Super Mario News
September2015
News Decade-Old Japanese Shigeru Miyamoto Interview Shows How Super Mario Bros. Helped Save the NES
Miyamoto-san also shared his love of Bluegrass music
In the past month a lot of focus has been on the 30th Anniversary for Super Mario, a major landmark joined by the release of Super Mario Maker on Wii U. There have been plenty of interviews and events, but it can be interesting to look back at previous anniversaries to see what was different or,...
News Plight Of Syrian Refugees Highlighted Via The Medium Of Super Mario
"I used Super Mario because it's famous all over the world"
If you've been following world news lately then you should be keenly aware of the perilous situation currently unfolding in Syria, where thousands upon thousands of people are attempting to flee violence and persecution. This has triggered a flood of refugees leaving the war-torn country...
Feature Nintendo Life's Top 10 Super Mario Platformers
You voted, here are your winners
Not so long ago we asked you to vote for your favourite Super Mario platformer in order to celebrate today's (13th September) 30th Anniversary for the franchise. Following Nintendo's policies around the anniversary we left out spin-offs, including titles with 'Super Mario' in the title that were vehicles for new...
Reminder It's Super Mario's 30th Anniversary
Celebrate in your own way
It's only natural that many treated the launch day for Super Mario Maker as a 30th Anniversary celebration for the franchise. It's worth remembering, though, that 13th September 1985 is the day that Super Mario Bros. was released on the Famicom in Japan, as a result beginning its journey to changing the games industry...
Mario History Mario Kart 8 - 2014
Taking racing to a new level
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day (apart from when we miss a day), each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Despite its ups and downs the Wii U has delivered a relatively small but distinguished library of excellent...
Mario History Super Mario 3D World - 2013
A new generation of hybrid (no it's not a car)
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day (apart from when we miss a day), each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. We have a fond story we like to recall about Super Mario 3D World in Nintendo Life HQ. It was E3...
Mario History New Super Mario Bros. 2 & U - 2012
So. Much. Mario.
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day (apart from when we miss a day), each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. We're now well into the current generation with this series (which ends soon, we promise). 2012 was also a weird year for 2D Mario...
Video Watch Charles Martinet Unleash His Creative Side In Super Mario Maker
The voice of Mario challenges Nintendo Life
As you'll know if you've already checked out yesterday's video interview, we got to sit down with the one and only Charles Martinet this week to talk about Mario's latest outing, Super Mario Maker. As well as answering various questions about his career and what he loves about voicing one of the world's...
News Nintendo UK Store Offering Limited Edition Super Mario Box Packed With Goodies
Box fresh
Nintendo UK's online store is marking the 30th birthday of Super Mario by offering a limited edition box packed with merchandise. The Super Mario Box contains a Mario Classic Colours amiibo, 8-Bit Mario Soft Toy, Mario "Breaking Bricks since 1985" T-Shirt and a Mario Hat. It's available for pre-order at £29.99 and ships on October 9th...
News Super Mario Maker Patch Speeds Up Tool Delivery
9-day unlock period significantly shortened
Nintendo's decision to release level design tools in Super Mario Maker over a slow, 9-day drip was apparently to guide newcomers up a learning curve. The reaction, however, has largely been negative, with many people seemingly more than eager to try pulling sick rodeo flips off that curve on Day One. It...
Video Charles Martinet Talks Super Mario Maker And Answers Your Questions
An interview with the voice behind Mario
We were lucky enough to sit down with the one and only Charles Martinet this week and pop some questions to him about how he got to voice Mario, what he loves about the role and why he thinks Super Mario Maker is so special. We also picked out some of the best questions that you guys put forward recently -...
Mario Memories Getting Creative With Mario Paint
"And then... We clicked on the coffee mug icon..."
In this series of articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. This time we have our wannabe hipster reviewer Jose Acosta. When I think of Mario Paint the...
Weirdness The Bizarre Truth of Bowser Jr.'s Mother, According to Shigeru Miyamoto
Erm...
Earlier this week Nintendo of Europe teased a Mario myth-busting video in which Shigeru Miyamoto would tackle some of the tales and questions that revolve around the mascot. We expected some light-hearted confirmations and some nudging / winking, and that's what we got. The video was initially shared by NoE on Twitter, and though some...
