The Top 5 Mario Games

Written by Erik Kubik, kube00 Saturday, 28 January 2012 07:10

marioall Mario has made over 250 appearances in variety of games. From role-playing, to racing, to learning, Mario has done it all. Game Informer recently put up a list of the top 10 Mario games which only covered his platforming games. Let’s see if I can narrow it down to the top 5 Mario games.

5: Super Mario Galaxy-Once again the Nintendo raises the bar with another Mario game, this time on the Wii. Gamers have seen 3D, and we’ve seen the 2D redone. Nintendo wants to know, can we take this to another level? Let’s put Mario in space and what can I say? Exploring the stars as Mario is a blast. There are new gaming elements and directions while the boss fights still have the classic. The game was a hit and gamers received Super Mario Galaxy 2. This was the first time more then one Mario adventure game had appeared on the same console since the original Nintendo.

mario3 4: Super Mario Bros 3- Although gamers were introduced to the lovable plumber in the original Super Mario Bros. The third game is still one of the best Mario games today. Not only was the game bigger with multiple levels spanning multiple maps, the added items and secrets would keep gamers wanting more. For me it was one of the first games I used a Game Genie on. Overall Super Mario Bros 3 was the most successful game for Nintendo to date, selling over 18 million copies. The third game left the legacy of taking risks and trying new things.

3: Mario Kart 64/Super Mario 64-Alright so I lied, picking a top 5 is tough. These two meet at a tie. Super Mario 64 took the plumber and shoved him into a 3D world. Although there wasn’t any Yoshi or Luigi, there was flying through clouds and invisible caps. It’s a great game that is still worth playing today.

Mario Kart 64, what a great game, I remember wasting hours of my life with my buddies racing and playing battle mode. Although Mario Kart on the SNES was a great game, Mario Kart 64 combines the perfect elements of racing, item usage and quirky characters to make this game one to remember. This is one of the most have games on the N64. Both games helped to further popularize the N64 to the masses.

supermariorpg 2: Super Mario RPG-Although this game was made by Square its still an instant classic that has yet to be replicated. Gamers have seen and played Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga but Super Mario RPG is a true role-playing game. The game was a blast. I still can’t get over playing as Bowser and Mario together. At the time the game reminded me of Chrono Trigger with a mix of Mario platforming. The game is long and quite different from other Mario games. I don’t think I’ve ever finished it. Its also one of the most highly sought after and valuable Mario games. Even today gamers cannot go wrong with playing this game.

1. Super Mario World for the SNES. Super Mario World is easily the best Mario game, even today. Although Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64 were fun but it was Super Mario World that revitalized the series for gamers. There was a lot of uncertainty for gamers from Super Mario 3, where would Nintendo take the series on the SNES? Enter Super Mario World which introduced the lovable green Yoshi as a steed. Who can forget the cape and attempting to fly in the bonus levels? Gamers could either take their time in Super Mario World or they could zip through it. The over world map, the secrets, and level design make this a great game. Gamers cannot go wrong playing the original or the remake on the Gameboy Advance. The game sold over 20 million copies and helped make the SNES a mainstream console.

Honorable mentions include New Super Mario Brothers for Wii, Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga, Paper Mario, Mario Kart Double Dash, and a few others. Here’s to Mario and the great games he’s been in.