Check Out Our Store For More Great New, Vintage, And Used Items!
FOR SALE:
A Stationery Starter Set Featuring Awesome Nintendo Video Game Imagery
2017 NINTENDO MARIO KART 4-PIECE STUDY SET
DETAILS:
Exclusive Mario Kart Merchandise!
Rev up your study sessions with this fun and vibrant Mario Kart-themed stationery set, perfect for fans of all ages! Released in 2017 by Innovative Designs to celebrate the launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch, this officially licensed Nintendo merchandise is a must-have for Super Mario fanatics and collectors alike. Retired (out-of-production) and no longer sold in stores or online—making this set a rare find and sought after collectible.
Suitable for ages 4 and up, this Mario Kart stationery set is perfect for school, home, or on-the-go fun. Combining practicality with beloved Nintendo characters, it offers an engaging way to make studying and note-taking more exciting. Get your race on and enjoy this exclusive Mario Kart merchandise that brings fun and function together!
Includes 1 Memo Pad, 1 Eraser, 1 Sharpener, And 1 Pencil!
The spiral bound memo pad is 3" x 5", contains 50 sheets, and has an awesome cover image of Mario holding up a Mushroom Cup gold trophy.
The eraser is rectangular, white colored, and is covered in a printed sleeve featuring an image of Mario's fierce face.
The sharpener is circular, red colored, and topped with a sticker featuring a simple yet cool sticker of Toad's head.
The wooden No. 2 pencil has a red colored eraser and is decorated with a dynamic Mario Kart characters pattern graphic showcasing Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and Yoshi.
CONDITION:
New in package. Packaging has light storage wear. Please see photos.
To ensure safe delivery all items are carefully packaged before shipping out.
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING. QUESTIONS? JUST ASK.
*ALL PHOTOS AND TEXT ARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF SIDEWAYS STAIRS CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.*
"Mario Kart[a] is a series of kart racing games based on the Mario franchise developed and published by Nintendo. Players compete in go-kart races while using various power-up items. It features characters from the Mario series racing along tracks from the Mario universe. Some releases have also included characters from other popular franchises like Pac-Man, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon.
The series was launched in 1992 with Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), to critical and commercial success.[1] The Mario Kart series totals seventeen games, with eight on home consoles, three on handheld-only consoles, five arcade games co-developed with Namco, and one for mobile phones. Over 189 million copies of the series have been sold worldwide.
Mario Kart 8, released on the Wii U in 2014 and ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2017, is one of the best-selling video games, at 76.66 million sold for both versions. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, a mixed reality game, was released on the Switch in October 2020. The newest installment, Mario Kart World, was released as a launch title on the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.
Gameplay
In the Mario Kart series, players compete in go-kart races, controlling one of a selection of Mario characters. Up to 24 characters can compete in each race (varying per game). Players can perform driving techniques during the race such as rocket starts, slipstreaming, drifting and mini-turbos.
Gameplay is enhanced by power-up items obtained by driving into item boxes laid out on the course. These power-ups vary across games in the series, but generally include Mushrooms to give players a speed boost, Red/Green Shells to be thrown at opponents, Banana Peels and hazards such as Fake Item Boxes. The game selects an item based on the player's current position in the race, utilising a mechanism known as rubber banding. For example, players lagging far behind may receive more powerful items such as Bullet Bills, which give the player invincibility while auto-piloting them forward at great speed, while the leader of a race may only receive small defensive items, such as Shells or Bananas. This gameplay mechanism allows other racers a realistic chance to catch up to the leading racer. In the original game, Super Mario Kart, the player takes control one of the eight Mario series characters, each with differing capabilities. In single player mode, players can race against computer-controlled characters in 4 multi-race cups consisting of 20 tracks (5 in each cup) over three difficulty levels (50cc, 100cc and 150cc). Alternatively, players can race against the clock in a Time Trial mode. In multiplayer mode, two players can simultaneously take part in the cups or can race against each other one-on-one in Match Race mode. In a third multiplayer mode – Battle Mode – the aim is to defeat the other players by attacking them with power-ups, destroying balloons which surround each kart.
Each new game has introduced new gameplay elements, such as new circuits, items, modes, and playable characters.
Mario Kart 64 introduced 3D graphics, 4-player racing, mini turbos to more easily execute drift boosts,[2] slipstreaming,[3] and item dangling (the ability to hold bananas and shells to defend against projectiles and hold a reserve item as well), alongside the removal of coins. It introduced several items, including the Fake Item Box, the Golden Mushroom, and the Spiny Shell. In addition to the three Grand Prix engine classes, Extra Mode (known in later games as Mirror Mode) was introduced, in which all tracks are flipped laterally. When playing Battle Mode with three or more players, when a player is defeated they turn into a "Mini Bomb Kart", where they can try and pop another player's balloons.[citation needed]
Mario Kart: Super Circuit returns to the Mode 7 gameplay style found in Super Mario Kart. Multiplayer in Super Circuit is done via GBA Link Cable. The game allows multiplayer with only one Game Pak, although if played this way the game includes various restrictions, such as a limited course count and players only being allowed to play as Yoshis. Super Circuit introduces a new mode called Free Run, which allows the player to play any course with CPU. Battle mode appears as it did in 64, with Mini Bomb Karts being replaced by Bob-ombs that respawn once exploded.[citation needed]
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! returns to the 3D format that originated in Mario Kart 64. New feature to the game include the titular double-occupied karts, a 2-player Co-op mode where one player drives while the other uses items, and also LAN play, which allows up to 16 people to play. It introduced a revamped Spiny Shell that leaves an area of effect explosion, and character exclusive items (known in the game as Special Items). It also introduced new alternate battle modes: "Shine Thief", where players fight over obtaining a Shine Sprite from Super Mario Sunshine (2002) before a timer runs out, and "Bob-omb Blast" where players throw Bob-ombs to collect or steal points from each other. In Balloon battle, players no longer turn into Bob-ombs when defeated.[citation needed]
Mario Kart DS featured dual-screen play to take advantage of the system's capabilities. It introduced custom emblems, as well as Online play via the now defunct Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, a mission mode, and returning courses as a main feature. It also returned to the single item and racer format. New playable characters included Dry Bones, R.O.B., and Shy Guy (who was exclusive to DS Download Play). It also introduced a new battle mode in "Shine Runners" (not to be confused with the aforementioned "Shine Thief") where players try to collect enough Shine Sprites before a timer runs out to avoid being eliminated.[citation needed]
Mario Kart Wii introduced motion controls as a headlining new feature alongside the Wii Wheel accessory. It also introduced the ability to perform mid-air tricks, and bikes as a second vehicle type. The amount of racers that could be in a race was raised from 8 to 12.[4] It introduced three new items: the Mega Mushroom, the Thundercloud, and the POW Block. It also introduced a new battle mode titled "Coin Runners" (not to be confused with "Shine Runners"), where players try to collect as many coins as they can before time runs up. The rules of Balloon Battle are now changed, with the focus now being on getting points by popping other player's balloons before a time limit expires, with players now respawning once they run out of balloons, losing points in the process.[citation needed]
Mario Kart 7 featured stereoscopic 3D graphics and the return of dual screen functionality. It introduced gliders and submersible karts, a first-person perspective, and full kart customization. It also re-introduced Coins in regular races for a small speed boost, though they are also now used to unlock kart parts.[citation needed]
Mario Kart 8 introduced the 200cc engine class[b], anti-gravity racing, a third vehicle type in ATVs, downloadable content, HD graphics, and Mii costumes unlocked via amiibo. Also introduced is Mario Kart TV (abbreviated as MKTV), a mode that gives players the ability to save up to six video replays of races. These replays can be customized based on length and various aspects of focus. MKTV was able to upload replays on to YouTube via the now defunct social media platform Miiverse. Battle mode only features balloon battle, with it taking place on a handful of race courses.[citation needed]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe added a revamped battle mode, which included the new "Renegade Roundup", the return of double item boxes, ultra mini-turbo, and added 6 characters that were absent from the original game.[5][6] These characters include King Boo, Dry Bones, Gold Mario, Bowser Jr, and the male and female Inklings from Splatoon, in addition to giving the female Villager her own character slot.[7] From 2022 to the end of 2023, the "Booster Course Pass" DLC expansion pack doubled the amount of courses and added new characters,[8] item customization to VS mode, and a music player.[citation needed]
Mario Kart Tour was the first Mario Kart title on mobile devices, and introduced a points-based system for certain racing actions.[9] It introduced Frenzy Mode, gacha, and loot box mechanics that were later removed in 2022. It reintroduced character-specific items and new items such as Ice Flower, Coin Box, and Dash Ring. Multiple new tracks were introduced in this game and later added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via the DLC Booster Course Pass.[citation needed]
Mario Kart World features 24-player races[10] and off-roading mechanics, as well as an open-world driving format.[11] A new mode is introduced, called "Knockout Tour", where 24 players will race between 6 different checkpoints located on the open world, with the last 4 players being eliminated each time a checkpoint is passed. All new characters in World have previously appeared as course hazards. Missions from DS return, with them being found around the open world. As of its launch, World does not include a 200cc speed option. It is expected to be added in a future update.....
Development
The debut game in the Mario Kart series was Super Mario Kart released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1992. Its development was overseen by Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the Japanese designer of many successful Nintendo games including Super Mario Bros. Darran Jones of NowGamer suggests that the success of Super Mario Kart resulted from the Super Mario characters, and being a new type of racing game....
