User:Hmich176/Storyline of the Mario series

{{Cleanup}}

The Arcade Era - Mario's Origin: 1981-1985

Donkey Kong

An arcade game created by Nintendo, Donkey Kong was released in 1981. This game has since become the landmark game for Nintendo, as it introduced two of Nintendo's most famous characters: Mario and Donkey Kong. The unusual name of the game is commonly believed to be due to a mistranslation of the Japanese for "monkey", but Shigeru Miyamoto actually intended for it to have this name. The "Kong" part is obvious, but the "Donkey" part represents "Stubborn".

In the game, the character "Jumpman" must save his girlfriend, who eventually was named Pauline. This occurred well after the games release in the TV cartoon Donkey Kong, as well as the NES console version. In the original game, she is referred to as simply "the lady". A common misconception is that she is Princess Peach Toadstool; this is not the case.

Mario Bros.

The next major arcade game made by Nintendo, Mario Bros. was released in 1983. It was a spin-off from the Donkey Kong series, and the first game to feature Mario's name in the title. It was also the debut of Mario's brother, Luigi. Unlike in Donkey Kong, where he was a carpenter, Mario became a plumber, exterminating pests who exit from pipes. Versions of the game are bundled with Super Mario Bros. 3. In addition, all four of the Super Mario Advance games, along with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, also feature an enhanced remake of the Mario Bros. arcade game with increased graphics and more enemies, and are updated with character voices, increased color and graphics, new enemies, new bonuses and secrets, more difficult obstacles, and even some new abilities.

Mario Bros. establishes "Jumpman's" name as Mario. It was created by Shigeru Miyamoto.

The NES/Famicom Era: 1985-1991

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. was the platform game for the Nintendo Entertainment System released in 1985. Universally considered a classic of the medium, Super Mario Bros. was one of the first side-scrolling platform games of its kind, introducing players to huge, bright, expansive worlds that changed the way video games were created.

Super Mario Bros. is one of the best-selling video games of all time, and was largely responsible for the initial success of the Famicom and Nintendo Entertainment System. It has inspired countless imitators and was one of Shigeru Miyamoto's most influential early successes.

The game gave Mario a starring role. Mario became Nintendo's mascot, and was as recognizable as Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is a sequel to Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. It was released in Japan on June 3 1986 for the Famicom Disk System. The game is very similar to Super Mario Bros. both graphically and in terms of gameplay. It is generally considered to be the most difficult game in the Mario series.

The Lost Levels first appeared in the United States bundled with the Super Nintendo game Super Mario All-Stars. It also appeared in Super Mario Deluxe for the Game Boy Color.

Super Mario Bros. 2

Super Mario Bros. 2 is the name applied to two video games, both sequels to Super Mario Bros. The Japanese game was a followup to the original and featured the same style of gameplay and level design as the original, and was released in North America much later as part of the Super Mario All-Stars collection as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, and later as a bonus for the Game Boy Color's Super Mario Bros. Deluxe. The American game was a massive departure from the original's gameplay and style, and was eventually released in Japan as Super Mario USA in 1992, a year before All-Stars came out on the Super Nintendo. The reason for this difference is that the American version of Super Mario Bros. 2 is a remake of a different Japanese game, Doki Doki Panic. Neither the original Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2 nor Doki Doki Panic were ever released in their original formats outside of Japan.

Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 was the last major Mario video game made for the Famicom and the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released on October 23 1988 in Japan, February 12 1990 in the United States, and August 29 1991 in Europe. It was directed by Shigeru Miyamoto, and the music was composed by Koji Kondo. It features the first appearances of Bowser's children. Mario and Luigi have to save seven kingdoms of the Mushroom World from the Koopa Kids by recovering the magic wands that they stole from the seven kings, and also save Princess Toadstool from the clutches of King Bowser. Although widely regarded as being the best-selling video game of all time, the original Super Mario Bros. is actually the best-selling video game, at 40.23 million copies compared to Super Mario Bros. 3's 17.28 million. It is, however, the best-selling "stand-alone" video game, because Super Mario Brothers was bundled with the NES console.

