Super Mario: 10 unknown facts about the iconic video game character

1. Mario wasn’t always called Mario

The original name for Mario was actually Jumpman, which comes from the fact he had to leap over obstacles. The name Mario came from the landlord of the building where Nintendo of America was located, whose name was Mario Segale.

2. Super Mario Bros. wasn’t the first game to feature Mario

While Super Mario Bros. is the game that made Mario a household name, it was not the first game to feature the character. Mario first appeared in a game called Donkey Kong in 1981, where he was known as Jumpman.

3. The Super Mario Bros. sequel wasn’t released in the US because it was too difficult

Due to the original Super Mario game’s phenomenal success, Nintendo quickly produced a sequel – Super Mario Bros. 2. However, the company’s US division chose not to publish the game because it was deemed too difficult for their player base and too similar to the original.

4. Mario has his own theme park

Super Nintendo World’s Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride (Image: Universal Studios)

Super Nintendo World is a Mario-themed amusement park that opened in Japan in March 2021. The park features a variety of rides and attractions based on the Mario universe, including a real-life Mario Kart racing experience.

5. Mario has appeared in over 250 games

Mario has appeared in over 250 video games since his debut in Donkey Kong in 1981. These games have been released on a variety of platforms, including the NES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, and Nintendo Switch.

6. Mario is considered to be the first video game character to have a movie

In 1993, a live-action movie based on the Super Mario Bros. franchise was released. The movie was not well-received by critics or audiences, but it remains a cult classic among fans of the franchise.

7. Mario has his own ‘Day’

March 10th is known as Mario Day, and it is celebrated by fans of the franchise around the world. The holiday was created because the abbreviation for March 10th (Mar10) looks like the name Mario when written out.

8. Mario has held over 12 occupations

Mario is easily one of the most talented men on earth and has had over 12 occupations, although only 7 of those are officially recognised. He started as a carpenter in the original Donkey Kong game before he assumed the role of a plumber. The officially recognised jobs are; plumber, doctor, racer, martial artist, professional baseball player, soccer player, and basketball player,

9. Mario’s nemesis was supposed to be an ox

Mario, the famous video game hero, could have faced a very different enemy if his creator had followed his original idea. Miyamoto, inspired by a cartoon called Alakazam the Great, wanted an ox to be Mario’s biggest foe. But his colleague Tezuka suggested a turtle instead, and they worked together to create Bowser, the evil Koopa king.

10. The Mario brothers Are Twins

A screen grab of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, released in Japan in August 1995 and October 1995 in North America (Image: xRavenXP/YouTube)

The difference in their height, built, and mannerisms may lead you to think that Mario and Luigi are simply brothers, years apart in age, but that’s not the case. The two are in fact twins, as described in 1995 platform game from the Mario franchise, Yoshi’s Island. In the game, a stork delivers the twins to their parents before being separated. Yoshi then goes on a quest to reunite baby Mario with his brother Luigi.