Reception
The Mario Kart series is critically acclaimed. Nintendo Power named it one of the greatest multiplayer experiences, citing the diversity in game modes and the entertainment value.[43] The first game in the series, Super Mario Kart, received critical acclaim and proved to be a commercial success; it received a Player's Choice release after selling one million copies and went on to sell 8.76 million copies worldwide, becoming the fourth best-selling game ever for the SNES.[44][45][46] In Japan, it was the top-selling game in September 1992[47][48][49] and became a multi-million seller in 1992,[50] eventually selling a total of 3.82 million in Japan.[51] In Europe, it was the top-selling game during the first quarter of 1993, above the Sega Mega Drive titles Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Streets of Rage 2 during the same period.[52] In the United Kingdom, Super Mario Kart was the top-selling Super NES game in February 1993,[53] and it went on to be the seventh best-selling game of 1993 with more than 250,000 sales in the country.[54]
The second game in the series, Mario Kart 64, received "generally favorable" reviews according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. The game was commercially successful, selling 9.87 million copies worldwide—the second-bestselling game on the N64.[55] It was the highest selling game in the United States over the first three months of 1997, and reached over one million sales within two months of its release in the region.[56] By 1999, Mario Kart 64 had sold 6.23 million copies in the United States and 2.06 million units in Japan, the highest and third-highest selling N64 game in those regions respectively.[57]
Although Super Circuit received critical acclaim upon launch, retrospectively, Super Circuit ranks low on retrospective critics' lists of the best Mario Kart games,[58][59][60][61] and Nintendo World Report said it was the Mario Kart game with the "fewest innovations".[62] Critics blamed this on the hardware limitations of the GBA; GamesRadar said that the scarcity of the Link Cable made Super Circuit's multiplayer experience less memorable than other Mario Kart games.[58] Kotaku described Super Circuit as "lost", unable to live up to the technically pioneering releases of Super Mario Kart and 64 because of the GBA's hardware.[61] Nonetheless, critics rank Super Circuit among the best GBA games.[63][64][65]
The fourth game in the series, Mario Kart: Double Dash, received "generally favorable" reviews from critics according to review aggregator website Metacritic. Nintendo Power gave the game a perfect score, and said the graphics were of "3-D perfection" and the controls and game mechanics "rival those of any [GameCube] racing game". Although the initial positive reviews, Double Dash has received criticism from the media. Considering the 7-year gap since Mario Kart 64, Davis from GameSpot stated that he was "a little disappointed with the limited scope [of Double Dash"].[66] Mirabella of IGN was critical towards Double Dash for not progressing beyond its predecessor, calling the game a "mediocre effort".[67] G-Wok of GameRevolution criticized the game's single-player mode for lacking substance and the track design for being "bland".[68]
Guinness World Records listed six records set by the Mario Kart series, including "First Console Kart Racing Game", "Best Selling Racing Game", and "Longest Running Kart Racing Franchise". Guinness World Records ranked Super Mario Kart number 1 of the top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy.[69] Super Mario Kart was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2019....
Theme park attraction
Main article: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Universal Destinations & Experiences' immersive Super Nintendo World areas in Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Orlando feature the Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge ride as their primary "anchor" attraction. Utilizing innovative augmented reality technology and dark ride set design, guests travel through several environments from Mario Kart 8, including Rainbow Road. The Japan version of the attraction includes a Mario Kart themed shop called "Mario Motors", and a nearby "Pit Stop Popcorn" food stand." (wikipedia)
"Mario Kart 8[c] is a 2014 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It retains the gameplay of previous Mario Kart games, with players controlling a Mario character in races around tracks. Tracks are themed around locales from the Super Mario series populated with power-ups that help players gain advantages in races. Different difficulties are selectable prior to a race; harder difficulties make gameplay faster. In the new anti-gravity sequences, players drive on walls and ceilings. Mario Kart 8 contains a variety of single-player and local and online multiplayer game modes, including Grand Prix racing and arena-based battle modes.
Nintendo revealed Mario Kart 8 in 2013 and released it in May 2014. Both paid and free downloadable content (DLC) was released after its launch, including additional tracks and a new difficulty setting. It was rereleased on the Nintendo Switch in April 2017 as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,[d] including the DLC, a revamped battle mode and other gameplay alterations. From March 2022 until November 2023, Deluxe received additional DLC: the "Booster Course Pass", which added 48 circuits and eight characters.
Mario Kart 8 was a critical success; reviewers praised its gameplay and presentation, but the battle mode was criticized. Critics praised Deluxe as the definitive version for its improved battle modes and presentation. Both releases have been named by critics as among the best Mario Kart games, have won and been nominated for several awards, and have been cited in following years as being among the greatest video games ever made.
Mario Kart 8 is one of the best-selling video games, at over 76.66 million sold for both versions combined. The original version is also the best-selling Wii U game at 8.46 million sold and Deluxe is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game at 68.20 million. A sequel, Mario Kart World, was released for the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.
Gameplay
Mario Kart 8 is a kart racing game in which players control characters from the Mario universe, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Splatoon (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), or the players' Miis, to race in go-karts around a course. They may hinder their opponents or improve their performance using power-ups found in item boxes throughout the course.[3] It includes four different difficulties, each differing in speed which may be selected before the race.[4][5] "Mirror Mode" horizontally inverts all courses.[6] Returning features from previous installments include motorbikes and 12-player racing from Mario Kart Wii, and hang gliders, underwater racing, and vehicle customization from Mario Kart 7.[7][8] Up to four players can play together on a single system, up to eight can play together through a local wireless connection (Switch only), and up to twelve can play together via online multiplayer.[5][9]
The signature new feature of Mario Kart 8 is anti-gravity racing, in which certain parts of a course allow racers to drive on walls and ceilings.[10] In these sections, players who collide with other racers or special bumpers trigger speed boosts. New characters include the Koopalings and Pink Gold Peach. The vehicles include karts, motorbikes and all-terrain vehicles. There are four new items: the Boomerang Flower, which can be thrown to attack players; the Piranha Plant, which attacks nearby racers and obstacles and provides a speed boost; the Crazy Eight, which gives the user eight different items; and the Super Horn, which can be used both to attack nearby opponents and defend against items, including the previously nearly unavoidable Spiny Shell.[11][12][13] The 32 courses are spread across eight cups, with an additional 16 courses released as downloadable content (DLC) in four additional cups.[14]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch includes all downloadable content (DLC) for the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8, including characters, courses, and vehicle components.[15][6] These features do not need to be unlocked.[16] In addition to previous DLC, several new characters were introduced in Deluxe, including the Inklings from Splatoon, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, and King Boo.[17][18] Characters from third-party franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man and Pac-Man, are present as costumes for the Mii character unlocked by scanning amiibo, in addition to those based on Nintendo characters.[19] Other changes include the ability to hold two items at once,[20][21] and accessibility features to assist newer players, such as auto-acceleration or smart steering, which prevents players from veering off course.[17][6] Deluxe also reintroduces the Boo item, which allows the player to temporarily become invisible and steal an opponent's item.[22][5] In Deluxe's "Booster Course Pass", several courses have differing layouts in every lap, condensing multiple variations of a course into one.[23]
Two characters in split-screen view on a concrete surface. On the left is Bowser Jr., a yellow turtle-like creature with a spiked green shell who is riding in a small circular car. In front of him is a Piranha Plant, a venus flytrap-like creature with a white-spotted red head. On the right is Isabelle, a humanoid yellow dog on a motorbike. Isabelle is driving toward a blue switch with a key icon placed below a yellow and blue cage. In the center of the screen is a minimap displaying the characters' location in the course.
The largest addition to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the updated battle mode. Deluxe includes five new battle mode-exclusive courses and three battle courses adapted from previous entries in the Mario Kart series. These battle courses are designed specifically for the mode, featuring layouts that allow for easier item play, rather than repurposing standard race courses like Mario Kart 8.[24] The Feather item, reintroduced from previous entries in the series, is exclusive to this mode and allows the player to get a small boost in height when it is activated.[21][22] There are five rulesets in battle mode.[15] In Balloon Battle, players use items to destroy each other's balloons.[15] Unlike in previous incarnations, the mode is point-based rather than last-man-standing, meaning that the winner is whoever destroys the most balloons before the match ends.[24][25][4] Bob-omb Blast is a variation of Balloon Battle with all the items replaced with bombs.[24][26][6] In Shine Thief, players must maintain control of the Shine Sprite for as long as possible;[20] the player or team who possesses it for the longest wins.[6][26][27] In Coin Runners, players scavenge coins from around the course and steal them from other players, aiming to have the biggest hoard.[15][4][26] The final mode is Renegade Roundup, which involves a team of "renegades" trying to avoid the "authorities" armed with Piranha Plants, which takes inspiration from the children's game "cops and robbers".[20][26] Renegades may free their captured teammates by driving over switches under the cages controlled by the authorities....
Development and release
Nintendo confirmed Mario Kart 8 in a January 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation and unveiled it at E3 2013. Some members of Bandai Namco Games received special thanks in the credits.[28] The "8" in the logo was designed to resemble a Möbius strip, as was Mario Circuit, one of the courses.[29] Early in development, the idea of using a drill to penetrate the ground was considered but discarded as less interesting than anti-gravity.[30] Courses were designed with anti-gravity in mind, and tracks from older games were redesigned to use it. Other courses had gliding and underwater sections added.[31]
Nintendo's launch promotions of Mario Kart 8 include a limited edition with a spiny shell figurine and themed console bundles, with a hat, strategy guide, Wii Remote Plus controller, Wii Wheel, and GamePad protector.[32] In North America, Europe, and Australia, players who purchased and registered Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014, received a download code for a selected Wii U game.[33][34] As part of a promotional campaign with Mercedes-Benz, Mario, Luigi, and Peach were featured in a series of Japanese commercials for the Mercedes-Benz GLA, and three karts based on past and present Mercedes-Benz vehicles were added as part of a downloadable update on August 27, 2014.[35][36][37] In 2014, the fast food company McDonald's released Happy Meal-branded toys based on the characters and karts.[38] An album containing 68 tracks was made available as an exclusive reward available to Club Nintendo members shortly before the service was discontinued in 2015.[39]
Game updates added features and user experience improvements, such as support for Amiibo figurines, a 200cc difficulty setting, player statistics, and additional Mii outfits.[40][41][35] Two paid DLC packs added characters, vehicles, and courses. Some characters and courses are based on other Nintendo franchises, including Link (The Legend of Zelda), Isabelle and Villager (Animal Crossing), Mute City and Big Blue (F-Zero), and Excitebike Arena (Excitebike).[42][43][44] Downloadable content for Mario Kart 8 is no longer available to purchase due to the discontinuation of the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.[45]
In March 2023, Nintendo halted online play for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon due to a security vulnerability.[46] The problem was fixed with an update, and online play resumed on August 3.[47] Online services for Wii U, including Mario Kart 8 online play, were terminated on April 9, 2024.[48]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo teased Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the announcement of the Nintendo Switch in October 2016,[49] and revealed it at the Nintendo Switch presentation on January 12, 2017.[50] The trailer showcased mechanics such as smart steering and crossover elements from the Splatoon series.[51] Additional crossovers with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild were added in an update after launch.[52] Deluxe was released on April 28, 2017, following the Switch's March 3 launch.[51][50] Nintendo also announced a steering wheel accessory for the Switch Joy-Con controller to allow for motion-controlled steering.[53] An overview trailer revealed details about the battle mode including several battle mode-exclusive courses, and the return of the Shine Thief mode from Mario Kart: Double Dash.[54] After the release of the trailer, several internet memes circulated surrounding Donkey Kong appearing to perform a celebratory dab.[55] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe revamps the battle mode, adds a second item slot, among other minor gameplay improvements.
