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News 
Mario Spin-Offs
- Posted By Eric
Tajchman, 08.21.2002
Mario just hasn’t been an all-adventure type of guy. He likes to explore all types of games and activities, ranging from putting on the greens to practicing pharmacology in his private lab deep within the bowels of Princess Toadstool’s castle, and he even finds time to make an appearance in a fellow Nintendo character’s game. However, the one thing I have yet to see the plumber do is plumbing. Interesting . . .
Dr. Mario:
The puzzle spin-off of Mario, it featured Mario as a doctor trying to exterminate goofy viri using different combinations of pills. As with many puzzle games, it was a enhancement of the general Tetris concept. Two-segmented pills would fall into a jar and Mario would have to maneuver the pills into the appropriate position. When the color-coded virus was linearly surrounded by two pill segments of the same color, the virus would be exterminated. Once you have defeated all of the viri in each bottle, you moved on to the next level, where each progressive bottle gets more difficult.
Mario Kart:
First appearing on the SNES, then returning as Mario Kart 64 on the N64, Mario Kart was a different, fast-paced kart racer. Players from the Mario universe could compete against each other in single race or grand prix, using special items to gain extra speed, cause their opponents to spin out, shrink, or fly off the track, and even steal other racer’s items and turn invisible. Players could also duke itout against each other in Battle Mode
Mario Tennis:
First, Mario was the official in many tennis matches in Tennis for the Game Boy. Now, he’s ready to do his own fuzzy ball-whacking in Mario Tennis. Basically, it’s tennis with Mario’s zany edge to it, giving it a more action-packed tennis game than a simulation. Mario could face off in singles or doubles matches against anyone in the Mario universe, such as Luigi, Princess Toadstool, Daisy, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Wario, and Waluigi. Players could perform blazing returns, hardcore slams, and outrageous serves in order to beat your opponent and win the match.
Mario Golf:
When not rescuing the Princess or beating up Bowser, Mario likes to go out on the links with them. In Mario Golf, the characters from the Mario Universe and some new, normal-looking human players tee off in an accurate by addictive Mario-themed golf game. Just like the real game, gamers will play 18 holes of a course to determine who can complete the course with the fewest number of strokes. You can also enter into a tournament and try to achieve top-seed status by playing against many players and trying to come out on top and advance in rank.
Mario Party:
 
The original and still supreme party games out there, and one of the most popular multiplayer games ever, