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Mario rules!
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Is “Super Mario Bros.,” a game? Certainly, but “only a game” in the same way that “The Godfather” and “Citizen Kane” are “only movies.”
This half-pint plumber managed, in one short, side-scrolling game to break out of his characteristic green pipes and into the hearts of the gaming world.
Numerous sequels, a few television shows, a live-action movie and countless spin-off games later, Mario remains the CEO, president and chairman of the video game industry.
In “Super Mario Bros.,” gamers control Mario in his attempt to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil Bowser. This has become a theme which persists in Mario games to this day.
Initially, many would be tempted to scoff at the simplicity of splatting koopas, tricking boos, evading thwomps, running away from those damned football guys and defeating the whole host of baddies looking to stop Mario in his now-clichéd rescue mission.
But eventually, players find themselves gaining respect for just how difficult this game is.
Compared to the high-octane, sweating-palms-inducing video games of today, a little pixilated repairman may not seem very glamorous.
The fact remains: Mario is the undisputed king of video games.
Master Chief from the “Halo” trilogy, Altaire from “Assassin’s Creed” and Dante from “The Devil May Cry” series may seem like tough guys, but without one pudgy little plumber in blue overalls, they would be on the street of lost entertainment, begging for spare change and holding up banks for booze money.
So, the next time you jump off a church steeple into a bale of hay or rack up points in star power mode with a plastic guitar, give thanks to Mario. We’re all anxiously awaiting the next time we can stomp Koopa as the little blue-and-red guy.
NOLAN KOENIG
Arbiter Staff