Shortly after launch, Nintendo released a software update that changed one of the victory gestures done by the Inkling Girl. Prior to the update, the Inkling Girl performed a gesture that consisted of placing her hand on a flexed bicep and pumping her fist into the air.[56] In Japan, the gesture means something similar to "bring it on!",[57] though in European and Latin American countries,[58] it was likened to the bras d'honneur, an offensive gesture that can be interpreted as...[59] After the update, the Inkling Girl no longer clenches her fist around her flexed arm, instead simply performing a "fist pump",[60] though the rest of the gesture was unchanged.[61][62][63]
A series of updates in 2018 added compatibility with Nintendo Labo, a toys-to-life kit that uses cardboard to create motion-controlled toys with Joy-Con controllers.[64] The first update enabled the Toy-Con Motorbike as a controller for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, allowing the player to use the physical throttle, handlebars, and gyroscope present on the Toy-Con Motorbike,[65] while actions like braking, drifting, and item pickups are still performed using the standard controller buttons.[66] A later update added compatibility for the Toy-Con Car, Pedal, and Key to control actions like braking, drifting, and using the horn on the steering wheel to launch items.[67][68] An update released on December 7, 2022, added an item customization option for certain modes, allowing players to choose which items are obtainable in a race or Battle....
Reception and legacy
Reception
Aggregate scoreAggregator Score
NS Wii U
Metacritic 92/100[110][g] 88/100[109][f]
Review scoresPublication Score
NS Wii U
Destructoid 9.5/10[22] 9/10[91]
Easy Allies 4.5/5[9] N/A
Electronic Gaming Monthly 4/5[18] 3/5[92]
Eurogamer Essential[20] 10/10[93]
Game Informer 9.25/10[6] 9.25/10[94]
GameRevolution 4/5[96] 5/5[95]
GameSpot 9/10[24] 8/10[97]
GamesRadar+ 5/5[21] 4/5[98]
GamesTM 9/10[25] 9/10[99]
Giant Bomb N/A 4/5[100]
Hardcore Gamer 4.5/5[5] 4.5/5[101]
IGN 9.3/10[15] 9/10[102]
Nintendo Life 10/10[17] 9/10[103]
Pocket Gamer 4.5/5[8] N/A
Shacknews 9/10[16] 8/10[104]
The Guardian 5/5[7] 5/5[105]
USgamer 5/5[4] 4.5/5[106]
VentureBeat 90/100[108] 85/100[107]
Mario Kart 8 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic,[109][f] whereas Deluxe received "universal acclaim".[110][g] Overall, reviewers held Mario Kart 8 in high esteem among racing games,[h] but considered Deluxe the definitive version.[i] Deluxe was called one of the best games in the Mario Kart series or one of the best racing games of all time.[j] Some reviewers considered it an essential purchase for Nintendo Switch owners.[96][25][5] Improvements in Deluxe made certain features of Mario Kart 8 feel worse in retrospect.[9][3] However, many reviewers criticized the initial lack of new content in Deluxe compared to Mario Kart 8.[k]
The main racing mode was widely praised. Eurogamer called it the "most vibrant home console racing game in years".[93] The rubber-banding mechanics were criticized,[9][8] though Game Informer said that "fans accepted that pitfall as a series mainstay long ago".[6] Finding the core racing unchanged, they said Deluxe is still "the same great title from the Wii U".[6] GameSpot and Nintendo Life also considered Deluxe's racing to be as strong as the original.[24][17] Minor mechanical changes, such as the ability to hold two items,[20][3] were praised, with many liking how it added more strategy to Deluxe's item play.[l] Accessibility options like smart steering and auto-acceleration received mixed feedback. Many felt that the additions made Deluxe the most accessible Mario Kart game,[9][6] and others appreciated how they helped less experienced players enjoy the game, though making it too easy for veteran players.[m] However, some reviewers disliked how smart steering was enabled by default,[18][15][3] and how it could overcorrect or interfere with precision inputs.[16][4]
The main criticism levied at Mario Kart 8 was its battle mode, which was less well received than previous entries. Easy Allies called it "abysmal",[9] and Kotaku said it was "borderline unplayable".[3] Giant Bomb panned the use of repurposed race courses for battle mode in lieu of dedicated battle courses like previous entries, which made it difficult to find opponents to engage with.[100] By contrast, Deluxe's revamped battle mode received widespread acclaim. Easy Allies and Kotaku claimed that the new battle mode far outshined the original game,[9][3] and Pocket Gamer said that Deluxe returned battle mode to its "original arena-battling glory".[8] VentureBeat said that they remedied the issue with the original Mario Kart 8's battle courses.[108] However, Electronic Gaming Monthly said that the battle mode was "not so much a point for Deluxe that these modes are included as it is a retroactive demerit for the original Mario Kart 8".[18] Many critics considered Renegade Roundup to be the best of Deluxe's battle modes,[n] though GameRevolution and USgamer said it was their least favorite.[96][4]
Reviewers also focused on the visual style. Eurogamer praised both the vast sense of scale and the "exquisite details" of the courses.[93] Digital Foundry deemed it "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail", featuring a "magnificent visual package" and "magical playability". Their technical analysis attributes the smoothness of motion and overall gameplay to the consistent performance of 60 frames per second (FPS), with the split-screen mode's effective 30 FPS nonetheless comparing favorably with industry standard.[111] Reviewers for Deluxe echoed this praise,[o] with some saying that the graphics of Deluxe were an upgrade from the Wii U original.[96][25] GamesTM praised the "incredible" lighting of Deluxe, saying that courses like Rainbow Road and Electrodrome stood out as "fantastic showcases for the Nintendo universe and its creative spirit".[25] IGN felt that the "great art direction" in Mario Kart 8 and Deluxe was "a major reason" for the graphics remaining "gorgeous".[15] Easy Allies called the soundtrack "something special", saying that both original and returning songs were "fantastic and downright catchy".[9] Eurogamer called the soundtrack "outrageously upbeat", and that Deluxe's "defining moment" was the live band rendition of the Super Mario Kart theme....
Fan response
"Luigi's death stare" is an Internet meme describing the automatic facial expression displayed by Luigi toward other characters upon attacking or passing them during a race, in which he gives them a disapproving glare. It was featured in several viral videos and animated GIFs,[168][169][170] and the phenomenon was covered by WNYW in early June 2014.[171][172] Nintendo referenced the meme in their E3 2014 digital event.[173] VentureBeat praised Nintendo's handling of the meme, noting that it was a "slick way" of acknowledging fan culture.[174] The meme was nominated for the Best Gaming Moment at the 32nd Golden Joystick Awards.[175]
Several mods have been created for Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In February 2022, a mod was created that added Kirby's Mouthful Mode car transformation (colloquially known as "Carby") from Kirby and the Forgotten Land as a selectable kart and character.[176][177] In June 2022, a mod was published that added Green Hill Zone from the Sonic the Hedgehog series as a course, in response to the franchise's minimal representation." (wikipedia)
"Nintendo Co., Ltd.[c] is a Japanese multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes and releases both video games and video game consoles.
Nintendo was founded in 1889 as Nintendo Koppai[d] by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produced handmade hanafuda playing cards. After venturing into various lines of business during the 1960s and acquiring legal status as a public company, Nintendo distributed its first console, the Color TV-Game, in 1977. It gained international recognition with the release of Donkey Kong in 1981 and the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Mario Bros. in 1985.
Since then, Nintendo has produced some of the most successful consoles in the video game industry, such as the Game Boy, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Nintendo DS, the Wii, and the Nintendo Switch. It has created or published numerous major franchises, including Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Pokémon, and Nintendo's mascot, Mario, is internationally recognized, as well as other characters like Donkey Kong, Luigi, Bowser, Link, Kirby, and Pikachu. The company has sold more than 5.592 billion video games and over 836 million hardware units globally, as of March 2023.
Nintendo has multiple subsidiaries in Japan and abroad, in addition to business partners such as HAL Laboratory, Intelligent Systems, Game Freak, and The Pokémon Company. Nintendo and its staff have received awards including Emmy Awards for Technology & Engineering, Game Awards, Game Developers Choice Awards, and British Academy Games Awards. It is one of the wealthiest and most valuable companies in the Japanese market." (wikipedia)
"Mario[a] is a multimedia franchise created by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto for the Japanese video game company Nintendo, which produces and publishes its installments. Starring the titular Italian plumber Mario, it is primarily a video game franchise but has extended to other forms of media, including television series, comic books, a 1993 feature film, a 2023 animated film, and theme park attractions. The series' first installment was 1983's Mario Bros. even though Mario made his first appearance in 1981's arcade game Donkey Kong and had already been featured in several games of the Donkey Kong and Game & Watch series. The Mario games have been developed by a wide variety of developers. Mario games have been released almost exclusively for Nintendo's various video game consoles and handhelds, from the third generation onward.
The flagship Mario subseries is the Super Mario series of platform games starting with 1985's Super Mario Bros., which mostly follows Mario's adventures in the fictional world of the Mushroom Kingdom and typically rely on Mario's jumping ability to allow him to progress through levels. The franchise has spawned over 200 games of various genres and several subseries, including Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Paper Mario, and Mario & Luigi; several characters introduced in the Mario franchise, such as Donkey Kong, Wario, and Yoshi, sparked successful franchises of their own.
The Mario series is one of gaming's most successful and renowned franchises, with many of its games, in particular within the Super Mario subseries, considered some of the greatest video games ever made. It is the best-selling video game franchise of all time, with more than 830 million copies of games sold, including more than 430 million for the Super Mario games alone.[1] Mario is also Nintendo's flagship franchise....Super Mario series
Main article: Super Mario
Mario then became the star of his own side scrolling platform game in 1985, titled Super Mario Bros., which was the pack-in game included with the Nintendo Entertainment System console. It was also later sold in a package with Duck Hunt. In Japan, a game titled Super Mario Bros. 2 was released in 1986, but a different game with the same name was released internationally in 1988, followed by Super Mario Bros. 3 later that same year. The Japanese version would subsequently be released in the United States in 1993 under the title Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels as part of the Super Mario All-Stars title for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, a console that also features iterations of the game known as Super Mario World. While Super Mario Land and two sequels were the Game Boy installments in the series, the Game Boy Advance did not receive any original entries, only remakes. Super Mario 64 debuted as the launch title for the Nintendo 64 console in 1996. Super Mario Sunshine was the series' entry for the GameCube, and Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel continued the franchise for the Wii. Super Mario 3D Land was the series' flagship title for Nintendo 3DS. The Wii U saw the release of Super Mario 3D World in November 2013. A rerelease titled Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury released February 2021. Super Mario Odyssey would be the first game in the series to be released on the Nintendo Switch, and was released in 2017.[10]
In 2006, a sub-series with retro gameplay called New Super Mario Bros. was inaugurated on the Nintendo DS, featuring the mechanics of the Super Mario Bros. games. It continued on the Wii as New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009), on the 3DS as New Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012) and on the Wii U as New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) and New Super Luigi U (2013) ((stylized as New Super Luigi Bros U)), with a port titled New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch in January 2019. Super Mario Bros.-styled gameplay is further offered by the level creator game Super Mario Maker, released on Wii U in 2015. A sequel, Super Mario Maker 2, was released on Nintendo Switch in June 2019. In June 2023, Nintendo announced Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the first 2D Mario game (excluding rereleases, level creators, and mobile games) in 11 years. It released October 20, 2023.
