One of the most iconic characters in video game history, Mario is Nintendo’s premiere mascot. Originally appearing in
Donkey Kong in 1981, Mario has gone on to appear in over 200 games since his creation. His most notable appearance has been in the Super Mario Bros series, first appearing on the Nintendo Entertainment System. His current hit is Super Mario Galaxy for the
Nintendo Wii. Mario’s games have sold nearly 300 million units throughout their history making them the best selling video-game series of all time.
His creator is Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s legendary game designer who is also responsible for producing hits like the Zelda series and Metroid. Mario’s basic appearance hasn’t changed much over the years. He is typically portrayed as a short, plump man, with a black moustache, wearing blue overalls and a red shirt. Despite his stubby look, he’s capable of incredible feats of bravery and acrobatics. His main loves are Italian pasta and Princess Peach, the damsel-in-distress who is always in need of saving. His partner in adventuring is his brother Luigi, a taller, skinnier version of Mario dressed in green. Mario’s arch-rival is Bowser, King of the Koopas who is always hatching some plan to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.
