No one can dispute that Mario has been the most prevalent video game icon over the last twenty five years, especially when Nintendo continues to release numerous games featuring the famed Italian plumber on their famished consoles. While Mario continues going head to head against titles like Call of Duty and Halo, there's one thing for sure: Mario hasn't been this popular since his first manifestation twenty five years ago.
Just two days ago, Mario - alongside Iwata, Reggie, Miyamoto, and other Nintendo greats - celebrated his 25th birthday. Although he was simply "just" a video game character then, he is now a household name alongside sports superstars and illustrious writers from the past. To celebrate the occasion, Nintendo compiled a classic montage filled to the brim with Super Mario's most notorious games, everything from Super Mario Land to Super Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Check out the astonishing medley below.
The leviathan that is Mario rose up on September 13th, 1985 with the release of Super Mario Bros on the Nintendo Entertainment System. This launch not only marked the beginning of one of the greatest franchises of all time, but also signified the initiation of modern, mainstream gaming. Then, Super Mario Bros sold an astounding 40 million copies - a number that has yet to be matched by any other published game.
Nintendo set the bar high for its franchises many years ago, and even today Mario titles remain at the top of the charts for years at a time, especially with is expanded skill set. When he isn't occupied rescuing Princess Peach or squashing Goombas, he has plenty of time to indulge himself. Mario, in his spare time, is a dancer and experienced Olympic athlete. Of course, he's also a race driver and an on-call doctor. Once in a while, he even helps his brother pursue ghosts in haunted mansions.
While we don't know what's in store for Mario in the coming months and years, there is no doubt that he is the most distinguished, celebrated video game icon of the 21st - and 20th - century.
