Power Ups In Mario Games That Deserve A Comeback

Key Takeaways

• The plethora of Mario power-ups throughout the franchise adds variety and fun for players.
• From the Carrot to the Wing Cap, some power-ups have never returned after appearing in only one game.
• Some power-ups like the Mega Mushroom and Blue Shell offer players the satisfaction of overpowering obstacles in the game.

At the end of the day, the pivotal part of Mario is running and jumping across wonderful lands to save the world from threats like Bowser. However, power-ups have been part of the franchise since the original Super Mario Bros., with the likes of the Mushroom and Super Star assisting players in their side-scrolling and 3D adventures.

With nearly every new entry, Nintendo has introduced a new power-up for players to have fun with. Some like the Super Leaf have returned in many titles, while others seem to have vanished other than references in spin-offs, even though fans would probably have enjoyed seeing them again in a modern Mario title.

10 Mystery Mushroom

It’s Fun To Transform Into Characters

• First Appearance: Super Mario Maker
• Ability: Mario can transform into any character.

The Mystery Mushroom, originally introduced in Super Mario Maker, has no special powers. It is essentially another form of the basic mushroom, but it has the bonus of transforming Mario into any character from the Mario universe and other properties.

A simple skin-swapping ability would add variety to the visuals as Mario traverses through 2D or 3D worlds. It could also be a way to give Mario traversal abilities, especially if the Mystery Mushroom transforms him into characters like Peach or Donkey Kong, who are known for their unique traits in-game.

9 Carrot

The Game Boy Games Had Good Options

• First Appearance: Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins
• Ability: Mario forms rabbit ears and leaps long distances with the added bonus of gliding.

Multiple power-ups have allowed high-jumping for Mario akin to his brother Luigi, from the Spring in Super Mario Galaxy to the Weird Mushroom in Super Mario Maker. However, one of the first ones to give Mario the ability to jump high was the Carrot in the oft-forgotten Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins on the Nintendo Game Boy.

The Super Carrot gave Mario a pair of rabbit ears, high jumps, and gliding abilities, similar to how the Super Leaf gave him Tanooki ears in Super Mario Bros. 3. With rabbits being a recurring character in multiple games, including the playable Nabbit, the Carrot would still fit in modern games while reminding players of the Game Boy titles that don’t get enough appreciation.

8 Mega Mushroom

Mario Becomes Mega Mario And Stomps Through Levels

• First Appearance: New Super Mario Bros.
• Ability: Mario grows to a giant size and stomps through levels.

Nearly everyone can feel cathartic when they can destroy everything in a level and that is exactly what the Mega Mushroom is for. It transforms Mario into a giant version of himself that storms through a level, destroying all enemies, obstacles, and platforms without taking so much as a scratch.

The Mega Mushroom was first introduced through a minigame in the Mario Party series, but New Super Mario Bros. turned it into a mainline power-up. The last time it was seen was in Super Mario 3D World, where it showed its potential with 3D gameplay, especially if it were to return to something more open world, a la Bowser’s Fury in the future.

Pros And Cons Come With Metal Mario

• First Appearance: Super Mario 64
• Ability: Mario turns to metal and can survive various hazards.

The Metal Cap has only appeared in Super Mario 64 and its Nintendo DS remake, transforming Mario into a chromatic version of himself that is indestructible, can breathe underwater, and is immune to hazards like toxins and fire. An ability like that makes Mario formidable, even with the disadvantage of a low jump.

Metal Mario has appeared as a playable character in other games, including Mario Kart 8, but, surprisingly, none of the 3D Mario games have ever brought back the Metal Cap as a power-up. However, Luigi did get a similar transformation with a different ability in New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Nintendo 3DS.

6 Ice Flower

The Cold Never Bothered Mario Anyway

• First Appearance: Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time
• Ability: Mario can run on water and freeze any enemy.

