Mario (franchise)
Overview
The Mario franchise is a series of video games developed and published by Nintendo, featuring the fictional character Mario. The franchise's other forms of media include television series, film, comics, and a theme park. The Mario franchise is part of the larger Nintendo franchise.
History
The Mario franchise was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, a Japanese video game designer. The first game in the franchise, Donkey Kong, was released in 1981. The game introduced Mario, then known as Jumpman, who was originally a carpenter rather than a plumber. The character was renamed Mario in the 1982 arcade game Donkey Kong Jr., named after Nintendo of America's landlord, Mario Segale.
Characters
The Mario franchise features a large cast of characters. The protagonist, Mario, is an Italian plumber who resides in the Mushroom Kingdom. His younger brother, Luigi, is also a playable character in many of the games. The princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach, is often the damsel in distress in the series, with Mario and Luigi going on quests to save her from the franchise's main antagonist, Bowser.
Games
The Mario franchise includes a variety of game genres, including platformers, racing, sports, and role-playing games. The main series, often referred to as the Super Mario series, is primarily composed of platforming games. The franchise also includes the Mario Kart racing series, the Mario Party series of party games, and the Mario Tennis and Mario Golf sports games.
Impact and legacy
The Mario franchise has had a significant impact on the video game industry. It has been praised for its innovation, gameplay, and the quality of its games. The franchise has also been influential in popular culture, with Mario becoming a recognizable figure in the gaming world and beyond.