History YMMV / SuperMarioBros

** Princess Peach is probably the most famous female character in all of video gaming. She proved to be popular enough to get quickly PromotedToPlayable in the American ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' and later on receive her own spin-off game: ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach''. The game was well received, though criticized for using the HystericalWoman trope as the main gameplay mechanic. In any cases, she never missed a single spin-off multiplayer game[[note]]except for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros64'', which isn't even technically a ''Mario'' game[[/note]] and proved to be quite the ActionGirl in some of them, ([[https://youtu.be/zip4qJqhpzQ?t=11s especially]] in the ''VideoGame/MarioStrikers'' series).

** Whether Bowser Jr. is a [[ChildProdigy mechanical genius that builds his own machines]] or simply a [[SpoiledBrat spoiled rich kid who gets his father to buy them for him]]. Nothing in the main series suggests one possibility is any more likely than the other, and the spin-offs give conflicting opinions: in ''Fortune Street'', it's implied that Junior at the very least ''designs'' some of his own mechs, while in ''Super Smash Bros.'' it's implied that the Junior Clown Car, at least, was indeed a gift from his father. In ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsKingdomBattle'', the Mecha Jr. boss is described as "Jr's. Fave B-Day Gift!" through BossSubtitles, but it's possible Jr. makes most himself and got the Mecha as a special present. It's also unclear whether he does any repairs on his machines himself -- ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' seems to hint that he is indeed capable of doing his own patch-work repairs, while ''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team'' hints that he has a group of Monty Moles responsible for repairing the Junior Clown Car, only for ''VideoGame/BowserJrsJourney'' to imply that he's also capable of modifying his machines himself [[note]]as he manages to turn Iggy's faceless Clown Car into a Junior Clown Car[[/note]]. Then again, it could also be argued that [[TakeAThirdOption neither possibility is mutually exclusive with the other]].

** Whether Bowser Jr. is a [[ChildProdigy mechanical genius that builds his own machines]] or simply a [[SpoiledBrat spoiled rich kid who gets his father to buy them for him]]. Nothing in the main series suggests one possibility is any more likely than the other, and the spin-offs give conflicting opinions: in ''Fortune Street'', it's implied that Junior at the very least ''designs'' some of his own mechs, while in ''Super Smash Bros.'' it's implied that the Junior Clown Car, at least, was indeed a gift from his father. In ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsKingdomBattle'', the Mecha Jr. boss is described as "Jr's. Fave B-Day Gift!" through BossSubtitles, but it's possible Jr. makes most himself and got the Mecha as a special present. It's also unclear whether he does any repairs on his machines himself -- ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' seems to hint that he is indeed capable of doing his own patch-work repairs, while ''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team'' hints that he has a group of Monty Moles responsible for repairing the Junior Clown Car, only for ''VideoGame/BowserJrsJourney'' to imply that he's also capable of modifying his machines himself [[note]]as he manages to turn Iggy's faceless Clown Car into a Junior Clown Car[[/note]].

** Despite (or perhaps because of) their historic FandomRivalry, The ''Mario'' fandom and the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fandom has ironically become one for the same reasons as ''Pokemon''. Two GatewaySeries starring very recognizable and cartoony mascots hailing from colorful universes. Unlike ''Pokemon'' however, the two franchises have had actual crossover. A whole [[VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames spinoff franchise]] no less. The difference being that there hasn't been a proper PlatformGame crossover yet, which many people really look forward to. In the mean time, they just enjoy the Olympic Games, the numerous crossover Fanworks and Mods, and Sonic being a beloved guest star in Super Smash Bros. One of the biggest signs of the two franchises' friendly rivalry is the shared positive response to the modern 2D entries ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'', both of which were announced around the same time and were released within three days of each other. Both games are looking to be a very nice return to form after past [[BrokenBase controversial]] 2D game entries (''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'' and ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' respectively) with very beautiful and expressive animation and art-styles while also having completely new and unique looking environments and areas and multiple different playable characters (with Amy and Daisy being the biggest surprises).

* AmericansHateTingle: In post-Soviet states, minus the Baltics and Russia, Mario games are much less popular than franchises such as ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'', ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'', ''Franchise/MegaMan'', and numerous [[Creator/SonyInteractiveEntertainment Sony]] games. This is because, before 2010, Nintendo didn't have an official presence there, and the NES was represented as Famiclones with a gray elephant as its mascot. ''Mario'' games were placed in infamous multi-game cartridges, and children preferred action games from Capcom, Konami, Tecmo, and other third-party companies. The SNES and Game Boy failed tremendously, despite loud marketing campaigns. In following years, [[UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole PCs]] dominated the gaming industry; thus post-Soviet children of the 90s and 2000s preferred DarkerAndEdgier games and Disney-based games, due to their availability on [[UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole PCs]].

