Rediscovering Mario's Hidden Gems
While The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continues to shatter box office records, Nintendo's legendary plumber has enjoyed a remarkable 45-year career filled with iconic titles. From the groundbreaking Donkey Kong to the recent Super Mario Bros Wonder and chaotic Mario Kart World, Mario has cemented his status as a pop culture phenomenon. Yet amidst these celebrated achievements lie numerous forgotten treasures that deserve recognition.
The Overlooked Odyssey Begins
Every storied entertainment career includes lesser-known works, and Mario's journey is no exception. Who recalls Hotel Mario, the door-shutting puzzle game for the ill-fated Philips CD-i console? Or Mario Teaches Typing, the 1992 educational PC game where players navigate the Mushroom Kingdom through proper keyboard input? Beyond these curiosities exist genuinely innovative games that have slipped through the cracks of gaming history.
Seven Forgotten Mario Masterpieces
Wrecking Crew (1984)
This early title, produced by GameBoy creator Gunpei Yokoi, temporarily transformed Mario and Luigi from plumbers to demolition experts. Players must strategically demolish 100 intricately designed buildings while avoiding enemies and unlocking bonuses through precise destruction sequences. The home console version featured an exceptional map editor for custom level creation, and the game remains accessible via Nintendo Classics service.
Super Mario Bros Special (1986)
Developed by Hudson Soft for Japanese PC-8800 computers, this title initially appeared as a Super Mario Bros remake but featured entirely different levels and additional elements including Donkey Kong's hammer and flight-enabling wing items. The platform's hardware limitations resulted in strikingly garish visuals and floaty physics, creating what feels like a surreal Mario hallucination experience.
Dr Mario 64 (2001)
While the original Dr Mario became a Tetris-inspired hit on NES and Game Boy, this Nintendo 64 update arrived near the console's lifecycle end and received limited attention. The game challenges players to eliminate viruses by strategically dropping dual-colored vitamin capsules, with the N64 version adding a demanding story mode and chaotic four-player competitive mode. Like its predecessors, it has found new life on Nintendo Classics.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
This third Super Mario role-playing adventure often gets overshadowed by its console-based predecessors Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario due to its Game Boy Advance release. The game deserves rediscovery for its innovative dual-control system where players simultaneously command both Mario brothers, complemented by imaginative, surreal landscapes and clever humor throughout the adventure.
Mario Slam Basketball (2006)
Mario's sole dedicated basketball title received mixed reviews upon its Nintendo DS debut, but this Square Enix-developed game deserves reevaluation. Players dribble across miniature courts, activate question blocks to multiply shot scores, consume mushrooms for speed boosts, and evade dreaded blue homing shells. The game essentially compresses every classic Mario mechanic into a compact sports simulation package.
Mario vs Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (2009)
This acclaimed Nintendo DSi puzzle platformer serves as a second follow-up to the overlooked Game Boy Advance title Mario vs Donkey Kong. Using stylus and touchscreen controls, players guide wind-up Mario toys through hazardous stages, tapping objects to create new pathways. The game essentially merges Mario with Lemmings-style gameplay, though its availability was limited to the now-defunct DSiWare and 3DS eShop services.
Super Mario 3D World (2013)
Despite the Wii-U's commercial struggles, the console hosted numerous exceptional Mario titles including this masterpiece. Super Mario 3D World unites Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach in exploring vibrant, imagination-filled realms packed with innovative gameplay concepts that creatively utilize the console's touchscreen display. The game's brilliance was ultimately recognized through an enhanced Switch version featuring the additional Bowser's Fury mode, making it the essential experience from this collection of overlooked titles.
The Legacy of Lesser-Known Mario Adventures
These seven games represent just a fraction of Mario's extensive, often overlooked catalog. While blockbuster titles understandably dominate attention, these hidden gems demonstrate Nintendo's willingness to experiment with the Mario franchise across diverse genres and gameplay styles. Each title offers unique mechanics and creative approaches that contribute to the rich tapestry of Mario's enduring legacy in video game history.
