The creator of Mario and legendary video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto is currently on a whistle-stop tour around the world to promote The Super Mario Bros. Movie. And during this promotional tour, Miyamoto has shared his thoughts about one of the plumbers side gigs: Dr. Mario.
In an interview with IGN, the Nintendo legend talks about how the movie has shown us a brand new side of Mario. But as a result, that calls into question the multiple roles Mario has undertaken over the years. Miyamoto specifically singles out Mario's career as a doctor, which began way back in 1990 on the Game Boy and NES.
Miyamoto says of the 'imposter' doctor:
"Mario’s a blue-collar, he’s a regular person. So, even when he becomes Dr. Mario, there’s a sort of, like, shadiness, like 'can I trust this person?'"
So it's safe to say Mario's medical license is under scrutiny here. If Miyamoto can't trust him, then why should we? And the movie is the reason this is being called into question, because Mario's "everyman" quality evolves into something more:
"I think that’s the kind of image that’s carried down for generations as Mario. And to see that image kind of coincide, and then evolve into something of a hero is something that I’m really happy to see."
We're sure in many people's eyes, Mario has always been a hero. But The Super Mario Bros. Movie definitely gives Mario a character arc which emphasises growth. He doesn't usually have a voice, after all. It's quite amusing, however, to hear Miyamoto describe Dr. Mario as "shady". But then what about Dr. Luigi, Dr. Peach, and Dr. Bowser...?
Mario has had a lot of jobs over the years, from artist to chef to cement factory worker, and tons more. How many of these is he truly qualified for? Best not to think about it too hard.
Would you get your annual check up with Dr. Mario? Get diagnosing in the comments.
[source ign.com]
Comments (26)
I would never trust Bowser with an injection needle
Given Dr. Mario's solution to most medical problems was to endlessly shove an excessive number of random pills down the patient's throat I'd say no, I don't want to be treated like the US medical system...
Hey, he would be a doctor who prescribes mushrooms... sounds good to me!
I wonder who granted him the Dr. title then
Mario's parents got disappointed at him for being a plumber, so they peer pressured him to go back to school to get his doctorate degree. But he didn't enjoy that lifestyle so he moved on to platforming and saving princesses instead.
Cries in Charles Martinet
Of course you can't. That's why he always deals with viruses without any actual patients in sight, in a presumable lab environment.
Mario was always a doctor, he's just using the coins to pay back his degree
Lol. "Miyamoto thinks Mario is shady, moonlighting as a fake doctor" would have been an excellent April fools joke
@DoctorRadish I'd heart your comment more than once if I could.
Mr. Miyamoto's mind sure works differently! I honestly didn't think anything nefarious of Dr. Mario but now I am starting to question what side of the fence he is on!
Well, since anyone can be a doctor in Mario’s world, medicine must be really simple. Even a tower of Goombas can work together to fit a bunch of pills!
This might be my favorite Miyamoto quote.😂
@Ooyah In the context of the Mushroom Kingdom it would be way better if he prescribed Mushrooms (as long as he avoids the Poison variety) instead of his dubious pills!
That’s bad when your dad doesn’t trust you to do your job.
You don’t NEED Dr Mario and his pills. You need to do your own research.
@McBurn You can ask this about pretty much everyone in the now defunct Dr. Mario World.
So Miyamoto thinks blue-collar, regular people are inherently shady?
You can't argue with those results though.
@BeefSanta Yeah, there's a serious amount of classism in this quote.
@Maxz Yeah, "He doesn't usually have dialog" would have been better phrasing. lol
"I‘ve been to mushroom mountain, once or twice but who‘s countin‘? But nothing compares to this blue and yellow purple pills."
I‘d say Dr. Mario most certainly has a shadiness to him - a slim shadiness that is.
@Chinesus well it works doesn’t it?
Didn't he say a few years ago that Dr. Mario's ability to practice medicine may be less than legitimate?
I miss Dr. Mario World. It was one of the few mobile games I actually enjoyed.
I guess Dr Mario is shady because out of all of Mario's professions, when has Mario truly had the time to properly go to school to be a doctor?
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