* FandomRivalry: Most famously with the ''[[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]'' franchise during the 90s UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars, it dissipated once Sega stopped making consoles. Now, since the two franchises have crossed over on many occasions since then, they have become FriendlyFandoms at most now.

** While debates rage on in some parts of the fandom, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'', and— most recently— ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'' are treated as this by the fandom and regarded as some of the finest platformers ever made.

** Despite (or perhaps because of) their historic FandomRivalry, The ''Mario'' fandom and the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fandom has ironically become one for the same reasons as ''Pokemon''. Two GatewaySeries starring very recognizable and cartoony mascots hailing from colorful universes. Unlike ''Pokemon'' however, the two franchises have had actual crossover. A whole [[VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames spinoff franchise]] no less. The difference being that there hasn't been a proper PlatformGame crossover yet, which many people really look forward to. In the mean time, they just enjoy the Olympic Games, the numerous crossover Fanworks and Mods, and Sonic being a beloved guest star in Super Smash Bros.
*** One of the biggest signs of the two franchises' friendly rivalry is the shared positive response to the modern 2D entries ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'', both of which were announced around the same time and were released within three days of each other. Both games are looking to be a very nice return to form after past [[BrokenBase controversial]] 2D game entries (''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'' and ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' respectively) with very beautiful and expressive animation and art-styles while also having completely new and unique looking environments and areas and multiple different playable characters (with Amy and Daisy being the biggest surprises).

** While debates rage on in some parts of the fandom, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' are treated as this by the fandom and regarded as some of the finest platformers ever made.

*** ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor The Thousand-Year Door]]'': [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen The Shadow Queen]] is an [[AncientEvil ancient demon]] who once decimated the town that would become Rogueport, reducing it to waste while spreading her evil worldwide. Unleashing her trio of dragon pets onto the world to end countless lives while using her Pit of 100 Trials to torture and kill anyone who defied her, the Shadow Queen was [[SealedEvilInACan sealed away]] by four heroes, but only after cursing each of them to be trapped and corrupted for centuries inside the black chests. Upon being revived by Sir Grodus, the Shadow Queen [[EvilIsNotAToy immediately repays Grodus by nearly killing him]], before [[DemonicPossession possessing]] Princess Peach and using her body in a new attempt to bring destruction onto the world and either turn Mario and his friends to her side, or kill them all.

*** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': [[spoiler:[[MonsterClown Dimentio]] masquerades as a humorous henchman under Count Bleck's employ, while [[TheManInFrontOfTheMan secretly harboring more sinister designs]]. Dimentio [[TheChessmaster manipulates every faction towards his ultimate goal]] to use the Chaos Heart to obliterate reality so that he could create a new one [[InTheirOwnImage under his control]]. To this end, Dimentio brainwashes Fracktail and sends him out to be killed by Mario; experiments on his own subordinates with the brain-jacking Floro Sprouts; seemingly murders Mario and his friends by sending them to the Underwhere; and secretly implants a Floro Sprout within Luigi's mind to revert him back to Mr. L. After Count Bleck is defeated, Dimentio attempts to kill him, seemingly murdering Nastasia in the process. Dimentio seizes Luigi as his host in the final battle and, after his defeat, uses the Chaos Heart to [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum try to destroy reality]] as an act of spite.]]

*** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': [[MonsterClown Dimentio]] masquerades as a humorous henchman under Count Bleck's employ, while [[TheManInFrontOfTheMan secretly harboring more sinister designs]]. Dimentio [[TheChessmaster manipulates every faction towards his ultimate goal]] to use the Chaos Heart to obliterate reality so that he could create a new one [[InTheirOwnImage under his control]]. To this end, Dimentio brainwashes Fracktail and sends him out to be killed by Mario; experiments on his own subordinates with the brain-jacking Floro Sprouts; seemingly murders Mario and his friends by sending them to the Underwhere; and secretly implants a Floro Sprout within Luigi's mind to revert him back to Mr. L. After Count Bleck is defeated, Dimentio attempts to kill him, seemingly murdering Nastasia in the process. Dimentio seizes Luigi as his host in the final battle and, after his defeat, uses the Chaos Heart to [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum try to destroy reality]] as an act of spite.