Players were able to embrace their inner Queen Elsa with the Ice Flower, which was originally introduced in Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time. However, it joined the mainline Mario games with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, allowing Mario to throw ice balls that freeze enemies into ice blocks as an attack or a new temporary platform.

The Ice Flower became so beloved as a new addition to the franchise that it was even brought into The Super Mario Bros. Movie as a power-up for Princess Peach. However, the last time it made an appearance in the game was in Super Mario Galaxy, when it could have been a series regular.

5 Super Acorn

It’s Like Tanooki Mario But Even Better

• First Appearance: New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Ability: Mario transforms into Flying Squirrel Mario with the ability to glide and cling to surfaces.

While New Super Mario Bros. Uand its upgraded Nintendo Switch remaster are considered to be divisive games; the Super Acorn was a highlight. It is similar to the Super Leaf, transforming Mario and his companions into creatures that can glide, only this time it is a flying squirrel.

On top of the gliding, the Super Acorn gives characters the ability to extend their gliding with a single press of a button, allowing for fun traversal challenges in certain levels. If the Cat Mario can return in various games and movies, so can the Super Acorn.

4 Boo Mushroom

It’s Mario’s Turn To Haunt People

• First Appearance: Super Mario Galaxy
• Ability: Mario transforms into a Boo with the ability to fly and phase through matter.

The Goombas and Koopas will always be the signature enemy of Mario alongside Bowser, but the Boo characters have become a favorite. In Super Mario Galaxy, fans were given the Boo Mushroom, which transforms Mario into a big Boo with a fluffy white mustache and hat.

The Boo Mushroom allows Mario to phase through objects and hover, granting him all the attributes people expect from a Boo character. It was different from most power-ups up to that point and only reappeared in Super Mario Galaxy 2 since then, even though it could have made for a fun inclusion in 2D Mario games, such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

3 Golden Flower

The Midas Touch In Video Game Form

• First Appearance: New Super Mario Bros. 2
• Ability: Mario turns to gold with fireballs that can also turn enemies and obstacles into coins.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is known for its gimmick, collecting hundreds of coins within almost every level. Fitting with that gimmick, it introduced the Golden Flower, which allows Mario to lob golden balls at obstacles and foes, making them explode into a blossom of coins to be collected.

Collecting coins is already an addictive activity in Mario games and if it were to return in a more open-ended Mario game or a sequel to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, gamers will be spending so much time collecting coins. Additionally, seeing Mario made entirely out of gold is a welcome counterpart to Metal Mario.

2 Blue Shell

The Power-Up That Makes Mario Overpowered

• First Appearance: Super Mario World
• Ability: Mario wears a nearly indestructible blue shell that can roll endlessly.

The Blue Shell is most famous for being a frustrating power-up in Mario Kart games, but, in New Super Mario Bros., it was turned into a new suit for Mario to wear. In some ways, it is one of the more overpowered upgrades for Mario, as he can hide inside the shell and slide across the floor, immune to nearly every enemy in the game.

On top of the protection, Mario’s movement is also faster with the Blue Shell, and if used correctly, the player can get through levels in more than half the time than usual. This is the kind of ability that fans would likely relish in a new 2D or 3D Mario game, especially if it is expanded on with new perks and abilities, such as a blue explosion, as a reference to its use in Mario Kart games.

1 Wing Cap

Soaring Through The Skies Like A Superhero

• First Appearance: Super Mario 64
• Ability: Mario can fly for a limited time.

Mario being able to fly is nothing new, with Tanooki Mario and the Red Stars providing such an ability, but the Wing Cap from Super Mario 64 helps the titular character live up to his status as Super. With wings on the sides of his signature cap, Mario flies through the air like a comic book hero, especially with the typical ‘M’ symbol.

Flight is one of those magical abilities in games that attracts gamers thanks to the wonder that characters like Superman or Peter Pan instill in people. If Nintendo ever decides to make another open-world Mario game again, the Wing Cap would make an ideal power-up for that style.