Mario: Difference between revisions

''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'', the sequel of ''Super Mario Bros.'', features Mario and Luigi's having to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser by traveling in new various different lands of the Mushroom Kingdom. The setting, however, is noted as a parallel world of the original Mushroom Kingdom, according to the Japanese manual. A notable harmful element to Mario introduced in ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' is the [[Poison Mushroom]], which can power down or even defeat Mario. Mario's traction and jumping height remain the same, while those of Luigi are changed to differentiate him more from Mario. Luigi jumps higher than Mario but has less traction. This would be a distinguishing feature used in future games.

====''Super Mario Bros. 2'' / ''Super Mario USA''====

In the story of ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', based on the Japanese game ''[[Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic]]'', Mario has experienced a dream one night. The [[Subcon (species)|fairylike beings]] from the land of [[Subcon]] inform him that [[Wart]] has taken over the land of Subcon and that they need Mario's help to defeat Wart. After awakening from his dream, however, Mario dismisses the dream and returns to sleep. The next day, Mario, along with his friends Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and [[Toad]], decides to go on a picnic. However, while searching for a proper place, Mario and his friends notice a cave and decide to explore within it. After entering the cave, the four friends are transported to Subcon. Mario remembers his dream, and he and his three friends decide to save Subcon from Wart and the [[8 bits]]. Throughout their adventure, Mario and his friends defeat many of Wart's members, including [[Birdo]] and [[Mouser]]. Eventually, Mario and his three friends confront Wart himself in a battle. After defeating Wart, Mario and his friends save the Subcon fairies and Subcon.

In contrast to the other characters, Mario is a well-balanced character with no special abilities in ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' and its sequel, which has the same gameplay mechanics. The gameplay of the two games is vastly different from other ''Mario'' titles: Enemies can no longer be defeated by stomping them, and Mario gains the power to pick up enemies, lift them over his head, and throw them. This feature is later reused in the [[Game Boy]] version of ''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]'' and the ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' series of games.

====''BS Super Mario USA''====

{{quote|BS Sūpā Mario USA! Pāwā Charenji!|Mario|BS Super Mario USA}}

Mario reappears in the spiritual sequel of ''Super Mario Bros. 2'', ''[[BS Super Mario USA]]'', retaining his characteristics of being well balanced. While the four heroes celebrate their victory after the events ''Super Mario Bros. 2'', Mario is seen to be awakening during the end of the game, implying the message that the whole adventure is simply a part of Mario's dream. ''BS Super Mario USA'' explains that Subcon is a dream world, and, while Mario and the others initially thought it is all a dream, they learn the truth about the realm when they are called back into the world to save it from Wart again. They must collect Gold Mario Statues in each level, defeat the boss, and find Wart.

In ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' and the [[Game Boy Advance]] remake ''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', after Bowser has invaded again, Mario and Luigi travel through eight kingdoms, in which the kings have been transformed into different creatures by the seven [[Koopalings]]. During Mario's quest, he is repeatedly sent letters by Princess Toadstool, who encloses power-ups for him. Eventually, Toadstool is kidnapped, but the Mario Bros. save her from Bowser in the [[Dark Land]]. ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' introduces a plethora of new power-ups aside from the Fire Flower, including [[Super Leaf|Super Leaves]], [[Tanooki Suit]]s, [[Frog Suit]]s, and [[Goomba's Shoe]]s. Mario also encounters new enemies, such as [[Thwomp]]s, [[Dry Bones]], and [[Boo]]s.

In ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', Mario is invited to have a [[cake]] with Princess Peach at the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]], but he finds the castle taken over and Peach kidnapped by Bowser when he arrives there. In order to save Peach, Mario has to collect the castle's [[Power Star]]s to advance further and defeat Bowser. When facing off against Bowser, Mario grabs his tail and spins him around to throw him off the fighting platform. After being rescued, Peach kisses Mario and bakes him the cake.

Brought into a three-dimensional environment, Mario gains a larger variety of moves. He can now [[crouch]] and combine ducking with jumping. Pressing ducking and jumping while standing results in a backwards [[somersault]], and doing it while running results in a [[Long Jump (move)|Long Jump]]. Mario can jump higher when doing consecutive jumps (the [[Triple Jump]]), and a side somersault can be performed by quickly changing direction. Wall jumps, another first, can also be performed. Mario has more offensive options: he can [[punch]], [[kick]], slide attack, and use the [[Ground Pound]]. ''Super Mario 64'' has also introduced the health meter, so Mario can take more hits before losing a life. Mario can receive special abilities by activating [[Exclamation Mark Block]]s, including the [[Wing Cap]] or the [[Metal Cap]]. ''Super Mario 64'' is also the first game to limit the time Mario can spend underwater; his health meter empties the longer Mario stays underwater. Mario's health can be refilled with [[coin]]s or water bubbles or by surfacing on the water. Mario can also take falling damage from dropping from high elevations. Mario can also lose his hat in the game, and until he gets it back, he will take more damage and his health depletes faster underwater.

[[List of power-ups|Power-ups]] are gained by collecting caps from [[! Block]]s: Red blocks give [[Wing Cap]]s, green blocks [[Metal Cap]]s, and blue blocks [[Vanish Cap]]s. These are temporary, however, and do not fulfill the traditional role of power-ups in giving Mario additional hit points—instead, a [[Health Meter|health meter]] is introduced for the first time since ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. Mario takes damage not only from enemy hits but also from falling from great heights and from time spent underwater. The meter is primarily refilled by collecting [[coin]]s, but catching [[bubble|air bubbles]] underwater or [[swim]]ming on the water's surface also replenishes it. Finally, Mario can lose his normal cap, whereupon he takes greater amounts of damage until he retrieves it.