Super Mario Turns 25!
Whoever thought an Italian plumber could change the world of video games? Mario, and his sidekick brother Luigi, did just that 25 years ago, making the Super Mario Brothers series one of the most popular videogames in history.
When Japanese videogame maker Nintendo introduced Mario in September 1985, few realized what a big hit it would be with both the young and old. Today, Mario is the star of more than 200 video games, including the very popular game series Mario Kart, New Super Mario Brothers and Super Mario Galaxy.
Plumber To The Rescue
The game started off with the simple storyline of Mario trying to rescue the captured Princess Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom from the evil King Bowser by unlocking secret powers.Today, the Super Mario Brothers series are listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful gaming series of all time with worldwide sales of over 240 million copies. That was until they got surpassed recently by another popular Nintendo game, Wii Sports.
Over the years, Mario’s popularity has gone beyond the videogame world. Mario has been the star of a television cartoon, numerous comic books and even a movie starring Hollywood legends Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper. Nintendo plans to release a new Super Mario game in honor of this occasion.
A Few Fun Facts
Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto was originally going to make him a carpenter and not a plumber. And his arch enemy King Bowser was meant to be an ox, but became a turtle after the animator didn’t understand what Miyamoto had drawn!
Mario was originally known as Jumpman. However, when Nintendo's US office were trying to think of a better name, they were interrupted by their landlord Mario Segale demanding his rent. They decided to name the character after him.
Donkey Kong Jr. was the only game where Mario was a bad guy who trapped poor Donkey Kong in a cage and the ape's son had to rescue him!
Which is your favorite Super Mario game and what do you like about it?
there are only 4 i dont have! oh yea, i agree with vikshar. new super mario bros wii is awesome. i want to get it for ds!
I like Mario kart the most.
i almost have every game on there! lots of the front. i have galaxy and new super mario bros wii.
Just 3 words:THAT WAS AWESOME!!!
Wow i didn't know he was that old!!
Me neither.
Don't really get it!
that's cool
WOW....THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY
i played super mario bros 3
really? you have a regular nintendo?
Mario rocks!
i love the new super mario 3d land and mario kart 7. 4 3Ds
wow i never knew there was sooo many mario games
i love super mario galxy 2, super mario bros, mario kart, super mario 64, super mario 3d land, super mario galaxy, super paper mario
i didnot know its so old
i love all mario games they are so fun . well i like the newer ones i never tried the old ones
i only KNEW super mario bros i never knew that it was sooooo old i like it more in new version
me too but i played more then super mario bros like super mario galaxy 2
I LOOOOOOOOOOVE Mario!!!!!!!
all the kids i know including me play it today, but is it really that old?
cool i wonder if the next mario game will be as good
super mario rules
Bowser?? An Ox?? Thank goodness he's a turtle!
Wow 25??? I thought he was older than that! Never knew he was JUMPMAN??? Wow, AND BOWSER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OX??? that is really weird. Anyways I loved the article! I love the mario games also!!!
I had Mario cart, but i left it on a plane. ):
poor you
i did not know that super mario turned 25?
I like Mario kart but this is much better!
I have a lot of these game including the old ones my favorite game is New Super Mario Bros. Wii I beat it, got all the star coins every one in the game including the star worlds, and i know every secret in it... tip: get all the star coins in all the worlds and you unlocked the star world
I really like Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is an amazing game!!
Cool. This is a really informative article. I like playing the Mario game in the Play Zine section.
They are ruining the simplicity with all the new versions.
0:48 glitch
It's different from the new video games.
i wish created it
i have super mario vs donkeykong but that game is pretty good
It's funny to see how a basic game made such a long time ago has evolved.
My mom found a super nintendo and original nintendo in storage and they still work. The games are great!
This is soooooo cool
Super Mario is soooo cool!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!!! Its really old! I like Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros!!! Great article!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
I didn't know it was so old. And that's a lot of different versions
I love super mario!
i love new super mario bros wii!!!!!
I have Super Mario Bros 3 and for a 1991 game it rocks!
my favorite game is new super mario bros wii
I like mario kart but super mario galaxy is great.
Bought and still own some ollddd mario games back from the gameboy advance. Good times :) keep rockin mario, 25 is a great age to jump on turtles
i love the new super mario bros. wii.
My favorite is Mario Cart! I showed my mom this article, and she said that she was in college then!