Mario is 35 years old! The phenomenon of the Super Mario Bros. series.

In 2020, the most popular plumber in the world turned 35 years old! Let's take a look at this unique video game series together and find out why Mario remains one of the most loved pop culture icons to this day!

On September 13, 2020, Mario turned 35 years old. It was on this day in 1985 that the original Super Mario Bros. game premiered in Japanese stores. However, the character himself was born much earlier. The mustachioed plumber in the iconic outfit (then known as the Jumpman) first appeared on arcade screens in the 1981 cult game Donkey Kong. His second appearance was in the 1983 game Mario Bros, where he and his brother Luigi fought bravely in the sewers against waves of opponents. However, it was Super Mario Bros that launched a series of games that the whole world loves today and became a milestone not only for the characters, but for all of Nintendo as a whole.

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of its mascot, Nintendo has not been idle. A special Nintendo Direct conference announced, among other things, the release of three retro games in the Super Mario All Star pack, the re-release of Super Mario 3D World on Nintendo Switch, or the free Super Mario 35 Battle Royale. a game in which 35 players face off against the original "Super Mario". For sure, these are not the last attractions that Big N will prepare in the coming years for all fans of Italian plumbing.

The 35th anniversary of one of the most popular games in the world is a good reason to stop for a moment and think - what is the power of this inconspicuous character? How does Nintendo manage to create products that have been loved by both gamers and industry critics for so many years? Where did the Mario phenomenon come from?

Super Mario Bros - a cult classic

From today's perspective, it's hard to fathom just how much of a hit and revolution in the gaming world the original Super Mario Bros for the Nintendo Entertainment System was. All players in Poland have touched this game at one time or another - whether it's because of native pegasus or later emulators - but we still often forget how influential the production was. In the 80s, the video game market was dominated by games designed for slot machines. Relatively simple arcade games that were largely designed to convince the player to throw another quarter into the slot. So the gameplay was fast, challenging and action oriented. Often there was a lack of plot or developed storytelling—arcade games were designed more like arcade rides like flippers than the productions we see today.

Shigeru Miyamoto - the creator of Mario - wanted to change the approach and use the full potential of home consoles. Through his games, he intended to tell stories, to involve the player in the world he was imagining. Whether it's running through the Kingdom of the Fly Agaric or Link's journey through Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda. When working on Super Mario Bros, Miyamoto used the simplest clues known from fairy tales. The evil princess has been kidnapped and it is up to the brave knight (or in this case the plumber) to rescue her and save the kingdom. However, from today's point of view, the plot may seem simple or a pretext, it was a story. The player and Mario go on a journey through 8 different worlds, very different from each other, he goes on a great journey to finally defeat the evil dragon. In terms of the console market, the quantum leap over the old Atari 2600 was gigantic.

Of course, Miyamoto was not the first to recognize the potential of video games, but it was Super Mario Bros. that made a lasting impression on the collective memory. It was also important that a copy of the game be added to every Nintendo Entertainment System console sold. So there was no Nintendo fan who did not know the adventures of a mustachioed plumber.

Revolution in the gaming world

One of the strongest points of the Mustachioed Plumber series is the constant search for new solutions, setting new trends and adapting to them. And just like Sega's competitive Sonic the Hedgehog series had a problem with switching to 3D games and had a few setbacks that players hated, Mario saved himself from the fall anyway. It's safe to say that there isn't a single really bad game in the main loop.

Super Mario Bros. 1985 was revolutionary, but it's not the only game in the series that brought a refreshing change to the gaming world. Released at the end of the NES's life, Super Mario Bros 3 was a giant hit and proved how much more power can be squeezed out of this old console. One need only compare the third installment in the series with the games that were released at the beginning of the Nintendo Entertainment system to see what a gulf separates them. To this day, SMB 3 remains one of the most beloved platform games of its time.

