luigi to gather the moon's scattered pieces. I say "asks," but Professor Gadd has never really given Luigi a choice...
The Dark Moon in the sky above Evershade Valley has shattered! With all the ghosts going on the rampage, Professor E. Gadd, the leading authority on ghost research, calls in a quivering Luigi to sort out the mess. The professor never was one to give him much of a choice...
When the king of the Boos debuted in Luigi's Mansion, anyone who saw him was filled with terror. He has been very popular in Mario Kart and various sports games since then, but don't forget his terrible, ghostly spirit. Face him again in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon!
When the leader of the Boos debuted in Luigi's Mansion, his creepy face was enough to freeze Luigi to the spot! After that, though, he took some time off to race in Mario Kart and compete in a bunch of sports...before going straight back to being evil in Luigi's Mansion 2.
Princess Peach is cute to begin with, and she only gets cuter as a baby. Unlike Princess Peach, Baby Peach is more fond of her pink binky than of conversation. Despite this lack of communication, she makes for a great partner in sporting events!
Princess Peach is always cute, but as a baby, she's even cuter! And that crown on her head isn't a giant crown – it's just that every bit of her is teeny tiny! Still, she's not the kind to stay tied to her mum's apron strings – she's out there playing sports and keeping active with the best of them!
If you know how the Boomerang Bros. like to fight, they really aren't that tough. But if Mario BECOMES a Boomerang Bro—Boomerang Mario—what then? Will his opponents be stunned by his new moves? At the least, throwing a boomerang makes things more fun!
"Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes." Mario's taken that to the next level with the Boomerang Bros. – he's put on the whole outfit! As Boomerang Mario, he'll not just have more attack power – he'll have a big dollop of fun flinging that boomerang around. Great times!
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!
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".
Princess Peach, where are you off to with that pink parasol? A day at the beach? More like a day at the races! Her tough and unconventional karts are ready, and she wants to take the checkered flag. Expect to see Peach win and be elegant at the same time.
The next race is about to start, but who's going to come out on top? Will it be Peach, with her lovely Peach Parasol? She's customised her kart to be both tough AND cute, because she's not just aiming to win – she's aiming to win in style!
Bowser has tricked out his kart exactly like Mario's. With a level playing field, it all comes down to the driver's skill. Well, and luck. And if the driver got a good night's sleep... Only the goddess of victory knows who will win. That's part of the fun of Mario Kart!
The kart Bowser has here isn't unique to him. You can use the same parts with any racer – even Mario! Of course, even if everyone has the same kart, the race still won't come down to pure skill – luck always plays a part. It's that unpredictability that makes Mario Kart so exciting, after all!
This mean machine may look like it was meant for the tracks, but really it was made to soar. That fine wood finish isn't so great in the water, though. I bet more than a few players have fond memories of the Barrel Train and its first driver, Diddy Kong.
This kart might look like it needs to be on rails, but it's actually great in mid-air. Like any barrel, though, it has a tendency to float. In a race that comes down to speed in water, it'll get left behind. The name "Barrel Train" might ring a bell for Mario Kart veterans – it was Diddy Kong's kart!
This heartwarming contraption looks more at home in a theme park than a raceway, but don't be fooled—this egg-shaped frame can dive under the sea or soar through the skies with ease! Your opponents will be filled with envy when you break this out in Mario Kart 7.
This kart combo looks like it belongs in a theme park rather than on a racetrack. But, of course, looks can be deceiving! The egg-shaped frame known as the Egg 1 is a speed demon in the water. Mario Kart 7's tracks include everything from deep blue seas to soaring sky routes, so you've got to be prepared for anything!
For most racers the finish line is the goal, but if you combine Wario with this bad boy, the game takes on a whole new meaning. And that meaning is to crash into everyone else. Behind the wheel of the Bruiser, Wario turns Mario Kart into a contact sport.
Even in a race for first place, it's possible to sort of ignore the whole winning thing and just focus on bashing into the other racers instead. Wario's that kind of guy, so obviously he'd choose a frame like the Growlster and use it to ram other drivers off the road. It's like he thinks Mario Kart is a combat sport or something!
This cloud kart is basically the bottom half of Lakitu. With its fluffy design and zippy style, Cloud 9 seems like a good match for Yoshi, but can you imagine what it would look like for Wario to drive this? It might just be distracting enough to give you an advantage!
This cloud kart is basically Lakitu's other half. As in, "bottom half". Being so fluffy, it would be a good fit for Yoshi, but can you imagine Wario driving it? That'd just be weird! Then again, maybe he'd use that to throw his opponents off their game... Yep, that Wario's a sneaky one!
Peach brings an elegance and grace to tennis that her opponents are hard-pressed to match. Her skills with a racket can put the ball right where she wants it. How she and Baby Peach can play against each other without destroying space-time is the real question.
Peach is so graceful with a racket in her hand, you'd think she was princess of the Tennis Kingdom! She specialises in aiming her shots at the very edge of the court, and it seems she has no problem playing alongside Baby Peach, even if that does raise a few space-time continuum issues.
Similar to Peach in how she plays tennis, Daisy also packs a seriously powerful shot. Maybe their choice of colors symbolizes their personalities? They're alike in a lot of ways, but if you could choose just one, would you choose Princess Daisy or Princess Peach?
