One of the most famous characters in video games and pop culture, Mario is one of those figures that many people have come into contact with, both in his many games and in other media. The animation that just hits theaters reinforces the popularity of the plumber, who first appeared in games in 1981. Although famous, there are a number of lesser-known facts about the Nintendo mascot. Next, we list 5 fun facts about Super Mario.
1 – Neither Mario nor plumber
Super Mario Bros., the character’s first game, released in 1985, was not his debut. Nintendo’s mustachioed little man made his first appearance years earlier, in donkey kong, from 1981. At the time the Italian hadn’t even been baptized, and his job was another one: demolisher. At some points in the game he also uses a club. Demolition work is also shown in another game, released months earlier Super Mario Bros.: Demolition crew (1985). Although he already has a name and his brother Luigi as a co-protagonist, his occupation is still the same, and the goal is to demolish buildings.
2 – The real Mario was a businessman
Another interesting fact about Super Mario is the fact that his name comes from a real person. Mario Segale (1934-2018), a real estate developer, leased office space for Nintendo America in the early 1980s. donkey kong, delayed payment, and Segale himself went to the place to collect. The owner of the place was of Italian origin, not tall and she used to wear braces. Though somewhat irritated at the time, Segale accepted the promise of payment made by then-President of Nintendo America, Minoru Arakawa. Later, his name ended up being used for the character, who hadn’t yet been christened.
3 – He was a bad guy before he was a good guy
if in donkey kong Mario saved the girl kidnapped by the gorilla, over and over again, donkey kong junior (1982), the mustache becomes the kidnapper and imprisons the monkey in a cage. It’s up to Donkey Kong Junior to save his father from the hands of the unlikely villain. After that, Mario would never be an antagonist, although he still has a history of animal abuse, see the many attacks on Koopa Troopa turtles and other species in the games.
4 – Super Mario Bros. 2 is not exactly Super Mario Bros. two
Despite the worldwide success of Super Mario Bros. (1985), its direct sequel was not released outside Japan. That’s because Nintendo America considered it Super Mario Bros. Two (1986) presented a very high level of difficulty, which could displease the audience. Just like the first game, the sequel has somewhat more difficult and sometimes unfair stages.
Therefore, the solution found to offer a more accessible option was to modify the game Yume Kōjō: Panic Doki Doki, already released in Japan. However, the title’s original playable characters have been replaced with those from the Mario universe, including Toad, Peach, and Luigi. Therefore, none of the enemies seen in the original title appear in this game, rather different from Super Mario Bros. Years later, in 1993, the original sequel was released in the west with Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, as if they were extra stages of the first. In turn, the North American re-release was later released in Japan as Super Mario Bros. USA.
5 – He was the first game character adapted for cinema
If video game adaptations are relatively common in cinema and television today, we must not forget that there was a pioneer. However, Nintendo itself prefers to forget. In the end, Super Mario Bros. (1993) was a resounding failure at the box office. With a chaotic mix of science fiction, fantasy and aesthetics garbage, the feature bears little resemblance to the gaming universe. However, some consider the work a cult classic. Regardless of the ratings, the film ushers in a highly profitable vein today. Therefore, it is possible to say that the film is a milestone in the audiovisual sector.
The post 5 Super Mario Fun Facts: Games and Movies first appeared on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
