A Trip Down Memory Lane With the Plumber Dude
 

Well as a change of pace from all the recent Super Mario Sunshine threads (Which I'm guilty of creating a few myself), I decided to take a look back at the career of Mario up until the release of Super Mario Sunshine this week in Japan.

Mario Bros
It all started for the Italian plumber back in 1981 when he was the co-star in the game Donkey Kong. As the story goes, Mario's girlfriend, Pauline, was kidnapped by his pet ape, Donkey Kong, and it's up to Mario to get her back. At the time of it's original release, Mario was nameless and simply referred to as Jumpman. As the rumor goes, Mario was named Mario after the landlord of Nintendo of America's building in NYC.

Penguin's Take: Mario has never truly figured out if this was a dream or not. Since the release of the game, Pauline has never been seen again and his nemesis Donkey Kong has aged quite rapidly compared to Mario. Maybe, he fell asleep while watching King Kong on TV.


1982-1985
Mario took up quite a few odd jobs including his plumbing gig in order to pay his bills. He went into business with his brother, Luigi, cleaning up the sewer system. He also did a bit of construction and some other minor tasks.

Super Mario Bros
As the story goes, one day in 1985 while working on plumbing in someone's bathroom with his brother, Mario was suddenly sucked down the drainpipe in the tube. He was sucked into a weird world with walking, talking turtles, giant reptiles and kidnapped Princesses. Mario and Luigi had been transported to the Mushroom Kingdom a place they would get to know real well.

The Story from the Manual
Penguin's Take: The magic didn't seem to really become anything major in the later games, but would set thepace for future episodes of the game. The game was marked by several "Bowser" battles which 7 of the 8 featured fake Bowsers. Mario was able to save the Princess and restore the kingdom.



The Post Super Mario Bros Age
After his adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario hits the Talkshow circuit making frequent appearances talking about his adventures. On one show, he starts off with the story of his pet ape and his kidnapped girlfriend. The crowd gets a good laugh out of it and Mario chooses not to speak of it much again.

Super Mario Bros. 2
After the talkshow circuit got old, Mario makes a return trip to the Mushroom Kingdom. He wants to get to know the Princess he saved more. He meets one of her trusted assistance, a short Mushroom head Toad person. Mario,Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad decide to go on a picnic. After fulling his stomach, Mario decides to take a nap under a tree. Mario has these truly bizarre dream in which he must save the town of Subcon from an evil frog named Wart and his henchmen. Instead of his normal head stomping and fireball shooting antics, Mario was forced to use veggies and creatures as his primary source of attack. It was a truly bizarre time for him. Mario was able to defeat the evil Wart by tossing veggies in his mouth, after his battle he was awoken by Luigi and the Princess.

Story from the Manual
Penguin's Take: Was it a dream or was it real? Unlike, Donkey Kong this one is a bit more strange. Some of the creatures Mario saw in Subcon had made a re-appearance in later games such as Birdo and some others. And Peach's ability to throw veggies has helped her in SSBM. Let the game leads you to believe it is a dream. Who knows? Who really knows?



The Mass Confusion
Are there two Marios? Did they co-exist in parellel universes? Japan received a different version of Super Mario Bros 2 then the USA. The USA was basically a port of a game called Doki Doki Panic. It was replaced with four Mario characters and called SMb 2. The Japanese SMB 2 would later be released as Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels in Super Mario All Stars. While the Japanese received, Super Mario Bros USA in theirs.

Super Mario Bros 3
Mario's 3rd adventure would set out to be his charm as it's considered his gretest adventure to date. The story returns to the Mushroom Kingdom, but Mario finally has the chance to explore th rest of the World. Mario ventures through the Mushroom World only to find that the rulers of the other section haveb had their magic wand stolen and they had been transofrmed into non humans (They appearances differ in the Super Mario All Star games). It's up to Mario and Luigi to stop the culprits into their natural human form. On their adventures, Mario and Luigi are introduced to the Koopa Kids. Seven of Bowser's kids who each hold down a Kingdom in the Mushroom World. Mario must defeat them and get the wands back. Mario is aided on his journey by Peach and Toad. Until Peach is kidnapped near the end, Mario sets out to defeat Bowser and save the Princess again.

Story from the Manual
Penguin's Take: This is arguably one of Mario's greatest adventure yet. Mario has some many damn freaking abilities in this game, it's unbelieveable. This is the first game in which Mario has the ability of self flight (He could fly for a short period on the magic carpet in SMB 2). Mario was able to transform into some of his enemies such as the Hammer Bros. He also got the frog suit which allowed him to swim much better. This adventure was marked by the fact that Peach wasn't in immediate danger for 95% of the game. One of the few Mario games in which Peach isn't the main plot focus.