Weirdness Mario Infiltrates Sonic's First Adventure In Somari The Adventurer
Hack the planet
Mario and Sonic may be on friendlier terms these days, but once upon a time they were bitter enemies, and the notion of them sharing a game was as unlikely as a Smiths reunion. Still, you can now rewind time and imagine just what it could have been like had Mario decided to hop, skip and jump out of the Mushroom Kingdom and...
Mario History Super Mario 3D Land - 2011
Literally 3D Mario
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Super Mario 3D Land wasn't the first 3D Mario to grace a Nintendo portable - that honour goes to Super Mario 64 DS - but it was the first original game of its...
News Watch Chibi-Robo! Running Around In His Mario Costume In The Latest Zip Lash Gameplay Trailer
The Chibi-House is almost ready for departure sir!
As the release of Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash for 3DS draws ever closer Nintendo has been releasing new snippets of information about the game, along with the recent gameplay trailer below. In the trailer we can see a snippet of Chibi-Robo! running around in a Mario costume, which we can only assume is...
Talking Point Nintendo's Challenge With Super Mario's 2D Future
Vocal fans prefer a retro style, while modern entries are sales leaders
With Super Mario Maker around the corner there seems to be a consensus - at least in this pre-release stage - that Nintendo has got it right with this creation tool. When you combine the excellent tool-set with a potentially endless supply of levels you arguably have - as we...
Mario History Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 2010
Some say sequel, some say level pack - we say brilliant
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Nintendo has some rules that it follows with its games and franchises, particularly in terms of frequency. There's one...
Gallery Mario - A History of Power-Ups, Fashion and Wardrobe Missteps
Looking fabulous
With the mascot's 30th Anniversary upon us you can expect to see a lot of words devoted to Mario in the coming days. Of course, for a franchise that's established its reputation on irreverent fun, we can't help but consider some of its sillier features. Power-ups qualify; yes, they can be integral to gameplay mechanics, absolutely...
Mario History Super Mario Galaxy - 2007
Out of this World
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. In our previous entry we highlighted how New Super Mario Bros. was the first new 2D Mario title in some time; that was due to a general focus on 3D Mario...
Poll Which Is The Best Super Mario Platformer? - 30th Anniversary Edition
One platformer to rule them all
Unless you've been living in an internet-free cave you'll be aware that the Super Mario 30th Anniversary is almost upon us, with 13th September being the big day. Super Mario Maker arrives on 11th September to kick off that celebratory weekend. To celebrate we thought we'd revisit the key question for any Nintendo...
Interview Here's Your Chance To Ask The Voice Of Mario Anything You Wish
What burning questions do you have for Charles Martinet?
Next week Nintendo Life will be meeting up with the one and only Charles Martinet - otherwise known as the voice of Super Mario and many other characters from the Mushroom Kingdom - and we're giving you, our dear readers, the chance to pop a question to one of the most famous vocal talents on...
Mario History Super Mario 64 DS - 2004
3D Mario on the go
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario game per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. If you'd have said that one day it would be possible to play Super Mario 64 on a handheld console back in 1996, you'd likely have been laughed out of the room...
August2015
Mario Memories Conquering the First Level in Super Mario Bros.
"I had a sense of fear about progressing further into the first level"
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. This time we have news writer, reviewer and Australian Correspondent...
Video Super Mario Maker Contains Secret Fly Swatting Mini Game
Mario Paint style
Not content with being what is arguably the ultimate 2D Mario experience, Super Mario Maker is also host to some neat little features burrowed away behind walls of code. One that caught our eye as we were playing was that shifting a block can sometimes reveal three flies from underneath it. Swatting these flies takes you away from...
Mario Memories Treasuring Mario Games Across Generations
"Mario has been a gateway of sorts to everything that is Nintendo"
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. This time we have video contributor Lee Garbutt. It is incredibly...
News McDonald's Happy Meal Boomerang Mario In UK Tabloid Scandal
"I was very concerned because it looked completely inappropriate"
We've been enjoying collecting the new range of Super Mario toys in McDonald's Happy Meals in the UK since the promotion started up again on the 12th August. We even tasked Nintendo Life's YouTube botherer Alex with doing an unboxing last week for you lovely people. Thankfully Alex's...
