Super Mario News
October2012
News Brick-Based Mario Videos Prove Everything Looks Better In Lego
Build it and they will come
Following on from the awesome Lego Zelda shield we featured a while back, we've stumbled across some amazing Lego-themed Super Mario videos. Created using what appears to be a clever combination of computer editing and actual brick images, these videos replicate the look of Mario's early NES adventures via the medium of...
News Super Mario Gangnam Style Flash Mob's Got Some Moves
It was inevitable
If you haven't heard of Gangnam Style, maybe you're the lucky one. That might be harsh, but the quirky music video has gone so viral that there's no escape, meaning that lots of people are happily imitating it and looking rather silly. As most will know, meanwhile, the best place to find people dressed in silly outfits with time...
News Super Mario World Was The Perfect Escape For a Novelist in Hiding
Salman Rushdie's inner gamer is revealed
In literary circles Salman Rushdie is a much admired award-winning writer, and also one of the biggest names in the book industry. He's also courted great controversy during his career, notably when his novel The Satanic Verses outraged extremist groups and regimes to the point that there was a fatwa issued...
News We Really Wish This Super Mario Kung Fu Movie Actually Existed
It's already better than the Hollywood effort
If you're old enough to remember the terrible Hollywood live-action Super Mario Bros. movie then there's a good chance you still carry the mental scars. Even lead actor Bob Hoskins isn't a fan! It would appear that the world is still waiting for the definitive Mario movie, but in the meantime you can...
First Impressions Paper Mario Sticker Star
Stuck on you
Tucked away on the roof of the ZombiU building in the Nintendo booth at the EB Expo were a few hidden 3DS gems. Among them was Paper Mario: Sticker Star, and as you can imagine we eagerly wrestled the closest copy from the display unit and dove right in. The version available to us appeared to be very close to the final build, as we...
News The Best Damn Half Time Entertainment You'll Ever See
Ohio State University Marching Band plays Zelda, Mario, Tetris and more
The Ohio State University Marching Band is a pretty big deal. It's one of the largest groups of its type in the world, and is regularly referred to by admirers as "The Best Damn Band in the Land" (TBDBITL for short). Famed for its stunningly complex half time performances, the...
News This Real Life Tanooki Suit is a Bit Strange
Do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
If you're the type of person that has absolutely no shame in wearing the most ludicrous clothes, then we have found the perfect item of clothing for you. Say hello to the 'Racanooki' Costume Hoodie! This costume hoodie from 80sTees was inspired by Tanooki Mario in Super Mario Bros. 3, and bizarrely you can...
Ninterview Charles Martinet, The Voice of Mario
We caught up with the man himself at the recent EB Expo in Australia
He voices one of the most iconic characters in global culture yet he could probably walk down the street and not receive a second glance from passers-by. He is Charles Martinet, the man behind the voice of Nintendo's Mario, and has lent his vocal chords to the world-famous plumber...
News Paper Mario: Sticker Star Arrives in Europe 7th December
Stuck on you
Nintendo of Europe has finally announced a date for Paper Mario: Sticker Star: Europeans will be able to get sticky with the paper thin plumber from 7th December. The world is your personal Panini album in the adventure, which sees Mario and company slipping through the world slamming stickers onto anything that moves. You'll also be...
News New Super Mario Bros. U Trailer Shows Off Co-Op, Controlled by Mario Masters
The music works on us
New Super Mario Bros. U is potentially the biggest day one Wii U title, though it does have competition and has to fight against Mario fatigue. There seem to be two distinct camps of gamers at the moment: those that can't get too much of Mario's platforming antics, and those that feel they've played quite enough Mario for one...
Talking Point The Possibilities of New Super Mario Bros. 2 DLC
More Mario per system
We’re well aware that some of you may read the headline and tagline for this article and immediately think that we’re losing our minds, foolishly allowing ourselves to be suckered into paying more and more for our Mario fix. That’s a danger of course, which we’ll come to, but with this week’s first batch of New Super...
News Voice of Mario Was Inspired by a Shakespearean Character
Yes, really
Younger gamers may think that Mario's always had a voice, gleefully exclaiming phrases such as "Wahoo" and "Yippee" for all time, along with the occasional sentence. The voice fits the character, and it seems like Mario wouldn't be the same without his famous catch-phrases. It's easy to forget, then, that Super Mario 64 was the first...
