Topic: Super Mario Bros Tutorial
To get us off the rather serious, or rather, semi-serious topic of last week, I felt it was wise to move on to something completely different. With a lot of people stuck inside as of late, I felt that we should consider video games as an avenue of discussion. Since a great majority of Nerds love video games, we'll start off simple, and with the most recognizable character in Video Games. So we're discussing and starting our topic on Super Mario Bros. and it's surprisingly lengthy history.
History of Nintendo
- Founded in 1889 as a Playing Card Company
- In 1975, the Company began pivoting toward electronics and Game Cabinets in Arcardes
- Donkey Kong released in 1981
- Jumpman was introduced as company Mascot, better known today as Mario
- These games are developed by Shigeru Miyamoto, who would go on to be the ‘Walt Disney’ of Nintendo
- In 1980, Game and Watch series of games released, popular hand held games
- In 1983, Nintendo releases the ‘Famicom’ or ‘Family Computer’ as a video game console in Japan. It is released worldwide in 1985 as the ‘Nintendo Entertainment System’
- 1985 Also sees Mario’s First Major outing in ‘Super Mario Brothers’.
- In 1988, Nintendo began publishing ‘Nintendo Power’, a monthly magazine for their new games and fan magazine.
- By 1989, Nintendo released the ‘Game Boy’ a portable video game console. It is arguably, the most successful and most sold video game console, (If you include it’s various iterations)
- Nintendo stays strong in the Handheld market through out release
- In 1991, Nintendo and Sony begin work and development on CD Addon for Super Nintendo, but as CES(Consumer Electronics Show) in 1991, Nintendo backed out of the deal and went with Philips instead. The decision to break partnership with Sony caused Sony to develop the PlayStation, Nintendo’s biggest rival in the console market to date.
- 1996 sees release of Nintendo 64, Nintendo’s reliance on cartages over CDs causes a lot of its 3rd party publishers to move on to other consoles.
- 2002 saw Satoru Iwata becoming President of company, leading the company through many new consoles
- 2006 sees release of the Wii, becoming a major Success for Nintendo and the most dominate 7th generation console
- 2012 sees release of the Wii U, the successor to the Wii, bring in HD graphics. It is considered a failure due to lack of understanding how to use the system by consumers and gave developers
- In 2015, Satoru Iwata dies due to complications at 55
- In 2016, Nintendo release the NES Classic, a smaller device with Classic NES Controllers that included a number of popular NES titles. It did the same in 2017 with the SNES Classic. Due to high demand and low inventory, a rather later secondary market continues to sell the consoles at double or triple the original price
- 2017 sees the release of the Switch, merging both Handheld and console gaming in to one device for Nintendo
Nintendo Consoles
- 1985 – Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (3rd Generation)
- 2016 – NES Classic Edition
- 1989 – Nintendo Game Boy (GB)
- 1998 – Game Boy Color (GBC)
- 2001 – Game Boy Advance(GBA)
- 1991 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) (4th Generation)
- 2017 – SNES Classic Edition
- 1995 – Nintendo Virtual Boy
- 1996 – Nintendo 64 (N64) (5th Generation)
- 2001 – Nintendo GameCube (GCN) (6th Generation)
- 2004 – Nintendo DS(Dual Screen) (DS)
- 2011 Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
- 2006 – Nintendo Wii (Wii) (7th Generation)
- 2012 – Nintendo Wii U (Wii U) (8th Generation)
- 2017 – Nintendo Switch (Switch) (9th Generation)
History of Mario
- Started life as ‘Jumpman’ in original Donkey Kong(1981) game. Name was later changed to Mario is Donkey Kong Junior where he is a villain.
- He would get his brother Luigi and star in his own game Mario Brothers(1982). This also marked the first time he was noted for being Italian and a plumber.
- Mario gets his name from ‘Mario Segale’, Landlord for the Nintendo of America’s offices at the time.
- Mario has appeared in over 200+ video game series
- Confusing Last Name, joked as “Mario Mario”, hence Mario Brothers, but no official Nintendo Stance on the last name
An interesting Video on Mario's Evolution as a 3D Character:
Characters of Mario
- Princess Peach(Princess Toadstool)
- Ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, main Love Interest, usually being held captive, but usually very resourceful, and can float/fly
- Luigi
- Younger brother to Mario, often portrayed as a coward and scared, is lighter and has more floatier jumps
- Bowser (King Koopa)
- Main Antagonist, a giant Bull/Turtle leader of the Koopa Race(Evil turtles) wants to marry Princess Peach
- Bowser Jr
- Bowser’s Canonical Son
- Koopalings
- Initially Boswer’s children, but later recon to be Bowser’s minions
- Toad
- A loyal Subject of Princess Peach and recurring assistant/character to Mario and Luigi
- Toadette
- A female version of Toad
- Donkey Kong
- A big Ape, originally intended to be King Kong, he kidnapped Paluine in his own game and made Mario come to save him. While he has never appeared in a Mainline Mario game, he is a staple of Mario’s various Spin Offs, including Mario Kart and Mario Party.