Mario Memories The Delight of Sharing Mario Adventures With Loved Ones
Co-op is always possible
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. This time we have E3 veteran and reviewer Morgan Sleeper. Thinking back on my time with Mario, one thing stands...
Video Did You Know Gaming? Looks at Dr. Mario and Power-Ups Left on the Cutting Room Floor
Chicken and Demon Mario suits would have been sweet
With the 30th Anniversary of Super Mario coming up, there's lots of celebration of the iconic franchise. We're running daily articles on Mario Memories and Mario History here on Nintendo Life, and plenty of websites and YouTube channels are also looking at the iconic mascot's games. Did You Know...
Mario Memories Super Mario Galaxy 2: A Tale of Hype and Expectation
The hype was real
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. Next up is reviewer and news contributor Mitch Vogel. May 23, 2010. That date will forever hold significance to me as...
Mario Memories Super Mario RPG Opens Up The World (and a Boss's Big Mouth)
"Mario! Prepare yourself for the great beyond!"
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. Next up is reviewer and news contributor Tim Latshaw. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the...
Mario Memories Pre-Internet Timeline Confusion and the Joys of Computer Club
The first rule of Computer Club...
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. Next up is reviewer Jonathan Town. Looking back now, I realise that growing up in Wakefield (West...
Mario Memories How Super Mario Land Made Me A Nintendo Fan
Damien McFerran on the game which started a portable obsession
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. Next up is Editorial Director Damien McFerran. Tetris is widely regarded...
Video Get Happy with Our Super Mario McDonald's Happy Meal Unboxing
What's in the box?
Further promoting the many adventures of everyone's favourite Italian plumber after Luigi, McDonald's has once again begun giving away toys in the Super Mario vein with its child-focused brand of Happy Meals, much in the same way they did last year. We delve into the box of supposed joy to uncover what awaits inside its cardboard...
Weirdness The Man Behind Busking Mario Is Now Racing Trains As Mega Man
Off the rails
Emlyn Lewis is an award-winning Irish filmmaker who just happens to have a deep love of retro gaming - Nintendo specfically. He's famous for busking in the guise of Super Mario and playing notable tunes from the series on his keyboard, but recently he's branched out into another beloved NES franchise: Capcom's Mega Man. Mega Man vs...
Gallery Take a Look at the Super Mario Happy Meal Toys Coming to the UK
Gotta collect them all
Earlier today we shared the confirmation that Super Mario Happy Meal toys are heading to the UK on 12th August, with stock arriving at outlets throughout the country. It'll result in plenty of people eating more burgers or, alternatively, walking into a fast food restaurant and asking to purchase small toys. Whatever the case,...
News Super Mario Happy Meal Toys Hit The UK On 12th August
Supersize me!
Move over Minions, it's Super Mario's time to take over McDonald's Happy Meals in the UK. From 12th August anyone who buys a Happy Meal will be treated to a Super Mario toy, starting with a Mario Visor and a Yoshi toy. A reader who wishes to remain anonymous shared these photos with us. This follows a similar promotion from March...
July2015
Video This Trailer For Super Mario Maker Is Rather Nostalgic
Remember your favourite Mario moments in new ways
Since the initial reveal of Super Mario Maker, Nintendo has been hard at work promoting the Wii U title's upcoming release. We've already seen the game in action on a competitive level at this year's Nintendo World Championships, held during E3, and just recently, the Kyoto-based company announced it...
News Mattel Is Releasing Mario Themed Hot Wheels Racers
Lead the way
As of late, Nintendo has been collaborating with a wide variety of companies to help increase its brand exposure. Just last week, for example, it announced a special partnership with social media giant, Facebook, to promote the upcoming Wii U title, Super Mario Maker. This week, news has surfaced via Brazillian toy site T-Hunted, that...
Weirdness Super Mario Bros. 3 is Rather Creepy With "The Plumber's Dream" Theory
The hills have eyes
Super Mario Bros. 3 is an undoubted classic, and one of the finest platformers of all time. At times bizarre, always great to play, it's a testament to what could be achieved on the 8-bit NES. Naturally it's an enduring topic for gamers of all types, and some like to really dive into the meaning of the colourful and bonkers...