News Check Out Some Mario Facts in This Video
Cameo appearances, cancelled sequels and other mysteries
Mario has so many video games that if there weren't peculiarities and quirks throughout them, something would be wrong. The sheer volume of games over a period in excess of 25 years is impressive, especially if you go beyond the scope of the main franchise and venture off into spin-offs and...
September2012
News Super Paper Mario Bros. - Level 1-1 Recreated in Mobius Strip
Yours for $24
With a franchise like Mario, it's safe to say that there are plenty of arts and crafts projects out there that have been created as a dedication to the moustachioed one. Pins, animations with nothing but post-it notes, and any wacky idea you can imagine have probably been done already. One that involved a fair bit of effort and skill...
News Shigeru Miyamoto: Mario and Luigi Don't Have Last Names
So stop saying he's called Mario Mario
When it comes to Mario, Nintendo's number one icon, there are plenty of myths and stories that can be debated by gamers until the moo moo cows come home. One of these, thanks to the Super Mario Bros. movie that wasn't particularly good, is that Mario and Luigi's last name is actually Mario, meaning that the...
News Super Mario 3D Land Clone Hits iPhone, and Looks Rubbish
Making Mario mad
While the iOS and Android platforms have some blockbuster downloads that have been downloaded millions of times, they also have quality control that's as effective as a Power Glove. We present to you 3D Cartoon Land: Safari, which is a rather blatant copy of Super Mario 3D Land, the same in everything except graphics, design, tight...
News Nintendo: There's No Such Thing As Too Much Mario
Company will never risk killing "the golden goose that lays the golden egg"
How much is too much? That's not a question Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime thinks we should worry about, at least not in relation to the company's iconic mascot Mario. In an interview with GI.biz, Reggie was asked if the constant flood of Mario games could...
News "Hungry Hungry Koopas" Devour The Hippos
A well-loved game with a twist
Many who read this will be familiar with Hungry Hungry Hippos, a children's game that's popular around the world. You won't necessarily have heard of Hungry Hungry Koopas, however, as it's a custom-made one off game from toy and video game enthusiast Donald Kennedy, or KodyKoala as he's known on his website. Kennedy...
News New Super Mario Bros. U Character Choices Explained
Expect "more expression and emotion" on Mii faces
New Super Mario Bros. U is one of the most anticipated launch window titles for Wii U, and like New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS the Big N will be hoping that 2D Mario converts into big sales. Some of the information and footage suggests that a good deal of effort and design has gone into Mario's HD...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii U Details And Screens Bounce Into View
Worlds named and Boost Rush mode revealed
There's been a flood of content relating to the forthcoming Wii U platformer New Super Mario Bros. U, with details about new levels, game modes and a selection of fresh screenshots. Nintendo has confirmed seven of the game's worlds. Acorn Plains, Sparkling Waters, Frosted Glacier, Layer Cake Desert have...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Smashes The One Million Barrier In Japan
New 3DS title has sold faster than Mario 3D Land
New Super Mario Bros. 2 has sold a staggering 1,068,878 units in Japan since it was released on July 28th - five weeks ago. The figure has been reported in the latest Enterbrain chart, which covers August 27th through September 2nd. The previous Mario title on the 3DS - Super Mario 3D Land - took...
August2012
News Mario Warfare Teaser Pokes Fun At Call Of Duty
Tactical Mushroom Action
The advent of YouTube and the emergence of affordable video creation and editing tools has given game fans the world over the opportunity to parody the living daylights out of pretty much anything they like. Beat Down Boogie are masters of this craft, having already scored a sizable satirical hit with Modern War Sear Solid...
News Nintendo Champ Puts Coveted Golden Mario Trophy Up For Auction
Got a spare $300,000?
Way back in 1990, Thor Aackerlund saw off all challengers to secure the Nintendo World Championships in the 12-17 category. Now, over twenty years later, he's selling his one of a kind trophy on eBay for an eye-watering $300,000. Just in case you're thinking that figure is a little high, it should also be noted that included...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Global Coin Total Surpasses 50 Billion
That's a whole lot of coins collected!
If you live in Europe or North America and have enabled SpotPass on New Super Mario Bros. 2 you should have recently received your first update to let you know how many coins have been collected by Mario fans globally. We reported on this a few days ago when Japanese players got their first update, at that...
Feature In Defence of Super Mario Sunshine
Do or don't look back into the sun
Ten years ago today, on 26th August 2002, GameCube title Super Mario Sunshine was released in North America to an abundance of critical acclaim, with relatively muted murmuring that it was an unworthy follow-up to Super Mario 64. Gradually over the past decade opinions have grown more divided and gamers have become...
