‘It’s the flagship of Nintendo’
Fans reflect on Super Mario’s lasting impact
Since 1981, Mario has reigned supreme as the most iconic video game character in the world. March 10 is a special day for gamers and Nintendo fans, because it is considered National Mario Day!
March 10 is Mario day because when written “MAR 10” it resembles “Mario.” Mario day is an annual day to celebrate the Super Mario franchise. While the origin of Mario day is unknown, Nintendo officially embraced the holiday in 2015 when @ Nintendouk tweeted “Happy #Marioday!” Ever since, Nintendo has made March 10 the day of deals, by offering discounted Mario games and consoles.
MARIO’S LEGACY
Mario was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and first appeared as a character in the game Donkey Kong (1981). In the 2D platformer, Mario would climb platforms to rescue the damsel in distress, Pauline, from a giant gorilla. Mario was first called “Mr. Video” and “Jumpman,” but was renamed Mario after Mario Segale, the owner of a warehouse that was rented to Nintendo.
Mario became a household name when Nintedo created the “Super Mario” franchise. The first game in the series came out in 1985 on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and was called “Super Mario Bros.” He was accompanied by a cast of characters including his brother Luigi, Princess Peach and Bowser.
Mario continues to solidify his fame with the release of his latest game in 2023, titled “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” exclusively for Nintendo’s newest console, the Nintendo Switch. Mario also made the box office last year with “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” becoming the highest-grossing film based on a video game.
MARIO IS A SMASH-HIT
Mario’s legacy is ever-lasting as has infiltrated life and culture in more ways than one. Handwarmers 2024, a Smash NL Smash Bros Tournament, was held in St. John’s from February 24 to 25. Super Smash Bros is a popular platform fighting game that features characters from Nintendo franchises including Super Mario.
“Mario is one of the most fun characters in Smash when you’re not playing too seriously and want to have fun with your friends,” said Handwarmers’ graphic designer and attendee, Ben Mcgrath
Smash player Owen Finn also enjoys playing as Mario in Smash, “even though he’s not that good, he’s like the unsung hero. You can do some crazy combos and everyone knows Mario can do it.”
MARIO FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD
Steve Sharpe, also known on the radio as Hulk Caesar, has been a mario fan since the early 80’s. His first memory of Mario was playing Donkey Kong as a child.
Sharpe remembers the excitement that surrounded the release of the first Super Mario game, as he recalls reserving the game Sunday night at the video store.
“You can be sure I was too sick for school the next day” he said.
When Super Mario 3 came out, he recalls kids congregating to watch one kid play the game. Although Sharpe has not played Mario in the last couple of years, his wife remains an avid player of Doctor Mario.
As the Mario franchise evolved into a multiplayer game, bringing people together became a frequent characteristic.
Finn shared a similar memory of playing Mario Kart for the Wii, when kids in his neighborhood gathered together to play the game . Mcgrath also shared a memory of playing as Mario in Smash with his father and at sleepovers with friends.
MARIO’S LASTING LEGACY
Sharpe believes that the secret to Mario’s success is the game’s accessibility.
“I think it is easy for somebody to pick it up and give it a try,” he said.
“He’s been around a long time,” said Noah Davis Abraham, a Smash player present at the Handwarmers tournament. “2D platformers became what they are when Mario came along, and that brought a lot of people into the genre.”
Mario expanded into the world of 3D games with the release of Mario 64 in 1996. “3D platforming wasn’t a big thing until Mario 64” said Davis Abraham, “the Mario Franchise just keeps pushing the envelope of what a game that is accessible to the majority can be.
“There’s so much room for creativity in terms of what you can do with him” said Mcgrath.
He recounted how his dad, who usually preferred 2D platformers, tried out Super Mario Odyssey, a 3D platformer, and ended up really enjoying it.
“He is an iconic character, with iconic colours, with so much variety” said Finn. “There’s so many different options there and something that appeals to everyone.”
IT’S ALWAYS “MARIO TIME!”
For Davis Abraham, “Mario is a game that you can always go back to and have fun.”
“There’s always something exciting about getting a new Mario game and going through it for the first time,” he said.
“It’s the flagship of Nintendo, it’s the highest standard of what video games can be,” said Mcgrath. “Even though a lot of video games are much better in terms of graphics, it’s almost impossible to beat Mario on creativity”.
“Mario brings people together, it’s an umbrella that we can all gather underneath,” said Finn. “If I want to have a fun time and play some Mario Kart on a saturday night, it’s a good social activity.”
Sharpe associates excitement with the Mario franchise. “It was always a real event when a Mario game came out.”
IT’S-A MARIO TIME FOREVER!
Fans eagerly await the future of the beloved plumber, as the brand continues to create new worlds to accommodate the latest gaming technology.
Davis Abraham is hoping for a third adaptation of Super Mario Galaxy. Considered one of the best video games of all time, Mario Galaxy involves an exploration across the universe to save Peach from Bowser.
Mcgrath, however, is hoping for a Mario Kart 9. Mario Kart, another popular game in the Mario franchise, is a kart racing gaming where players race each other around a track. The last Mario Kart game came out in 2014, and fans eagerly await its next adaptation.
There is much to celebrate on Mario day this year. Mario stands out amongst other video games as a symbol of excitement, unity and creativity. Mario has revolutionized gaming, and has become a household name and an essential character in popular culture.