Biggest Traditions In The Series

The Mario games have come a long way since the series started back in 1985. Despite being around for several decades by this point, Mario is still seen by many as the king of the platforming genre, both in the 2D and 3D realms, but while there have been a lot of changes and alterations made throughout the series, there are also plenty of traditions. These can take the form of collectibles, enemies, or even gameplay mechanics that have helped forge the franchise’s identity by appearing in many of the games.

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Having an underlying thread of trends that pop up in almost every title also grants a sense of familiarity to players, letting them know right off the bat that this is still the same fun and vibrant series it has always been. However, when looking at specific traditions, these are among the ones Nintendo seems to prioritize the most.

8

Pipes

The Go-To Form Of Transport In The Mario Universe Takes The Form Of A Pretty Mundane Pipe

Apparently, the idea of the pipes that appear in every Mario game was first conjured up by Shigeru Miyamoto, who came up with the concept after seeing a pipe sticking out of a wall while wandering the streets of Kyoto. Despite the rather unordinary inspiration, pipes have gone on to become a crucial tool for Mario and his friends in the games, since they are the primary method of transportation the plumber will use to get from A to B.

The exact size of the pipes can vary wildly between games, and in Mario Wonder, some will even take on a life of their own as they crawl across the surface like a giant worm. The pipes themselves are a staple within the series, but additionally, the sound they make when someone enters or exits one has also been virtually untouched since they first appeared, filling longtime fans with a warm feeling of nostalgia upon hearing it.

7

Multiple Worlds

Having Multiple Worlds Allows The Adventure To Feel Fresh And Unpredictable

While players will usually start in the Mushroom Kingdom when kicking off the adventure in most games, as they progress through the adventure, they will eventually be free to explore entirely different worlds which can be accessed on the world map. These aren’t just stages with slightly different backgrounds, but instead, totally unique environments that make players feel as though they are truly embarking on a globe-trotting adventure to try and take down the evil Bowser once and for all.

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Some of the games have experimented with this tradition in their own unique ways, such as Mario Galaxy using planets instead of worlds, but the basic idea of transporting players to entirely different locales to keep the experience fresh and unpredictable has remained a core component of the gameplay for many, many years.

6

Bowser Kidnapping Peach

No Matter How Many Times He’s Defeated, Bowser Will Never Give Up On Trying To Steal Peach Away

Admittedly, there have been a handful of games where Bowser decided to take a day off from kidnapping Peach, but her kidnapping has happened in such a staggering number of entries that it has become one of the series’ biggest traditions. Many of the games will start off the story by having Bowser kidnap Peach and take her away in an airship, setting up Mario’s main objective for the adventure that awaits him.

A popular fan theory is the reason Bowser is so obsessed with Peach is because he secretly wants to marry her, something which was more or less confirmed by Super Mario Odyssey and the Mario movie. The truth is, no matter how many times Mario thwarts Bowser’s plans, the King of the Koopas is always able to find a new way to steal Peach away for his satisfaction.

5

Riding Yoshi

Yoshi Became So Popular In Super Mario World That He Would Appear In Almost Every Game Going Forward

The cute and cuddly dinosaur known as Yoshi would first debut in Super Mario World, where Mario can hop on his back for a ride, giving him a little extra movement speed and a double jump. Yoshi would become so popular that he would re-appear in nearly every mainline game going forward, including Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Wonder, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 after they were left absent from the original game.

What may have started as a one-time gimmick has become one of the series’ biggest traditions, with it being a given nowadays that a new Mario entry will feature a Yoshi at some point for players to take for a ride. The popularity of the Yoshi character and Yoshi species would lead to tons of spin-off games, alongside them appearing in the Mario Kart games too.

4

Super Stars

The Ultimate Power Up Has Taken On A Few Different Forms Throughout The Games

The Super Star is an ultimate power-up that grants whoever picks it up complete invincibility for a few seconds, and while it debuted in the very first game, it has appeared in the majority of the Mario titles ever since. In many of the games, these little guys tend to hide away in blocks, forcing players to seek them out if they want to remain protected from enemy attacks and projectiles.

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However, in the case of games like Mario Galaxy and the Mario Party spinoff titles, they instead act as rewards players can earn through completing specific levels or tasks. No matter how they are used though, stars always play an important role in each of the games as valuable and powerful collectibles players are encouraged to strive for.

3

Goomba

Goombas Just Can’t Catch A Break, Being Treated As Mario’s Personal Stepping Stones In Every Entry

No matter where Mario’s next adventure takes him, whether it be a desert or a chilly icescape, there will always be at least a few Goombas along the way for him to squash. Goombas have become the most common enemy in the entire series, which makes sense since these are the first members of Bowser’s army Mario encounters in the first entry back on the NES.

While most Goombas will take the form of useless grunts who simply waddle back and forth, there’s also the Goomba King in Paper Mario, who is a high-ranking member of Bowser’s army, along with Goombella, who befriends Mario in The Thousand-Year Door. The Goombas have therefore stuck around for so long that Mario has even gotten to meet friendly versions of these stern-faced stepping stones.

2

Suits

First Introduced In Super Mario Bros 3, Suits Have Become An Integral Set Of Power-Ups In The Series

This tradition all started in the original Super Mario Bros 3 with the Tanooki Suit, which gifted Mario more mobility and a higher jump distance. Since then, Mario and his pals have been able to jump into numerous kinds of suits that can completely change the way they play, giving them new attacks, abilities, and powers that are usually needed to progress through a tricky level.

Eventually, a Frog Suit, Penguin Suit, and even a Cat Suit – which was the main gimmick seen in Super Mario 3D World – were all introduced as power-ups inspired by the original Tanooki Suit back in the third game. They have since become a mainstay in the series which, alongside mushrooms, provide players with the boost they’ll need to make it through a particular stage.

1

Mushrooms

One Of The Most Iconic Power-Ups In Gaming has Existed In The Mario Series Since The Very Beginning

First appearing in Super Mario Bros, mushrooms are an iconic power-up that Mario can use to grow in size, giving him an extra hit point in the process. While this is what the most basic Super Mushroom can do for Mario, there’s been a plethora of others introduced throughout the series that can bolster his abilities in a few different ways.

The Spring Mushroom which was introduced in Super Mario Galaxy, for example, will allow the plucky plumber to reach higher ground by transforming himself into a spunky spring. There’s also the Mega Mushroom which, as the name implies, turns Mario into an enormous giant capable of sprinting through an entire stage, knocking down every block in his path as he goes. These are only a few examples of the many forms these items can take though, since there’s no telling how Nintendo will decide to shake them up for each new game.

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