News Here's What The Mario & Sonic Rio 2016 Olympics Arcade Game Looks Like
Arriving Spring 2016 in Japan
We recently reported on the fact that Sega is releasing an arcade variant of its forthcoming Wii U and 3DS title Mario & Sonic at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The Japanese firm has now published an image of the cabinet, as well as an official site. The game is scheduled for release next Spring in Japan, and one w
Hardware Review Awesome Super Mario Inspired Watch - Sun and Moon Miyamoto
Partner in time
A while ago we reported that Mr Jones Watches had produced a limited edition wristwatch inspired by the Super Mario series. The response to the design was so positive that the watch became a permanent fixture in their lineup after a small design change to differentiate itself from the limited edition variant. We were kindly given...
News Mario & Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympics Is Getting An Arcade Release
Recently underwent location tests in Japan
Sega has confirmed that the forthcoming Wii U and 3DS release Mario & Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will also be released in arcades. The game recently underwent location tests in Japan which allowed Sega to balance things and iron out any issues. It was on test at Club SEGA Akihabara and SEGA...
Video There's Plenty to Admire in this Super Mario World Speedrun
Son of a Glitch explains how it's done
Speedrunning is a particularly neat part of gaming culture, in which extremely dedicated and skilful players push games and their coding to the limit. Often exploiting glitches and - in the case of retro games - memory limitations of the original hardware, gamers find clever way to beat classic titles in a...
Weirdness Mario, Luigi and Wario Cheer On Tour de France Riders
Ooh la la
The Tour de France is well underway, and this great cycling event wouldn't be complete without some colourful characters to cheer on the riders. It's commonplace to see spectators such as El Diablo running on the roadside alongside their heroes, even if it is potentially quite dangerous and frowned upon by the event organisers. This year...
Video Check Out an Extensive History of Super Mario Bros. 2
The real original and the Doki Doki Panic re-skin
Many Nintendo fans know the basic story around Super Mario Bros. 2 as known in the West, and the original sequel which would be called Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels outside of Japan. It's a familiar tale, but one nevertheless with some detail that's reserved for those keen to delve into the...
Review Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time (Wii U eShop / DS)
Fun for all ages
It takes quite a lot of star power to be able to co-star with yourself in something. The upcoming Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is set to show that our favourite plumbers are not lacking in this department, but it's not the first time developer AlphaDream has pulled a similar gimmick! For that we should look to Mario & Luigi:...
Video This News Anchor Sure Is Excited About Super Mario Maker
"Oh man, this is so awesome!"
When Nintendo of America tweets a link to a TV news segment, we're normally inclined to shrug it off. We've seen enough news anchors stumble their way through a conversation about Nintendo games for one lifetime. Yet this one's a bit different. A Nintendo of America rep appeared on Fox 5 Morning News with some props,...
Video Prepare Your Creative Appetite with these Top Five Things to Make in Super Mario Maker
A fistful of favourites
Super Mario Maker is just a few months away, and in order to keep those creative juices flowing we've compiled a super concise list of five things we feel you absolutely must create in this stand-out creation game. Of course you no doubt have your own ideas as to what your creative fingers will be most keen to create first,...
It's a-me, charity!
While much of his time at E3 was spent attending events, previewing games and working alongside Morgan Sleeper to produce LA-based content on Nintendo Life, Alan Lopez also took the opportunity to work on a charitable side project. With Charles Martinet on hand to promote Super Mario Maker, Alan was able to get the voice of...
News 30th Anniversary Super Mario Concert Comes to Japan this September
No love for the West, Nintendo?
It seems that Nintendo has a thing for putting on excellent concerts to celebrate landmark anniversaries for its most treasured franchises. Here in the West, fans have had the privilege for the past few years of attending the Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses, a touring orchestra that covers several tracks and...
June2015
Video Mario is Unreal in This New Take on The Plumber's Adventures
Utilises Unreal Engine 4 and goes viral
Though we now have Mario looking fabulous in HD, most notably in Super Mario 3D World, fans and those keen to work on their coding still like to create their own flashy re-imaginings of the plumber's adventures. A recent example that went viral was a Unity-based recreation of one stage from Super Mario 64 in...
News AI Program Learns How To Build Super Mario Levels By Watching Gameplay Videos
Next stop, the complete destruction of mankind as we know it
Not so long ago we reported on a computer program which can "learn" how to play Game Boy games, but now someone has gone one better. A team at the Georgia Institute of Technology is currently working on a program which can build its own Super Mario levels - without the use of Super Mario...