** Initially debuting in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' and appearing in various spinoffs as a counterpart for Princess Peach, Princess Daisy's reputation was unremarkable for a long time. However, her image would crater in the mid and late 2000s thanks to a mix of her appearance in ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' (where her voice acting was considered grating and annoying, especially her infamous "Hi, I'm Daisy!", [[NeverLiveItDown which continues to haunt her to this day despite her not having said the line ever since]]) and her overshadowing by other fan-favorites, most noticeably Rosalina. However, in the late 2010s, she would gain an increasingly strong cult following thanks to her characterization as more assertive and tomboyish than [[DamselInDistress Peach]] (who herself was caught up in larger discourse over female representation in gaming), her MemeticLoser image endearing her to fans as an underdog, and her playable spots in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. Nowadays, while Daisy's reputation still isn't stellar, the biggest point against her is largely [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter that she could be used more effectively]], with her inclusion as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'' being recieved positively.

** Initially debuting in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' and appearing in various spinoffs as a counterpart for Princess Peach, Princess Daisy's reputation was unremarkable for a long time. However, her image would crater in the mid and late 2000s thanks to a mix of her appearance in ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' (where her voice acting was considered grating and annoying, especially her infamous "Hi, I'm Daisy!", [[NeverLiveItDown which continues to haunt her to this day despite her not having said the line ever since]]) and her overshadowing by other fan-favorites, most noticeably Rosalina. However, in the late 2010s, she would gain an increasingly strong cult following thanks to her characterization as more assertive and tomboyish than [[DamselInDistress Peach]] (who herself was caught up in larger discourse over female representation in gaming), her MemeticLoser image endearing her to fans as an underdog, and her playable spot in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun''. Nowadays, while Daisy's reputation is still divisive, even her detractors admit that Nintendo is [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter wasting her by not using her]], with her inclusion as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' and especially ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'' being recieved positively.

** Initially debuting in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' and appearing in various spinoffs as a counterpart for Princess Peach, Princess Daisy's reputation was unremarkable for a long time. However, her image would crater in the mid and late 2000s thanks to a mix of her appearance in ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' (where her voice acting was considered grating and annoying, especially her infamous "Hi, I'm Daisy!", [[NeverLiveItDown which continues to haunt her to this day despite her not having said the line ever since]]) and her overshadowing by other fan-favorites, most noticeably Rosalina. However, in the late 2010s, she would gain an increasingly strong cult following thanks to her characterization as more assertive and tomboyish than [[DamselInDistress Peach]] (who herself was caught up in larger discourse over female representation in gaming), her MemeticLoser image endearing her to fans as an underdog, and her playable spots in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. Nowadays, while Daisy's reputation is still divisive, even her detractors express a desire for her to get fleshed out more in a mainline ''Mario'' title, which also led to her inclusion as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder''.

*** There are several fans that tend to think that Mario's main motivation for going out on his many journeys is mostly not for Peach, [[IWasToldThereWouldBeCake but for the cake he was told that he'd be given]].

** JustForFun/Wapeach, a Wario-counterpart to Peach who was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally going to appear]] in ''VideoGame/MarioPowerTennis'', became extremely popular in late 2023 due to her cute appearance, yet [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon violent personality]]. Many fans are hoping that she'll be [[RefittedForSequel brought back in the future]].

* FoeYayShipping: Since Mario and Bowser are depicted as [[FriendlyEnemy friendly enemies]] when they [[GoKartingWithBowser play various sports together]], the two are a surprisingly popular ship, especially with the idea of [[JustForFun/{{Bowsette}} turning Bowser into a woman]].

** Most would be led to believe that Luigi's signature CowardlyLion personality got its start in the ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' series, or even in the cartoons if they're familiar with them, but what some might not know is that the earliest example of Luigi's cowardice comes from [[https://youtu.be/dduvx-dEySY this commercial]] for ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' for the UsefulNotes/Atari2600 and [[UsefulNotes/Atari5200 5200]]. In it, Luigi is shown running for his life while being bombarded by Shellcreepers, Sidesteppers, and Fighter Flies, before [[SayMyName calling out for Mario]] and hiding in a pipe while waving a WhiteFlag.

* OvershadowedByControversy: Not the games themselves, but the English localisation of ''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia'', a book that covers the franchise from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] to ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' on the UsefulNotes/WiiU and officially licensed by Creator/{{Nintendo}}, has become very difficult to recommend buying to fans after it was discovered that one translator on the localisation team [[UsefulNotes/{{Plagiarism}} plagiarised]] from the Super Mario Wiki and Mario Fandom when it came to the more obscure character names across the franchise instead of doing research and contacting Nintendo. Both Creator/DarkHorseComics and Nintendo were roundly criticised for proof-reading negligence, and Nintendo's notorious litigation against [[FanGame Fan Games]] also made them look like [[{{Hypocrite}} Hypocrites]]. The controversy only applies to the book's English localisation; Super Mario Wiki's Website/{{Twitter}} page confirmed that the German and French localisation teams were not guilty of plagiarism; the Spanish localisation wasn't subject to any sort of scandal either.

