The Mario series;biggest ever?

[Arkham Noir]

Wow that picture is alot bigger than I thought it would be lol


I only started playing video games on Mario games. The first game I ever played was super mario bros. 3 for the Super nintendo and for the longest time, Mario was video games to me (there was nothing else in my mind).I'm proud to say that 15 years later, the mario series is still number one for me.There's just so much depth to this franchise that I can't help but be drawn in by the appeal of everything the games have to offer. There's a certain charm to everything that's done . Whether it be the levels, the characters, the power ups, or just the simple story-telling, the mario bros. games deliver so much that I actually enjoy playing the games opposed to just aiming to beat it and get achievements.

The question here is; has there ever been, or will there ever be another series bigger than the Mario bros. franchise? They are the best selling ones of all time but do you think any other series will ever come to match,let alone surpass, the world's most famous plumbers?

I'm going to say a definant no because most video games in this day and age are like MTV reality shows;fads that are only here until the next big thing comes around. No series' have any depth or longevity to make themselves anything more than a few sequels. and than fade into obscurity.

What do you think?

 

[Dagger Dias]

The Mario series IS syonymous with video games in general. Anyone who tells you otherwise has no idea what they are talking about. Even if your personal favorite series is something else, all gamers know the fame of the plumber in the red hat. There has never been a video game franchise as big as the Mario games. Will there ever be one that's bigger? We as human beings can not possibly know that. We can predict though. Probably not anytime soon. Mario is around 30 years old, in terms of how long the character has existed. Other characters such as Link from Zelda are getting old too, but I doubt anything else will ever last as long as Mario AND remain as relevant as Mario has. Even people who never play games know who he is. If games ever were to fade into obscurity, Mario would still withstand the test of time because of being the biggest name in games ever.

 

[Muffin Top Merkley]

I don't think it is possible to argue that the Mario series is not the biggest video game franchise.

The Mario image has branched out alot farther than just in video games. He could be found in a number of television shows, a movie, comics, books and even other games that don't carry his name value such as Mike Tyson's Punch out. Because he is not confined to just a video game, people are exposed to Mario more than they would be with Master Sargent, Nathan Drake or even Pac-Man.

Another reason the Mario Series is the gameplay of the Super Mario Bros. games. Anybody can jump into a level and complete it because of its simplistic nature. There isn't as much skill and practice needed to complete a Super Mario Bros. level there is to complete a Fist Person Shooter, Sports game etc.

Somone is more likely to enjoy a game and continue to play it when they are successful at it when they first begin to play the game. If a person continuously fails the same level, they are more likely to give up and never return to it. Mario allows the player to ease into an increase in difficulty.

 

[willywonka8822]

Pokemon Red was the first video game i ever played
I find it similer to mario in many ways
1. it is basicly pop culture
2. they are both pretty easy games
3. they both will never die out
the same can be said about Legend of Zelda but to a lesser extent

 

[future admin]

I don't think it is possible to argue that the Mario series is not the biggest video game franchise.

The Mario image has branched out alot farther than just in video games. He could be found in a number of television shows, a movie, comics, books and even other games that don't carry his name value such as Mike Tyson's Punch out. Because he is not confined to just a video game, people are exposed to Mario more than they would be with Master Sargent, Nathan Drake or even Pac-Man.

Another reason the Mario Series is the gameplay of the Super Mario Bros. games. Anybody can jump into a level and complete it because of its simplistic nature. There isn't as much skill and practice needed to complete a Super Mario Bros. level there is to complete a Fist Person Shooter, Sports game etc.

Somone is more likely to enjoy a game and continue to play it when they are successful at it when they first begin to play the game. If a person continuously fails the same level, they are more likely to give up and never return to it. Mario allows the player to ease into an increase in difficulty.