Like Peach, Daisy is a Technique player, but she has something else up her sleeve: a really powerful shot. Do you think the sedate pink and vivid orange reflect Peach and Daisy's different personalities? Would you say you're more Team Peach or Team Daisy? Or maybe...Team Both?
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!
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!
Paper Luigi is Paper Mario's younger brother. He shows up from time to time during Paper Mario's quest for the Royal Stickers, but he doesn't stick around for long. Such a modest guy... I wonder what he's getting up to now!
Paper Mario's little brother, Paper Luigi. While Mario is searching for the Royal Stickers, you might see Luigi here and there, just lounging around in the background. If you try to peel him away like a sticker, he runs off quick as a flash. What on earth are you playing at, Luigi?
Usually the Sticker Fest, sponsored by Princess Peach, is held without a problem. However, one year Bowser shows up to steal the Royal Stickers and ends up peeling off with Princess Peach! With your help, Mario must set out to stick things back in their proper place!
Princess Peach is holding the Mushroom Kingdom's annual Sticker Fest to celebrate the Sticker Comet's arrival from the night sky, when Bowser turns up and totally wrecks EVERYTHING! Where's Peach been carried off to? And who's going to get her out of this sticky situation?
Bowser's defense team argues that, considering his latent savageness and the promises of wish-granting power, it could only be expected that Bowser would try to grab the Sticker Comet. Who could resist something like that? Bowser was just a victim of circumstance!
The Sticker Fest looked super fun, so he thought he'd get up on stage. And with the Sticker Comet looking all sparkly and stuff, how could he NOT touch it?! And that's when the evil, evil Royal Sticker brought out poor Bowser's dark side. You see? Bowser was just a victim of circumstance!
A sticker fairy who went to the Mushroom Kingdom on the Sticker Comet, she is very strong willed. Though she appears paper thin, her heart runs deep, and she shows herself to be a loyal companion on Mario's quest to help the Mushroom Kingdom by recovering the Royal Stickers.
Kersti came from the Sticker Star to help grant everyone's wishes. Mario got the sharp end of her tongue to begin with, but she quickly proves herself to be an indispensable ally on their quest to find the Royal Stickers. She may be made of paper, but she clearly has a heart of gold.
In the world of Paper Mario, even the normally quite round Wiggler becomes paper thin. Something awful happens to him when he runs into Kamek, however. Mario and Kersti are able to help pull him together, but it's not easy to forget what happened to poor Wiggler.
In the world of Paper Mario, even Wigglers are paper-thin instead of their normal lumpy-bumpy selves. One such Wiggler was split into pieces by the wicked Kamek. As you can imagine, he was really chuffed when Mario and Kersti put him back together. Chuffed to bits, you might say!
The culprit behind the poisoning of Wiggler's forest, even this bruiser is thinned down in Paper Mario. Really, he looks more like a dried squid... But don't let this fool you—he's still plenty dangerous. He also spits poisonous ink. Grody.
A villain who squirted poisonous ink all over the forest where Wiggler lives. Even in paper-thin form, he's quite the menace. He slaps with his many tentacles, almost like he's swatting flies, and that poisonous ink we mentioned earlier – he won't hesitate to squirt it right in Mario's face. Ew!
The Royal Stickers can grant wishes, both good and bad. One sticker enhanced Bowser's natural greediness and rage, making him so powerful that Mario had to beat him twice in a row—the recycled Bowser even bigger and more powerful than before!
The Royal Stickers grant wishes, and in the wrong hands, they can wreak all kinds of havoc. When one of them landed on Bowser, he ran riot through the Mushroom Kingdom, and even when Mario managed to beat him, he came back in an even more destructive form than before! Yikes!
If you combine a puppy and a ghost, you'll get a cute little Polterpup. They seem to enjoy causing no end of trouble, but I couldn't tell you if they're enemies or just really mischievous. This big guy's a lot bigger than normal—hopefully he just wants to be friends?
This little guy...or girl – who can tell? – is always finding ways to cause mischief, but it's not clear whether he's your friend, your foe, or just a crazy critter who can't decide one way or the other. Still, as much of a handful as this pup can be, he's nothing compared to Big Polterpups!
Despite Luigi's crippling fear of...well, everything, Professor E. Gadd ropes him into taking care of some unruly ghosts. Here we have four types: the small green ones are Greenies, the angry-looking red ones are Slammers, the thin blue ones are Hiders, and the big yellow ones are Gobbers. What appropriate names!
Despite Luigi's crippling fear of...well, everything, Professor E. Gadd ropes him into taking care of some unruly ghosts. Here we have four types. The small, green ones are Greenies, the angry-looking, red ones are Slammers, the thin, blue ones are Hiders and the big, yellow ones are Gobbers. What appropriate names!
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 this world tour is just full of – especially the underwater course!
Break the Smash Ball and unleash Mario's Final Smash. Mario will fire a devastating blast of fire in the direction he is 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 this move 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 streams, 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!
A ghost-sucking vacuum cleaner created by Professor E. Gadd. In Luigi's ghostly adventures, it's the only thing standing between him and complete terror. In this game, it sucks in enemies, damages them, and then fires them diagonally upward. If it's used in an area with no ceilings, you might send them soaring right off the screen!
