It's the biggest game series of all time, and Super Mario is 25 years old today! Super Mario Bros was released in Japan on September 13, 1985.
The look of Mario is all about the graphical limitations of the hardware at the time. He has a hat, because realistic hair was difficult to portray, a moustache to accentuate his nose, and dungarees to make his arm movements more noticeable.
A survey in the early nineties revealed that Mario was more recognizable to American children than Mickey Mouse.
Nintendo composer Koji Kondo provided the iconic soundtrack to Super Mario Bros. The main theme, known as 'Ground Theme', is one of the most recognizable pieces of game music ever recorded. The tune remained in the Billboard ringtone charts for 125 weeks and has been performed in concert by live orchestras.
The first Super Mario Bros game sold 40.24 million copies, although that figure is skewed by the fact that it was bundled with the Nintendo Entertainment System console. It has been pushed into second place, however, by Wii Sports - which boasts sales of 41.65 million units. Not to be outdone, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games, and the Super Mario Bros series is in the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful gaming franchise of all time. It now boasts global sales of over 240 million units.
For more Mario facts, you can click here.
For more Mario facts, you can click here.
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