Exploring 5 Traditions That Make Mario Iconic
“Wahoo!”
Every hard-core gamer, whether young or old, knows this catchphrase. It’s the unmistakable plump, thickly moustached plumber of Italian descent - Mario.
The famed Mario franchise was started way back in 1985 by Nintendo. Over the decades, this platform game franchise has enthralled players and audiences with countless adventures across the Mushroom Kingdom. This classic character and his pals continue to delight gamers, collectors of Mario Bros collectables, and filmgoers alike.
Come 10th March, the official Mario Day date, fans across the world will commemorate this cult gaming icon who started out as a regular 8-bit character.
Gaming traditions are the types of collectables, enemies, or gameplay functions that remain the same throughout a video game’s history and evolution. Even though the Mario games have evolved and changed over time, some traditions have remained constant and become truly iconic.
Join Just Geek as we look at the five unchanging traditions that make Mario the iconic character and game adored by fans worldwide.
1. Mushrooms
Of course, there can be no Mushroom Kingdom without mushrooms! Mushrooms are an enduring tradition in Mario and are the original and most iconic power-ups in gaming history.
Throughout the Mario games, mushrooms are seen in multiple variations, helping Mario boost his abilities in different ways. For example, in Super Mario Bros., they make Mario grow in size and get extra hit points, while the Spring Mushroom in Super Mario Galaxy helps this plumber jump higher by turning into a spunky spring, like the name suggests.
Then there’s the Mega Mushroom that transforms Mario into a mega version of himself, helping him to knock down anything, including blocks coming his way. And Nintendo might have more variations up its sleeve as it likes to keep the fans on their toes.
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2. Pipes
It’s an obvious one: you can’t have a plumber in a video game without including pipes. But there’s an interesting story behind this Mario Bros tradition. It was the brainchild of Shigeru Miyamoto, a famed Japanese video game designer and director who earned the nickname “The Mastermind of Nintendo”.
Miyamoto thought of including pipes in the game after coming across a pipe sticking out of a wall on a Kyoto street. Now, pipes are integral to any Mario game as they’re the main mode of transport for the moustached Italian plumber.
The size of the pipes can vary across the franchise, and in Mario Wonder, they even wriggle like worms. Lovers of the Mario games will know the distinctive sounds the pipes make when the characters go in and out of them.
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3. Super Stars
A Super Star is the ultimate power-up for any player who picks it up. This tradition is seen across most Mario titles, allowing him to become completely invincible for a few seconds. But grabbing a Super Star can be tricky as they tend to hide inside blocks, forcing players to hunt for them to remain protected from attacks.
Ice Flower and the Wing Cap are other power-up traditions that feature rewards instead of transformative power-ups. However, players will often favour Super Stars, looking hard for them due to their high value and collectability.
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4. Riding Yoshi
Yoshi the Dinosaur made his debut in Super Mario World, where Mario could hop on his back to gain more momentum and speed, along with a double jump. This cute and cuddly dinosaur was so well-loved that he was included in every game since, including Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Wonder, and Super Mario Galaxy 2.
A one-time feature turned into a memorable Mario tradition, so much so players anticipate the next time Yoshi makes an entry and they get to ride him. The popularity of Yoshi is so intense that it’s led the makers to create spin-off games and special appearances in Mario Kart games.
5. Bowser Kidnapping Princess Peach
Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach so many times that this has made it one of the series’ biggest traditions. Most games will begin with players watching the King of the Koopas, Bowser, kidnap Peach in an airship, setting the stage for Mario’s game goal and an adventurous journey ahead.
While fans contemplate the reason behind Bowser’s obsession with capturing the pretty princess and whisking her away, he continues to think of creative new ways to steal her, with Mario working out a way to thwart his dastardly plans.
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Over the years, from their humble single-screen beginnings, Mario and his pals have been catapulted into multiple lively formats, including an animated comedy adventure film. But the original gaming formats of Mario in Super Mario and the Super Mario Bros still reign supreme in 2D and 3D platforming genres.
Our five Mario traditions have just scratched the surface; the Mario franchise offers tons of well-loved traditions as well as new ones to keep gamers coming back for more. The game’s makers keep the fun flowing, producing better and more engaging versions of this fun and vibrant platform gaming series.
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