A ghost-sucking vacuum cleaner created by Professor E. Gadd. In Luigi's ghostly adventures, it's the only thing standing between him and abject terror. In this game, it sucks in enemies, damages them, then fires them diagonally upward. Use it in an area with no ceilings, and you might send them soaring right off the screen!
Peach's Final Smash is quite a spectacle to behold. Giant illustrations of Peach herself frame the screen, giant peaches rain down, and all the other fighters fall asleep. The closer they are to Peach, the longer they'll stay snoozing, giving Peach plenty of time to send foes flying or to recover her health with the peaches.
Peach's Final Smash is quite a spectacle to behold. Giant illustrations of Peach herself frame the screen, giant peaches rain down, and all the other fighters fall asleep. The closer they were to Peach, the longer they'll stay snoozing, giving Peach plenty of time to send foes flying or to recover her health with the peaches.
Prepare to behold Bowser in all his Koopa glory. This fearsome form first appeared all the way back in Melee. While transformed, Bowser deals extra damage, is better at launching foes, and even gains special effects on some of his attacks. He won't flinch and can't be thrown, but he does still take damage.
The definitive way to prove that Bowser's the king. This fearsome form made its debut all the way back in Melee. While transformed, Bowser deals more damage, launches foes further, and certain attacks have extra effects like freezing opponents. He won't flinch, and he can't be thrown either, but he will still take damage.
In Dr. Mario's Final Smash, he spreads his arms wide and then lets loose a pair of giant vitamin capsules that spiral through the air, taking out any pesky "viruses" in their path. Their wide range makes them tough for foes to avoid, and opponents they strike will take multiple hits, possibly even being pushed right off the screen!
In Dr. Mario's Final Smash, he spreads his arms wide, then lets loose a pair of giant vitamin capsules that spiral through the air, taking out any pesky "viruses" in their path. Their wide range makes them tough for foes to avoid, and opponents they strike will take multiple hits, possibly even being pushed right off the screen!
In Rosalina's Final Smash, she summons a Power Star above her head. It launches fighters who touch it and also fires a barrage of smaller stars in all directions, all the while growing bigger and bigger. Even if Rosalina falls off the stage right after activating it, the Power Star will keep attacking her foes until it finally explodes.
In Rosalina's Final Smash, she summons a Power Star above her head to attack. It launches fighters who touch it, and also fires a barrage of smaller stars all around, all the while growing bigger and bigger. Even if Rosalina falls off the stage right after activating it, the Power Star will keep attacking her foes until it finally explodes.
In Super Mario Sunshine, someone went around causing havoc disguised as Mario. It turned out not to be the brawny Bowser, but his brainier son, Bowser Jr. Now he becomes Shadow Mario again for his Final Smash, painting a giant X on the screen. It sticks around after Bowser Jr. transforms back, letting him gleefully knock foes into it.
In Super Mario Sunshine, someone went around causing havoc disguised as Mario. It turned out not to be the brawny Bowser, but his brainier son, Bowser Jr. Now he becomes Shadow Mario again for his Final Smash, painting a giant cross on the screen. It sticks around after Bowser Jr. turns back, so he can gleefully knock people into it.
When Mario straps this fine accessory to his back, he takes to it like a fish to water! He can use F.L.U.D.D.'s high-powered water jets to blast himself high into the air or do a high-speed dash... Oh yeah, and he can defeat enemies and wash away graffiti. The built-in tutorial function makes anyone a pro F.L.U.D.D. user in just minutes!
: Super Mario Sunshine (08/2002)
When Mario straps this fine accessory to his back, he takes to it like a fish to water! He can use F.L.U.D.D.'s high-powered water jets to blast himself way up high or do a super high-speed dash – not to mention defeat enemies and wash away graffiti. Afraid it'll be hard to use? No worries – it has a tutorial function, too!
An underhanded little rascal who steals items from the Toad Houses and runs away with them. If you can catch him, Toad might repay you with a nice present. In New Super Luigi U, he even manages to nab a position as a playable character! From burglar to hero in the blink of an eye... Not bad work, all things considered.
As Mario travels to the unknown reaches of space, he can always rely on the trusty Toad Brigade. They're a colorful bunch—the captain sports red spots while the others have green, yellow, blue, or purple ones. The yellow Toad is known for dozing off on the job, but his sleepy musings can be quite handy!
: Super Mario Galaxy (11/2007)
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
As Mario travels to the unknown reaches of space, he can always rely on the trusty Toad Brigade. They're a colourful bunch – the captain sports red spots while the others have green, yellow, blue or purple ones. The yellow Toad is known for dozing off on the job, but his sleepy musings can be quite handy!
Many fancy restaurants serve sea urchins as a delicacy, but they're more of an obstacle in Mario's world. And the friendly looking Big Urchins have the sharpest spikes! They're also, you know, huge. They probably have to be careful not to poke each other while they wait for Mario.
While any deep-sea diver would be glad to come across a sea urchin, for Mario, giant ones like this are a massive nuisance. Their large eyes may make them kind of adorable to look at, but that doesn't make their spikes any less spiky. Don't get too close unless you fancy being turned into a shish kebab!