- Diddy Kong
- A younger Cousin to Donkey Kong, he is portrayed a smaller monkey with a tail, a cap, and wearing a t-shirt.
- Princess Daisy
- Lead Princess in Game Boy Mario titles, she is best friends with Princess Peach, often portrayed as a tomboy and upbeat personality
- Rosalina
- While not an official princess, she often portrayed in similar fashion. She is portrayed as mysterious, wise, and worldly
- Pauline
- Original captured heroine of Donkey Kong, has made spare appearance in other Mario titles, most recently as leader of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey
- Yoshi
- A rideable dinosaur for Mario and company. He has his own games where he is the hero. He is portrays as an innocent child with a long tongue that eats enemies and turns them to Eggs. He was in original Design documents for NES Mario games, but wasn’t realized until Super Mario World
- Cappy
- A newer character introduced in Mario Odyssey, he is a sentient hat that replaces Mario’s classic had when it is destroyed
- Wario
- Mario’s Rival and a negative mirror to Mario, portrayed as money hungry and glutinous, often trying to best Mario whenever possible. He has a spin off of games that are semi-irrelevant and weird by intention. The name "Wario" is a portmanteau of "Mario" with the Japanese adjective warui (悪い) meaning "bad"; hence, a "bad Mario"
- Waluigi
- Similar to Wario, he is Luigi’s Rival and mirror to Luigi, portrayed with long lanky arms and willing to cheat to win. Though he has never starred in his own game, never seen without Wario, and never appeared in any mainline Mario Games, he has a cult following and is the subject of lots of Internet Memes and jokes.
Mainline Mario Titles
There are 21 mainline Mario games, with atleast 10 rereleases for alternate Hardware. Most games revolve around Bowser causing havoc in his efforts to take over the Mushroom Kingdom. This often is forms in Princess Peach and her Castle being taken over the Bowser, and Mario attempting to save Princess Peach. In other cases, Bowser has unleashed or tapped in to various new abilities, worlds, or associates to assist him in getting Princess Peach to Marry him and for him to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario is the primary hero of these games, with Luigi as a second player option; in more recent games, Luigi has slightly different abilities over Mario, leading to different gameplay. Other games introduce Princess Peach or Toad as alternate characters that can be played, each of whom offer their own unique abilities that allow them navigate the game in different ways. Mario’s goal is march through each level in a world or land, in order to reach the Castle and defeat a boss that will unlock the next world or land. At the end, Mario must face off against Bowser in his castle/base to defeat him and save Princess Peach.
While Mario has little assistance outside of his brother, he can gain access to a number of power ups. Most notably are:
- Super Mushroom - Makes Mario taller and capable of breaking blocks with a punch
- Fire Flower – Make Mario capable of throwing Fireballs
- Tanuki Leaf/Super Feather – Gives Mario the ability to fly and spin to defeat enemies
- Super Star – Makes Mario immune to any damage he might take for a limited time, instantly defeat enemies
- Yoshi – A rideable Dinosaur that Mario can ride and gain access to new abilities
Each game has its own unique power ups, some that reappear in other games, with others that do so only in that title. If Mario gets hit by an enemy, he will lose whatever power-up he most recently had and transform back into his original form. A following hit will cause him to lose a life, and Mario will need to start back from the beginning of the level, or closest check point that he cleared.
Most enemies in the game can be beat by hopping on top of them, punching them when they are close enough in later games, or attacking them with a power up. Some enemies can only be defeated by some power-ups. Bosses often take about 3 hits or more, depending on the game.
The mainline Mario games include:
- Super Mario Bros. (1985) – NES
- First major Mario game, released with NES in America, often as a bundle.
- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (1999) - GBC
- Rereleased on Game Boy Color with updated over world Map
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986) - NES
- Technically Super Mario Bros 2 in Japan, it was considered too difficult for American Gamers and was not released in America until Super Mario All-Stars(1993)
- Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) – NES
Originally published in Japan as Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, a tie in with a Japanese TV Channel’s Mascots. It was released in the West as Super Mario Bros. 2 as Nintendo felt it would be easier and better fit for Western Gamers. Super Mario Bros. 2 takes place in Mario’s dream.