News Intrepid Programmer Brings Super Mario Bros. to Atari 2600
Harder than it sounds
While many of us enjoy indulging in retro classics on a regular basis, whether experiencing them for the first time or starting a 20th playthrough, there are those with a passion for past generations of systems and games that take the hobby further. Case in point is user Sprybug from atariage.com, who has reproduced World 1-1...
Tips New Super Mario Bros. 2 Rainbow Courses
A handy pot of gold
It takes relatively little time to beat the main Worlds in New Super Mario Bros. 2, but it adds many, many hours with unlockable levels, collectibles and secrets to discover. Yesterday we shared two small tips that would allow you to play as Luigi in single player and to keep those hard earned profile stars sparkling. Due to...
Tips Two New Super Mario Bros. 2 Secrets
Don't worry, fun but (relatively) spoiler free
If you're anything like the members of the Nintendo Life team, you're probably well on your way through New Super Mario Bros. 2, perhaps even beaten it, and are currently scrabbling around levels looking for elusive star coins and secrets. This title may hand out extra lives like they've gone out of...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Worldwide Coin Total Surpasses 36 Billion
May be used to buy 17% of Apple
Those of you that have picked up New Super Mario Bros. 2 have probably also enabled SpotPass, which will be used to contribute your haul to the world coin total. We'd also assume that Nintendo will send regular updates so we can all see how ludicrously high that total gets. While there haven't been any updates as yet...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Typo Isn't So Golden
More grammatical 'revelaitons'
It can be a pastime of some gamers to chortle at spelling errors or sloppy typos in video games, with many recently enjoying a typo by Capcom in its now infamous Resident Evil Revelaitons packaging for, of course, Revelations. While that version of the packaging became, bizarrely, a collector's item of sorts, it seems...
Out Now 3DS XL Goes Big in North America
And New Super Mario Bros. 2, of course
It's Sunday, a day of rest and laziness for so many, but perhaps this one has a slightly different meaning for some keen 3DS gamers in North America: it's 3DS XL day. Oh, and New Super Mario Bros. 2 day, as well. 3DS XL graced Europe and Japan in late July, with the North American release seemingly being held...
News Nintendo Only Plans to Make One 2D Mario Per Platform
Plumber deal
The idea of Mario fatigue has been wafting through the air recently, thanks to New Super Mario Bros. 2 launching on 3DS this weekend as another 2D Mario, New Super Mario Bros. U, is being prepared for release in a few months at Wii U's launch. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata insists that this won't be a regular thing, however —...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Takes Over GAME Store In London
Wahoo!
If you happened to be around GAME Oxford Street in London today, you may have noticed the increased presence of a certain friendly — and recently gold-hungry — plumber. Don't worry if you missed out, though, as the madness is due to continue tomorrow. Nintendo UK has announced that an exclusive New Super Mario Bros. 2 gaming event will be...
Out Now New Super Mario Bros. 2 Hops Into Europe
Only two more days for you, North America
If you've been living in a cave and cut off from the outside world in recent weeks, then this may be news to you: New Super Mario Bros. 2 is now available in Europe, and graces North American stores in just two days, on 19th August. You all knew that, we hope, but if you didn't then we'd expect you to...
Competition New Super Mario Bros. 2 Sparks Coin Rush!
There be gold in them hills!
It's not long until New Super Mario Bros. 2 hits both the digital and retail stores, out on Friday (Aug 17th) Mario's latest adventure is set to be coin-crazy. To celebrate Mario's love for coins Nintendo UK has unveiled "Coin Rush", a competition where, just like in New Super Mario Bros. 2, it’s up to you to collect...
News Who's New Super Mario Bros. 2's Mystery Celebrity?
Guess who
Nintendo of Europe is having a little fun with the advertising campaign for New Super Mario Bros. 2 before the game is released on Friday. Can you guess which mystery celebrity is wearing Mario's famous moustache? The answers have been flowing in all day on Twitter, but apparently nobody's got it right yet. Frankie Sandford, Emma Watson...
Round Table Let's Talk About Super Mario
Get a comfortable seat
We've already unveiled our favourite Super Mario games, but it's a series with plenty of talking points. We're in the middle of the busiest spell of new Super Mario games in the history of the franchise, with two 'New Super Mario Bros.' titles arriving this year, which will mean that three new entries will have arrived within...