This ship was made for Mario by Lubba, head honcho of the Luma crew. It's fueled by Power Stars, so the more Mario collects, the deeper he can go into space. Also, as he continues his adventure, the ship will fill up with new friends and items from all over the universe. At some point, a Yoshi's Egg will even appear on the ship's nose!
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
This ship was made for Mario by Lubba, head honcho of the Luma crew. It's fuelled by Power Stars, so the more Mario collects, the deeper he can go into space. Also, as he continues his adventure, the ship will fill up with new friends and items from all over the universe. At some point, a Yoshi's Egg will even appear on the ship's nose!
With a name that implies silently sneaking up on its prey, the Shellcreeper might be considered cooler than your average turtle. The Koopa is apparently an evolved form of this veteran of Mario Bros. We'd recommend not jumping on this one like you would a Koopa, though...
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: Super Mario Advance (06/2001)
With a name that implies silently sneaking up on its prey, the Shellcreeper might be considered cooler than your average turtle. A true veteran from way back in Mario Bros., this guy even predates Koopas, which apparently it evolved into. We wouldn't recommend jumping on this one like you'd jump on a Koopa, though...
Can you guess how this crab-like enemy moves? The name might give you a clue. But Mario could be in for a surprise when he punches one from below—instead of flipping over, it starts sidestepping even faster! Oh, Mario, did you make it angry? Don't worry—a second punch should calm it down...or at least knock it on its head.
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: Super Mario Advance (06/2001)
Any guesses for how this crab-like enemy moves? The name might give you a clue. Mario could be in for a surprise when he punches one from below – instead of flipping over, it starts sidestepping even faster! Oh, Mario, did you make it angry? Don't worry – a second punch should calm it down...or at least knock it on its head.
An enemy from the original Mario Bros. Just as the name implies, they are flies that gracefully move across the stage. They jump to move around, so hit them from below when they land. Unlike other enemies, these pests get faster after recovering from being flipped, rather than when only one is left. Be careful!
Arcade: Mario Bros. (1983)
: Super Mario Advance (06/2001)
These pests come from the original Mario Bros. The name might make them sound tough, but these guys are actually kind of elegant and graceful. It's best to wait until they're on solid ground, then bop 'em from underneath to flip them over. If they get back up, though, watch out – they'll start gracefully leaping around a bit faster.
Birdo's debut wasn't in a Mario game at all but in a game called Doki Doki Panic. Originally released in Japan, a version of that game made it to the West under a different name. Mario and friends replaced the main characters, and the game was called Super Mario Bros. 2. That's how Birdo joined the Mario Bros. family!
: Super Mario Bros. 2 (10/1988)
Birdo's debut wasn't in a Mario game at all, but in a game called Doki Doki Panic. Originally released in Japan, that game made its way to the West with a few changes: Mario and Co. replaced the main characters, and the title was changed to Super Mario Bros. 2. That's how Birdo joined the Mario Bros. family!
She may be the princess of Sarasaland, but she doesn't exactly have the poise you might expect from royalty. Daisy is more of a headstrong, active type. That's all part of her charm, though, and rumor has it Luigi is quite smitten with her. Unlike Peach, she's only really been kidnapped once—in Super Mario Land.
: Super Mario Land (08/1989)
: Mario Tennis (08/2000)
She may be the princess of Sarasaland, but she doesn't exactly have the poise you might expect from royalty. Daisy's more of a headstrong, active type. That's all part of her charm, though, and rumour has it that's why Luigi's so smitten with her. Unlike Peach, she's only really been kidnapped once – in Super Mario Land.
Despite missing the trademark mustache, the big nose and the L on his cap should be dead giveaways that this is Luigi! When he appeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Baby Luigi surprised the other racers with his Rattle Buggy driving skills. Adult Luigi probably still remembers those days of racing glory.
Since he's only a baby, he doesn't have the trademark moustache yet, but that big L on his cap and his even bigger nose make him unmistakably Luigi. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, his first playable outing, he zooms around the tracks in his Rattle Buggy. Do you think grown-up Luigi remembers all those escapades?
Is it really all that surprising that a creature named Whomp would want to dish out some pain? Another unsurprising fact: Whomps are actually good friends with Thwomps, who are also made of stone. Oh! We had a joke for this... What do you get when you cross a Whomp with a Thwomp? A headache! Ha!
: Super Mario 64 (09/1996)
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
Whomps are anything but subtle. Even their name makes it clear what happens when you get too close – they throw themselves on top of you and leave you flat as a pancake. Apparently, Whomps are pretty friendly with Thwomps. Maybe it's their common interest in constantly looking angry that brought them together.
In Paper Mario, Mario stumbles across a farm in Toad Town where these little guys live a peaceful existence. In exchange for a few coins, you can get a Li'l Oink egg that will hatch into a random Li'l Oink. It could be silver or gold or have spots or tiger stripes... Just don't forget about the adventure you're on!
: Paper Mario (02/2001)
In Paper Mario, these little guys live a happy, quiet life on a farm in Toad Town. In exchange for a few coins, you can get a Li'l Oink egg, which will hatch into a random Li'l Oink. It could be silver or gold or have spots or tiger stripes... Just don't let yourself get too distracted from the actual quest!