That basically covers the NES days. I got bored so I will do the SNEs and n64 dayz later when real contrevesary started to sneak into his life.

SMB3 rules :D

What are with all these topics lately? Old SMB boxart.... which old SMB boxart is your fav... Trip down memory lane... etc etc :p *remembers SMS is not that far off*... Oh... Yeah well still...

Yesterday I was playing Super Mario World at my friend's house... I wuvs SMW :D

Although SMB3 is pretty damn goodies as well...

But I've said that like a billion times...

BaB put me up to the boxart one...

You're livin' in the past, man!

Yeah, I loved SMB3:D

No more old mario topics! :errr:

awwwwwwwww. :( it brings a tear to my eye. now only if Nintendo would bring back some of the older enemies to SMS, like Goomba's and Koopa's! I wanna smush some Goomba's man!

Continuing with the SNES dayz.

Super Mario World
After defeaating Bowser yet again in the Mushroom World, Mario and the gang decides to take a vacation. They end up in the Dinosaur World which is unlike the Mushroom Kingdom. The world is home to dinos big and small and familar foes like the Goombas, Koopa Troopas and Pirahna Plant. One group of foes, Mario and Luigi didn't hope to see was the Koopas. Yes, Bowser and his seven Koopa Kids are back. Bowser kidnaps the Princess and takes her to his castle, while the Koopa Kids kidnap some dino eggs and hide them in their castle. Mario and Luigi are out on a quest to help save the Princess and along the way they meet a young dinosaur named Yoshi who offers to help them on their quest if they help him save his friends. Mario and Luigi agree and Yoshi proves to be a true help to the brothers as he offers many abilites and access to secrets worlds. Mario and Luigi with their new pal Yoshi are easily able to defeat Koopa and his Koopa kids once and for all. And Mario, Luigi and Peach all have a new ally.

Story from the Manual
Penguin's Take: Mario had to train hard for this game as he had to slim down a bit in order to ride Yoshi. This also marked the turning point in Luigi's career as this will be the last game he played a major role in until the release of Luigi's Mansion some 10 years later. Luigi would go on to ruin his personal life and hide in shame. Yoshi on the hand career was on the uptake as he got to be the sidekick to the greatest hero of his time. Yoshi would even make a cameo in SM 64 on the roof while Luigi couldn't even be mentioned. Yoshi and gang would also get a starring role in SMW 2 while Mario played a minor co-star a role he had not held since Donkey Kong.




The Road to Super Mario 64
Mario would be contacted by Nintendo in early 1992 to do the impossible and be the star of their first attemt at a 3D game. Mario wouldn't sign until Nintendo offered him a 2 million dollar contract which had a clause this game had to be the best thing since slice bread or he would quit the company. Nintendo agreed and with their biggest star in jeopardy of leaving, it gave them a new found passion to work hard.

Mario would first buy a kart circuit which would include a few tracks and a few karts. He invited some of his coolest friends and even enemies to try it out. It became a weekly event for Mario and the gang as they tried to prove who was the best racer.

After that,Mario would once again hit the talkshow circuit. After Mario did a few shows, he decided he lived a full enough life to write an autobiography.

He detailed his adventures in Super Mario All Stars which is a collection of his earliest adventures and some added touches, the generally public didn't know.

After the release of the autobiography, many folks realized how little they actually knew about Mario's past. Mario himself even realized how little he knew about his past. So he talked about it with his parents and got a little bit of information. Then, Yoshi stunned Mario and Luigi both when he told them that their adventure in the Dinosaur Land wasn't their first. Indeed, they had been there before and that some of Yoshi's ancestor had proctected them from Kamek, an evil wizard who was Bowser's guardian.

Mario decided to write a follow up to his autobiography titled Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Which detialed his early life.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Mario was born before the invention of modern technology in a world more ancient than Brooklyn. Mario and Luigi's origin is shaky at best. They are Italians who are believed to be raised in Brooklyn yet born in the Dinosaur Land. Anyhow, as the story goes, Mario and Luigi were on their way to their home via airStork. Mario and Luigi's journey was cut short when they were attacked by Kamek and his henchmen of ShyGuys. Mario luckily escaped from danger, but not his brother Luigi. Mario landed near a family of nice Yoshis who were willing to help him find his brother and send the children home. The Yoshis meet lots of opposition from Kamek and his crew, but are able to overcome it all and defeat baby Bowser in order to rescue Luigi. Mario and Luigi are reunited and finally reach home.

