The Evolution of Mario: A Look at His Impact on Gaming History

Mario is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. From his humble beginnings as a plumber in Donkey Kong to his status as the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario has had a significant impact on the gaming industry. In this article, we will examine Mario’s evolution and his role in shaping the world of gaming as we know it today.

Heroic Beginnings

Before the release of Super Mario Bros. in 1985, the video game industry was in turmoil. The market was flooded with various games and systems, causing many to believe that home gaming was over. However, the release of Super Mario Bros. changed everything. The game’s expert platforming design and endearing soundtrack made it a massive hit and calmed investors and gamers who questioned the quality of games in the 80s. The success of Super Mario Bros. solidified many of the practices we see in games today, particularly in Nintendo’s game design.

1996… The Future!

Super Mario Bros.’ 35th anniversary in 2020 was a significant moment for Mario fans. The focus shifted towards Mario’s 3D games, which have often been quite influential in their own right. Super Mario 64, the first first-party Nintendo game to render Mario in full 3D, had a massive impact on games. It helped to flesh out the Mushroom Kingdom and gave Mario a level of freedom and maneuverability that was revolutionary for platformers at the time. Super Mario Galaxy followed a similar path by introducing the idea of letting the player manipulate the environment as they controlled Mario.

Super Mario Galaxy is the best Nintendo game and I am prepared to fight about it.

Super Mario Galaxy was a groundbreaking game that introduced the use of gravity mechanics, far different from anything we’d seen Mario do before. The game’s popularity led to the introduction of best girl Rosalina and her army of adorable Lumas. The Wii U saw innovations in how Nintendo wanted fans to manipulate the environments of Mario games with Super Mario Maker, which allowed fans to create custom Mario levels. The game introduced Mario to massive new audiences on Twitch, which previously only saw Mario popularity during new releases or speedruns. Nintendo even introduced its competitive scene for the game, one of the rare times it has actively supported pro competitive play.

In conclusion, Mario has had a massive impact on the gaming industry. From his heroics in Super Mario Bros. to his adventures through the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond, he has helped shape Nintendo as we know it today. Through his iconic games, Mario has introduced new ideas and revolutionized the world of gaming, inspiring developers and gamers alike to push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming.