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Hello Everyone, today is such a momentous occasion. Our dear plumbing friend, Mr. Mario Mario, has his 30th Super birthday celebration today!

Today Mario is probably beginning to notice he isn't 20 anymore, and has to start thinking about really settling down with Peach, maybe investing in a house, stopping her from getting kidnapped so they can start a family, and maybe making sure his brother Luigi doesn't rub how old he is in his face.

Today is a day to celebrate all of the amazing memories and laughs we have shared with our good friend. Today, I want us all to share our first and latest memory with Mario. So we can reflect on the span of time Mario has impacted our lives, from the first jump, to hopefully the BILLIONTH jump.

The first Mario game I had ever touched was actually Super Mario Bros. Deluxe on the Gameboy Color. I was too young to recognize how iconic the game was, but was always begging my dad to take my Gameboy out of his pocket so I could play the game where the red guy bounces.

I spent what felt like my whole childhood attempting to clear what I thought, was the hardest game on Gameboy. Imagine my joy when five-year-old me made it to the final stretch, the final castle, figured out the maze, jumped every fireball, avoided every hammer, and beat that mean Dragon once and for all! Only to find out I was doing the whole thing for a GIRL and immediately lost a little respect for my red bouncing friend.

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From that point on, I began to grow up and understand what an amazing influence, what a titan of gaming, what a recognizable persona Mario was. He was everywhere and my childish brain just figured Disney had made him or something. Later in my life, Mario was my idol. He was the greatest game series of all time!

Fast forward to the year 2015. I've been alive almost 21 years, and this red plumber has just turned 30. His most recent title, Super Mario Maker has been my entire gaming palette since I began playing it for review earlier this week. I have been enjoying the history of Mario all in one sitting. I've gotten to feel the excitement yet again of playing more fantastic Mario levels. I've witnessed the breadth and scope of the culmination of numerous fanatics like me creating worlds in a world we've been familiar with since we could remember.

And I've gotten to experience the incredible feeling of creating a world for the most iconic character in gaming. For 30 Years, since the day of his existence, the world has been impacted by Super Mario in some way. From playing to creating, Mario is the face of gaming. He is probably the biggest reason so many of us play games in the first place.

So here is to you Mr. Plumber. 30 years gone, let's shoot for so many more my friend.

 

[TecXero]

I'm not big on Mario, but I definitely have nostalgia for some Mario games. I loved SMB3 (SNES version), SMW, Yoshi's Island, and Sunshine.

 

[TheSockNaster]

I'm not big on Mario, but I definitely have nostalgia for some Mario games. I loved SMB3 (SNES version), SMW, Yoshi's Island, and Sunshine.

The only nostalgia I had from a Mario game wasn't even a Mario game. It was Luigi's Mansion.

 

[chavosaur]

The only nostalgia I had from a Mario game wasn't even a Mario game. It was Luigi's Mansion.

We need another year of Luigi I say.

 

[TheSockNaster]

We need another year of Luigi I say.

I say the same.

 

[TecXero]

The only nostalgia I had from a Mario game wasn't even a Mario game. It was Luigi's Mansion.

Well, if we're going spin-offs, I also loved the mario RPG games up to the Wii and DS. I also liked Luigi's Mansion on the NGC.

 

[TheSockNaster]

Well, if we're going spin-offs, I also loved the mario RPG games up to the Wii and DS. I also liked Luigi's Mansion on the NGC.

You know I honestly didn't like Luigi's Mansion dark moon. Only the NGC version was good.

 

[TecXero]

You know I honestly didn't like Luigi's Mansion dark moon. Only the NGC version was good.

I haven't even touched the 3DS version yet. It just looked kind of watered down to me. If I ever see a used copy cheap enough, I'll probably give it a go.

 

[TheSockNaster]

I haven't even touched the 3DS version yet. It just looked kind of watered down to me. If I ever see a used copy cheap enough, I'll probably give it a go.

Might as well. It really ruined the old Luigi's Mansion I used to know and love.

 

[tony_2018]

I have to say the remake of super mario bro's for the wii, where you can have 4 players on one screen, was SUPER fun. 1 for all, or 2 vs 2.

 

[RustInPeace]

I was reminiscing on Mario and I feel ashamed. Overall, I haven't played many Mario games. I can start at the beginning, which I'm not completely sure of. I can say these two were close to each other, same year or 2. I definitely remember those two Mario games.

Mario Kart 64 and Super Mario World. On the former, I hope spinoffs are alright. Unfortunately, I've played more spinoffs of Mario and games with his character added, than the main series platformers. Total game time, I've played more Super Smash Bros Melee through Wii U than every other Mario game, combined.

Still, Mario Kart 64 was amazing! One of the few games I played with my 2 sisters. Super Smash Bros on N64 was another classic, along with Melee. There was a Mario Party game, but that's it as far as playing with my sisters.

On Super Mario World, my goodness, amazing game. I don't think I ever finished it, and looking at game footage, wasn't it such a deep game? Seemed like a whole lot of levels and such. I remember ghost levels, Chocolate Land or whatever it's called, the first section for sure. Yoshi, getting the yellow cape. The graphics are perfect for the time, and they still hold up in terms of being lively. It's not 3D, but it's so vibrant. The music is legendary too.

N64 was the first console I played and owned, yet I never played Super Mario 64. Emulation, doesn't count completely, but through that, I've played the original Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3.

Back to legit playing, there was Super Mario Sunshine. I rented that, remember when you rented games? Hollywood Video! Anybody remember that? Anyways, that was a fine game. I did play Super Mario Bros. 3 legitimately with a friend. I was Luigi I think, but that was some great fun. I have the cartridge of SMB3, I found it in a blue recycling bin in 2008. While walking to my high school, proving that one man's trash is another man's treasure. It was tested, and it works. However, 7 years have passed, and I haven't played it. Someday.

I feel kind of bad that I haven't played Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, and really, any main Mario platformer after Sunshine. I will, I swear I will. I played some Mario Party games, Mario Tennis on N64, Mario Kart on GC and Wii, Mario Golf on N64 and Gamecube.
I own Mario Kart 8. I haven't played a lot of that, but it's been fun the time I have experienced it.

I definitely want to play Super Mario Maker. While I'm a Pokemon guy above all else, Mario is a clear number 2. As far as platformers, he is the king. I love me some Sonic, but it seems like Mario's still going strong while the blue hedgehog hasn't been hot for a while, and Megaman is pretty much sleeping. Other platform icons, I can't name all of them. Not sure if Metroid would count. Castlevania, Simon Belmont, for sure, but I only played 1 and 4 through emulation. Banjo and Kazooie on N64, absolutely awesome. But in the end, Mario wins.

Great post OP, I wouldn't know of this special day had not been for this being front page on GBATemp. Sweet.

 

[garbanzox]

I own and love all the 2D games. I grew up with NES and the first 3 Mario titles, then onto GB and SNES. Was so happy when 2D SMB made a comeback with the DS, and the NSMB series is the only reason I got a Wii, then a 2DS, and most recently a Wii U. Just picked up Super Mario Maker and I'm anxious to dive in!

I really don't care for the 3D titles though...