In 2016, the team behind New Super Mario Bros. released Super Mario Run, Nintendo's first real smartphone game and one of the few instances a Mario game was developed for non-Nintendo hardware..... Role-playing games
Main article: List of Mario role-playing games
The first role-playing game in the Mario franchise was Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. It has since expanded to the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series.
Paper Mario series
Main article: Paper Mario
The Paper Mario series logo
Paper Mario[e] is a spin-off series of RPG video games developed by Intelligent Systems and produced by Nintendo Software Planning & Development. The first game in the series, Paper Mario, was launched in 2000 on the Nintendo 64 to critical and commercial success.[14][15] In the Paper Mario series, the player controls Mario in a mixture of 3D environments and 2D characters who look as if they are made of paper. Mario can jump and use his hammer to overcome physical obstacles placed in the game's overworld. Additionally, the player accumulates partners as they advance into different locations, who each have a specialized skill required for progression in the game.[16] These characters assist Mario in the game's turn-based battles. Damage inflicted to the player reduces the amount of HP.[17] Attacks in the game are similar to those in traditional RPGs, although the player can influence the power of a move when attacking or defending by timing a button-press accurately or performing some other action command as required.[14] Mario and his partners have a finite capacity to perform special moves, with each of these consuming a particular number of flower points (FP) when performed. Such statistics can be increased by earning Star Points (experience points) in combat to level up.[17][18][19] Progression through Paper Mario depends upon interaction with the game's non-player characters (NPCs), who will often offer clues or detail the next event in the storyline. As in other RPGs, the player can find or purchase items from NPCs to help in and outside of combat.[18] Badges can be obtained that yield bonuses ranging from added moves to gradual health restoration during combat; each consumes a set number of Badge Points (BP), meaning Mario can only equip a limited number of badges at a time.[14]
There have been five Paper Mario games released for home consoles and one game on 3DS. As the series has progressed, each new game has introduced new elements to keep the gameplay fresh such as a new story, new partners, and new gameplay mechanics. In 2004, The Thousand-Year Door for the GameCube introduced the ability of Mario turning into and folding up into a paper airplane and/or a paper boat to interact with the overworld. In 2007, Super Paper Mario deviated into the 2D action RPG genre and introduced the ability to "flip" into a 3D perspective in which the level rotates to reveal a hidden z-axis, placing Mario in a 3D environment. In 2012, Sticker Star for the Nintendo 3DS introduced the use of stickers in both the environment and in turn-based battles. They can be found and peeled off from various areas in the overworld, and can be purchased or received from non-playable characters. In 2015, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam also released for the 3DS, in which all the Paper Mario world enters the real one. In 2016, Color Splash for the Wii U was announced that introduced the use of colors in both the environment and in turn-based battles, just like in Sticker Star.[20][21] In 2020, The Origami King was announced on the Switch with the use of origami.[22]
Mario and Luigi series
Main article: Mario & Luigi
The Mario & Luigi series logo
The Mario & Luigi spin-off series, developed by AlphaDream, was formed exclusively throughout handheld consoles. The series began with the release of Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. In 2017, Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions for the Nintendo 3DS introduced a remake of the original game with added graphics, an improved map allowing players to place pinpoints, and an additional mode called Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser, featuring a real-time strategy battle system and following Bowser's underlings as they search for their leader. In 2005, Partners in Time for the Nintendo DS introduced their younger selves: Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Toadsworth the younger, Baby Peach and Baby Bowser. In 2009, Bowser's Inside Story also for the DS introduced Mario, Luigi and the others inside of Bowser's body. In 2018, Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey for the 3DS introduced a remake of the original game with added graphics, an improved map allowing players to place pinpoints, and an additional mode called Bowser Jr.'s Journey. In 2013, Dream Team for the 3DS introduced Dreamy Luigi, where Luigi sleeps in the Dream World in celebrating the Year of Luigi. In 2015, Paper Jam also for the 3DS also included Paper Mario as a playable character when Luigi knocks over the book containing him. In 2024, a new entry in the series titled Brothership was announced during a Nintendo Direct in June 2024, around nine years after the release of Paper Jam." (wikipedia)
"The Mario franchise is a video game series created by Nintendo. Nintendo is usually the developer and publisher of the franchise's games, but various games are developed by third-party companies such as Intelligent Systems and Nintendo Cube. Games in the Mario franchise primarily revolve around the protagonist Mario and often involve the trope of Bowser as the antagonist kidnapping Princess Peach, with Mario then rescuing her. Many characters have goals or plot arcs that vary between series; for example, the Luigi's Mansion games focus on Luigi ridding a haunted building of ghost-like creatures known as Boos, and Wario stars in games that center around his greed and desire for money and treasure.
The franchise began with Donkey Kong in 1981, where Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pauline originated. Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto built them off the base of characters from Popeye. Unable to license the characters, Miyamoto made later changes to their appearances and personalities, such as a more lighthearted tone. Due to the breakthrough critical and commercial success of Donkey Kong, Mario reappeared in Mario Bros. in 1983, which introduced Mario's twin brother Luigi, and Super Mario Bros. in 1985, which introduced Toad alongside numerous enemies, with Bowser and Princess Peach replacing Donkey Kong and Pauline, respectively.
Each series has introduced numerous characters, many of them recurring. Some have starred in their own games or in supporting roles. The games all typically share common enemies....Bowser
Main article: Bowser
Bowser[r] or King Koopa (voiced by Kenneth W. James) is the king of the turtle-like Koopa race,[68] a selfish troublemaker who wants to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.[69] He is depicted as Mario's nemesis, and is the final boss of most Mario games. He is playable in most Mario spin-off games.[1]
Dry Bowser[s] is a recurring antagonist in the Mario series. Debuting as a form of Bowser after losing his flesh in New Super Mario Bros.,[70] the character has appeared as his own being starting with Mario Kart Wii, often serving as the final antagonist in the main games.[citation needed] Dry Bowser appears in Mario Party: Island Tour, Mario Party 10, and is a playable character in several of the Mario spin-off games.[citation needed]
Koopalings
The Koopalings[t] are seven siblings who first appeared as boss characters in the 1988 game Super Mario Bros. 3.[71] Their individual names are Ludwig, Lemmy, Roy, Iggy, Wendy, Morton, and Larry.[71] The Koopalings were originally established as Bowser's children.[72][71][73][74] Older Mario games maintain reference to them as such in updated manuals and re-releases.[75][76] They have since been depicted as Bowser's minions in games following the release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii in 2009,[77] with Shigeru Miyamoto stating in 2012 that "our current story is that the seven Koopalings are not Bowser's children. Bowser's only child is Bowser Jr."[78] The Koopalings have additionally appeared as playable characters in spin-off Mario games and the Super Smash Bros. series,[79] and have been featured in non-video game Mario media including the animated Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World.[citation needed] They are voiced by Michelle Hippe, David Cooke, Ashley Flannegan, Ryan Higgins, Dan Falcone, Carlee McManus and David J. Goldfarb respectively....Bowser Jr.Bowser Jr. (known as Koopa Jr.[z] in Japan; voiced by Caety Sagoian), or sometimes simply Jr. or Junior, is the son of Bowser, who first appeared in the 2002 game Super Mario Sunshine.[1] He is often depicted as the secondary antagonist throughout the Mario series. In the games, Bowser Jr. looks up to his dad, and shares his ambition to defeat Mario, and take over the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser Jr. is playable in most of the spin-off Mario games, and in Super Smash Bros. He is the main protagonist of Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018) included in the remake of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story." (wikipedia)
"Super Mario[a] (also known as Super Mario Bros.[b] and Mario)[c] is a platform game series created by Nintendo starring their mascot, Mario. It is the central series of the greater Mario franchise. At least one Super Mario game has been released for every major Nintendo video game console. However, there have also been a number of Super Mario video games released on non-Nintendo gaming platforms.[1] There are more than 20 games in the series.
The Super Mario games are set primarily in the fictional Mushroom Kingdom, typically with Mario as the main player character. He is usually joined by his brother, Luigi, and often other members of the Mario cast. As platform games, they involve the player character running and jumping across platforms and atop enemies in themed levels. The games have simple plots, typically with Mario and Luigi rescuing the kidnapped Princess Peach from the primary antagonist, Bowser. The first game in the series, Super Mario Bros., released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985, established the series' core gameplay concepts and elements. These include a multitude of power-ups and items that give the character special powers such as fireball-throwing and size-changing.[2]
The Super Mario series is part of the greater Mario franchise, which includes other video game genres and media such as film, television, printed media, and merchandise. More than 380 million copies of Super Mario games have been sold worldwide, making it the fifth-bestselling video game series, behind the larger Mario franchise...1996–2005: Introduction of 3D and open-ended exploration
In the early 1990s, director and producer Shigeru Miyamoto had conceived a 3D Mario design during development of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Star Fox (1993). He considered using the Super FX chip to develop a SNES game, Super Mario FX, with gameplay based on "an entire world in miniature, like miniature trains".[35] He eventually reformulated the idea for the Nintendo 64, not for its substantially greater power, but because its controller has more buttons for gameplay.[36][37] Super Mario 64 was developed over approximately three years, with one year spent on the design concept and approximately two years on production.[35] Production began on September 7, 1994, and concluded on May 20, 1996.[38] Super Mario 64 is the first 3D and open world game in the series, and a launch game for the Nintendo 64 home console. Each level is an enclosed environment where the player is free to explore in all directions without time limits. The player collects Power Stars from the paintings in Peach's castle to unlock later courses and areas.[39] The Nintendo 64's analog stick makes an extensive repertoire of precise movements in all directions possible. The game introduced moves such as punching, triple jumping, and using a Wing Cap to fly. It is the first Super Mario series game to feature Charles Martinet's voice acting for Mario. Mario must once again save Princess Peach from Bowser. The game's power-ups differ from previous games, now being three different hats with temporary powers: the Wing Cap, allowing Mario to fly; the Metal Cap, turning him into metal; and the Vanish Cap, allowing him to walk through obstacles. Super Mario 64 is considered seminal to 3D video games.[40][41][42] A remake of the game called Super Mario 64 DS was released for Nintendo DS in 2004 and 2005, adding Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario as playable characters, new abilities, new objectives, multiplayer, and minigames.
