Summary
As should be expected given theMarioseries' more than 35 years in the video game industry, the adventures of the Italian plumbers and their friends have gone through some dramatic aesthetic changes throughout the years.
From being crafted from paper and yarn to pencil sketches, theMariofranchise’s timeline of titles ranges from a clean-cut 2D style to off-the-wall wackiness. The following examples are some of the best of the bunch.
While the glossy polish ofNintendo’s 2.5DMariosidescroller reboot serieswas a staple of the platforming plumber’s aesthetic for nearly 20 years, its iterative look seemingly grew tiring to many fans. From its 2006 introduction inNew Super Mario Bros.on the Nintendo DS, culminating in the Switch’s 2019 port ofNew Super Mario Bros. U, this aesthetic definedMariogames throughout the start of the 21st century.
The dancing flowers and bebopping Koopa Troopas of theNew Super Mario Bros.subseries arguably have a lighthearted charm that can be appreciated in retrospect. However, the dilution of Nintendo’s platforming library - from mobile titles to handheld and console installments - with this art style does rub away some of its sheen in a contemporary setting.
It is safe to say that Mario and Luigi’s fraternal relationship was always a solid, yet humorous foundation on which titles such asLuigi’s MansionandMario Is Missingcould be built. However, until the 2003 release ofMario & Luigi: Superstar Sagaby AlphaDream, the platforming plumbers' sibling synchronicity had arguably not been truly seen by players.
Witha 20-year lineage of titles in this subseries' rear mirror, the wacky, cartoonish squash and stretch of Mario and Luigi’s proportions - along with the bizarrely framed plots the duo constantly find themselves wrapped up in - have proven to be a fan favorite in theMariofranchise. Mostly bolstering Mario’s gung-ho attitude and Luigi’s sensitive nature, theMario and Luigiseries of titles provide a shockingly introspective look at Nintendo’s original pair of platformers.
Although mostMariotitles not only include the titular character but hold him in high esteem as a powerful protagonist, theYoshi’s Islandsubseries is a no-holds-barred slight of the original Mario brother. Depicted in a uniquely hand-drawn aesthetic from its original title, Yoshi the dinosaur is tasked with returning his wailing infant friend to safety.
Originally positioned as a pseudo-sequel to 1990’sSuper Mario World, the subseries that began withSuper Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Islandhas since gone on to appear on a swathe of Nintendo platforms. Ranging from a touch-based arcade-style handheld title to a revitalized platformer displayed in glasses-free 3D, theYoshi’s Islandsubseries has beenadapted into a plethora of titles. However, one thing that has stayed somewhat consistent is its hand-drawn aesthetic.
Compared to the softer, family-friendly aesthetic of many series in theMariofranchise, theMario Strikerssoccer titles seemingly make a concentrated effort to channel the rough, jagged art style of its cyberpunk-inspired sports interpretation.
First introduced to players in 2005, its boots-on-the-ground arcade gameplay is supplemented by fluid cinematics and bombastic Hyper Strikes. As such, through its aesthetic, theMario Strikerssubseries arguably channels explosive illustrations and rugged sports gear in a way that seems antithetical to theMariofranchise’s ethos. However, after nearly 20 years, the high-octane action of the subseries is a prominent presence intheMariosports sceneand fans are seemingly just as enthralled by its design.
While less of an art style and more of an aesthetic limitation of hardware,theMariofranchise’s roots in pixel art platformershave informed many of its design elements to this day. However, even with the revolutionary 8 and 16-bit art styles ofSuper Mario Bros. 3andSuper Mario World, its legacy can still be felt in modern titles that use its pixel-perfect depictions of characters as integral elements of its design or nostalgic throwbacks.
Although many elements of its art style were born from its native hardware’s limitations, theMariofranchise’s platforming titles still remain arguably some of the most intricate examples of pixel sprite work of the era. Beyond that, through time-limited installments such asSuper Mario 35and legacy nods inSuper Mario OdysseyandMario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the clean lines and defined silhouettes of Mario’s retro past continue to define and influence the platforming plumber’s aesthetic moving forward.
WithSuper Mario Bros. Wonder’s 2023 release, Nintendo arguably made a conscious decision to intensely reinvigorate the Mario franchise’s platforming art style.
Diverting from the clean-cut aesthetic that had seemingly worked for them sinceNew Super Mario Bros.' release in 2006,Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s highly saturated, claymation-esque animation set the 2D platformer apart almost instantly. Coinciding with Charles Martinet’s bittersweet sunsetting ofhis role as Mario’s voiceafter more than 30 years,Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s wackiness in design and aesthetic seemingly heralded a new dawn for theMariofranchise’s 2D platforming entries.
While seemingly initially brought into being withthe 1997 release ofYoshi’s Story, which included many of the pop-up book aesthetic elements now synonymous with theMariofranchise’s crafted style, this hand-made art style arguably came into full being with 2015’sYoshi’s Woolly World.
Regardless of its roots, the hand-crafted appearance of further titles such asYoshi’s Crafted Worldhas cemented itself as an art style that is synonymous with Yoshi’s 2.5D platforming adventures. Furthermore, its incorporation into Nintendo’s products such as Amiibo clearly shows a drive to bolster this seemingly beloved crochet-esque art style.
Although theMariofranchise has had extensive critical and commercial success in both 2D and 3D spaces, there is seemingly only oneMarioseries that has taken its move to a 2D plane as literally asPaper Mario. Initially appearing on the Nintendo 64 in 2001, before becoming a staple Nintendo RPG franchise with successful titles such asPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year DoorandPaper Mario: The Origami King, the foldable aesthetic of the series has been a critical component of its games since the first.
Incorporated into the world-building, narrative, and gameplay of the series far beyond a simple aesthetic, the paper ofPaper Mariois indicative of Nintendo’s seeming creativity and fluidity concerning this series' titles. Bolstered by a continued lineup of much-loved titles, alongside an art style thatcontinues to innovate and impress nearly 25 years on, thePaper Mariosubseries isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