These mischievous ghosts haunt an old, old mansion. Suck them all up with your Poltergust 3000, but watch out for their attacks while you do! The gold ones' short punches might not be too hard to dodge, but the pink ones have much greater reach. The blue ones will smack the floor to hit you with shock waves!
: Luigi's Mansion (11/2001)
These mischievous ghosts haunt an old, old mansion. Suck them all up with your Poltergust 3000, but watch out for their attacks while you do! The gold ones' short punches might not be too hard to dodge, but the pink ones have much more reach. And the blue one will smack the floor to hit you with shock waves!
This faithful aide to Princess Peach made his debut in Super Mario Sunshine. His name is perfect for a personal aide too! All the years of service seem to have given him some leeway when it comes to rules—whenever he steps up to the plate in baseball, he uses his walking stick instead of a bat!
: Super Mario Sunshine (08/2002)
: Mario Party 7 (11/2005)
This fellow made his debut in Super Mario Sunshine. He's been Peach's faithful aide for many years, and he even has a suitably servantly name for the job. When he plays baseball, he steps up to the plate holding his stick instead of a bat. It seems the rules of baseball are pretty lax in Mario's world!
This lady made her debut in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Since then, she's shown up to help in several other games. She loves animals and listening to music, and she's quite good at sports. She's also shown herself to be helpful in explaining Mario's weapons. There is definitely more to Toadette than there seems to be.
Toadette didn't show up until Mario Kart: Double Dash!! on the GameCube, but has been helping out in games here and there ever since. She loves animals and listening to music, and can explain Mario's weapons like a pro. On top of all that, she's great at all kinds of sports. Yep, she's definitely much more than just a (very) cute face.
Goombella is a student of archaeology at the University of Goom, studying under Prof. Frankly. She's a super-bright gal and is a useful guide in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Despite being easily spooked by ghosts and spiders, she's doing her best to help in your adventure!
: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (10/2004)
Goombella, an archaeology student at the University of Goom, is significantly smarter (and sassier) than your average Goomba. In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, she'll gladly give Mario a bit of background info about pretty much anything they come across. She's the perfect guide...when she's not being startled by monsters and spiders.
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, this young Yoshi first appears as just an egg. After breaking out of his shell, though, the rascal's cheek and ultra-competitive nature run rampant. He's strong for a little lad and can even carry Mario, who he calls Gonzales. There's a funny reason for that, and it's—oh, we've run out of space. Sorry.
: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (10/2004)
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, this young Yoshi first appears as just an egg. After breaking out of his shell, though, the rascal's cheek and ultra-competitive nature run rampage. He's strong for a little lad, and can even carry Mario, who he calls "Gonzales". There's a funny reason for that, and it's...oh, we've run out of space. Sorry.
The thought of yet another kidnapping is never far from Peach's mind, but in Mario Super Sluggers, she gets a nice break to just focus on the game. As the leader of the Peach Monarchs, she shows off her skills with her Star Swing, Heart Swing, drawing a heart in the air to distract the fielders.
: Mario Superstar Baseball (08/2005)
: Mario Super Sluggers (08/2008)
It's hard work getting kidnapped all the time, so it's good to see that Peach can take some time off from it to enjoy a bit of American cricket. As captain of the Peach Monarchs, she shows her skills with her special Heart Swing, drawing a heart in the air to try and distract the fielders trying to catch the ball.
The captain of the Daisy Flowers, Daisy is great both when at bat and when defending. Her fastballs especially are a thing to be feared. Her Star Swing, Flower Swing, will cause a garden to bloom where the ball lands. Fielders will have to wait for the flowers to clear away. What a pretty delay of the game!
: Mario Superstar Baseball (08/2005)
: Mario Super Sluggers (08/2008)
When it comes to baseball, Daisy, captain of the Daisy Flowers, is good at batting and even better at defence. She throws a mean fastball when she's on the pitcher's mound, and her batting special, Flower Swing, makes a garden bloom in the outfield. Who says there's no time to stop and smell the flowers in the middle of a ball game?
In Super Paper Mario, Mario and his buddies use a special kind of tool—no, wait. That's rude. Pixls have feelings, you know! This one here is named Tippi, and she looks a bit like a math teacher's drawing of a butterfly. She's very helpful, but she also has her own motives, it seems...
: Super Paper Mario (04/2007)
In Super Paper Mario, Mario and friends use a special kind of tool that- No, calling them tools isn't very nice – Pixls have feelings too! This one in particular is called Tippi, and she looks a bit like a maths teacher's drawing of a butterfly. She helps Mario on his adventures, but seems to have her own motives too...
A guardian robot created by an ancient civilization. Realizing that Mario is the hero foretold in the prophecy, he tries to hand over the Pure Heart gracefully... until Dimentio casts a spell through the antenna on his head that sends his programming berserk. That's right—the antenna is Fracktail's weak point!
: Super Paper Mario (04/2007)
A guardian robot created by an ancient civilisation. Realising that Mario is the hero foretold in the prophecy, he tries to hand over the Pure Heart gracefully...until Dimentio casts a spell through the antenna on his head that sends his programming berserk. That's right – the antenna is Fracktail's weak point!