Super Mario Sunshine is the second 3D Super Mario game. It was released in 2002 for the GameCube. In it, Mario and Peach travel to Isle Delfino for a vacation when a Mario doppelgänger, going by the name of Shadow Mario, appears and vandalizes the entire island. Mario is sentenced to clean the island with a water-squirting accessory called F.L.U.D.D. Super Mario Sunshine shares many similar gameplay elements with its predecessor Super Mario 64, yet introduces moves, like spinning while jumping, and several other actions through the use of F.L.U.D.D. The game contains a number of independent levels, which can be reached from the hub, Delfino Plaza. Mario collects Shine Sprites by completing tasks in the levels, which in return unlock levels in Delfino Plaza by way of abilities and plot-related events.[43] Sunshine introduces the last of Bowser's eight children, Bowser Jr., as an antagonist. Yoshi also appears again for Mario to ride in certain sections" (wikipedia)
"Bowser (Japanese: クッパ, Hepburn: Kuppa; "Koopa"), also known as King Bowser or King Koopa, is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's Mario franchise.[6] In Japan, he is titled Daimaō (大魔王; Great Demon King").[7] He is the arch-nemesis of the plumber Mario and the leader of the turtle-like Koopa race. Depicted as a fire-breathing monster with a tyrannical personality, Bowser's ultimate goals are to kidnap Princess Peach and conquer the Mushroom Kingdom.[8]
Bowser debuted as Mario's opponent in the 1985 video game Super Mario Bros.[9] Designer Shigeru Miyamoto initially conceived him as an ox based on the Ox-King from the Toei Animation film Alakazam the Great.[10] However, Takashi Tezuka remarked that the character resembled a turtle more than an ox, leading them to redesign Bowser as the leader of the turtle-like Koopas.[11] Since 2007, Bowser has been voiced by Kenneth W. James.[12]
Following Super Mario Bros., Bowser has appeared in various genres, including role-playing games like Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, sports games such as Mario Kart and Mario Tennis, and fighting games like Super Smash Bros.[13] He has appeared in multiple animations, including three series produced by DIC Entertainment (voiced by Harvey Atkin)[14] and was portrayed by Dennis Hopper in the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film.[15] Jack Black voiced him in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).[16]
Bowser has received a mostly positive reception, with critics noting that he is one of the most iconic and recognizable video game villains.[6][17] He was crowned the greatest video game villain of all time by the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition.
Development
Bowser was created by Nintendo designer and producer Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto had first envisioned Bowser as an ox, based on the ox-like King Gruesome from the Toei Animation film Alakazam the Great.[20] However, Nintendo designer Takashi Tezuka pointed out that the character looked a lot more like a turtle than an ox. Miyamoto and Tezuka then began to redesign his look to reflect a leader of the turtle-like Koopa Troopas. In his final design, Miyamoto commented that he could make Bowser "look cool now".[21] During the development of Super Mario Bros., Miyamoto contemplated commissioning the game's art to a manga artist or illustrator. However, due to a lack of time, he created the game's original box art himself. Bowser is depicted in this artwork in a way that differs from later renditions, with the most noticeable differences being his gray-blue complexion and lack of horns. Miyamoto received inspiration for the character's appearance from an anime film version of the Chinese novel Journey to the West, which was renamed Alakazam the Great during the film's Ameri period.[22] Yōichi Kotabe based Bowser's final design on the Chinese softshell turtle, which he recognized as highly aggressive, reflecting Bowser's short temper.[23]
Bowser's original working name was "Boss Creeper" (ボス クリーパー Bosu Kurīpā), after the Shellcreepers, the predecessors to the Koopa race, from Mario Bros.[24] Miyamoto then named him 大魔王 クッパ Daimaō Kuppa. Kuppa came from the Japanese name for 국밥, gukbap, a Korean dish. Miyamoto had also considered the names ユッケ Yukke and ビビンバ Bibinba, also Japanese names of Korean dishes (육회 yukhoe and 비빔밥 bibimbap respectively).[25] For the later North American release of the game, which also introduced the anglicized spelling "Koopa", the character was named Bowser. His Korean name is not Gukbap, but 쿠파 Kupa, which is essentially a phonetic round-trip translation.[26] The name was anglicized to Kuppa rather than Koopa in the Japanese versions up until the release of Super Mario World.[27][28]
It is currently unconfirmed how the character received the English language name "Bowser", or who gave him this name, although there are multiple competing theories. Matthew Byrd of Den of Geek noted that one theory comes from "Bowser" being a popular name for pets at the time, while another suggests that Miyamoto himself chose the name because both "Bowser" and Bibinba start with B. Another theory still relates to the origins of the surname "Bowser", derived from a Norman greeting meaning "good sir", and that it may be used ironically for the character given his diabolical nature.[29]
Within early comics and potentially in the Super Smash Bros. series, Bowser has been referenced to Gamera, the iconic fictional turtle kaiju with the abilities to breathe fire as well as fly by hiding in his shell and spinning it; Bowser's ability to perform the latter is called "Gamera Attack" (ガメラアタック, Gamera Attakku).[30][31][32][33]
Characteristics
Bowser is the King of the Koopas, anthropomorphic turtles that inhabit the world of the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser differs greatly from the rest of the Koopa clan, which consists mainly of bipedal tortoises. He has a large, spiked turtle shell, horns, a draconic muzzle with fangs, taloned fingers, three clawed toes on each foot, red eyes, and a shock of red hair. He has immense physical strength, is nearly indestructible, can breathe fire, and can jump very high for his large size. He is accomplished in black magic for teleportation, summoning objects, flying, generating electricity, telekinesis, or metamorphosis.[34]
Bowser's physical size varies and in most games, he towers over most characters. In Super Mario RPG, he stands only slightly taller than Mario. He changes his size at will or through others' sorcery in games including Yoshi's Island, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Galaxy 2.[34]
Bowser aspires to take over the Mushroom Kingdom and merge it with his own realm. He is infatuated with Princess Peach,[35][36][37] and routinely kidnaps her as part of his plans for domination. Sometimes, he kidnaps Peach simply to lure Mario into a trap, but occasionally he hopes to marry her, such as in Super Mario Odyssey.[38] He is typically the central antagonist in the main series, but in the RPG series, he sometimes works with the heroes to defeat a greater evil. His personality is generally menacing and sinister, but he sometimes displays a more comical side as a blustering, buffoonish bully with some emotional vulnerability. He also cares for his minions.[34]
Originally in Super Mario Bros. 3, Bowser was stated to be the father of the Koopalings[39] with subsequent official sources adding that he is their biological father,[40][41] but since their return in New Super Mario Bros. Wii they have been referred to as Bowser's minions. Bowser Jr. was introduced as Bowser's son in the 2002 game Super Mario Sunshine. In a 2012 interview, Shigeru Miyamoto stated, "Our current story is that the seven Koopalings are not Bowser's children. Bowser's only child is Bowser Jr., and we do not know who the mother is."
Appearances
Super Mario Bros. is Bowser's first video game appearance as the villainous boss. Miyamoto (right) and Tezuka then began collaboration on Bowser's new image fitting for the commander of the turtle-like Koopa Troopas. Miyamoto said in his final design that he could make Bowser "look cool today".[43]
Bowser debuted in the video game Super Mario Bros..[44] He then appeared through all Super Mario games (with the exception of games such as Super Mario Land), the Paper Mario series, the Yoshi series, and the Mario & Luigi series.
Other Mario games
Bowser has appeared in nearly all of the Mario spin-off games, including in the Mario Kart[45] and Mario Party series.[46] Bowser appeared in multiple Mario sports games, such as Mario Tennis,[47] Mario Golf,[48] Super Mario Strikers,[49] and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games." (wikipedia)
"Luigi (/luˈiːdʒi/ ⓘ; Japanese: ルイージ, romanized: Ruīji) is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Part of Nintendo's Mario franchise, he is a kind-hearted, cowardly Italian plumber, and the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario. Like his brother, Luigi's distinctive characteristics include his large nose and mustache, overalls, green hat, and high-pitched, exaggerated Italian accent.
Luigi first appeared in Mario Bros., a 1983 platform game, in which he was originally designed as a palette swap of Mario with a green color scheme; Luigi has since appeared in multiple games and other media throughout the Mario franchise, in which developed a personality and style of his own. As his role in the Mario franchise progressed, Luigi evolved into a physically distinct character, and become the main protagonist of Mario is Missing! and the Luigi's Mansion series. Charles Martinet voiced Luigi from 1992 to 2023, when he was succeeded by Kevin Afghani.
Luigi has appeared in over 200 video games. These include puzzle games such as Dr. Luigi, role-playing games such as Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, and sports games such as Mario Kart and Mario Tennis. Luigi has also appeared in other Nintendo properties, such as the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games. From March 2013 to March 2014, Nintendo called the period the Year of Luigi to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the character's existence. Correspondingly, games released in 2013 emphasized Luigi. An unlockable Luigi-themed version of Mario Bros., titled Luigi Bros., was also included with Super Mario 3D World.
Luigi's likeness has been featured in merchandise based on the Mario series, as well as comic books and television shows such as The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, in which he was portrayed by Danny Wells. He was also portrayed by John Leguizamo in the live-action film Super Mario Bros. (1993) and voiced by Charlie Day in the animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).
Concept and creation
Luigi's creation began in 1982, during the development of Donkey Kong, where Shigeru Miyamoto had created Jumpman (later known as Mario), hoping that he would be able to recast the character in a variety of roles in future games. Miyamoto was inspired by Joust to create a game with a simultaneous two-player mode, which led to his development of the game Mario Bros.[7] Luigi was given the role of Mario's brother as the second playable character. Both Mario and Luigi were styled as Italian plumbers in Mario Bros., on the suggestion of a colleague.[8]
It is currently unconfirmed how Luigi received his name, although there are many theories. New Straits Times noted that Miyamoto observed the Japanese word ruiji means "similar", thus explaining the similarities of Luigi to Mario.[9] Rus McLaughlin of IGN wrote that the theories from a rhyme on the Japanese word for "analogous" and a pizza parlor near Minoru Arakawa's office called Mario & Luigi's were considered. Software constraints at the time of the respective game's origins meant that Luigi's first appearance was restricted to a simple palette swap.[8]
After the success of Mario Bros., Luigi was introduced to a wider audience in the 1985 video game Super Mario Bros.,[9] while Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, marked the beginning of Luigi's development toward becoming a more distinguished character. Luigi's movement was no longer identical; he could now jump higher and farther than his brother, at the expense of movement response and precision.[10] Consequently, in 1988, an alternative release was developed to serve as Super Mario Bros. 2 for Western players (and later released in Japan as Super Mario USA); this version played a key role in shaping Luigi's current appearance.