Feature Our Favourite Super Mario Games
The impossible list
With New Super Mario Bros. 2 about to hit stores, it's prompted a lot of debate about the Super Mario series as a whole. We decided that we'd take on the list that cannot win, and declare Nintendo Life's favourite Super Mario games. In total, 16 members of staff rated their top 10 Super Mario titles from a list of 14. Only games...
News Actually, New Super Mario Bros. 2 May Not Take 45 Minutes To Download
New fastest time submitted
Yesterday we brought you the harrowing news that it could take upwards of three quarters of an hour to download the digital copy of New Super Mario Bros. 2 on your Nintendo 3DS console. That figure came courtesy of Siliconera, who tested the download using a review code and a US 3DS. Compared to the kind of download times...
News Wreck-It Ralph Creators On Working With Nintendo And Sega Characters
"Bowser's much bigger than that. He's way bigger than Zangief"
Forthcoming Disney CGI flick Wreck-It Ralph looks like it's going to be a laugh-riot, largely because it features an absolutely obscene number of video game cameos from the likes of Street Fighter, Q*Bert and Pac-Man. A heart-warming tale of a video game villain who yearns to become a...
News Planning To Download New Super Mario Bros. 2? You'll Need About 45 Minutes
Plenty of time to make a hot drink, then
Much has been made of Nintendo's move into digital download retail releases; while this kind of distribution is commonplace on consoles such as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita, Nintendo is only just finding its feet. New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the first Nintendo game to be available digitally and in stores...
July2012
News 3DS XL and New Super Mario Bros. 2 Boast Big Sales in Japan
Mario's reaction: 'wahoo!'
We've already brought you news of 3DS XL enjoying a steady start in the UK, but figures for Japan are showing a positive weekend of sales for Nintendo both in terms of the new hardware and New Super Mario Bros. 2. To start with 3DS XL, chart company Enterbrain has confirmed that over 193,000 units were sold in the first...
First Impressions New Super Mario Bros. 2
Master of coin
New Super Mario Bros. 2 feels like any of the other games in the New sub-series. The look of it, the audio, the themes of the worlds – they're all safe, familiar comfort blankets that hit the same beats as the rest of the family. That is, until you encounter the central focus that Nintendo is betting its coin on: this time, Mario...
News New Club Nintendo of Japan Rewards
Featuring the Mario gang and Kirby
Today Nintendo of Japan has added two more goodies to its already bountiful collection of merchandise on the Club Nintendo website. For a mere 200 points you can bag yourself a rather snazzy-looking 40x40mm Kirby 20th Anniversary Special Collection medallion, to celebrate Kirby's recent escapade at the top of the...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 was Once Called NSMB Gold
Gold digger
The latest edition of Iwata Asks is out now, and it focuses on 3DS's next goldmine: New Super Mario Bros. 2. This time Nintendo global president Satoru Iwata is joined by director Yusuke Amano, art director Masaaki Ishikawa and, arriving fashionably late, EAD general manager Takashi Tezuka. Apparently Mario's latest adventure is so...
News Retro Mario Discounts Jumping Onto North American eShop
Celebrating New Super Mario Bros. 2
When it comes to New Super Mario Bros. 2, you'd have to live in a deep, dark cave to not know about it. Trailers and videos swarm the web and its status as the first retail download being offered by Nintendo has given it even more profile. Still, that won't stop Nintendo of America doing some additional marketing...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Official Website Reveals Complex Plot
Kidding, but 'world coin total' will use SpotPass
As it's a Friday, and because we've just learnt about it through the wonders of the internet, we've checked out the official New Super Mario Bros. 2 website and discovered a couple of interesting details. First up, here's a summary of the complexities that the plot will offer in Mario's newest...
News New Mario Bros. 2 Footage Hops Over From Japan
Giant Boo and boulders
Japanese gamers are getting a double treat on 28th July, as they'll not only be able to pick up a shiny new 3DS XL but also a copy of New Super Mario Bros. 2. The rest of us need to wait until mid-August, but we can still cast our eyes over the latest trailers for the plumber's new adventure. Although some of this footage may...
News Mario Explores New Environments in Latest Trailer
Or should we say, 'New'
The hype train seems to have truly left the station in the case of New Super Mario Bros. 2, hitting 3DS in just under a month's time. Late last week we brought you the latest trailer featuring Gold Boo and more, and as it's Monday we thought a bit more Mario may make the start of the week feel a bit better. This shorter...
News Gold Boo and More in New Super Mario Bros. 2 Trailer
It's raining coins
New power-ups and freshly minted enemies make their appearances in this New Super Mario Bros. 2 trailer, straight from Nintendo. A gold Boo, gold Bullet and Banzai Bills and more all appear to dole out cash, helping you to your target of one million gold coins. The Mini and Mega Mushrooms return, and now we can finally answer...