Who would use "Cragley Ho!" as a catchphrase, you say? Flint Cragley, of course! He comes from an advanced Stone Age civilization called the Land of the Cragnons. There they broadcast a program, "Flint Cragley's Cragtrotter," which stars Flint Cragley, is directed by Flint Cragley, and was made possible by producer...Flint Cragley.
: Super Paper Mario (04/2007)
A freelance explorer, easily identified by his cry of "CRAGLEY HO!" A Cragnon from Crag, which is something like an oddly advanced Stone Age civilisation. Directs and stars in the popular show Flint Cragley's Cragtrotter – the biggest hit on all of crag-vision! Yes, he's quite the celebrity, and he's very aware of that.
He calls himself the Green Thunder, but Mr. L's true identity is a mystery, forever concealed beneath his stylish green hat. With his incredible skill of jumping really high, he makes a valuable addition to Count Bleck's evil forces. Coincidentally, for the whole of Mr. L's reign of terror, Luigi is nowhere to be seen. How odd...
: Super Paper Mario (04/2007)
Calling himself The Green Thunder, Mr. L keeps his true identity forever concealed beneath his stylish green hat. With his incredible skill of jumping really high, he makes a valuable addition to Count Bleck's evil forces. Incidentally, for the whole of Mr. L's reign of terror, Luigi is nowhere to be seen. How very odd...
Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser so many times, it seemed like a good idea to mix things up—instead she gets kidnapped by this guy, Count Bleck! He then obtains the Chaos Heart by forcing Peach and Bowser to marry. All of this was predicted by the Dark Prognosticus, which Count Bleck carries with him.
: Super Paper Mario (04/2007)
It's always nice to have a fresh face on the Peach-kidnapping scene, and that's where Count Bleck comes in. In order to obtain the Chaos Heart, he actually tries to marry Peach to Bowser! Apparently, the path to dimensional destruction is all foretold in the Dark Prognosticus – he's just following the instructions.
Do you hear that buzzing? Whatever could it...bee? Bee Mario! Finding a Bee Mushroom allows Mario to buzz around in the air, land on flowers, and stick to walls covered in honey. Oh, this is the bee's knees! However, Bee Mario can't sting his foes. But that's fine—you don't really want to be that kind of bee, do you?
: Super Mario Galaxy (11/2007)
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
If you don't want to be Mario any more, be Bee Mario instead! Just find a Bee Mushroom, and you can buzz around in the air, land on flowers and stick to walls covered in honey. See? It'll be the bee's knees! The only bee thing you won't be doing is stinging. But that's not the kind of bee you want to be anyway, now is it?
Are you afraid of ghosts? Maybe it will help to see the world as they do. Become Boo Mario with a Boo Mushroom, and then explore their world! Shake your Wii Remote to make Boo Mario go through walls. Boo Mario blends in OK, but even as a ghost he keeps his trademark hat. The other Boos don't seem to mind, thankfully.
: Super Mario Galaxy (11/2007)
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
Boos are always tricky to deal with, so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! All you need to do is grab a Boo Mushroom, and you'll become a Boo, letting you turn invisible, slip straight through walls and even speak Booish! You'd think Boos wouldn't fall for it, what with that trademark cap still firmly on top of your head...but luckily, they do.
Boingee boingee boingee... It's Spring Mario, bouncing along and having a grand time! Just get a Spring Mushroom, and then press the A Button right when you land for a super-high jump! If you have a fear of heights, though, there's nothing wrong with staying in place and just bouncing a little.
: Super Mario Galaxy (11/2007)
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
Boing! Sproing! Mario's turned into a spring! One touch of a Spring Mushroom and he becomes Spring Mario. He'll bounce SUPER high if you press the A Button right when he lands. Doesn't it make you feel like just bouncing on the spot? Boing, boing, boing...
What would you get if you combined Mario with a bouncing, rainbow-colored star? An amazing, invincible Rainbow Mario, of course! Plus, Mario will glow with twinkling stars and have an energetic song play for the duration. Doesn't that make you want to run out and grab a Rainbow Star right now?
: Super Mario Galaxy (11/2007)
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
What would you do if you found a star that glowed in seven colours? "Grab it quick"? Well, that would be the smart thing to do, because it'd probably be a Rainbow Star! It turns everyone's favourite moustachioed man into a...well, a rainbow-coloured moustachioed man. Not only does he become invincible, but he looks fab!
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.
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 series veterans trying out bikes for the first time.
You may think it doesn't look like a racer. You may think it would look more at home on a carousel. But Peach will have the last laugh as she sails past the finish line, leaving you in the dust. The Daytripper's great handling lets it breeze through even the trickiest of courses—and what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in acceleration.
You may think it doesn't look like a racer. You may think it would look more at home on a carousel. But Peach will have the last laugh as she sails past the finish line, leaving you in the dust. The Royal Racer's great handling lets it breeze through even the trickiest of courses. What it lacks in speed, it makes up for in acceleration.
Now THIS is a monster of a bike! It was obviously designed with Bowser in mind, since they both weigh a ton and both have trouble accelerating. Once you get up to top speed, though, these two really come into their own! Incidentally, Bowser is known as Koopa in Japan, but the Japanese name for this bike is Super Bowser. How rare.
