Mario is a fictional character created by Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is an iconic figure in video game culture, serving as the protagonist in numerous games across various genres, primarily known for the Super Mario series. Here are some key facts and historical context about Mario:
Origin and Creation
Mario first appeared in the arcade game Donkey Kong in 1981, where he was originally called "Jumpman." This character was created by Miyamoto as the hero to rescue Pauline from the clutches of Donkey Kong. The character was later named Mario in honor of Mario Segale, the landlord of Nintendo's American warehouse at the time, who had a similar appearance and demeanor.
Character Evolution
Over the years, Mario's appearance, abilities, and backstory have evolved:
- In Mario Bros. (1983), Mario and his brother Luigi became plumbers fighting creatures in the sewers.
- Super Mario Bros. (1985) established the iconic side-scrolling platform game format with Mario navigating the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser.
- His character has been adapted into various roles, including a racer, a doctor, a sportsman, and even a party host, showcasing his versatility.
Cultural Impact
Mario has become a symbol of video game culture:
- He is one of the most recognizable video game characters globally, often synonymous with video gaming itself.
- His image has been used in merchandise, movies, TV shows, and even a Super Mario Bros. movie in 1993.
- Mario has been featured in numerous Guinness World Records for aspects like the best-selling video game franchise.
Gameplay and Abilities
Mario's gameplay mechanics have become iconic:
- His ability to jump, run, and interact with the environment has set standards for platform games.
- He can collect coins, power-ups like mushrooms for size increase, stars for invincibility, and fire flowers to throw fireballs.
- In different games, he has acquired various abilities such as flying with a cape, spinning to attack enemies, or transforming into different forms like Tanooki Mario.
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