News White Raccoon Mario to The Rescue in New Super Mario Bros. 2
No platformer left behind
Super Mario 3D Land may not have tested series veterans in its early worlds, but by the time we got to the later levels — the real later levels — various members of the Nintendo Life team were faced with the temptation of White Raccoon Suit Mario. Dying five times in the same area made this power up appear, and Mario...
News Mario & Sonic eShop App Hits the UK
Scan this
Fancy a free app for your 3DS? Of course you do. Scan the QR code below and you can download the Mario and Sonic at the London Olympics 2012 Virtual Card Album for free. The app lets you collect themed cards based on Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games via SpotPass, StreetPass, connecting to Nintendo Zone hotspots or by...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Pre-Order Bonus is Golden
Not real gold, though
It's a big Mario release, so it's time for retailers to coax us to their stores with some 'collectibles' that, in all likelihood, will be lost behind the furniture within days. Still, extras are always nice, and lucky UK gamers will have the chance to get hold of a gold coin cartridge case — not actually made of gold,...
Mario returns with an uncharacteristic greed
When Nintendo announced New Super Mario Bros. 2, reactions were certainly mixed. Many greeted the news with immediate excitement and anticipation, whereas others were less enthusiastic about what they felt to be underwhelming news of a predictable sequel. Whichever side of the argument you fall on,...
June2012
News Try New Super Mario Bros. 2 at Games Britannia Next Week
Go for gold
UK video game celebration Games Britannia will be the first opportunity for fans to try out New Super Mario Bros. 2 on Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo is bringing the platformer to Sheffield next week as part of its Nintendo Unleashed tour, alongside Kid Icarus: Uprising and 'quirky' (to say the least) Wii title Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise...
News Nintendo Serves Up Mario Tennis History Infographic
One love
This week sees the start of Wimbledon, and with Mario Tennis Open only a month old Nintendo's combined the two in infographic format. The official series history starts from 3D sports game Mario's Tennis and ends with... 3D sports game Mario Tennis Open. Weird. It's a bit confusing, though: it mentions Mario Tennis in 2004, presumably...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Trailer is Informative
Gold standard
After years of competing, it looks like Mario's finally realised that Sonic's better. As New Super Mario Bros. 2 is all about the coins, one of Mario's new ways to earn gold is turning enemies into coins. How does he do this? By grabbing a gold ring, of course. A sneaky hat-tip to Mario's great rival or an out-and-out admission that...
News Fifth Mario Marathon Fundraiser Set for 22nd June
All for the Child's Play Charity
There are millions of gamers who enjoy playing Mario games, whether it's the NES classics or the latest titles on Wii and 3DS. The world-famous plumber is also the inspiration for Mario Marathon 5, a webcast taking place this Friday to raise money for the Child's Play charity. This event has enjoyed success in its...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Art Brings Back Old Favourites
Power-ups and Koopalings in tow
New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a real homage to Super Mario World, what with Reznor and everything, but there are more SMW nods in store. This artwork from Nintendo shows off the Koopalings in Bowser's clown car/copter combo, plus other released images reveal the return of the Mega Mushroom, Mini Mushroom and old staples...
First Impressions New Super Mario Bros. U
Mushroom magic?
It's OK to say you were disappointed that New Super Mario Bros. U is Wii U's first Super Mario game. You may have wanted something groundbreaking like Super Mario 64, and Nintendo revealed a shinier, sharper version of a Wii game from 2009. You're entitled to be disappointed. Your excitement for Mario's next home adventure all...
News New Super Mario Bros. U is 'Accessible and Intuitive'
Keeps the 'building blocks' of the series
The extended unveiling of New Super Mario Bros. U at E3 this year prompted a number of reactions from viewers. In our office there were comments that it looked exceptionally pretty, graphics-wise, but also that it looked extremely similar to its 'New' series predecessors on DS and Wii. Whether that's...
E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. 2 Gets Co-operative
Double your money
Here's a feature everybody's been wanting for New Super Mario Bros. 2 — it has a two player co-operative mode. You can run through the entire 3DS platformer alongside a friend, taking control of a Mario Bro. each. There are a couple of stumbling blocks though: both players need to own a copy of the game, and it's also only...