Story from the Manual
Penguin's Take: There are many tales of heros' origin. Many are confusing and don't stick with the basic premise while others seem more feasible. Mario's origins are still somewhat shaky, but this game is the best evidence as to how he came to be. Yoshi got a starring role in his second aventure must faster than Mario's younger brother who played nothing more than a minor role in this game. Baby Mario would even drum up that Two Mario theory yet again as he appears side by side with Mario in Mario Tennis and Golf. The truth has yet to be discovered about that one.


Getting Pumped Up
Mario was pumped for his return to the Mushroom Kingdom so bad that he quit his contract with Nintendo. Nintendo was in complete shock and lost a star for their first 3D game. Instead of Mario, they used Fox McCloud in a semi-3Dish game, but there was still something missing.

Nintendo had to come up with a plan. They needed this world renowed superstar in their game more than they knew. So they offered Mario a chance to have a documentary made about him. They hired a Lakitu a world renowed camera man who could keep up with the best of them. In actuality, Nintendo had signed Lakitu to photograph Mario so they could get footage for their game. Mario didn't know until after the game was released and this caused a big fall out between Nintendo and Mario.


That concludes the SNES days. The next post will deal with his mega contrevesary N64 days and how Super Mario Sunshine came to be.

Seeing as penguin is Mario's bitch and all, seeing him make a thread like this isn't surpising. ;)

Spreading my forum with this...this...mania of mario...BAH!

Now to finish this up with Mario's life leading to Super Mario Sunshine.

Super Mario 64
Mario had been signed by Nintendo to do a live documentary. His cameraman would be Lakitu. During his documentary, Mario was sent a letter by Peach offering him a chance to come by the castle for some cake. Always looking for a good meal, Mario more than accepted the invitation. As Mario got closer to the castle, his mouth begun to water. He was really in the mood for some cake, but his mood was quickly destroyed as soon as he entered the castle. Mario was greeted by an all too familar laugh, it was the laugh of his archnemesis, Bowser. What was Bowser doing in the castle? Why was he here? According to some insider rumors, Bowser had came to the castle for some cake, but when Peach rejected he kidnapped her claiming if he couldn't have any no one would. Others claim that Nintendo had hired him to spice up Mario's otherwise boring documenatry. No one has a clear cut answer, but what we do know is with the prospect of food on the line, Mario was fighting with a new found inspiration. Like any good villian, Bowser couldn't keep his mouth shut about his plans explaining to Mario how he had stole the star power of the castle and selaed them in paintings throughout the castle. So Mario had to venture thorugh several rooms, floors and paintings in order to obtain the 120 stars scattered throughout the castle. When he did, he came face to face with his firey foe on top of a lava bridge. This would be the showdown of showdowns and only one man or beast would surive. Mario grabbed Bowser by his tail and tossed him into a nearby bomb knocking the reptialin king silly, he was dizzed and Mario went in for the kill knocking his foe into the lava pool below. Rescuing the Princces and getting his cake.

Story from the Manual
Penguin's Take: The life of fame and fortune has it's price. This would be Mario's last adventure for quite some time (to this day he has yet to get a steady gig hopefully that will change with SMS). Mario would become to big for his own britches which would lead to tons of problems with everyone in his life. Super Mario 64 may have marked a revoltuion in gaming, but it was the game that almost killed Mario's career.



The Super Mario 64 Contreversary
After the release of Super Mario 64, Mario sued Nintendo for improper use of the character as Mario had withdrawn their offer to be used in their first 3D game. They used his "documentary" footage as help in creating Super Mario 64. Mario lost the case as the judge ruled that Mario allowed Nintendo to make a documentary about him, but never did agree in which media the documentary would be presented. This created a big fall out between Nintendo and Mario which would last for several years.