Playable prototype actually exists
Next Level Games has a long and proud history with Nintendo, having worked on a wide range of titles including Super Mario Strikers, Punch Out!! and Luigi's Mansion 2. However, not all of the projects pitched by this developer have seen the light of day, and Unseen64 has posted an updated video explaining what...
Weirdness Man Finishes Super Mario World In 23 Minutes Whilst Blindfolded
...and 14 seconds
How quickly can you finish Super Mario World? 23 minutes 14 seconds? That sounds like a pretty fast time to us, but imagine doing that totally blindfolded. That's exactly what PangaeaPanga has done - and the amazing thing is that he was only practicing the run very recently - he started his training on June 16th. He dies during...
News Mario Parody Kill The Plumber Rejected From iOS App Store On Grounds Of Copyright
Despite the fact that it showcases entirely new content
Smartphone clones of popular games are a real problem for developers, with shady individuals gleefully copying any successful venture in the hope that they can earn a few shillings from unsuspecting punters. These irksome chaps certainly need dealing with, but sometimes the approach of the...
First Impressions Celebrating a Gaming Icon With Super Mario Maker
Let's Super Mario!
Super Mario Maker, recently powered-up from its initial moniker of 'Mario Maker', was a huge part of Nintendo's E3 presence both this year and last. Just a few months ahead of its September release it still had plenty of new surprises in store for this year's show, and still managed to captivate attendees' imaginations. The...
News Nintendo Wants You To Celebrate Super Mario's 30th Birthday In The Name Of A Good Cause
Make a fool of yourself, help others
Whether it's through covering songs or acting like lunatic plumbers in public, the Super Mario series has inspired people to express their love in all kinds of ways. Nintendo's Digital Event wrapped up with an occasionally awkward but overall charming video compilation showcasing some silly examples, but it...
News Super Mario Maker Arrives This September With amiibo Support In Tow
Costume Mario also revealed
Nintendo's E3 Digital Event just wrapped up for another year and sure enough new information has emerged regarding the upcoming Wii U title, Super Mario Maker. Firstly, the game will be released on 11th September. This launch aligns with the 2015 celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Mario Bros. series. During a...
Talking Point Super Mario Maker Stole the Show at the Nintendo World Championships 2015
A game changer for the franchise
The Nintendo World Championships 2015 was an event that had various similarities to the Super Smash Bros. Invitational from E3 2014 - it was charming, had some flat moments, the occasional hiccup, yet managed to seize momentum at key moments to keep us watching. It was a lengthy event that actually started rather...
Rumour Animal Crossing and Pixel 8-Bit Mario amiibo Look Set For E3 Reveal
Nintendo Spain is to blame this time
It seems that inadvertent E3 reveals are continuing to spill out, this time courtesy of a sloppy promotional email sent out by Nintendo Spain. In a mailing to promote the new amiibo announced during Masahiro Sakurai's Super Smash Bros. Special Presentation, it seems that some artwork has outlined more of the...
The two rivals talk Sonic, Mario and much more besides
Cast your mind back to the console war of the early '90s and one thing springs to mind - Sega vs Nintendo. The titanic struggle between these two Japanese giants dominated the video game industry for the best part of a decade, with the incumbent Nintendo - along with world-famous mascot Mario -...
News Gold Mario amiibo Arrives At Target Australia On 25th June
No pre-orders, one per customer & limited supply
At the end of last month Nintendo revealed the silver Mario amiibo figure would be available in Australia and New Zealand exclusively from EB Games from the 30th of May onward, with limited stock and strictly one per customer. It was also revealed the gold Mario amiibo figure would be exclusive to...
Nintendo Life Weekly Possibility of Pokémon amiibo Cards, Monster Hunter X (Cross)
All the reviews, releases, and top news from the past week
We're nothing if not hard working here at Nintendo Life, and in order to help you digest seven days word of news, releases, and reviews, we've bundled it all together into a video to make your life easier. This week we look at the possibility of Pokémon amiibo cards sucking all the cash...