Super Mario Land

Super Mario Land is Mario's first video game adventure for Game Boy. In this game Mario has to save Princess Daisy from Tatanga the Mysterious Spaceman. This game was made in 1989. The music was composed by Hirokazu 'Hip' Tanaka. Unlike all previous "Mario" games, Super Mario Land was not created by Shigeru Miyamoto. As a result, almost all of the characters, and settings introduced in this game have not reappeared in any subsequent games, although most of the items were taken directly from Super Mario Bros. Though a popular seller, the game is now generally regarded by many as being inferior to most other side-scrolling Mario games. This game deviates slightly from tradition as Mario's must save Princess Daisy, rather than Princess Toadstool.

The SNES Era: 1991-1996

Super Mario World

Super Mario World was the first launch game for the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System game consoles, and thereby the 16-bit console debut of Mario. It was first released on November 21 1990 in Japan and in August 1991 in the United States. The game was produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, the music was composed by Koji Kondo, and the graphics were designed by Shigefumi Hino.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins is the second entry in the Super Mario Land series for the Game Boy, released in 1992. Like Super Mario Land before it, this game was not created by Shigeru Miyamoto. In Super Mario Land 2, Mario must get his castle back from Wario by finding six golden coins that Wario scattered throughout Mario Land. Super Mario Land 2 is the first game to feature Wario, who starred in the sequel, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, beginning the Wario Land spin-off series and replacing Mario as the star in subsequent Mario-themed Game Boy platform games.

The visuals are greatly enhanced from those of Super Mario Land, approaching the style seen in Super Mario Bros. 3. Due to the advanced graphics, the game is susceptible to slow down in many places. In the Mario tradition, worlds from many different themes are featured. Super Mario Land 2 is regarded by some as the best Mario title for the Game Boy.

Super Mario Land 2 contains many other improvements over its predecessor: the player may now scroll the screen to the left, multiple powerups are available, levels are not linear by virtue of a map screen that permits the player to choose a level, and the game has battery backup saves. Hidden levels have been added too, another element that was missing in the first game.

The Super Mario 64 Era: 1996-2002

Super Mario 64 is a video game for the Nintendo 64. It debuted in Japan on June 23 1996, in the U.S. on September 29 1996 and in Europe on March 1 1997. Along with Pilotwings 64, it was made available as a launch game for the console. As the Nintendo 64's flagship game, it drove initial sales of the console, and has sold over six million copies in total.

Super Mario 64 was the first 3D game in the Mario series, and though it was not the first-ever 3D platformer, it revolutionized and defined the genre, much as Super Mario Bros. defined the 2D sidescrolling platformer. Indeed, Super Mario 64 was considered so revolutionary that many consider it the benchmark for all later games in the genre.

In going from two to three dimensions, Super Mario 64 replaced the linear obstacle courses of traditional platform games with vast worlds set up with multiple and diverse missions, with an emphasis on exploration. While doing so, it managed nonetheless to preserve the feel of earlier Mario games, including many of their gameplay elements and characters. It is widely acclaimed by critics and players alike as one of the greatest video games of all time.

The Modern Console Era: 2002-2007

Super Mario Sunshine

Super Mario Sunshine is the latest platformer console title in the Mario series. It was released in Japan on July 19 2002, ten months after the release of the Nintendo GameCube. It is the first (and likely only) game on the GameCube to exclusively feature Mario, though he appeared in Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee, all three of which were among the first GameCube games to become a Player's Choice title.

New Super Mario Bros.

New Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling platform game, inspired by the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World, with several additional gameplay elements and characters taken from Super Mario 64 and Yoshi's Island. The game was developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It is the first new traditional sidescrolling Mario platformer since Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (discounting Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, which strayed from the original Super Mario formula).

Super Mario Galaxy

Super Mario Galaxy was released for the Wii, the newest console by Nintendo, in 2007. The storyline known is that Princess Peach gets kidnapped by Bowser, and Mario must follow the Bowser beyond the Mushroom World into space.