Luigi
Article
Talk
Read
View source
View history
Tools
Appearance
Text
Small
Standard
Large
Width
Standard
Wide
Color (beta)
Automatic
Light
Dark
Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Nintendo character. For other people named Luigi, see Luigi (given name). For other uses, see Luigi (disambiguation).
A request that this article title be changed to Luigi (character) is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2024)
This article possibly contains original research. (June 2024)
This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (March 2024)
Luigi
Mario character
2D art of a cartoon plumber with a mustache, a large round nose, a green cap with the letter L, a green shirt, indigo overalls, and brown shoes.
Promotional art by Shigehisa Nakaue (2017)
First game Mario Bros. (Game & Watch) (1983)
Created by Shigeru Miyamoto
Designed by
Shigeru Miyamoto
Yōichi Kotabe
Voiced by
English
Japanese
Portrayed by
Danny Wells (The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!)
John Leguizamo (1993 film)
In-universe information
Family Mario (brother)
Nationality Italian (games)
Italian-American (other media)
Luigi (/luˈiːdʒi/ ⓘ; Japanese: ルイージ, romanized: Ruīji) is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Part of Nintendo's Mario franchise, he is a kind-hearted, cowardly Italian plumber, and the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario. Like his brother, Luigi's distinctive characteristics include his large nose and mustache, overalls, green hat, and high-pitched, exaggerated Italian accent.
Luigi first appeared in Mario Bros., a 1983 platform game, in which he was originally designed as a palette swap of Mario with a green color scheme; Luigi has since appeared in multiple games and other media throughout the Mario franchise, in which developed a personality and style of his own. As his role in the Mario franchise progressed, Luigi evolved into a physically distinct character, and become the main protagonist of Mario is Missing! and the Luigi's Mansion series. Charles Martinet voiced Luigi from 1992 to 2023, when he was succeeded by Kevin Afghani.
Luigi has appeared in over 200 video games. These include puzzle games such as Dr. Luigi, role-playing games such as Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, and sports games such as Mario Kart and Mario Tennis. Luigi has also appeared in other Nintendo properties, such as the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games. From March 2013 to March 2014, Nintendo called the period the Year of Luigi to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the character's existence. Correspondingly, games released in 2013 emphasized Luigi. An unlockable Luigi-themed version of Mario Bros., titled Luigi Bros., was also included with Super Mario 3D World.
Luigi's likeness has been featured in merchandise based on the Mario series, as well as comic books and television shows such as The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, in which he was portrayed by Danny Wells. He was also portrayed by John Leguizamo in the live-action film Super Mario Bros. (1993) and voiced by Charlie Day in the animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).
Concept and creation
This emblem appears on Luigi's hat and as a symbol for him in many game interfaces.
Luigi's creation began in 1982, during the development of Donkey Kong, where Shigeru Miyamoto had created Jumpman (later known as Mario), hoping that he would be able to recast the character in a variety of roles in future games. Miyamoto was inspired by Joust to create a game with a simultaneous two-player mode, which led to his development of the game Mario Bros.[7] Luigi was given the role of Mario's brother as the second playable character. Both Mario and Luigi were styled as Italian plumbers in Mario Bros., on the suggestion of a colleague.[8]
It is currently unconfirmed how Luigi received his name, although there are many theories. New Straits Times noted that Miyamoto observed the Japanese word ruiji means "similar", thus explaining the similarities of Luigi to Mario.[9] Rus McLaughlin of IGN wrote that the theories from a rhyme on the Japanese word for "analogous" and a pizza parlor near Minoru Arakawa's office called Mario & Luigi's were considered. Software constraints at the time of the respective game's origins meant that Luigi's first appearance was restricted to a simple palette swap.[8]
After the success of Mario Bros., Luigi was introduced to a wider audience in the 1985 video game Super Mario Bros.,[9] while Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, marked the beginning of Luigi's development toward becoming a more distinguished character. Luigi's movement was no longer identical; he could now jump higher and farther than his brother, at the expense of movement response and precision.[10] Consequently, in 1988, an alternative release was developed to serve as Super Mario Bros. 2 for Western players (and later released in Japan as Super Mario USA); this version played a key role in shaping Luigi's current appearance.[8]
Actor portrayal
Much like his appearance, Luigi's vocal portrayal has fluctuated over the years. Mario Kart 64, in which many characters were voiced for the first time, some characters, including Luigi, had two different voices; the North American and European versions of the game feature a low-pitched voice for Luigi, provided by Charles Martinet, who also voiced Mario, Wario, and Waluigi. The Japanese version uses a high-pitched, falsetto voice, provided by the then French translator at Nintendo, Julien Bardakoff. Inconsistent voice acting continued with many Nintendo 64 games; all versions of Mario Party feature Bardakoff's high-pitched clips from Mario Kart 64.[1]
Luigi retained this higher voice in Mario Party 2. In Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and Mario Party 3, his voice returned to a lower state. Since then, with the exceptions of Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Super Smash Bros. Melee, Luigi has consistently had a medium-pitched voice, performed by Martinet until 2023 and Kevin Afghani since 2023. In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Luigi's voice was the same high-pitched voice from the Japanese version of Mario Kart 64. In Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, Luigi's voice is made up of clips from Mario's voice taken from Super Mario 64, with raised pitches. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he has his own voice (which is medium-pitched) instead of a pitched-up version of Mario's.[citation needed] Luigi was voiced by Charlie Day in the 2023 film adaptation and was given a somewhat higher-pitched voice.[5]
Characteristics
The arcade version of Mario Bros., released in 1983, featured Luigi (right) in his debut appearance as a palette swap of Mario (left).
Luigi is portrayed as the taller, younger brother of Mario, and is usually seen dressed in a green shirt, dark blue overalls, and a green hat with a green "L" insignia. Although Luigi is a plumber like Mario,[11] other facets of his personality vary from game to game; Luigi always seems nervous and timid, but is good-natured and can keep his temper better than his brother. A baby version of the character named Baby Luigi debuted in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, who is held captive by Kamek. He also appeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time as a playable character along with Baby Mario. He is voiced by Charles Martinet, just like his adult self. According to Miyamoto, Mario is 24 years old, indirectly confirming Luigi is 24 as well.[12]
Nintendo did not initially give Luigi a surname. The first use of "Luigi Mario" was in the 1993 live-action film adaptation. In September 2015, at the Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary festival, Miyamoto stated that Mario's full name was Mario Mario. As a result, this indirectly confirms Luigi's full name to be Luigi Mario.[13]
Appearances
Main article: List of Luigi video games
Luigi's first appearance was in the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros. as the character controlled by the second player. He retained this role in Wrecking Crew. He later appeared in Super Mario Bros. for the NES,[11] and again in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World. Super Mario Bros. 2 introduced Luigi as the taller of the two brothers, as well as the better jumper. Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World returned to featuring Luigi as identical to Mario. He made a minor appearance in his baby form in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Luigi was conspicuously absent in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. However, the Nintendo DS remake of Super Mario 64 features him as a playable character alongside Mario, Yoshi, and Wario.[citation needed]
Luigi has been associated with the more difficult second acts of multiple Super Mario games.[14] These include The Lost Levels, Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Luigi U and the new game plus in Super Mario 3D Land, which offer more challenging elaborations on their respective predecessors and allow the player to use Luigi as the main character, with whom reduced friction and higher jumping is consistent in all of these games. Luigi became playable in the Nintendo DS game New Super Mario Bros. as a hidden character, and as a hidden character in the Wii game Super Mario Galaxy. In its sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, the player can switch out for Luigi throughout the game.[15] He also appears as a playable character in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, where four players can play at once cooperatively as Mario, Luigi, and two Toads. He also appears in Super Mario 3D Land as a playable character as well as New Super Mario Bros. 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U, the latter having a DLC mode, where he is the main character, called New Super Luigi U. It has levels altered to his specific play abilities, including higher jumping. The DLC is also available as a standalone retail version. Luigi also appeared in Super Mario 3D World along with his brother, Peach, Rosalina and Toad.[citation needed]
Luigi appears in many of the Mario spin-off games, including Mario Kart, Mario Party, and all of the Mario sports games. He also appears in all five installments of the Super Smash Bros. series; in the first three installments and Ultimate, he is an unlockable character. Luigi received his own starring role in the 2001 video game Luigi's Mansion, where he wins a mansion from a contest he never entered, and saves Mario from King Boo. He reprised his role in the installments Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Luigi's Mansion 3...
Reception
Allegra Frank of Polygon commented that the English manual for Mario Party described him as "smarter than Mario", but since Luigi's Mansion, Luigi has been defined by his wimpish persona, and due to being overshadowed by Mario, he "has an inferiority complex unparalleled in gaming".[21] Den of Geek writer David Crow thought Luigi was "cooler" than Mario because he "jumps higher, runs faster", and particularly praised his appearance in the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie as portrayed by John Leguizamo.[22] Alex Siquig writing for The Ringer also felt that Luigi was unappreciated. He commented that Luigi has existed "within the confines of Mario's pixelated shadow since 1983" but felt that he had successfully carved out his own personality making a relatable character that is more than just a palette swap for Mario." (wikipedia)
"Toad, known in Japanese as Kinopio,[a] is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo's Mario franchise. A prominent red Toad serves as one of Princess Peach's handlers and appears consistently as a supporting character in the franchise.
While most Toads look virtually identical to each other and usually are not named individually, notable exceptions include Captain Toad, Toadette and Toadsworth. The most prominent trait of the Toads is their large, mushroom-like head with colored spots on top.
The Toads typically have assisting roles in the Mario franchise, but are occasionally featured as protagonists. A blue Toad and yellow Toad are most featured Toads as playable characters along with Mario and Luigi in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. U and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The blue Toad also returns as one of the playable characters in Super Mario 3D World. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker featured Captain Toad as the main character, and was the first game to have a Toad as the titular character.
Concept and creation
When Mario Kart for the Nintendo GameCube was revealed to be Mario Kart: Double Dash on April 23, 2003, Kiyoshi Mizuki actually wanted to make Toad one of the selectable characters from the beginning, but after thinking about Toad's own partner, they could not come up with any specific one suitable as a partner for this sort of tandem ride. Because of this, they hid him as an extra character by himself.[5] Nintendo would invent a new, female Toad character with an extremely high-pitched voice named Kinopiko,[A] 30 minutes later, who would be named Toadette outside of Asian regions.