E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. Wii U Screenshot Comparison
Then and now
Last year's reveal of New Super Mario Bros. Mii underwhelmed some last year, but this year's screenshots of New Super Mario Bros. U look a lot better. We've put together a gallery comparing screenshots from last year's technical demonstration to this year's game. The overriding impression we get is that the backgrounds have been most...
E3 2012 Paper Mario: Sticker Star Shots and Details
Sticker round
After a long wait, Nintendo finally brought Paper Mario: Sticker Star out of the cupboard and slapped a holiday release date on the box. Mario's thin adventure has a sticky addition with — predictably — stickers, which can be used both in and out of battle. Intelligent Systems — surely having a busy time with Game & Wario in...
E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. 2 Trailer Goes for Gold
Believe in your soul
New Super Mario Bros. 2 was one of just three 3DS games shown off during Nintendo's E3 conference, but the publisher clearly hopes it'll set a new gold standard as the precious metal is all over the place. The new Golden Flower power-up gives Mario the ability to fire golden balls that turn blocks and enemies into coins, and...
E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. U Media Blowout
Screenshots and video, we got it!
Those already familar with New Super Mario Bros. Wii will know exactly what to expect from the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U. Aside from the usual multiplayer mayhem Mario and his friends will enjoy a spot of flying squirrel suit gliding and messing about with Baby Yoshis, and all in glorious 1080p...
E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. U Hopping Onto Wii U
Miiverse will be a big part
Nintendo has confirmed New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U, boasting that it will be the first social Mario game, making significant use of Miiverse. The trailer showed Yoshi, a flying 'squirrel' suit, and there's once again an emphasis on co-op multiplayer with Wii Remotes, while there's also a 'boost' mode that brings the...
E3 2012 Your First Look at Super Mario Bros. on Wii U
Here it is!
Nintendo said we wouldn't see any Wii U games in tonight's Nintendo Direct Live, but Satoru Iwata snuck in a cheeky glimpse of Super Mario Bros. to show off the system's new Miiverse functionality. It was only a short video and focuses more on the system's all-new social networking functions, but we'll never pass up an opportunity to...
May2012
News If Mario vs. King Kong was Created Today
On Vita, no less
It's often the subject of chilled-out debate amongst gamers: what if Mario had used a gun like Nintendo originally planned? What if Samus Aran had been a man? What if Kirby was made out of string? Well, not so much the last one any more. Still, it can be entertaining to think about some of our favourite games and wonder what they...
Feature Three Reasons Why Mario's Next Adventure Should Visit Subcon
It's from Super Mario Bros. 2, if you didn’t know
By the mid 1980s the world had fallen in love with a stocky Italian plumber named Mario. With the release of Super Mario Bros. on NES, the gaming icon left an indelible boot-shaped impression on the minds of gamers around the world and forever changed the landscape of the video game industry. After...
April2012
News Mario's Presence in UK is 'Smallest in the World'
"We need to promptly improve this situation"
It's become apparent from the weekly UK software charts that Nintendo titles are struggling to make a significant impact in the country. Today's financial report statements from Nintendo revealed an interesting statistic about the sales of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 throughout Europe, and the...
News Club Nintendo Offers Mystery Boxes
May contain mushrooms
Desperate to spend your Club Nintendo coins but just don't know what to spend them on? Let Nintendo help you out, with a series of Mario "Surprise Me" boxes for 300 coins. The box contents are secret, but Nintendo claim you'll get at least two surprises with a combined worth of over 500 coins. While the website shows...
Talking Point What New Super Mario Bros. 2 Means for 3DS and Nintendo
Aside $$$
The biggest news that came out of Nintendo Direct yesterday was the announcement of New Super Mario Bros. 2 for Nintendo 3DS. To say that the revival of 2D Mario has been a gigantic success for Nintendo is somewhat of an understatement; both New Super Mario Bros. on DS and New Super Mario Bros. Wii sold over 25 million copies each worldw
News Nintendo Direct April 2012 - Nintendo Reveals New Super Mario Bros. 2 for 3DS
Wa-ha!
We knew Nintendo is working on a new 2D Mario for 3DS, and now we know it's New Super Mario Bros. 2. Satoru Iwata revealed the game during the latest Nintendo Direct broadcast, pledging it'll see release in Japan this August. Nintendo of America has also confirmed an August release via Twitter. Iwata
News Camelot Justifies No RPG Mode in Mario Tennis Open
It's not you, it's Mii
Unlike most portable Mario sports titles, there's no roleplaying mode in Mario Tennis Open. Nintendo Power asked Hiroyuki Takahashi, one half of Camelot's boss brothers, about the omission. Takahashi explained that this time around, Camelot was trying to create a console-quality experience with features like online play and...
