March 10th, aka Mar10 Day is a global celebration of the most recognizable character in video game history, Mario. The always smiling and helpful hero was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. And, Mario made his first appearance in 1981, then known only as Jumpan, in the arcade classic Donkey Kong.
In fact it wasn’t until 1985 with the game Super Mario Bros. that our favourite plumber went from being a complimentary character to the star of the Nintendo universe. And, in the 35 years since Super Mario Bros. debuted, Mario has become one of the most popular and recognizable characters in the world.
That first game, Super Mario Bros., was a phenomenal success for Nintendo Entertainment System, NES, going on to sell over 40 million copies. Moreover, the Mario series of games are some of the best selling games in the world. More than 350 million copies have been sold!
Fun Mario facts
To help celebrate Mar10 Day, I’ve put together some fun Mario facts for you to read. How many can you get right?
Q1: The American actor Charles Martinet has been the voice of Mario since 1995. What was the first game Charles Martinet did the voice over as Mario?
A: Interplay’s 1995 Windows release of Mario’s FUNdamentals.
Q2: What level is in every version of Mario Kart?
A: Rainbow Road. This is such a popular level that Mario Kart 8 has 2 of them in the game.
Q3: Why does Mario have a moustache?
A: When development began in the 80’s, facial expressions were difficult to create. So, Mario was given a moustache to help with this problem.
Q4: Mario has played many sports. What sport has he played the most?
A: Golf. The first sports game he started in was the 1987 game Family Computer Golf: Japan Course for the Famicom Disk System.
Q5: How did Mario get his name?
A: He was named after the landlord of Nintendo of America’s corporate office.
Q6: What was the first game that Racoon Mario appeared in?
A: Super Mario Bros. 3.
Q7: What is the name of the first 3D platforming game that Mario starred in?
A: Super Mario 64.
Q8: We all know Mario as an Italian plumber but what was his first job?
A: In the original Donkey Kong games his occupation was a carpenter.
Q9: What was the first cartoon Mario starred in?
A: Supercade, which was a show that featured cartoon versions of arcade hits including Donkey Kong, and Donkey Kong Jr.
Q10: What game was Mario cast as the villian?
A: Donkey Kong Jr. Mario imprisons Donkey Kong and places various traps to stop Donkey Kong Jr. from saving his Dad.
Games to play to celebrate Mar10 Day
You can’t celebrate video gaming’s most popular character without playing some games featuring our favourite plumber. With that being said, here are some fun Mario games to play to help celebrate the day.
Mario Day games on sale: all of the games listed below will be on sale at Best Buy from March 6 to March 12th.
Super Mario Party
The Mario Party franchise has been a staple on Nintendo gaming systems, both home consoles and handhelds, for over 20 years. And, Super Mario Party on the Nintendo Switch is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best game, in the Mario Party series.
The return of Party Mode, 80 new minigames, and character specific dice that add an element of strategy are just some of the reasons that make Super Mario Party a great game. If you are looking for a game that all ages will enjoy, Super Mario Party is without a doubt the perfect game for you and your family.
Read my Super Mario Party review here
Get Super Mario Party on Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 makes the art of creating your own 2D Mario levels an absolute joy. With the streamlined controls and touch screen features, it’s never been easier to build, test, and share your own game levels.
With new features and modes added to the game, it’s clear that Super Mario Maker 2 is a fully-fledged sequel and not just a remake with a few new additions. Moreover, Super Mario Maker 2‘s robust online mode allows you to play with others from around the world and download creations from players, which gives you a game with virtually unlimited replayability.
Read my Super Mario Maker 2 review here
Get Super Mario Maker 2 for Nintendo Switch
Buy Super Mario Maker 2 & Nintendo Switch Online 12-Month Membership Bundle
Yoshi’s Crafted World
Yoshi’s Crafted World is literally bursting at the seams with charm, from its incredibly cute hand-crafted visuals, to its dozens of adorable cardboard cut-out crafted characters. Adding to the game’s appeal is its ability to support two-player local multiplayer—letting you enjoy the entire experience cooperatively with your family and friends.
Yoshi’s Crafted World is a 2.5D platforming game, which contains all the great gameplay from previous titles and then some. Yes, that means Yoshi still uses his tongue to swallow enemies and poop them out as eggs. And, Yoshi’s iconic flutter jump is here as well. The game places a heavy focus on platforming and exploring each level for collectible items.
Though, don’t be fooled by the game’s “cute” aesthetics, it’s no walk in the park. The number of collectibles along with costumes is staggering, and gives this game a high replay value.
Read my Yoshi’s Crafted World review here
Buy Yoshi’s Crafted World for Nintendo Switch
Get Yoshi’s Crafted World Digital Download for Nintendo Switch
Mario is a cultural phenomenon worldwide
For myself, and gamers alike, no video game character has had a larger cultural impact than Nintendo’s Mario. His immense popularity has spawned a television show, a cult-classic 90s film, comics, and an upcoming Universal Studio park attraction aptly named Super Mario World.
Let me know in the comments section below how you are going to celebrate Mar10 Day and what your favourite Mario game is.
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Here’s a question, how many Nintendo systems has the original Super Mario Bros been playable on?
My count is:
NES
SNES – as part of Super Mario All-Stars, also
GBC – a remake called Super Mario Bros Deluxe was released on the Gameboy Color
GBA – several NES games were released in cartridges for the system
GameCube – through the Gameboy Player peripheral the GBC & GBA games can be played on the system
Wii – through the virtual console, and the port of Super Mario All-Stars
DS – the GBA card can again be used in this system
3DS – through the virtual console
WiiU – through the virtual console
Switch – as a part of the Nintendo Switch Online service
NES Classic – pretty obvious, but the game was again included here
Great article Jon. It’s great to celebrate Mario!
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