However, the real revolution was yet to come - Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64 was Mario's first transition to the third dimension and one of the first 64D platform games in general. And at the same time, it turned out to be a phenomenal game. Super Mario 3 essentially created the standard for 64D platformers that creators still use today, almost independently created a new genre, and proved that technological changes will not prevent Nintendo from creating the highest quality products with its mascot. Even today, years later, despite technological development, Mario XNUMX is still a great game, while many games of that time are so outdated that it is difficult to spend more than an hour with them today.

Modernity and nostalgia

The Mario series, on the one hand, avoids change, and on the other, follows it. Something in games with a mustachioed plumber has remained the same - you can always expect a pre-text plot, similar characters, locations that refer to previous parts, etc. At the same time, however, the creators are not afraid to make changes at the gameplay level. The games in the series remain nostalgic and familiar at the same time, yet fresh and innovative every time.

Just look at the latest installment in the main series, Super Mario Odyssey, which was released in 2017 on the Nintendo Switch. There are elements typical of the series here - the charming princess Bowser Peach, several worlds to visit, famous enemies with a charmingly dangerous Goomba at the forefront. On the other hand, the creators added completely new features to the game - they brought an open world, gave Mario the opportunity to play the role of defeated opponents and gain their strength (a bit like the Kirby series) and focused on collecting elements. As such, Super Mario Odyssey combines the best features of 3D platformers and collectors (led by Banjo Kazooie) while remaining a fresh, immersive experience that both newcomers and veterans of the series enjoy alike.

However, Odyssey is no exception to this series. Super Mario Galaxy has already shown that it is possible to turn the whole concept of these games on its head and create something unique. We already have completely new ways to deal with the enemy in Super Mario Bros 2 or Super Mario Sunshine on the Nintendo Gamecube. And every time the changes and the new approach were appreciated by the fans. The balance between nostalgia and modernity means that Mario remains in such a high place in the hearts of the players to this day.

Eternal Solutions

After 35 years, the original Super Mario Bros. has stood the test of time? Can the modern gamer find their way into this classic? Absolutely - and this applies to all games in the series. A great merit in this is the polished gameplay and the great devotion of the creators to the details. Simply put - Mario is just fun to jump around. Character physics give us a sense of control over the character, but not complete control. Mario does not immediately respond to our commands, he needs time to stop or jump up. Thanks to this, running, jumping between platforms and defeating opponents is a great pleasure. In no way do we feel that the game is unfair or that it is trying to deceive us - if we have lost, it is only because of our own skills.

The level design in the Mario series also deserves recognition. It is designed down to one pixel micro-worlds where every platform and every enemy has been deployed for a specific reason. The creators challenge us by teaching us how to play and preparing us for new threats. Levels designed in this way will never become obsolete, regardless of the technological revolution.

And finally, the music! Who among us doesn't remember the main theme from Super Mario Bros or the famous "tururururu" when we land in dark basements. Each part of the series delights with its sound - the sound of collecting a coin or losing has already become iconic in itself. The sum of such exquisite elements should result in a fantastic game.

Nintendo understands that the original Super Mario Bros. still remains a unique product, so he is not afraid to play with his favorite brainchild. We just got Battle Royale Mario, and a few years ago we launched the Super Mario Maker mini-series where players can create their own 1985D levels and share them with other fans. The original XNUMX is still alive and well. 

Mario's star is shining

Let's not forget that Mario is much more than just a series of platform games - he is the main mascot of one of the largest companies in the video game industry, a legendary hero around whom Nintendo has created a whole host of new brands and spin-offs. . From curiosities like Mario Golf or Mario Tennis, through Paper Mario or Mario Party to Mario Kart. The latter title in particular deserves respect - in itself, it created a new genre of arcade card racing, and subsequent parts of these races have a huge fan base. Of course, there are all the gadgets associated with the Kingdom of the Fly Agaric - from clothes and hats, lamps and figures to LEGO Super Mario sets!

After 35 years, Mario's star shines brighter than ever. The new releases on Switch are just the beginning of the next chapter in the brand's history. I am deeply convinced that in the coming years we will hear more than once about the most famous plumbing in the world.

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