Now THIS is a monster of a bike! It was clearly designed with Bowser in mind, but since they both weigh a ton, they might have trouble accelerating. Once they get to top speed, though, they're a practically unstoppable team! Incidentally, although Bowser is known as Koopa in Japan, this bike still uses his English name there.
Though its appearance calls to mind an infant's toy, the Quacker is really a fully functional motorbike with some serious acceleration. That's because its frame is so light, you might expect it to float on water like a swan boat! But that lightness also makes it easy for other karts to push around, so try to stay out of trouble.
Despite just looking like a child's plaything, the Quacker is a fully-functional motorbike with serious acceleration and a frame so light you'd think it'd be able to float on water like a swan boat! That lightness makes it easy for other karts to push it around, though, so avoid drawing attention to yourself as you slip by your rivals.
You may wonder why this kart is called the Offroader when its off-road ability is so average. But a true off-roader is a kart that can take on the world and survive—and this kart fits that description to a tee. It handles like a king, and if other karts try to ram into it, they'll be the ones crying. It has just one big weakness...drifting.
You may wonder why this kart is called the Offroader when its off-road ability is so average. But a true off-roader is a kart that can take on the world and survive – and this kart fits that description to a tee. It handles like a king, and if other karts try to ram into it, they'll be the ones crying. It has just one big weakness...drifting.
This cute toddler made her first appearance in Mario Kart Wii. If she looks familiar, that's because she's a baby version of Princess Daisy! Look at the determination in those baby eyes—even at such a young age, she was full of drive! Orange was her favorite color at that age too. Even her pacifier is orange!
This cute toddler first showed up in Mario Kart Wii. If she looks familiar, it's because she's just a baby version of Princess Daisy. Look at the determination in those huge eyes – even at such a young age, she was full of drive! And from looking at her clothes, dummy and kart, it seems her taste for orange fashion started early too!
You can tell just by the sound that there's something different about the propeller on Mario's head. It must be because it's made of rubber! In any case, Propeller Mushrooms transform Mario into Propeller Mario. Shake the Wii Remote to send Mario zooming up into the air!
The propeller on Propeller Mario's head makes such an awesome sound. Not like an engine or a motor – it's more like it's powered by an elastic band. Grabbing a Propeller Mushroom turns Mario into this form, letting you send him whirling waaaaay up into the air, making that awesome sound as he goes!
Ahh, the life of a penguin... So carefree. At last, Mario too can enjoy the feeling of gliding across the ice by donning the Penguin Suit. Not only that, but this suit unlocks other penguin abilities too! Mario can swim gracefully and, just like a penguin, dream of a day when he can fly.
What sort of penguin-y activities do you think Mario can get up to while wearing a Penguin Suit? Sliding around on his belly? Swimming gracefully through water? Tragically looking to the skies, reflecting on unfulfilled dreams of using his penguin wings to fly? Well, the truth is...he can do all of these things, just like a real penguin!
Guess what happens when Mario collects a Cloud Flower! Oh, wait. You can already see exactly what happens... That's right, Mario dons a fluffy hat, overalls, and a scarf and gets a whole lot lighter. He can jump farther, stay in the air longer, walk on clouds, and even make cloud platforms. This outfit is all silver lining!
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
Guess what happens when Mario collects a Cloud Flower! Oh, wait. You can already see exactly what happens... Yes, Mario dons a fluffy hat, dungarees and scarf, and gets a whole lot lighter. He can jump further, stay in the air longer, walk on clouds and even create cloud platforms. It seems Cloud Mario is all "silver lining"!
If you're a fan of rock and roll, try picking up a Rock Mushroom. When Mario's transformed into Rock Mario, a simple shake of the Wii Remote can turn him into a big, rolling boulder, allowing him to plow through crystals and tough foes. The most amazing thing about Rock Mario, though, is that he can still jump.
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
If you're a fan of rock and roll, try picking up a Rock Mushroom. When Mario's transformed into Rock Mario, a simple shake of the Wii Remote can turn him into a big, rolling boulder, allowing him to plough through crystals and tough foes. The most amazing thing about Rock Mario, though, is that he can still jump.
Once every hundred years, stardust rains down upon the land. Of course, this is a perfect time for Peach to get kidnapped. In order to save her, Mario sets off across the galaxies with the aid of a lost, little star child. Named Baby Luma, this star child uses its star powers to help Mario.
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
Once every hundred years, shining stardust falls on the Mushroom Kingdom. Surprisingly enough, this time it leads to Peach being kidnapped AGAIN! To rescue her, Mario embarks on a journey across the galaxies with this lost little star child who uses his mysterious star power to help Mario, all while looking incredibly adorable!
This Luma offers Mario all kinds of spacefaring support aboard Starship Mario. And who better to do it? With his feet always floating a little bit off the ground, you know he's got his space legs! Lubba's cheerfully casual way with words makes him the perfect space buddy you didn't even know you needed.
: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (05/2010)
This Luma offers Mario all kinds of spacefaring support aboard Starship Mario. And who better to do it? With his feet always floating a little bit off the ground, you know he's got his space legs! Lubba's cheerfully casual way with words makes him seem like the friendly space-buddy you always wish you had.