** There exists a chess board with ''Mario'' characters, with Mario's Heroes facing off against Bowser's Troop. It features [[IncestYayShipping Luigi as Mario's Queen, and Bowser Jr. as Bowser's Queen]]. [[QuestionsbleCasting Why they didn't get, say, Peach to be Mario's Queen is anyone's guess]], though it's likely that they wanted to use only ''Mario'' characters that would be as recognizable as possible and they only had so many recognizable ones to fit in all of the spaces.

** There exists a chess board with ''Mario'' characters, with Mario's Heroes facing off against Bowser's Troop. It features [[IncestYayShipping Luigi as Mario's Queen, and Bowser Jr. as Bowser's Queen]]. [[WTHCastingAgency Why they didn't get, say, Peach to be Mario's Queen is anyone's guess]], though it's likely that they wanted to use only ''Mario'' characters that would be as recognizable as possible and they only had so many recognizable ones to fit in all of the spaces.

** On the RPG side, ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'', though it is affected by HypeBacklash in some circles since most of its vindication was caused by backlash to ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar''.

** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'': [[TheGhostKing King Boo]], after his defeat by Luigi in the [[VideoGame/LuigisMansion1 first game]], throws away any redeeming qualities upon his return in ''Dark Moon''. Shattering the Dark Moon, he brainwashes every ghost in Evershade Valley and uses them on a campaign to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom and "paint the town red." King Boo abducts Mario himself and several Toads and [[PhantomZonePicture imprisons them within paintings]], and performs experiments on his own ghosts whereas he had previously been a PapaWolf to his minions. In his culmination of depravity, King Boo tears open a portal to the ghosts' homeworld and threatens to tear apart the fabric of the universe out of spite. In ''3'', he is set free by [[LoonyFan Hellen Gravely]], and together they gather Luigi and his friends in the Last Resort hotel in another attempt to trap them in paintings. King Boo eventually writes off Hellen and her staff as failures and attempts to absorb the entire hotel, ghosts and all, [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill just to capture Luigi]].

** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' ([[VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon second]] & [[VideoGame/LuigisMansion3 third]] games): [[TheGhostKing King Boo]], after his defeat by Luigi in the [[VideoGame/LuigisMansion1 first game]], throws away any redeeming qualities upon his return in ''Dark Moon''. Shattering the Dark Moon, he brainwashes every ghost in Evershade Valley and uses them on a campaign to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom and "paint the town red." King Boo abducts Mario himself and several Toads and [[PhantomZonePicture imprisons them within paintings]], and performs experiments on his own ghosts whereas he had previously been a PapaWolf to his minions. In his culmination of depravity, King Boo tears open a portal to the ghosts' homeworld and threatens to tear apart the fabric of the universe out of spite. In ''3'', he is set free by [[LoonyFan Hellen Gravely]], and together they gather Luigi and his friends in the Last Resort hotel in another attempt to trap them in paintings. King Boo eventually writes off Hellen and her staff as failures and attempts to absorb the entire hotel, ghosts and all, [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill just to capture Luigi]].

** "Hi, I'm Daisy!" is one of Daisy's quotes in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', which she says whenever you switch drivers or when she wins a race in first place, causing it to potentially become a bit repetitive. In spite of ''Double Dash'' being the only game in which she says the line in, pretty much everything regarding Daisy online will inevitably bring up the "Hi, I'm Daisy" quote as if it was her {{Catchphrase}} or the only thing she ever says. It doesn't help that while a lot of Mario fans don't play the spinoff games all that much, they ''do'' play ''Mario Kart'' games, and for many ''Double Dash'' was their first impression of Daisy.

* EvenBetterSequel: Often what fans think of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' compared to the original, as well as the common opinion on ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'', ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'', ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' when compared to their respective predecessors.

** King Boo, specifically his [[VideoGame/LuigisMansion Luigi's Mansion]] incarnation, is beloved for being the official ArchEnemy to Luigi, having a snarky yet manipulative personality, and for being a [[KnightOfCerebus surprisingly dark]] and [[VileVillainSaccharineShow serious antagonist in a rather lighearted franchise.]] His popularity most likely led to this design being included in [[VideoGame/MarioKart Mario Kart Tour]] along with his mainline design.

** Saying that Mario is a [[RonTheDeathEater sociopath]], or even implying such, is guaranteed to ''not'' end well for you. You ''might'' get away with it if you are just joking, but it is generally not advised.