News Mario Wii U "Based On" New Super Mario Bros. Mii
Crowd pleaser
The Super Mario Bros. game for Wii U that Shigeru Miyamoto teased yesterday will be based on last year's New Super Mario Bros. Mii experience, Nintendo has confirmed. A representative told Kotaku: In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii
Feature Super Mario on Wii U - Crowd Pleaser or Game Changer?
The plumber's conundrum
The news that Shigeru Miyamoto will show off Super Mario Bros. on Wii U at E3 is more or less confirmation of what we all expected. When 3DS faltered many said Nintendo needed to show the way with a Mario game, and Super Mario 3D Land's Christmas appearance gave the console a big shot in the arm, becoming its first...
News Miyamoto to Show Wii U Mario at E3
But in what form?
Update: A Nintendo spokesperson has confirmed to Eurogamer.net that Nintendo will show off a Super Mario Bros. game for Wii U at E3. According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, we'll see the first Super Mario game for Wii U at E3 this year. A translation of the original story sees Shigeru Miyamoto telling the news
News Super Mario 3D Land Director Shares Level Design Inspirations
Similar to four-panel 'Kishōtenketsu' comics
Super Mario 3D Land has been the recipient of critical acclaim and big sales figures. It was also the first 3D Super Mario title developed exclusively for a handheld, posing interesting challenges for Director Koichi Hayashida and his team, such as finding a way to provide short levels that are also...
Talking Point Is Nintendo Over-Reliant on Super Mario?
Lots of plumbing to do
Back in 1985, no-one could have imagined that a plumber saving a princess from the clutches of an evil turtle king could become one of gaming’s defining moments. Since the release of the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES, Mario has become not only the face of Nintendo, but arguably the face of gaming as a whole. Shigeru...
Feature The Super Mario Renaissance
We've never had it so good
When we think about Mario's glory years, it's easy to get lost in nostalgia. We might think back to the first time we played Super Mario Bros. and learned what a platform game was really capable of. We might think back to Super Mario World, which expanded upon the ideas of its predecessors in so many ways that felt natural...
News Nintendo Gives Mario a New Website to Call Home
It's-a-me, Mario.com
Mario isn't exactly a little-known figure, with the mustachioed mascot being arguably the biggest icon in the video game industry. That doesn't mean he doesn't need more visibility in the public eye, though, as Nintendo has now given its hero a new website to show off his games. For gamers interested in what titles feature Mario...
March2012
News The Mystery of the Super Mario Bros. U.S. Release Date
If you know for sure, let us know
Occasionally, an enthusiastic researcher will embark on a quest to find information on obscure gaming facts, so it's surprising that one of the great unknowns in video game history is the U.S. release date for Super Mario Bros. on NES. Considering the fact that this is one of the most successful and iconic video...
News Mathematics Proves That Mario Games Are Difficult
Mario + Retro = Hard
Many gamers, including those of us who consider ourselves to be accomplished gaming ninjas, find older Mario titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World difficult to finish. Thanks to scientific research, we no longer need to feel shame when the dreaded 'Game Over' screen appears. According to an analysis of the...
News Super Mario 3D Land Director Wanted Cape Mario
Fluttering in 3D
Last week's Game Developer's Conference was clearly an ideal opportunity for Nintendo's brightest to talk about the company's main mascot. Koichi Hayashida, a key figure in all things Mario nowadays, revealed that Mario could have had a skateboard, amongst other things, and that he wanted Donkey Kong and Pikmin cameos in Super Mario...
News Super Mario Galaxy Blasts Past 5 Million Milestone
Come in, number nine
Super Mario Galaxy just became the ninth Wii game to pass 5 million units in the United States after just four years on sale. Mario's first intergalactic adventure joins an auspicious list of other games sitting above the 5m mark in the U.S.: Wii Play (13.06 million) Mario Kart Wii (11.3 million) New Super Mario Bros.
News Super Mario 3D Land Could Have Had Skateboarding
Cockroaches too
Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida took to the stage at Game Developers Conference and revealed some of the stranger ideas Nintendo's EAD team cooked up but ultimately left out of last year's platformer. Among the oddball ideas were a pro skater Mario, where the plumber rode a Koopa shell around a half pipe; an elongated...
News Mario Party 9 is Coming Up the UK Charts
So you better get it started
Mario Party 9 may be trying a few new things, but it still knows how to keep a crowd happy. In this week's UK software charts the latest entry in the series has secured a very respectable third place, grabbing it a useful stash of mini-stars in the process. This is apparently the highest debut UK chart position for the...