Post Lawsuit Era
Mario figured Nintendo was nothing without him so he tried to wait it out, but nothing happened. Mario was shocked to see that nintendo created another character who beared a striking resemblance to Mario. He was a tad fatter and not as friendly, but he did look like Mario. He saw how Nintendo tried to market him as the next big thing. Mario was extremely pissed at this. He made a public speculate of himself when he confronted this Mario wannabe at the StarFox premiere. He had to be escorted out the building.
Mario wanted to lay low for a while after this incident so he went back to his kart circuit where he praticed for several weeks. Mario tried to hide his problem from his friends, but his career was going no where fast. This is when Mario turned to the 'shrooms to give him a little extra boost every now and then. Mario tried to live an extreme life always on the edge. One day, Mario decided to throw a huge party with all his closest friends including Peach, Luigi, Yoshi and Donkey Kong. After the Party, Mario went back to the 'shrooms and the pasta and lasgna and cake. He gained weight more and more as time passed.
Mario got so out of shape that he was the laughing stock at all the Nintendo party. A source close to Nintendo who wanted to remain nameless said, "I remember one time when we were at a party and Link was like how he could defeat Mario with one hand tied behind his back." Mario caught wind of this statementand offered a challenge to not only Link, but any other Nintendo character who thought they could stand toe to toe with Mario. About a dozen or so responded to the challenge, and the first official Nintendo All-Stars Tourney was set. The details of this touranment where shown in Super Smash Bros.
Mario got back into shape for the tourney, but didn't do so well. He took up golf and tennis to try and get his mind off of his embrassing display.His financial situation wasn't getting worse also. He ended up geting sue and losing to Bowser for causing severe burns in Super Mario 64. He also spent a lot on maintaining his kart circuit. It got so bad that he had to sell the rights to one of his earlier adventures to a TV station to make a cartoon. Some of the story was dramatized to make it more interesting.
Mario tried his hand at adventuring again when he heard of a haunting mansion. He went there to try and stop them, but was wuickly overpowered and had to be saved by his brother Luigi. Mario had hit rock bottom. He started to instenify his training. He got back into the shape of his life.
At the same time, Nintendo has plans for their second tournment and needed Mario. Mario agreed only if he got 2 million up front and a new deal. Nintendo quickly agreed and Mario entered into the second Nintendo All Stars tourney which was detailed in Super Smash Bros Melee. Mario proved o be in the shape of his life as he jumped and fought like never before. He did much better in the tourney.
After that, Mario was ready for his latest task,, but before he started work on the project. Mario wanted to take a vacation in which Nintendo agreed. When Mario arrived on the island, he was confrotned by the islanders and accused of messing up their landscape. He was given a waterpack and told to clean it up.

[i]And this is where our hero stands now. Will Mario get off the island. Where is Bowser? Has he been plotting the plumber demise for the last 6 years? How much of a role will Yoshi play? Is Peach smart enough to avoid getting kidnappeD? All of this and Mario should be answered in Super Mario Sunshine.

Sweet post man. I like the little things inbetween... Kind of funny.

Any word on the Peach-Daisy incident? Or are your sources too crapy?

Peach-Daisy incident?

*Reads through notes*

O that little scandal?

Peach-Daisy
Well, Nintendo thought it would send out a bad image to the generally public if the only female in the first Nintendo All Star tourney was wearning a space suit. So they contacted Princess Peach Toadstool and Daisy from Super Mario Land to be in the tourney. What Nintendo didn't know was that Daisy and Peach never meet so Peach never knew about Mario and Daisy.
When, Daisy arrived on the day of the tourney she was meet with little fanfare. Later on in the day when Peach drove in with her limo, Daisy become jealous even more jealous when Peach stepped out of the limo with Mario. Daisy marched overthere and introduced herself to Peach, Peach being the kind hearted person she was introduced herself and went to introduce Mario, but Daisy cut her off and told her she already knew him. Mario was wise enough to sneak back into the limo at this point. Peach asked how she knew Mario and Daisy begun to tell her the story of their adventure. Peach was like OK and that is long and gone. Peach turned around and walked up, but before she could enter the building Daisy jumped on her and started attacking her. Peach was able to thwart the attack and start on the offensive. The two women rolled around for quite some time fighting while Mario was still hiding in the limo. Finally, security arrived and brought ladies were set home. After they were gone, Mario decided to leave the limo and enter the building.

Everyone thought the air was clear between the two when they agreed to partake in Mario's tennis tourney. The two cooperated quite nicely for some time until Daisy "accident;y" nailed Peach in the face with a backhand shoot. All hell broke lost after that and Peach and Daisy once again started fighting. This time no one was safe and several of the other competitors who tried to break up the fight came back bruised.

Nintendo tried it one more time for the second Nintendo All Star tourney. They had the girls on seperate ends of the building and tried to make sure it was difficult for them to meet. When Peach started to receie threatening letters, Daisy was the first suspect. After the authories check Daisy's dressing room, they found several newspaper articles' clipped and a few rough drafts of letters sent to Peach. Daisy was immediately sent to jail and sentenced to spend some time in rehab. Peach was able to go on in the toruney, and Princess Zelda was called in to replace Daisy.

So thats where Daisy went. What if she comes back for Mario Tennis GC? Does that mean she's on Parole?:D

I just wanted to point out one lil mistake to you.... :p... umm... cmon.. dont any of you remember Mario 's missing?!?!
Luigi was the main charectar !

lol.. great posts :D