When Mario grabs a Super Acorn, he turns into Flying Squirrel Mario! Like a real flying squirrel, he can hold out his arms and glide through the air. That must feel really, really awesome! This power isn't just for fun, though—it has practical uses, too, like helping him grab the coins floating in midair. Da-ding! Da-ding! Da-ding! Da-ding!
When Mario grabs a Super Acorn, he turns into Flying Squirrel Mario! Like a real flying squirrel, he can hold out his arms and glide through the air, which probably feels really awesome. This power isn't just for fun, though – it has practical uses too, like helping him grab coins floating in mid-air. Da-ding! Da-ding! Da-ding! Da-ding!
Players could automatically obtain the Flying Squirrel Mario trophy if they had save data from New Super Mario Bros. U.
Trophies of Kersti, Gooper Blooper, and both forms of Paper Bowser have the same shiny palette as in Paper Mario: Sticker Star.
Oddly, Bowser never took this design while in Shiny form during Sticker Star.
The Kamek, Baby Luigi, and Baby Mario trophies appear in the Mario category, even though they appear in the main Yoshi games and Mario spin-off games, though the former has recently played antagonistic roles in the mainstream Mario games and their debut game, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, is considered by Nintendo to also be part of the main Mario series as well as the Yoshi series.
Strangely, Kamek's trophy also states that he appeared in Super Mario World. While the Magikoopa species did first appear in the game, Kamek didn't make his appearance until the prequel.
This marks the first and only time that a trophy based on Donkey Kong himself is in the Mario category, and the second time that Wario and Yoshi appear as a Mario trophy, as all three of them have Mario Kart-based trophies.
The Peach (Baseball) Trophy states that Princess Peach gets a break from kidnapping in Mario Super Sluggers, even though in said game, she gets kidnapped by Bowser Jr.
Several trophies, like the Giga Bowser trophy and the Toadette trophy, resemble their Brawl counterparts.
Additionally, certain veterans' Alt. trophies, like those of Mario and Peach, resemble their Adventure or All-Star Mode trophies in Melee, albeit with a different alternate costume.
Mario's alternate trophy in the Wii U version resembles his Adventure Mode trophy in Melee.
Luigi's alternate trophy in the 3DS version resembles his Adventure Mode trophy in Melee.
Luigi's alternate trophy in the Wii U version resembles his Melee artwork.
Peach's alternate trophy in the Wii U version resembles her Adventure Mode trophy in Melee.
Bowser's alternate trophy in the Wii U version resembles his All-Star Mode trophy in Melee.
The Fighter Fly trophy states that they get faster each time they're flipped without being kicked off the stage, unlike other enemies in Mario Bros.; however, this is true with all Mario Bros. enemies. Fighter Flies just speed up more noticeably due to their hopping motion.
The Shy Guy + Standard Kart Trophy states that Shy Guy made his debut as a racer in Mario Kart 7. This is untrue. Shy Guy actually made his debut as a racer in Mario Kart DS, albeit only in the game's local multiplayer mode.
While the trophy states that Luigi is holding the Poltergust 3000, he is actually holding the Poltergust 5000, as distinguished by the green light. This error was fixed in the PAL release.[1]
Mario's game debut in the Japanese version is listed as the arcade version of Donkey Kong, instead of Donkey Kong Classics.
The Poison Mushroom's game debut in the Japanese version is listed as Super Mario Bros. 2 for the Famicom Disk System.
The Boomerang's game debut in the Japanese version is listed as Super Mario Advance 4 Card e+, with Super Mario 3D Land listed as its other game appearance.
For whatever reason, the Shellcreepers, Sidesteppers, Fighter Fly, and Pipes' Japanese descriptions state that their debut was Mario Bros. on the Famicom, despite the other Mario Bros. elements descriptions stating it was for the arcade.
Additionally, the Shellcreeper trophy states it appeared in Super Mario Advance, but in that game’s included remake of Mario Bros., the Shellcreeper was replaced by the Spiny. However, an image of a Shellcreeper does appear on the title screen for the Mario Bros. mode, so it is still accurate. This same initially questionable game inclusion occurs on the Shellcreeper's trophy in Brawl.
The Metal Box trophy lists Super Mario 64 DS as its other game appearance, even though it (as well as the original game's red and blue ! Blocks) were replaced by ? Blocks in the remake.
Despite appearing on the background of Mario Galaxy (piloting the Starship Mario), the Lubba trophy is categorized as Series Related instead of Stage.
Despite appearing in Mario's moveset in both versions, the F.L.U.D.D. trophy is a Wii U exclusive trophy.
Kamek's trophy in the Wii U version states that when he appears in the Mushroom Kingdom U stage, he might tease the player(s) by not casting any magic at all. This is not true, as every time he appears, he will cast the spell that activates the stage transition.
Paper Bowser's trophy in the PAL release of 3DS version mentions "the evil, evil Royal Sticker" despite the Royal Stickers not being malevolent in nature.
Oddly, despite the presence of Ghosts from PAC-MAN and Find Mii as trophies in the Nintendo 3DS version, the trophy of the Ghosts from Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon does not have the title of the game parenthesized in their name in the NTSC version of the game.
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