It's not easy being red. The most recognizable character in video game history has definitely had his high points over the last 24 years. But as the saying goes, "what goes up must come down." Join us as we track the lowest moments in Mario history. Miyamoto, avert your eyes!
Everyone's favorite Nintendo character hit the GameCube almost 9 months after the system's launch, and it turned out to be one of the most anticlimactic moments in Mario history. Super Mario Sunshine was entirely outdated for the new Nintendo console, and though it garnered decent review scores, its long delay, gameplay gimmicks, and janky camera control combined for an experience that fell way short of Mario magic.
In the first installment of "Mario goes fighting game," just about every popular Nintendo character met in this watered-down, ultra-accessible fighter headlined by the peppy plumber himself. Any Nintendo guru should think it's sacrilege for Link to go puncha-puncha on Pikachu, but for some reason, Super Smash Bros. became one of the best-selling multiplayer button mashers of the 64-bit generation. Developer HAL Labs must have been following the post-1995 Saturday Night Live rule--when all else fails, resort to fighting.
Mario must have been tired of living on welfare checks because he just sold his soul to appear in the next version of Konami's mega dance franchise, Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix. Featuring remixes of popular Mario game tunes, DDR Mario Mix throws the rest of the Mario crew into a dance-off that will surely eradicate any lingering shred of nostalgia you had for the NES days.
Yes, while it is undoubtedly one of the best games of the 8-bit era, Mike Tyson's Punchout marks one of the first Mario appearances outside of a Mario game. Mario plays the mumbling referee, which sparked an ongoing chain of popular, hackneyed outside gigs for the Nintendo superstar. Other notable Mario cameos/references include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Animal Crossing, and 1080: Avalanche where Mario appears in godlike, ice sculpture form.
Okay, so Mario Paint was a pretty decent piece of software for the16-bit SNES. It featured animation sequencing, graphic stamps, a music composer, many colors, textures, and drawing tools, and even came bundled with a mouse and mouse pad. It was an educational, artistic piece of software and was even used to create the very first Homestar Runner cartoon. So why did it make the list? Mario wore a sideways cap on the box. 'Nuff said.
