So to celebrate Super Mario’s birthday and his pixel roots, let’s indulge in some 8-bit designs courtesy of our design community. Be it in rebellion of the perfectionist style of high-res gaming or 90s nostalgia, pixels are trending. While Mario and friends are far more shapely these days, pixel art has been enjoying a recent rennaisance. Each era offers its own special elements and actions. The game also gives a special nod to Mario’s extensive history, offering the ability to switch the game’s eras from its pixelated beginnings to the more modern style we know today. Players can sketch out their own courses using the Wii U GamePad, adding obstacles and switching easily between playing and creating as they go. This time around, they’re putting Mario’s fate into his fans’ hands. 2015: Super Mario Makerįor Mario’s 30th birthday, Nintendo pushed the envelope once again with the launch of Super Mario Maker. Once born as a simplistic, pixelized figure, today Mario flits across the screen in picture perfect HD. While the Mustache, hat, and overalls remain standard, Mario continued to clean up with more detail and 3D interaction – this time via the Wii console. This gave Mario a whole new perspective, with 360 degree views, more exploratory worlds and a 3-dimensional cast of characters.

1996: Super Mario 64Īs with the original Nintendo console, Mario once again helped pioneer gamer technology by starring in one of N64’s launch titles. The game was a smash hit, selling more than 20 million copies worldwide and ranking as one of the best-selling video games of all time. Mario and Luigi stepped into the ’90s with a new friend in tow – a freshly hatched dinosaur named Yoshi – as they battle evil King Bowser on the search for Princess Toadstool. Super Mario debuted in 1985 and was included for free with the Nintendo Entertainment System, gaining masses of fans instantly for its side-scrolling capabilities and imaginative worlds. Let’s take a look back… 1985: Super Mario BrosĪfter his first appearance in the 1981 game Donkey Kong, Mario (who was then still called Jumpman), earned his very own game world. From the 8-bit hero that helped launch the Nintendo empire to the slick, 3D character of today, Super Mario continues to thrill fans young and old.

While some things – like those signature blue dungarees – never change, Mario’s makeovers through the years have been a fascinating indication of the forever changing gaming landscape. This past weekend, Super Mario Bros turned a whopping 30 years old!

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