This is exactly right. Mario is at the point where it is wider then just a video game. It has grown into product. It ranges into Television, comics, books and so on. I am sure that if you ask anyone about video games, one of the first that will come to their minds would be Super Mario Bros. It is ridiculously easy, the first level attracts the player too much. It is ridiculously easy, I agve it to my cousin, 11 years old, played the first level, got hooked, finished it in less then a month. It was incredibly fun, and that is why it has been so successful through the many years of Mario.

 

[INDYjon22]

It is definitely one of the top game series ever, if not the top. I love the Mario games. They are incredibly fun, even by today's standards. Mario is also a legend in the world of video games. When people think video games they think Mario, however when I think of repair men I also think of Mario. My point is that Mario is one of the most identifiable and important video game series to ever be created.

 

[Spidey Revivey]

There is no way you can argue that Mario is the biggest name in video games period. I can do all I can by trying to argue Link, Donkey Kong, or even Pac-Man is just as big, but I would be lying to myself. Jump Man is the most enduring character ever concieved in video gamery, and always will be. And the fact of the matter is for the past 40 years or so he hasn't really changed his look. That's true testiment in how much we love us some Mario.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

I love Mario. <3

But I am kinda disappointed that some posters failed to bring up that Mario games usually mean quality. Granted, there has been some stinkers (I wasn't bothered by Sunshine that much), Mario games are the shit.

They are easy to play, colorful, and are so addictive that they really don't need a storyline for you to play the game. The games themselves also appeal to "hardcore" gamers as well because "easy to play" isn't the same as "easy." If you think Super Mario Galaxy 2 is easy, never got frustrated with Peach and her item use, and never went "WHAT THE FUCK! NO!" when the AI knocked you into next week in Smash Bros from out of no where, you are not human.

Plus, I think Mario's main appeal is that he is a happy guy who does what is right. There's no "mystique" about the guy. There's no gloom and doom with him. He is just a fat bastard that wants whatever Peach is cooking for him. haha

 

[Cocaine]

It's a big series no doubt--however I think the series in general has waned quite a bit in recent times. I'd argue Pokemon is bigger right now because I feel like they've stayed current throughout generations. There is no debating however that the Mario franchise is one of the biggest of all times, though.

 

[excel_excel]

Yeah I think the reason that Mario is the biggest ever because its evolved into a brand. That said the reason that it was able to do so is because of just how rock solid the quality of his varying ranges of titles has been.

Also a great quality that Eboney mentioned is that Mario is a simple design. He's a chubby italian plumber who's cheery and sweet. There was never any attempt to make Mario 'hip' or update his design. He's timeless.

 

[Johnny Scumm]

Oh how I love Mario.

From his old games, to Gameboy games, to DS games, to the Wii ones that I haven't played, this mustachioed plumber is the most popular & famous name in Gaming History.

Granted, I prefer Luigi more, but still... Mario is just great. I love every minute that I play a game that he's in. One of my favourites being Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. It's not perfect, but it's different to many of the Mario games there are.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Granted, I prefer Luigi more, but still... Mario is just great.

Man...it is ALL about Wario!

I crack up every time I see that guy, he just looks so funny. The laugh is great and I love his bit on Mario Cart Wii where goes

"IIII'M-A-GONNA WIIIIIIN!!!"

Wario rules

 

[Trill Co$by]

The only video game character that would have a legit argument to that claim is Sonic, but seeing as Sonic has recently been put into a lot of the Mario games, I don't think there's any question that Mario is definitely on top.

Master Chief, Solid Snake, and Link wish that they could be as popular as Mario, but the fact is, Mario is the game. No matter the year, no matter the system, no matter the generation... Mario will always be around. Not just because he's owned by nintendo, but because he IS video gaming. If you haven't seen a Mario in the video game stores where you are, then you're obviously living in a ghost town.

Mario is without a doubt a game character that can carry a console on his back... Hell, he IS the game character that did that for five generations of consoles and hand held gaming. The guy's just so marketable and so easy for families to love that he just clicks. AND the games that come out are always easy to play yet challenging at the same time.