Super Mario Bros is definitely one of the most popular games in the history of video games. Of all cartoon characters, Mario is the most recognizable one till date and the game has inspired many with its music, characters and the background. Read below for a few interesting points about Mario that you might not know!
Mario in Donkey Kong
Our plump plumber’s first appearance was not in the Mario series. His debut was in the classic arcade game Donkey Kong. He was not a plumber but a carpenter who worked in the building from which Donkey Kong escaped. Since the focus was more towards pipes and sewers in the Mario series, he was chosen to be a plumber. The carpenter wasn’t called Mario either! He was called Jumpman – characters and their traits.
Mario’s Looks
Mario was designed considering certain technical limitations. He was given a cap since drawing realistic hair was difficult. With available space and resolution way back then, it was easier to see a mustache than a mouth so Mario is seen sporting a mustache. Also, he was given red and blue overalls so that the players could tell if he’s running or walking as they could see his hands swinging back and forth in front of the buttons in his costume.
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Luigi
Luigi is Mario’s younger brother often shown as Player 2 in the game. They’re together called the “Mario Brothers”. We can infer from this that Mario’s last name should also be Mario and his full name would be Mario Mario. Luigi is designed with looks similar to Mario, a bit taller and thinner than him. Due to limited memory and other technical constraints, Luigi borrowed the color for his dress from Koopa’s shell.
Clouds and Bushes
As another result of technical limitations, the clouds and the bushes in the game share the same sprite with different colors and numbers. A really innovative idea, right?
Mario, the Antagonist
Our rescuer plumber plays the bad guy in the sequel to Donkey Kong called Donkey Kong Jr. He is seen sporting a twirled mustache for his bad guy looks and traps the Donkey Kong in a cage where his son has to rescue him.
Bowser, the Good Guy
Bowser, the main antagonist of the Maril series appears as a good guy and helps Mario in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
Nemesis
Mario’s nemesis is called Wario, the name is formed by combining Warui and Mario where Warui stands for bad in Japanese. Similarly, Luigi’s nemesis is called Waluigi.