During the development of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the developers at Nintendo decided between four characters to be playable in the game: Princess Peach, Toad, Wario and Waluigi (all suggestions made by fans).[6] Two Toads (yellow and blue) were eventually included as playable characters in New Super Mario Bros. Wii due to their physical similarity to Mario and Luigi.[7]
In February 2018, Yoshiaki Koizumi confirmed that the mushroom on Toad's head is part of his body, and not a hat. It had previously been a common topic of debate among fans....
Appearances
Toad and his race of mushroom people made their debut appearance in Super Mario Bros. where they play a minimal role in the game. They appear at the end of every world as the Mushroom Retainers (who serve the princess) once Mario or Luigi defeats Bowser, rewarding the heroes with the message: "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!",[9] and in the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 they maintain this role. In the American Super Mario Bros. 2, Toad got his first individual appearance and was given a bigger role as one of the four playable characters. In Super Mario Bros. 3, Toad appears in the Toad houses where he provides items and extra lives for Mario to take on his journey. He is the sole playable character in the puzzle game Wario's Woods, where he tries to prevent Wario from taking over the woods with the help of Birdo and a fairy named Wanda.[10][11]
The 3D Mario games introduced Toad's role as a helper who would provide assistance to Mario if he needed it, thus making him a major allies. In Super Mario 64, Toad explains the backstory as well as explaining what Mario has to do to proceed. In the remake Super Mario 64 DS, he is given character-specific remarks, such as mistaking Luigi for Mario in green clothes or thinking that Wario would betray the rest of the group. In Luigi's Mansion, he appears in various parts of the mansion as a save point. Different colored Toads appear in Super Mario Sunshine as Peach's attendants.
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii and U, there are two playable Toads (multi-player only), one blue and one yellow. The blue Toad has a similar appearance to the original Toad and shares the same voices as Toad in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The yellow Toad has a higher pitched voice.[12] In New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, both Toads are playable in single player, with Blue Toad being unlocked by pressing ZL while Yellow Toad is chosen on the character select screen.[13] Red spotted Toads are non-playable hosts of Toad houses and are strewn throughout levels that Mario must bring to the finish to save. ...
Toad has both playable and non-playable appearances in many Mario spin-off games, including the Mario Kart series and in most Mario sports games.
Captain Toad
"Captain Toad" redirects here. For the video game, see Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
Captain Toad is a Toad that serves as the leader of the a group of Toad explorers known as the Toad Brigade. In an interview with Polygon, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker director Shinya Hiratake said "I think honestly Captain Toad is someone that doesn't really care what's going on, but when he sees treasure he's like, 'I want it!'".[21] He is described by IGN as an "unlikely protagonist who's weighed down by a heavy backpack and a desire for treasure"....
Promotion and reception
As a character who appears frequently in the series, Toad is considered to be one of the major characters in the Mario franchise.[34] He has appeared in much of the Mario merchandise in products ranging from toys to plushies and keychains,[citation needed] and is featured in Nintendo's board games such as being on the protagonist side in a Mario themed chess set[35] and being a purchasable character in a Nintendo-themed Monopoly game.[citation needed] In Animal Crossing: City Folk, Toad's hat is available after getting 3000 points in Tom Nook's Point Tracking system.[36] The American Club Nintendo website, which is now closed, offered a special reward featuring Toad and some other major Mario characters in a folder set reward named as the "Toad & Friends Set with Bookmarks".[37] The quote repeated by the Toads in Super Mario Bros., "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!", was ranked one of the most repeated video game quotes,[38] and inspired a 2008 song by The Mountain Goats and Kaki King.[39][40]
Toad ranked in the seventh slot on GameDaily's top 10 Nintendo characters that deserve their own games list; the site explained that he has a strong appeal that Nintendo has yet to tap into.[41] Toad is listed in The Most Neglected Mario Bros. Characters list as a character whom Nintendo has ignored for quite a while due to his lack of starring roles in more recent games.[42] IGN also listed Toad as one of the top ten characters needing a spin-off.[43] In an Oricon poll conducted in Japan from 2008, Toad was voted as the eighth most popular video game character in Japan.[44] Another poll (of over 1000 votes) conducted in Japan by NintendoWorldReport in concern to Japan's favorite Mario Kart racers listed Toad as the second most favorite Mario Kart racer in the country (only being beaten by Yoshi).[45] Toad has been credited for being one of the celebrated characters in the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. games.[46] UGO listed Toad on their list of "The Cutest Video Game Characters," stating "Once you get over his misleading name, you'll find Toad to be quite the adorable mushroom."[47]
IGN editor Matt Casamassina criticized Nintendo for including the two generic Toads over more notable characters (including the red-spotted Toad himself) in the Mario series for New Super Mario Bros. Wii, arguing that the developers were being lazy to not include other characters because the Toads were easier to make.[7] The Toads in the Paper Mario series following the release of Paper Mario: Sticker Star have been heavily criticized for lacking their diverse characteristics found in previous entries and for replacing the cast of original fictional races the series previously had." (wikipedia)
"Yoshi[a] is a fictional dinosaur who appears in video games published by Nintendo. Yoshi debuted in Super Mario World (1990) on the SNES as Mario and Luigi's sidekick. Throughout the mainline Super Mario series, Yoshi typically serves as Mario's trusted steed. With a gluttonous appetite, Yoshi can gobble enemies with his long tongue, and lay eggs that doubly function as projectiles. Yoshi is the title character of the Yoshi series and a supporting character in the Mario franchise. He has appeared in Mario Party and Mario Kart, as well as many Mario sports games. He also appears as a playable character in the crossover fighting game series Super Smash Bros. Yoshi is a member of the same-named species, which is distinguished for its wide range of colors.
Yoshi has been well-received, with some critics noting that he is one of the most recognizable characters and one of the best sidekicks in video games. Yoshi's image has also appeared on a range of products, including clothes and collectibles.
Concept and creation
Shigeru Miyamoto, the video game designer at Nintendo credited with inventing the Mario series, had wanted Mario to have a dinosaur companion ever since the first release of Super Mario Bros.; however, Nintendo engineers could not add such a character into the game due to the limitations of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).[11][12][13] The inspiration for Yoshi can be traced back further, to the green dragon Tamagon in the 1984 video game Devil World: also designed by Miyamoto, both are green lizards that hatch from eggs and can eat enemies with their large mouth, and also emit the same noise when they hatch.[14][15] During the development of Super Mario Bros. 3, Miyamoto had a number of sketches around his desk, including an image of Mario riding a horse.[16][17] Takashi Tezuka, a Mario series developer, speculated that Miyamoto's love of horse riding as well as country and western themes influenced Yoshi's creation.[14][18] The concept of Mario riding a dinosaur also came from the NES video game Excitebike, which featured people riding motorcycles.[14]
Once the more powerful Super NES was released, Miyamoto was finally able to implement Yoshi into the series, putting Yoshi into the video game Super Mario World.[19] As development of Super Mario World progressed, the team opted to set the game in a "dinosaur land", so Tezuka asked designer Shigefumi Hino to draw a reptile-like creature based on Miyamoto's sketches.[16] Hino originally produced a design that Tezuka deemed too reptilian, and "didn't really fit into the Mario world", so he encouraged the designer to create a "cuter" character.[16] According to Hino, Yoshi's tongue attack was originally conceived as Yoshi sticking out his tongue in surprise when Mario hit the back of his head. This was later "passed off" as Mario merely pointing forward to signal Yoshi to stick out his tongue.[20][21] Alongside the individual Yoshi, Super Mario World also introduced other members of the Yoshi species, characterized by their variety of colors.[22]
Yoshi proved to be popular in this debut, which caused the next game in the series, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, to focus on the Yoshi species.[11][23] At Miyamoto's prompting, Hino landed on the idea of using Yoshi as the main character of a platforming game, with the goal of being more accessible than previous games in the Mario series.[24] To give the gameplay a more "gentle and relaxed pacing", the levels lack time limits and feature more exploration elements than previous games; Yoshi's flutter jump also makes him easier to control in the air than Mario.[25] In this game, he is responsible for Baby Mario, which leads him to Bowser's Castle, where he is reunited with Baby Luigi. Yoshi successfully pulls the twins together just in time to go home after beating a huge Baby Bowser.[23]
The version of Yoshi seen in the live-action Super Mario Bros. film was realized using a 0.91-metre-tall (3.0 ft) animatronic dinosaur. Yoshi was designed in the film by Dave Nelson. The animatronic had nearly 60 meters (200 ft) of cable and hundreds of moving parts inside of it and was controlled by nine puppeteers. The body was cable-controlled, while the head was radio-controlled. Nelson described the overall process as being "difficult."[26] The creation of Yoshi was handled by a company independent from the filmmakers.[27]
Appearances
In Super Mario series
Super Mario World was the first video game to feature Yoshi as a companion to Mario. Yoshi's rideability was inspired by Miyamoto's love for horseback riding.[28] Super Mario World released during a console war between Nintendo and Sega; Sega's mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, was considered a "cooler" alternative to Mario, for which Miyamoto apologized.[29][12]
In Super Mario 64, Yoshi makes a minor cameo. A cannon outside the castle becomes available if Mario collects all 120 Power Stars, which can be used to access the Mushroom Castle's roof. There, the player can chat with Yoshi, who congratulates the player on finishing the game by delivering a message from the developers before rewarding Mario with 100 extra lives and a better Triple Jump.[30]
Yoshi is one of the primary protagonists and the first playable character in Super Mario 64 DS, alongside Mario. Princess Peach initially invites Mario to her palace. Yoshi is sleeping on the roof when Mario, Luigi, and Wario arrive at the castle. During this time, Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, steals the castle's Power Stars, and confines everyone within by placing them in the worlds inside the castle's paintings. The crew reclaims the castle's Power Stars after Yoshi saves Mario, Mario saves Luigi, and Luigi saves Wario, and Mario defeats Bowser and rescues Princess Peach.[31]
In Super Mario Sunshine, Yoshi appears as a mount for Mario, and will only come out of his egg if offered a specific tropical fruit. This fruit gives him the ability to spit a finite stream of juice, though with the tradeoff that he dies as soon as he touches water.[32]
Yoshi makes another cameo in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U, this time as a rideable character, as he did in his initial appearance. Yoshi sounds just like he does in Super Mario World. Yoshis in the colors yellow, light blue, and pink also appear in multiplayer.[33]
Yoshi's appearance is a prominent selling point for Super Mario Galaxy 2, as his gained abilities while eating various fruits aid Mario and Luigi in gathering power stars to foil Bowser's plan to take over the universe. These fruits give him the ability to float, to run on water and against gravity, and to illuminate intangible walkways.[34][35]
Yoshi appears in Super Mario Odyssey as a capturable character. In the Mushroom Kingdom, he may be found on top of Peach's Castle, just like in Super Mario 64. He can also be discovered in Yoshi Eggs in secret locations accessed via the Dark Side, where he must eat Berries in order for a Power Moon to form. He can also be found in one of the Darker Side's sections. Yoshi may employ his characteristic Flutter Jump and eating powers if captured, similar to his appearance in Super Mario Galaxy 2.[36]
Yoshi appears in Super Mario Bros. Wonder as a playable character for the first time since Super Mario 64 DS, with red, yellow, and blue variants. He brings his signature Flutter Jump to the game, along with other abilities like the ability to be ridden by other players.
