Mario is more than just a video game character; he is a symbol of triumph, freedom, and unwavering determination. With his signature combed mustache and customized hat, Mario embodies a unique charm, captivating fans with his iconic phrases like "It's a Me!" and "Yahoo Ha-Ha!" He represents an ideal to strive for, a character who jumps high to achieve his goals.
Even when facing his greatest adversaries, Mario extends an invitation to race and share a drink, showcasing his fearless and adventurous spirit. He is a "jump-up superstar," a "zowie wowie hero," and a character who, once discovered, becomes deeply beloved. HUH!!! Get the Mariomug.
This article explores the characters in the Super Mario franchise and related series, focusing on their first appearances. For a list of playable characters organized by their first appearance, see List of playable characters by first appearance. For an alphabetical list of all characters, see List of characters.
Key Characters in the Mario Universe
Over the years, the Super Mario franchise has introduced a plethora of memorable characters. Here are some of the characters and the games where they first appeared:
- Mario Bros.: Mr., Dr., Mr., Mrs., Mr., Mr.
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Super Mario Bros.: Wendy O., Sgt., Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., Mr., Mr., Dr. T., Mikhail S., Mr., Mrs., Mrs., Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., Mr.
- Mario is Missing!: Dr. Big, Mr. Pak E., Cloud N.
- Super Mario Bros. B. K. Jr., Huff N., Kent C., Mr., Mr. A. B., Mr.
These characters have enriched the Mario universe, contributing to its lasting appeal and engaging gameplay.
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Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - A Pivotal Chapter
A significant milestone in Mario's journey is marked by "Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story," a 2009 role-playing video game developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. This game is the third installment in the Mario & Luigi series, following "Partners in Time" (2005).
The game's story centers on Mario and Luigi being inhaled into the body of their longtime nemesis, Bowser. Unbeknownst to Bowser, the Mario brothers assist him from within to fight their common enemy, Fawful, who has seized control of the Mushroom Kingdom. The gameplay emphasizes the cooperation between the trio, utilizing unique abilities to solve puzzles and defeat enemies.
Gameplay alternates among three characters: Mario and Luigi, who are controlled together on the bottom screen using the A and B buttons, and Bowser, who is controlled on the top screen with the X and Y buttons. There are two main worlds: the overworld, which is played in an overhead view, and the world inside Bowser's body, which is a 2D side-scrolling world.
Bowser can travel between different areas of the overworld using portals known as "Chakroads", which are hidden under objects that only Bowser can destroy, such as trees and boulders. Gameplay typically alternates between controlling the brothers and controlling Bowser.
The battle system from the previous two games is reused with Bowser as a playable character. Bowser's battles are similar to Mario and Luigi's, although Bowser specializes in punching and breathing fire. During Bowser's battles, he can inhale defenses and enemies from the top screen. Any inhaled enemies enter his body, where Mario and Luigi fight them.
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There are various minigames in which the Mario Bros. have to help out Bowser's body from the inside in order to help him progress. Examples include the "Arm Center", where the brothers hit sparklike items into a muscle to strengthen Bowser's arms; the "Leg Outpost", where they stomp on leg muscles to strengthen Bowser's legs; and the "Gut Check", where they help digest food that Bowser eats.
Storyline
The game opens with a disease called "The Blorbs" spreading across the Mushroom Kingdom. Toads that become infected with the disease inflate like a balloon and roll around uncontrollably. A council meeting is immediately called at Princess Peach's Castle to discuss what can be done about the epidemic.
Bowser finds himself in Dimble Wood, where he is tricked by Fawful into eating a "Vacuum Shroom" that gives him the power to inhale things. Immediately after eating it, Bowser begins mindlessly inhaling everything in sight and goes back to the castle, where he inhales Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Starlow, and several Toads into his body, the process shrinking all of them to microscopic size.
Mario and Luigi are able to sneak out of Bowser's body together via warp pipe into Toad Town, where physician Dr. Toadley tells them they must gather the three Star Cures in order to create the Miracle Cure, a magical medicinal object that will cure the Blorbs and destroy the barricade.
The explosion causes Bowser to regurgitate them and everyone else he had inhaled. During the credits, the Mario Bros battle Bowser. He is defeated, suffering many injuries in the process, and retreats to his castle. The two castles are also rebuilt.
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Reception and Legacy
Bowser's Inside Story received critical acclaim and is the second-highest rated game in the Mario role-playing games subseries (second only to Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64), with many of the praises going to the improved gameplay, storyline, humor, and Bowser's role as the focal character.
IGN awarded it a 9.5 as well as an Editors Choice Award. Game Informer awarded the game an 8.75 out of 10 and gave it an award for "Handheld Game of the Month". GameDaily gave the game 10/10. Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 92%, saying "Bowser's Inside Story is the freshest, most vital RPG on the DS for ages".
On March 8, 2018, Nintendo revealed a Nintendo 3DS remake of the game, entitled Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey. The remake features updated graphics, remastered music, quality-of-life improvements, and significant changes in gameplay, such as the reworking of special moves in combat.
| Game | Original Release | Remake Release | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story | 2009 | - | Nintendo DS |
| Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey | - | 2018/2019 | Nintendo 3DS |
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