Mario, the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, has happily kept Bowser’s forces from beating down your front door. He has bounced on the heads of more bad guys than Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Bruce Wayne, or Willis combined. Mario would go anywhere and do anything as long as he had his blue overalls, trusty red cap, and trademark moustache any firefighter would envy. Along with his brother Luigi and Princess Peach, they have made a name for themselves across countless lands and generations. Over the years, he has evolved from a simple plumber to a tennis ace, a golf pro, a soccer player, and a blazing kart racer with mine-altering power-ups.
This is Mario’s History
Mario came to life and changed our world forever through the hard work of Shigeru Miyamoto. He started the Mario franchise and got his start in the Donkey Kong industry. From his humble beginnings, he has grown into a mascot for the Nintendo company and a household legend. This started in 1981 in the Donkey Kong platform game. Can you believe that he was Miyamoto’s second choice after he was unable to use Popeye, whom he first wanted to use against Donkey Kong?
Our hard-working hero got his name after Nintendo’s American landlord, Mario Segale. When the gaming world was revolutionized in 1985 with the debut of the Nintendo Entertainment System, its main title was Super Mario Bros., which was the first installment in the series that introduced our “M” hat-wearing protagonist.
Mario & Friends
There hasn’t been a bad guy since then who could match his skill, but most have come close, as Nintendo’s firstborn hero has starred in over 200 games. He has had the privilege of being in sports, kart, and tennis games, with more coming all the time. Who knows where he will show up next? In all his terrible trials, fighting off villains from space, dreams, or in his own backyard, he has been aided by friends he has found along the way. First, his trusty younger twin brother Luigi. Other supporting characters are Princess Peach and Daisy. There is also the dinosaur Yoshi, whom he has ridden on against some of the worst nightmarish villains.
In his video game history, Mario has battled the barrels thrown from Donkey Kong, the armies and family of Bowser, and his estranged opposite Wario. His efforts against the nasty bad guys have earned him the right to be seen on t-shirts, coffee mugs, and kids’ underwear and even started his own movie in 2023, voiced by Chris Pratt.
What’s Next
Mario has grown with different characters alongside him in appearance and abilities, ranging from 2D games to 3D, as well as several spin-off games. Most readers may know or have grown up witnessing his efforts as well as his cameos in other Nintendo games. In all his history and works, many other gaming heroes haven’t lasted as long, and if you think that his days are over, think again.
For Nintendo Mario lovers, start your engines and get ready to take Mario racing across the world like never before. In every Nintendo racing game with him in it, when you are unfortunate enough to stray off the road, you are saved by Lakitu, who picks you up with his fishing rod and puts you back on the track. Lakitu is going to be out of a job as racers will now be able to zoom around several courses that are connected around an open racing world. Mario and friends can take their karts over the grassy plains, busy cities, washed-out ocean beaches, volcanic mountains, and the lands in between.
Cross Country Is Next
It’s called Mario Kart World, where you can race everywhere, and it’s exclusively playable on the Nintendo Switch 2, arriving June 5th. This next chapter in the Mario franchise will allow 24 racers to burn up the tracks in several modes like Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, and Free Roam.
Our hero started jumping over barrels and has grown over the years to now being the biggest off-road menace everyone is sure to love, save for the highway patrol. Everyone will have another chance in the game with Mario and friends behind the wheel. Don’t worry, as the next generation of players will be there to protect us, with more games coming.