Super Mario Advance (2001) - GBA
A rerelease on Game Boy Advance hardware - Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) – NES
Return to a more classic Mario. First introduction of Tanuki leaf and raccoon tail/ears for Mario. First time Mario flew, and first introduction of an Over-world
Super Mario Advanced 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (2003) - GBA
A rerelease on Game Boy Advance hardware - Super Mario Land (1989) - GB
First Game Boy Mario title. Introduction of Princess Daisy - Super Mario World (1990) – SNES
First outing on SNES. Often released with the system. Started as a remake of Super Mario Bros. 3. Introduced Yoshi, who had been planned as earlier as Super Mario 1, but cut due to technical limitations
Super Mario Advance 2 (2001) - GBA
A rerelease on Game Boy Advance hardware - Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) – GB
Second Outing on Game Boy, Introduction of Wario, Mario’s Rival - Super Mario All-Stars (1993) – SNES
A release of Super Mario 1, 2, & 3, and also first time seeing the Japanese Super Mario 2, renamed as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) – SNES
First Mario Title to focus on Another character, ie Yoshi, as the main hero
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island (2002) – GBA
A rerelease on Game Boy Advance hardware - Super Mario 64 (1996) - N64
First Major game in 3D, pioneered a number of 3D Platform elements that would become mainstream
Super Mario 64 DS (2004) – DS
A rerelease on Nintendo DS hardware - Super Mario Sunshine (2002) – GCN
Follow up to Super Mario 64, showing of new tech, allowing Rideable Yoshi, and more story driven than previous games. Introduce Bowser Jr. - New Super Mario Bros. (2006) – DS
A return to the 2d side scrolling roots of the Mario Franchise - Super Mario Galaxy (2007) – Wii
First Major game to introduce gravity changing effects to the Mario series, in the form of planets. Introduction of Princess Rosalina - New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009) – Wii
A follow up to their outing on the DS, this featured 4 player co-op play, along with a fully 3rd art design over the pervious - Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) – Wii
First Direct sequel for a Mario title since early NES days. - Super Mario 3D Land (2011) – DS
New major 3D Mario title on handheld, reintroducing classic Super Mario Bros 3 power-ups - New Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012) – DS
Another direct sequel to the first game - New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) - Wii U
Following on the success of the Wii version, introducing new power-ups
New Super Luigi U (2013) - Wii U
During Mario Brothers 30th Anniversary, a special Luigi only variation
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019) – Switch
Rerelease for Switch Hardware, including New Super Luigi material - Super Mario 3D World (2013) - Wii U
Following success of Super Mario 3D Land, brought in 4 player co-op and more vertical elements - Super Mario Maker (2015) - Wii U
A 2D Side Scroller Maker, in line with ‘Little Big Planet’, allowing people to make their own Super Mario levels in various design styles, and play other people’s as well
Super Mario Maker 2 (2019) – Switch
A rerelease for Switch Hardware, with improvements and updates - Super Mario Run (2016) – Mobile
First Mario Game on Mobile devices, criticized for being pay to play. - Super Mario Odyssey (2017) – Switch
Main line Mario game for Switch, first introduction to non-Mario-design humans and realistic world. Introduction of Cappy.
Non-Mainline Mario Games
Beyond the main Games, Mario has starred in and helped launch several other genre of games in the past. These include:
- Puzzle Games
- Kart Racing Games
- Role-Playing Games
- Party Games
- Sports Games
- Educational Games
There are even some games released outside of Nintendo with their Blessing.
Dr. Mario (1990)
This series has Mario as a doctor, throwing pills at viruses that the player needs to match up. The pills are thrown one at a time and travel downward at a consistent pace. The goal is to connect four of the same red, yellow, or blue colors together, with atleast one Virus among them. Once matched, they’ll get removed, along with the virus. Each Pill has two colors on it, so if one of them disappears, the other will drop down if able to. Dr. Mario has had numerous rereleases for each console.
This series has Mario as a doctor, throwing pills at viruses that the player needs to match up. The pills are thrown one at a time and travel downward at a consistent pace. The goal is to connect four of the same red, yellow, or blue colors together, with atleast one Virus among them. Once matched, they’ll get removed, along with the virus. Each Pill has two colors on it, so if one of them disappears, the other will drop down if able to. Dr. Mario has had numerous rereleases for each console.
Super Mario Kart (1992)
Considered the most popular Spinoff, Mario Kart sees various characters in the Mario cannon racing around a themed track. What makes it unusual to traditional racing games is that characters can collect items and use them against their enemies, allowing character to progress or hinder other players in the process. The game has a secondary Battle-mode, where the characters are on a map and use the same items to attach other players with; there hits will cause a player to lose, with the last standing player being considered the winner. The series has had multiple iterations across all of Nintendo’s platforms, each adding new elements.
