Super Mario Bros. is one of history’s most iconic video game franchises. The original game was developed by Nintendo and released in 1985. Since then, it has become a cultural phenomenon that has influenced pop culture, inspired countless video games, and introduced millions of people to the joys of gaming. Let’s take a deep dive into the history of Super Mario Bros., exploring its origins, development, and impact on the gaming industry and popular culture.
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I grew up with the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, so I have a soft spot for Nintendo. I’m still a big-time gamer and play my Nintendo Switch on a regular basis. I even run Nintendo Philly Meetup, a local group of gamers in Philadelphia who meet up (right now, virtually) to play Nintendo Switch together. So, I was interested in checking out the audiobook Super Mario by Jeff Ryan.
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Super Mario Odyssey is my favorite game on Nintendo Switch. Why? It’s quite simple. I was born in 1985, which is the same year the Nintendo Entertainment System was released in the U.S., and I have fond memories of playing every entry in the Super Mario Bros. series. Some of my favorites include the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, and, my all-time favorite, Super Mario World. Super Mario Odyssey continues the innovative evolution of Nintendo’s signature character, while simultaneously paying tribute to the entries that preceded it. It’s a fantastical journey that can be enjoyed by those young and old, and The Art of Super Mario Odyssey by Dark Horse takes a deep dive into how this masterpiece was made.
The past 10 years have been some of the greatest in the history of Nintendo, which is pretty incredible considered what the company has accomplished throughout its existence. The Big N kicked off the decade in 2010 with one of its greatest games of all time: Super Mario Galaxy 2. The following year, in 2011, it launched the Nintendo 3DS, and in 2012 the world was introduced to the Wii U. 2013 saw the Nintendo 2DS, followed by the wildly popular Amiibo that debuted in 2014. In 2015 we got the New Nintendo 3DS XL, and Pokemon Go took over the world in 2016. The NES Classic was also released in 2016, demonstrating how much demand there was for retro content and kick-starting a wave of additional mini-consoles in the future. If I had to pick one year from the decade as Nintendo’s greatest, it would be 2017. This year saw the launch of the Nintendo Switch, which has sold more than 40 million hardware units and more than 250 million software units (as of September 2019). The Nintendo Switch was home to major game releases in 2017, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2. In addition to all of this, Nintendo released the Super Nintendo Classic the same year. This mini-console, like its predecessor, went on to sell millions of units and took the world by storm. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Kirby Star Allies, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, among other games, came to the Nintendo Switch in 2018. And this year, 2019, brought us Yoshi’s Crafted World, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Pokemon Sword and Shield, and more. This is also the year that the Nintendo Switch Lite and Ring Fit Adventure made their debut.
Our next Nintendo Philly Meetup is taking place on January 26 at TAP Esports! The cost to attend is $10 per person. If you want to stick around after the event, which will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., TAP is happy to offer you discounted pricing.
Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia covers the first 30 years of the most well-known video game franchise ever. This book was originally released in Japan three years ago and it is now finally available in an English translation. Unfortunately, it doesn’t cover any Super Mario games beyond it’s original publication date: 2015. So, you’re not going to get any info about Super Mario Odyssey or any other recent titles in this 255-page tome. Another strange omission is there’s no essay from Shigeru Miyamoto, the visionary producer and director of the original Super Mario Bros. game and a constant creative force in the franchise. Instead, we get an introduction by Takashi Tezuka, one of the designers from the original game. Sure, his insight is interesting. But I would have preferred an introduction by Shigeru Miyamoto and an afterword by Takashi Tezuka, since Miyamoto is more important and well known. Aside from these gripes, there’s plenty to enjoy in this book. It covers all of the major games from the original Super Mario Bros to Super Mario 3D World. This beautifully bound book will let you track the evolution of the Goomba, witness the introduction of Yoshi, and relive your favorite levels. It also includes tips to help you find every coin, star, sun, and mushroom, and it even provides explanations for glitches. Overall, Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia is an excellent book that fitingly pays tribute to my favorit video game character of all time. It’s a reminder and celebration of the magical characters and games that only Nintendo can create.
Super Mario Odyssey has taken the world by storm. Not only has it received countless perfect scores from myriad video game critics, it’s the fastest-selling Super Mario game of all time. In less than one week, this Nintendo Switch game has been bought by millions of gamers and their verdict is unanimous: Super Mario Odyssey is a masterpiece. If you’re looking to fully enjoy this epic adventure and uncover all of the secrets that lie within it, you may want to considering picking up the Super Mario Odyssey: Prima Collector’s Edition Guide. Below is my video review of this new book from Prima Games.
Yesterday, Nintendo issued the press release below following the January 12 press conference about its new console: Nintendo Switch. Also included below are videos about this exciting new system and the video games slated for release in the coming months.
Today, Nintendo celebrates a huge milestone. For the first time ever, its most iconic video game character, Mario, makes his debut on a device not produced by Nintendo. Super Mario Run, a fully-featured platformer starring everyone’s favorite plummer, is now available in Apple’s App Store for iPhone and iPad.
DK Publishing, the company that has created countless terrific pop culture books that I’ve reviewed, has just released Playing With Power: Nintendo NES Classics. This beautiful hardback book celebrates the history of the most iconic and influential video game system of all time, as well as the games that defined it. It’s a great companion piece to the newly released, yet hard-to-find, NES Classic Edition. Below is my full video review. Enjoy!