February2012
News Nintendo and Radio Disney Team Up for Mario Party... Party
What else?
Nintendo of America is preparing a big bash for Mario Party 9, joining up with Radio Disney and Big Brothers Big Sisters for its New York launch shindig on 9th March, two days ahead of the game's official release. Four fortunate Radio Disney 1560 AM listeners will win entry to the event so they can "party with Mario and Luigi"...
News Nate Stehley Looks Happy With His Real-Life Mario Kart
Who wouldn't be?
Nate Stehley, winner of the Mario Kart 7 real-life kart, certainly looks thrilled in this new video showing his prize rolling up at his front door. Stehley can barely contain his excitement as the actual real Mario knocks on his front door and escorts him down to his new electric-powered kart, built by West Coast Customs. If you're...
News Expect to See a Real Mario Kart in Tennessee Real Soon
Miyamoto not included
Remember those real-life Mario Karts created by West Coast Customs? Nate Stehley of Clarksville, Tennessee just won one. Stehley will get the keys to his fully functional electric-powered kart on Tuesday, so if you step out next week and see a grown man driving a Mario kart with a glider attached, you're not going completely...
News Mario Tennis Opens Up with New Gameplay Video
Another Camelot smash hit?
Now we know Mario Tennis Open is out in May it's time to feast your eyes on some fresh gameplay footage, showing off the new multiplayer and touch screen functions. You'll be able to use the 3DS console's built-in gyrometer to move your system around to take a look around the court, though we're not quite sure of the...
News Mario Tennis Open for North America on 20th May
Tightly packed
Mario Tennis Open's global release dates are in, and it's a tight grouping. North America gets the game first on 20th May, before Japan on 24th May and Europe on 25th May. Camelot's first online game in the series includes head-to-head multiplayer with skill-based matchmaking. Nintendo has also revealed you'll also be able to pick up...
News Mario & Sonic Sales Nearly Double in a Week
Going for gold
SEGA's sporting symposium just enjoyed a sales surge in the UK charts, with a whopping week-on-week sales increase of 94%. Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games on 3DS was released on 10th February, resulting in a 145% increase to send the title up from 31st to 10th position. Now sales of the 3DS version and discounts of...
News Mario Kart 7 Mobile App Makes Kart Combos Clearer
Take advantage
With so many different kart pieces to unlock in Mario Kart 7, it can be tough knowing what's what and how to maximise your kart's abilities for land, sea and air. That's where the Combo Explorer app for iOS and Android can come in handy. The application lets you create a custom kart from all in-game parts and see how it stacks up...
News Super Mario Bros. Ambassador Update Hits North America
You're in
3DS Ambassadors in North America can now download the update for Super Mario Bros. that adds Virtual Console restore points to the experience. Head over to the eShop, select Titles You've Downloaded and scroll to find the game; tap Update and you're on your way. As you know, Nintendo's ultimate plan is to add wireless multiplayer, restore...
Feature Nintendo Characters Looking for Love
Will you be their player two?
Like so many others, we at Nintendo Life get swept up in the romance that is in the air during St. Valentine's Day. We love the smell of the flowers, the taste of the chocolate and the irresistible allure of digging through the online dating profiles of strangers, hoping to find something amusing. Surprisingly, we got...
News See, Kids? Sonic and Mario Weren't Always Friends
A little history lesson
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games might have been SEGA's biggest seller of last year, but don't let it fool you: it's an uneasy alliance. Sonic Wrecks recently posted a video from SEGA's official library that dates way back to 1992, from a time when the plumber-hedgehog rivalry was at boiling point. Just...
News Can You Complete Super Mario Bros. In Under Five Minutes?
Mamma mia
Over 25 years on from release, people are still playing Super Mario Bros. on NES. Andrew Gardikis has probably played it more than most, as he's just set a new world record for fastest completion of the NES classic. Clocking in at 4:58.72, the time beats the previous record by ten seconds. Last year, Gardikis attempted to break the five...
January2012
News Mario Kart Wii Races Past 30 Million Sales Milestone
No brakes
Mario Kart Wii has sold a whopping 31.9 million units around the world. The Wii racer has shifted 4.9m copies worldwide since April, standing as the biggest-selling Wii game of the financial year so far. It's not the only Mario game hitting milestones: perhaps due to its inclusion in the Nintendo Selects range, Super Mario Galaxy has...
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