- Super Mario Kart (1992) - SNES
- Mario Kart 64 (1996) - N64
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001) - GBA
- Mario Kart: Double Dash (2003) - GCN
- Mario Kart DS (2005) - DS
- Mario Kart Wii (2008) - Wii
- Mario Kart 7 (2011) - 3DS
- Mario Kart 8 (2014) - Wii U
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) – Switch (Rerelease with added content from Wii U version)
Role-Playing Games
Super Mario RPG: Legends of the Seven Stars (1996) - SNES
The first RPG in the Mario series, created by Square, it treated the game like a traditional RPG Game of the 90s with Mario Elements. It was the first game to ever represent Mario in a 3D fashion. Never rereleased on to other consoles outside of the Super NES Classic.
Super Mario RPG: Legends of the Seven Stars (1996) - SNES
The first RPG in the Mario series, created by Square, it treated the game like a traditional RPG Game of the 90s with Mario Elements. It was the first game to ever represent Mario in a 3D fashion. Never rereleased on to other consoles outside of the Super NES Classic.
Paper Mario (2001) – N64
Created by Intelligent Systems, it shows Mario in a chibi-2D form, similar to a stamp or paper cut out, as he navigates the Mushroom Kingdom to saver Princess Peach from Bowser. The game adds a number of Puzzles and unique design choices for the look of the Mario World. It spawned other games of its own, including:
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004) – GCN
- Super Paper Mario (2007) - Wii
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star (2012) – 3DS
- Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016) – Wii U
Mario & Luigi Series
Created by AlphaDream, it follows Mario and Luigi on the Game Boy and DS hardware as they navigate a wackier version of the Mushroom Kingdom. These games are unique in that there are only ever two party members in Mario and Luigi, they have special team up attacks, and is based off timing and elaborate attacks. This series also plays more comedic, with lots of in joke at the expensive of other Nintendo Titles/character and gaming tropes. Other games include:
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003) - GBA
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005) – DS
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (2009) – DS
- Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (2013) – 3DS
- Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (2015) – 3DS
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (2017) – Switch
A more recent entry, created by Ubisoft, it is a crossover between Mario and the Raving Rabbids Franchise. It is also the first Tactical Strategy RPG for Mario, as Mario must navigate a space and defeat enemies, using the humor and weapons of Raving Rabbids Franchise. Very comedic and light hearted, a unique gameplay that mirrors more realistic tactical games, but with a more light hearted setting.
Party Games
Mario Party (1998) – N64Developed by Hudson Soft, it follows characters from the Mario universe playing a board game. Each character represents a board piece on the game, with four players playing each game regardless. Players take turns rolling dice, deciding how far the progress on the map, landing on tiles that either reward or take coins, offer special bonus or penalties, or trigger events. At the end of each round in which each player has gone once, players will be asked to play a mini-game to earn additional coins. Some mini-games free-for-all, 3vs1, or 2vs2, based off what tiles you landed upon. Players are rewarded more coins based off their results in the mini-games. The intent of the coins is to get to the Tile selling Stars and buy the Star, with the player with the Most Stars winning. Stars can be awarded via special events, and even stolen by other players if they land on certain tiles. At the end of the game, additional Stars are awarded to players that performed well during the entire game, and the player with the most stars win.
The series has been adopted on to multiple consoles since the N64, and always include four players. Recent entries have had all players working together at the same time, and had board games maps that don’t circle themselves. Mini-games are always swapped out and rarely reused for each game, with new mini-games developed to match each console’s Hardware.
Titles include:
- Mario Party (1998) - N64
- Mario Party 2 (1999) - N64
- Mario Party 3 (2000) - N64
- Mario Party 4 (2002) - GCN
- Mario Party 5 (2003) - GCN
- Mario Party 6 (2004) - GCN
- Mario Party 7 (2005) - GCN
- Mario Party 8 (2007) - Wii
- Mario Party 9 (2012) - Wii
- Mario Party 10 (2015) - Wii U
- Super Mario Party (2018) - Switch
Sport Titles:
Mario and company have been in a number of sport cross overs. Most sport games are taken as straight games with Mario Characters in them, versus some games have more fantastical elements gameplay elements added in. These Genre include:- Mario Tennis
- Mario Golf
- Mario Baseball
- Mario Soccer
- Mario Basketball
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
- A crossover with Mario and Sonic characters where they compete in Olympic style games.
Educational:
Mario has taken part in a number of Educational games, some teaching typing, geography, and history. These games initially not released on Nintendo hardware, instead for the PC and Mac, but were eventually ported over to the NES and SNES. These games, as educational games, did not fair well, and were poorly reviewed.
Super Smash Bros. (1999) – N64
While not a direct Mario Title, Mario and company have been mainstay regulars of Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros series since its inception. Mario is often the first playable character, or listed as the first from the select screen. Mario, much as the other characters, are portrayed as close counterparts to their own games, using similar moves and abilities from their games. These include:
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) – GCN
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) – Wii
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014) – Wii U & 3DS
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) – Switch
Homework:
Super Mario Brothers 1
Super Mario Kart
Mario Party
