Right from its inception, pipes have been integral elements within the Super Mario universe. Characters like Mario and Luigi utilize them as means of transportation, yet they can also be sources of peril, summoning formidable adversaries for our heroic plumbers to confront. Over time, pipes have become synonymous with the series, but it was a phase where the franchise’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, was still refining its fundamental mechanics. A translation by Shmuplations of an interview conducted in 2000 sheds light on this period. During that interview, Miyamoto disclosed that while developing the Mario Bros. arcade game, he had to devise a method for enemies to transition from the lower screen to the upper one.
Because the design of the screens made it so that enemies moving towards the bottom needed to re-emerge at the top, we brainstormed, ‘Alright, we require a route or some method for them to return upward.’ One day, while strolling through the streets of Kyoto, I spotted a protruding plastic pipe coming out of a wall.
The pivotal meeting significantly shifted the direction of the Mario series. This game’s subterranean setting transformed Mario into a plumber, a role not evident in his portrayal in 1981’s Donkey Kong. In an interview, Miyamoto mentioned that the choice to position the game in a location reminiscent of New York was due to the creation of enemies such as turtles, crabs, and flies. These adversaries seemed fitting for underground environments since they would often be found in tunnels. Miyamoto commented, “I thought there must be vast underground tunnels somewhere… something like beneath New York.
As the Mario franchise expanded, pipes were creatively transformed across different versions. Two years following the arcade game’s release, when Super Mario Bros. debuted, not only did enemies emerge from these pipes, but they also served as means of transportation for Mario and Luigi to various locations and even different worlds. Throughout the decades, as Mario has continuously evolved, pipes have persisted as a significant gameplay element and symbol of the series. Remarkably, you still need to step into one when visiting Super Nintendo World theme parks!
Today, the initial arcade version of “Mario Bros” feels somewhat outdated compared to games like “Super Mario Bros” or many other titles within the franchise. However, despite its age, the game retains some appeal and it’s fair to say that the series wouldn’t be as successful without it. For those who haven’t played it yet, it’s a great opportunity to experience it on Nintendo Switch through the Arcade Archives series or by playing the NES version via Nintendo Switch Online. While it may not be the best Mario game, playing it provides insight into how the series evolved into its current form!
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2025-01-12 21:39