News You Can Now Wear The Mushroom Kingdom On Your Wrist
We've got a lot of time for this Super Mario-inspired watch
London-based watchmaker Mr. Jones Watches has released a timepiece inspired by Super Mario - and it comes with the added bonus of showing whether it's daytime or nighttime. That might be useful if you, like us, are currently spending every waking hour of your day indoors playing Splatoon...
May2015
News Nintendo Hides a Surprise in Its Super Mario Bros. Anniversary Website
Going to the source
A little earlier today we pointed you to newly translated and beefed up regional Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary websites, which serve up an interactive video history of the Super Mario franchise and a whole load of pretty pixel art. Though it's relatively bare in content, more will surely arrive as announcements and...
Localised versions now live in Europe and North America
As you've no doubt been well aware for some time, this year brings the 30th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros., which is a notable landmark for the mascot and Nintendo as a whole. Mario Maker on Wii U will be a big part of the celebrations, certainly, and we think it's a safe assumption that more...
Video The Game Theorists Plot Out Mario's Timeline and Family Bloodline
Yikes
We've shared some videos from popular YouTubers The Game Theorists in the past, yet the latest theory is easily the most ambitious yet; pretty entertaining, too. Using some logic the channel's team produces a timeline for every main-series Mario title, and then goes even further by plotting out bloodlines for Mario, Luigi and even Donkey...
News New Mac App Transforms Your Boring Work Into A Level From Super Mario Bros.
Warp out of boredom
Those of you currently in gainful employment which involves sitting behind a desk for most of your waking day will surely concur that staring endlessly at spreadsheets and graphs gets boring real quick. Thankfully, a solution may yet be at hand to resolve your workplace funk - and it involves Nintendo's famous mascot Mario,...
News PDP Is Aiming to Sell the World's Shiniest Controller With Its Metal Mario 30th Anniversary Pad
But Metal Mario wasn't in the original Super Mario Bros...
In the pre-Super Smash Bros. for Wii U stage, before the Wii U GameCube Controller Adapter was revealed, third-party accessory company PDP turned the heads of Smash Bros. veterans by announcing a Fight Pad that'd mimic the iconic GameCube controller. Subsequent releases have brought plenty...
Feature What the Heck is Puzzle & Dragons? - A Brief History, and Why Mario Got Involved
Match three with a difference
YouTube recently released a presser in anticipation of its 10th anniversary. Listed in acknowledgement of the milestone were several "top 10's", including the top 10 most viewed video game videos, as ranked by watch time: Minecraft Grand Theft Auto (series) League of Legends Call of Duty (series) FIFA (series) Garry's...
Review New Super Mario Bros. (Wii U eShop / DS)
LittleBigKingdom
When New Super Mario Bros. released for the Nintendo DS back in 2006, it had been roughly 15 years since the portly plumber starred in a proper 2D platformer. Not only that, but side-scrollers in general had been largely ignored since 1996, when the Nintendo 64 hit the market and assured us that 3D gaming was the way of the future...
News This Is The Ultimate Way To Display Your Treasured amiibo
Aim for the flagpole
When you've got a massive collection of hard-to-find amiibo, you want to show them off as much as possible. Simply standing them on a shelf will do the job, but if you desire something with a little more flair, then may we politely suggest the Power A End Level Display? It's a replication of the famous flag jump from Super...
Next two waves also dated
Following the recent US news, Nintendo has today announced the gold and silver Super Mario edition amiibo figures will be arriving soon in Australia and New Zealand. The silver amiibo will be available exclusively from EB Games from the 30th of May and is able to be pre-ordered from the EB Games website right now. With...
News Silver Edition Mario amiibo Hits North American Stores on 29th May
Grab one for $12.99, if you are lucky
Following hot on the heels of the Super Mario Gold Edition amiibo is the slightly less precious Silver Edition. This isn't a massive revelation, as they were spotted only last month on a Chinese website, but regardless this will come as good news to those who missed out on the Gold Edition... or simply m
News New Super Mario Bros. Receives ESRB Rating For Wii U Virtual Console
That'll be three New Super Mario Bros. games playable on Wii U
About a month ago, Nintendo finally got around to expanding its Virtual Console service by fulfilling its promise to add Nintendo DS games to the catalogue. The titles announced for the launch have all since released, but Nintendo has since remained silent on what we can expect to arrive...
