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Classic Game Spotlight: Revisiting the Legacy of 'Super Mario Bros.'

Dec 05, 2023 by JR Carag

3 min read

    
AB_Classic Game Spotlight_ Revisiting the Legacy of _Super Mario Bros._

Super Mario Bros. is a game that needs no introduction. The iconic platformer, created by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and published by Nintendo, burst onto the gaming scene in 1985 and made the brothers Mario and Luigi household names. Join us as we take a journey through time and revisit the legacy of this iconic gaming franchise.

It’s a-him, the gaming legend himself, Mario!

From Nintendo Official Website

The birth of a legend

From Nintendo Official Website

The gaming industry wasn’t as booming in the early 80s as today. The industry as a whole was suffering through a massive recession that Japan dubbed the “Atari Shock” in 1983. Under these conditions, Shigeru Miyamoto was tasked with creating a game that could recapture the hearts and minds of jaded players exposed to a market flooded with underdeveloped and cash-grab games.

Thanks to Miyamoto’s creative genius, Super Mario Bros. was born. It was one of the launch titles with the Nintendo Famicom (also known as the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES). The game and the company turned around the failing gaming industry. Mario not only saved Princess Peach from Bowser in his first outing but also the entire gaming industry!

Gaming influencer

From GIPHY Gaming

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Super Mario Bros. isn’t just a game but a cultural phenomenon. Not only did it save the gaming industry and introduce Nintendo as a dominant player in the gaming market, but the game itself revolutionized the standard for platformers for years to come. Almost all side-scrolling adventures can trace influences from Super Mario Bros.—from Sonic the Hedgehog to Mega Man, they owe much to the pioneering plumber.

However, Super Mario Bros. didn’t become a cultural icon just by influencing gaming. The game’s popularity extends to pop culture as well. The Super Mario Bros. theme is one of the most recognizable tunes from the gaming world, and Mario’s signature catchphrase, “It’s a-me, Mario!” is embedded in our collective psyche. The Mario Bros. had their own TV Show, live-action film, and an animated feature film with a star-studded voice cast. Mario and the rest of the inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom are truly gaming royalty.

The adventure continues

From Nintendo Official Website

As one of gaming’s most iconic franchises, Super Mario Bros. has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing gaming landscape. From the 3D adventures of Super Mario 64—an iconic game in its own right to the various spin-offs and sequels within the franchise, Mario and Luigi have remained beloved characters for multiple generations of gamers.

The release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder marks the return of Mario and Luigi to their side-scrolling roots. It’s the first side-scrolling platformer in the franchise since New Super Mario Bros. U was released more than a decade ago for the Nintendo Wii U. The critical acclaim of Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a testament to the enduring legacy of the franchise and proof of the lasting legacy of the Super Mario Bros.

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