Mario, a multifaceted figure, excels in sports, practices as a physician, and once clashed with Sonic – 40 years past the Super Mario Bros era. The key to his success lies in his remarkable versatility.
In the world of video games, few characters have been as ubiquitous and beloved as Mario. From his humble beginnings as a carpenter in Donkey Kong to his current status as a global icon, Mario has graced numerous titles, each offering a unique twist on the platforming genre that made him famous.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, once compared the star and his supporting cast to a troupe of actors, each ready to take on new roles in various settings. This versatility is evident in the numerous spin-offs that Mario has been a part of. While not every spin-off is a success, most are considered fun and entertaining.
One of the most popular spin-offs is Mario Kart, a racing game that has become a staple for family game nights. Paul, a gaming enthusiast, admits that Mario Kart is his go-to family game, keeping players occupied for hours. He also mentions Super Mario Party, another party game, as a title with extensive playtime on his Switch.
Mario's spin-offs often feature elements from the platform games, such as Mario jumping on enemies and using power-ups. This is evident in games like Mario's Picross, a puzzle game where players use power-ups to solve complex puzzles, and Paper Mario: The Origami King, a role-playing game (RPG) that retains the platforming elements while introducing a unique papercraft aesthetic.
Paul gives special mention to Paper Mario: The Origami King, praising its story despite many fans favouring Thousand-Year Door as the quintessential Mario RPG. He also highlights Mario's Picross as a personal guilty pleasure, Mario Kart as a family go-to racing game, Super Mario Party for its extensive playtime, and Paper Mario: The Origami King for its unique blend of platforming and RPG elements.
The quality of Mario's games is renowned for its pixel-perfect control mechanics, interesting gimmicks, new characters, and new worlds. Super Mario Kart, which established the concept of bringing Mario's extended iconography to excursions into other genres, is a prime example of this.
As for the future, Paul wonders if a Mario title could work as a first-person adventure game, a Bethesda-level experience, a Souls-like adventure, or even a post-apocalyptic universe. He questions whether these concepts, which might sound ludicrous on paper, could be fantastic.
Nintendo, known for putting its own spin on genres with games like Splatoon and Pikmin, gives the audience confidence to accept new games. However, Paul suggests that it's difficult to predict what Nintendo would and wouldn't do, or what would work or wouldn't with Mario.
In conclusion, Mario's spin-offs have provided gamers with a wealth of unique experiences, from racing games to puzzle games to RPGs. As the character continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see where Nintendo takes him next.
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