News Updated Documents Point to Multiple amiibo Restocks for North America
Includes Shulk, Toad and Mario
Nintendo of America and amiibo have a complicated relationship - the toy range is a commercial success, but has also fallen victim to stock issues in the region that frustrate plenty of dedicated fans. Entire websites and Twitter accounts are devoted to tracking stock and pre-order launch times as the scrabble for...
April2015
Video Reminisce and Watch the History of Super Mario Intro Scenes
From 8-bit to HD
The Super Mario franchise isn't renowned for its complex storytelling; in fact the old joke goes that when reviewing one of the plumber's platformers you can cover off the plot in one line - "it doesn't really matter". Be that as it may, the opening scene of a new Mario game can, nevertheless, set the tone for the platforming...
News Listings and Rumours Point to a Silver Mario amiibo Release on 29th May
In North America once again
It's pretty clear that the limited silver edition Super Mario amiibo is very real, with a sample bought from a Chinese auction site having been demonstrated in Mario Party 10. Its original leak was alongside the golden Mario that caused amiibo collectors to sweat over their complete collections, and this silver variation...
News Get Ready To Build With Mario Maker On Wii U This September
Celebrating Mario's 30th anniversary
Mario fans were given a special mention during today's Nintendo Direct, as the portly plumber will be celebrating his 30th anniversary this year. To help mark the occasion, it was announced that Mario Maker will be coming to Wii U in September, so fans can create their own version of the Mushroom Kingdom as they...
News Super Mario 64 HD Creator Bows To Legal Action And Removes Game From The Web
"I didn't really expect for this project to get so popular"
Man, Super Mario 64 HD was looking sweet. A totally free fan-made project built in Unity, its aim was to give Nintendo fans an updated version of the N64 classic. Sadly, Nintendo wasn't too pleased and issued a take-down notice earlier this week. Shocked by the level of fame his game has...
March2015
Breaking out of bundles
The Super Mario series of amiibo toys has, in some cases, been just as hard to find as the Super Smash Bros. run, though gamers in Europe have at least had options with the full range. While the Mario toy has been for sale individually and as part of a Mario Party 10 bundle in PAL territories, in North America this figure has...
News Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Edition Bundle Launching May 22nd
Demo hitting the eShop earlier in the month
Western players won't have too much longer to wait before they can get their hands on some red hot, orb-matching action, as the Puzzle & Dragons Z and Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros Edition bundle has been confirmed for a May 22nd release date in North America. This handy double-pack features...
Video Nintendo's Four Step Stage Design Is Why You Love Super Mario Games So Much
It's all about Kishōtenketsu, apparently
Ever wondered why Nintendo games - Mario ones in particular - are able to hook you in so effectively? Well wonder no more, as the excellent YouTube channel Game Maker's Toolkit is here to explain exactly why these sublime experiences are so compelling. In the case of Super Mario 3D World, Game Maker's...
News Mario Runs From Left To Right Because Our Brains Prefer It That Way
Trust Luigi to pick the wrong direction
Mario - like pretty much every other 2D platform star - runs from left to right. That's just the natural order of things, and has been since the platforming genre began decades ago. However, Mario's direction isn't just a stylistic choice; apparently, our brains prefer left to right movement. Lancaster...
News Speedrunner Conquers Super Mario 64 in World Record Time, With No Stars
You don't need any stars to be a star
The rules of Super Mario 64 are well known. Jump, flip, and swim through treacherous levels to collect the shimmering power star at the end; speedrunners take this premise to the extreme. They collect all 120 power stars in as fast a time as possible, using precise jumps and taking advantage of various glitches...
News Nintendo's 1993 Style Guide Proves That Everything Revolves Around Princess Peach
Mario will also "accept anyone at face value", apparently
Style guides exist so that companies can ensure their treasured characters are used consistently through various forms of media - be it video games, TV shows, comic books or cheap lunch boxes produced in far-eastern sweatshops - and Nintendo is no stranger to this process. This...
February2015
News Speedrunner Unexpectedly Collects New Super Mario 64 World Record in Duel
Powered up
Super Mario 64 has long been a popular game for speedrunning, and the title has had many world records attached to its name. Another has just been added, and it was rather unexpected. On 26th February two speedrunners known as Nero and Puncayshun raced to see who could collect the game's 120 power stars first. Despite saving and quitting...