In Yoshi series
Yoshi's initial appearance in the Yoshi series was in the puzzle game named after him, where he counted the number of eggs hatched on the side of the screen.[39] In another puzzle game, Yoshi's Cookie, Yoshi appears as a character in V.S. mode. Yoshi has to make horizontal and vertical rows of the same kind of cookie to proceed to the next level. In the Nintendo Puzzle Collection version, there is now a story mode in the game, where Mario and Yoshi are making cookies but get exhausted from the many cookie deliveries.[40]
Bowser conquers Jewelry Land during the events of Yoshi's Safari (It is the only Mario franchise game to feature first-person shooter gameplay and requires the SNES's Super Scope light gun.[41]), kidnapping its rulers, King Fret and Prince Pine, and removing the twelve mystical jewels that gave the kingdom its name and stability, forcing it to split into two realms: the Dark Realm and the Light Realm. Princess Peach then summons Mario and Yoshi to restore order. To help the two, Peach provides Mario a new weapon, the Super Scope, an energy pistol. Mario and Yoshi enter a Warp Pipe with this new weapon, which transports them to Jewelry Land.[41]
The Magikoopa sorcerer Kamek foresees that two newborn brothers will bring ruin to the Koopas and attempts to capture them as the stork carries them to their mother and father in the Mushroom Kingdom one morning years before the events of most Mario games, during the events of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. While Kamek captures Baby Luigi, his twin brother, Baby Mario, escapes to Yoshi's Island unseen. Fortunately, Yoshi is out walking in the woods that day, and Baby Mario lands unharmed on his saddle, along with a map to Bowser's Castle, where Kamek has stolen Baby Luigi.[42]
Baby Mario was entirely absent in the next Yoshi game, Yoshi's Story, in which Baby Bowser steals a tree that is the source of the Yoshis' happiness, and turns their world into a picture book. Six eggs survive, and hatch into baby Yoshis, the protagonists.[43]
Kamek and Bowser travel back in time in Yoshi's Island DS to try to capture the famous star children (Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Donkey Kong), who had special energy in their bodies that, once in Bowser's hands, would let him to take over the world. Without knowing who the star children were, Kamek and Bowser went out to kidnap all of the Mushroom Kingdom's youngsters, only to have their prey escape their hands and join Yoshi in a journey to save the other kids.[44]
In Yoshi's New Island, Yoshi reappears alongside Baby Mario and Baby Luigi. The game takes place between Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island DS.[45]
In Yoshi's Woolly World, Kamek tries to transform all of the Yoshis on Craft Island into Wonder Wools in order to assist Baby Bowser in building a new castle, but he misses Yoshi and Red Yoshi. After that, the two embarked on a quest to restore Craft Island to its former splendor.[46]
Yoshi and the rest of his kind are gathered around the Sundream Stone in Yoshi's Crafted World, which is claimed to make anyone's dream come true. Kamek and Baby Bowser try to get their hands on the stone. The Sundream Stone breaks into five diamonds, which spread around the island for the Yoshis to collect.[47]
Other Super Mario games
Yoshi has appeared in nearly all of the Mario spin-off games, including every game in the Mario Kart series as a playable character[23] (usually as a middleweight or light middleweight) and every Mario Party game to date as a playable character.[48] Yoshis have also made appearances in multiple Mario sports games, such as Mario Tennis,[49] Mario Golf,[50] Mario Super Sluggers,[51] Super Mario Strikers,[52] and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games....
Promotion and reception
Yoshi is one of the most recognizable characters in the Mario series and is featured in a myriad of Mario merchandise, such as toys, shirts, and figures. Yoshi also appeared in two of Happy Meal promotions of Mario toys, which only featured Mario, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi.[65] Yoshi was also one of the 12 initial amiibo figurines.[66] As part of the release of Yoshi's Woolly World, Yoshi Amiibo made out of yarn are either bundled with the game or sold separately.[67] In addition to the regular-sized green, pink and light blue yarn Yoshi Amiibo, an 8-inch tall, green "Mega Yarn Yoshi" has been released.[68]
Since debuting in Super Mario World, Yoshi has received largely positive reception. An article in Electronic Gaming Monthly commented, "Maybe it was the undeniable dino charm. Maybe it was the insatiable appetite that put fellow foe-eater Kirby to shame. Or maybe it was the status of being Mario's newest best buddy. Whatever the reason, gamers took an immediate liking to Yoshi and his multicolored kin when Super Mario World hatched him into the pantheon of classic game characters."[69] The 2011 issue of the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition ranked Yoshi at 21st place in their list of the "Top 50 Video Game Characters of All Time", making him the second highest-ranked Mario character on the list, of which Mario himself is ranked first.[70] In a poll conducted in 2008, Yoshi was voted as the third-favorite video game character in Japan, with Cloud Strife and Mario placing second and first, respectively.[71] GameTrailers created a special tribute video for Yoshi for the release of Super Mario Galaxy 2.[72] Yardbarker included Yoshi in their "The most memorable characters from old school Nintendo games", stating that "Yoshi began life in Super Mario World. However, the dinosaur with the lengthy tongue was swiftly spun off into his own video games. There's Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Cookie, and more. Yoshi is off doing his own thing a lot of the time."[73] Chris Carter of Destructoid described Yoshi, along with Poochy, as "cute as hell" in the "Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World" promotion.[74] Yoshi was voted one of the finest dinosaurs of pop culture by Jim Vorel of Paste, who stated that "Yoshi has been a fan favorite since he first appeared alongside Mario on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. That's why he's the most famous dinosaur in the world."[75]
Yoshi was also praised for being the best video game sidekick. GameSpy ranked Yoshi as the seventh-best video game sidekick, above Luigi by reasoning that only Yoshi can pull off being green and still be cool.[76] Complex ranked Yoshi at fourth place among "The 25 Most Kickass Dragons in Video Games", adding "Yoshi would have to be one of the best sidekicks of all time".[77] Australia's Official Nintendo Magazine called Yoshi a "cute, trustworthy, a plumber's best friend" and compared Yoshi's loyalty to that of a dog.[14] Yoshi is ranked at 52nd place on GamesRadar's Top 100 video game heroes.[78] 4,228 gamers from all over the world were asked to choose their favorite "most loved sidekick characters in video games." Yoshi from Super Mario World came in top place and was voted the most popular sidekick character with 71 percent of the voting.[79] Yoshi was included in IGN's "The Best Video Game Wingmen Ever", stating that "Always ready to give his plumber friend a ride, Yoshi doesn't shy away from putting in extra effort, whether that means holding a Koopa shell in his mouth for an entire level or kicking his feet to get a little extra air during a jump, Yoshi has Mario's back."[80] Yoshi has been named one of the best-supporting characters in video games by Kevin Wong of Complex, stating that "Yoshi has everything Mario and Luigi need in a sidekick – a monstrous appetite, boots that can walk on Munchers, and the ability to breathe fire, fly, and cause earthquakes, depending on the Koopa shell's color. You have to love a sidekick that hatches with a built-in saddle."[81] Alyssa Mercante of GamesRadar also included Yoshi in their list of "The ten best video game animal companions," stating that "Yoshi is another companion that has achieved a level of fame virtually unrivaled by video game sidekicks."" (wikipedia)
"Stationery refers to writing materials, including cut paper, envelopes, continuous form paper, and other office supplies.[1] Stationery usually specifies materials to be written on by hand (e.g., letter paper) or by equipment such as computer printers....
Uses of stationery
PrintingPrinting is the process of applying a colouring agent to a surface to create a body of text or illustrations. This is often achieved through printing technology, but can be done by hand using more traditional methods. The earliest form of printing is wood blocking....
Single documents
Main article: Computer printer
When a single document needs to be produced, it may be handwritten or printed, typically by a computer printer. Several copies of one original paper can be produced by some printers using multipart stationery. Typing with a typewriter is largely obsolete, having been superseded for most purposes by preparing a document with a word processor and then printing it....
Paper and pad:
Notebooks, wirebound notebook, writing pads, college ruled paper, wide-ruled paper,
Office paper: dot matrix paper, inkjet printer paper, laser printer paper, photocopy paper.
Loose leaves
School supplies
Many shops that sell stationery also sell other school supplies for students in primary and secondary education, including pocket calculators, display boards, compasses and protractors, pencil cases, set squares, lunch boxes, and related items." (wikipedia)
"Office supplies are consumables and equipment regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations,[1] required to sustain office operations.[2] For example, office supplies may be used by individuals engaged in written communications, record-keeping and bookkeeping. The range of items classified as office supplies varies, and typically includes small, expendable, daily use items, and consumable products....
Office supplies are typically divided by type of product and general use. Some of the many different office supply products include
Blank sheet paper: various sizes from small notes to letter and poster-size; various thicknesses from tissue paper to 120 pound; construction paper; photocopier and inkjet printer paper;...
Small machines: hole punches, rubber stamps, numbering machines, staplers, pencil sharpeners, and laminators;...
Writing pads and books: notebooks, composition books, legal pads, and steno pads;
Writing utensils and corrections: pens, pencils, paints, markers, correction fluid, correction tape, and erasers;" (wikipedia)
"A pencil (/ˈpɛnsəl/ ⓘ) is a writing or drawing implement with a solid pigment core in a protective casing that reduces the risk of core breakage and keeps it from marking the user's hand.
Pencils create marks by physical abrasion, leaving a trail of solid core material that adheres to a sheet of paper or other surface. They are distinct from pens, which dispense liquid or gel ink onto the marked surface.
Most pencil cores are made of graphite powder mixed with a clay binder. Graphite pencils (traditionally known as "lead pencils") produce grey or black marks that are easily erased...
The most common pencil casing is thin wood, usually hexagonal in section, but sometimes cylindrical or triangular, permanently bonded to the core. Casings may be of other materials, such as plastic or paper. To use the pencil, the casing must be carved or peeled off to expose the working end of the core as a sharp point....
Typical
A standard, hexagonal, "#2 pencil" is cut to a hexagonal height of 6 mm (1⁄4 in), but the outer diameter is slightly larger (about 7 mm or 9⁄32 in) A standard, "#2", hexagonal pencil is 19 cm (7.5 in) long." (wikipedia)