Mario: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Character General

|name = Mario

|caption = [[File:MarioSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert]]

|firstgame = ''{{b|Donkey Kong|game}}'' (1981)

|console = Arcade

|species = {{iw|mariowiki|Human}}

|interwikipage = Mario

}}

==Origin==

In 1981, years before video games exploded into mainstream popularity, prominent game designer [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] designed the original arcade game ''{{b|Donkey Kong|game}}'', debuting Mario as the main playable character and [[Donkey Kong]] as his in-game nemesis. Mario's character design was heavily influenced by the extreme technical limitations of video games at the time; as a small batch of pixels, Mario was given a mustache under his big nose to show he had a face.<ref>Rao, Anjali (February 15, 2007). [http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/miyamoto.script/index.html Sigeru Miyamao Talk Asia interview]. Retrieved February 28, 2009</ref> Red overalls and a blue shirt — the reverse of Mario's current red shirt and blue overalls — were also added to contrast against each other and the background, while a red cap was added to let Miyamoto avoid drawing the character's hairstyle, forehead, and eyebrows, as well as to circumvent the issue of animating his hair as he jumped.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/14/ign-presents-the-history-of-super-mario-bros|title=IGN Presents: The History of Super Mario Bros.|author=McLaughlin, Rus|date=September 13, 2010|publisher=IGN|accessdate=June 24, 2013}}</ref> Although unnamed in the Japanese release of ''Donkey Kong'', the character was named '''Jumpman''' in the game's English instructions.<ref>Mario: Alive, Well, and Living in the Bronx? (Next Generation magazine, issue 26, page 46, February 1997)</ref> However, during the localization of ''Donkey Kong'' for American audiences, Nintendo of America's warehouse landlord at the time, the late Mario Segale, confronted then-president Minoru Arakawa, demanding back rent. Following a heated argument in which the Nintendo employees eventually convinced Segale he would be paid, they opted to officially rename Jumpman to '''Mario''' after Segale;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://technologizer.com/2010/04/25/mario/|title= The True Face of Mario |last= Edwards |first= Benj |date= April 25, 2010|accessdate=June 30, 2011}}</ref> this name would also be carried over into the game's sales brochure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=316|title=Donkey Kong|website=The Arcade Flyers Archive}}</ref>

Genres of games in which Mario appears in a playable role include the traditional 2D side-scrolling platformer ''Super Mario Bros.'' and its various sequels; the famed Super NES launch platformer ''[[Super Mario World]]'', which introduced [[Yoshi]] as a trustworthy mount of sorts for Mario; and ''{{iw|mariowiki|New Super Mario Bros.}}'' and its respective sequels, which are revivals of the ''Super Mario Bros.'' series' gameplay. Mario has also had various 3D platforming adventures, such as the seminal ''Super Mario 64'' adventure game launched for the [[Nintendo 64]], followed up by ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario Sunshine}}'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]], ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario Galaxy}}'' for the [[Wii]], ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario 3D World}}'' for the [[Wii U]], and ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario Odyssey}}'' for the [[Nintendo Switch]]. In addition to each of these games being critical successes, ''64'', the ''Galaxy'' duology and ''Odyssey'' in particular are considered among the greatest and most influential games of all time. Spin-off titles include the ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Kart|series}}'' series of power-up and obstacle course-based racing games, a long-running series of multiplayer-based party games named ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Party|series}}'', and various series of ''Mario''-themed sports titles, such as ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Golf|series}}'' and ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Tennis|series}}''. There have even been RPG spinoffs, namely ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario RPG}}'', the ''{{iw|mariowiki|Paper Mario|series}}'' series, and the ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario & Luigi|series}}'' series. Finally, there is the puzzle-based spin-off game ''{{iw|mariowiki|Dr. Mario|game}}'', which sees Mario use {{iw|mariowiki|Megavitamin}}s, a medicine of his own creation,<ref>"''I have just developed a new vitamin that should be able to take care of it.  I sure hope this stuff works!''" - ''Dr. Mario'' NES instruction booklet, page 3.</ref> to combat {{iw|mariowiki|virus}}es. In addition to being the debut of its [[mariowiki: Dr. Mario (series)|own spin-off series]], this game also saw the eponymous {{iw|mariowiki|Dr. Mario}} become [[Dr. Mario|a playable character]] in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.

Mario makes his first appearance in a fighting game in ''Super Smash Bros.'' as a [[starter character]]. His design is based on his appearances in ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario 64}}'' and ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Party}}''. Like in many ''Mario'' spin-off games, he is touted as the most balanced character with no real strengths or weaknesses; therefore, new players of the game are encouraged to play as Mario in order to learn the game's fundamentals. In addition, his younger twin brother {{SSB|Luigi}} appears as a [[clone]], albeit with a few different attributes.

Mario boasts a potent combo game, thanks primarily to his spammable up tilt and versatile down aerial. His edge-guarding potential is also respectable: down smash, forward aerial and back aerial possess respectable power, while down aerial can [[meteor smash]]. Mario also sports two powerful KOing options in his up smash and back throw, while his forward smash and forward throw also sport KO potential, albeit to a lesser degree in comparison. Lastly, Mario's recovery is fairly good, thanks to Super Jump Punch's traveling distance and Mario Tornado's ability to cover more distance via [[button mashing]].

{{Main|Mario (SSBB)}}

[[File:Mario SSBB.jpg|200px|thumb|Mario, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.]]

Like his fellow veterans, Mario now has a [[Final Smash]]; in his case, it is [[Mario Finale]], which consists of him firing a pair of colossal, intertwining Fireballs to engulf all opponents in the direction he is facing. In addition to retaining overall quick frame data and a useful projectile in Fireball, Mario now boasts improved KO potential: forward smash's sourspot is much stronger, down smash's back hit now deals consistent damage, and both Mario Tornado and Super Jump Punch have gained KO potential thanks to their much stronger final hitboxes.

! Game

! Effect

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| Baby Mario

Aside from his nerfs, Mario retains a few noticeable weaknesses. His unimpressive overall range makes him susceptible to disjointed hitboxes, and thus forces him to typically use his all-rounder playstyle instead of his newfound pressure-oriented one when fighting characters with such hitboxes. In addition, Mario's now-serviceable recovery is still burdened with linearity.  

===As a costume===

Compared to his fellow [[veteran]]s, Mario has received very few major direct changes in his transition to ''Ultimate'', possibly less than any other veteran. However, changes to game mechanics brought about by ''Ultimate'' have impacted Mario to a higher degree, as they slightly heightened his learning curve, yet made his playstyle more rewarding.

===As a costume===

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| 1,133 || {{SpiritTableName|MONSTER}} || ★ || 1 || Braking Ability ↑ || ''Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally'' Series

|}

==Trivia==

*Despite being a character primarily known for his jumping abilities outside the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, Mario has below-average jumping abilities in ''SSB'', ''Melee'', and ''Brawl''.

*Despite being able to [[crawl]] in their respective home series, Mario, [[Donkey Kong]], [[Pit]], [[Young Link]], and [[Toon Link]] are unable to do so in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.