Preview Puzzling Our Way through Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
Tips go in the jar, mate
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is just a few days away for North American fans, and those in Europe will only have to wait a little bit longer to get their hands on it. With the release date rapidly approaching, we've put together a short video to show you what you can expect to see in the game when it hits the 3DS and...
News Look On In Despair At The Hardest Super Mario World Level Ever Made
Three years in the making, and breaking
The ROM hack scene can be an endlessly entertaining place. Offering up creative, fan-made content, one can never really know what to expect from the community. More often than not, fans will create more challenging levels after completing a game in a quest for additional prestige and for a true test of skills...
News Nintendo España Appears to Confirm Super Mario amiibo for Rosalina, Donkey Kong and Wario
Picking up on previous speculation in Japan
Update: Nintendo España has, unsurprisingly, now informed Nintenderos that this press release was in error; we've also received a similar message after enquiring on this with Nintendo UK. As suggested below there have been instances like this out of Nintendo's Spanish divisions in the recent past, so...
News New Details Emerge on Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition
More match-three goodness for 3DS users
About a month ago, we reported on Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition coming to Nintendo 3DS. A most curious mashup, it aims to take characters and locations from the Super Mario series and place them in a Puzzle & Dragons game. Puzzle & Dragons is itself a mash-up, blending match-three...
Weirdness These Nifty 8-bit Super Mario Collectables May Make Canned Coffee Taste Better
Prepare to get wired
Japanese beverage company DyDo has teamed up with Nintendo to make canned coffee even more appealing. Starting on 17th February the drinks manufacturer will be putting a range of 8-bit Super Mario themed collectables on top of their cups. It appears that lucky Japanese customers will be able to collect 8-bit style Mario, Luigi,...
Weirdness Drunken Mario and Luigi Unleash Mini Crime Wave on Historic Cambridge City Centre
Stephen Hawking unavailable for comment
The historic English city of Cambridge is famous for many things - the beautiful architecture and majestic college buildings, punting down the river Cam and world famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. This sterling reputation as a tourist hotspot for visitors to the UK was tarnished recently when rogue...
Rumour Nintendo Plotting amiibo Super Mario Collection Meltdown With Gold and Silver Editions
Surely not...
Nintendo's enjoyed some success with amiibo so far, amassing millions of sales and seeing demand remain sky-high on the Super Smash Bros. range, to the point that it's struggling to provide enough stock of specific rare figures. In March we'll see the Super Mario range join the ranks, of course, but it seems that there may be even more...
News GameStop Source Suggests That Super Mario amiibo Range Will be Available in "Abundance"
We'll see Nintendo, we'll see
When it comes to product launches, amiibo is full of contradictions. Millions of units - about 5.7 million - have been sold: that's great. Fans have been frustrated by low stock, especially of particular highly sought after toys: that's bad. They've been a success as fans can't buy enough, yet Nintendo's struggled to...
News GungHo President Was Nervous About Showing Miyamoto Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition
"My hand shook while moving orbs"
This year will see the launch of two of Japan's most popular gaming franchises in the shape of Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition. Based on the hit smartphone title - which has already had its own 3DS outing - this new version features the cast of the Super Mario series indulging in match-three puzzle...
Weirdness There's an Awesome Super Mario Bros. World 1-1 Easter Egg in Dying Light
Stomping zombies
Dying Light, an open-world title in which you take on a lot of zombies, is a recent arrival on platforms such as the PS4 and Xbox One. The critical reception to Techland's game has been relatively mixed, but it's still one of 2015's first major releases; now, an awesome Easter Egg has been spotted to show that a current-day release...
January2015
News Unused Textures in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Suggest Dr. Mario Themed Stage
The doctor is out
Through data mining and various other overtly complex methods, an avid fan of the Super Smash Bros. series has uncovered some unused texture files in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U that point towards plans for Dr. Mario to have his own stage at some point during development. The three viruses pictured look as though they could...
News This Is What Happened When A Kid Pitched Super Mario Bros. 4 To Nintendo 25 Years Ago
Even Nintendo's rejection letters are awesome
Back in 1990, Nintendo fan Jason Venter had an idea. He loved Super Mario Bros. 3 and the excellence of that game inspired him to create a planning document for a sequel. That document was packed with the kind of ideas that could only come from the active imagination of an 11-year-old gaming addict -...
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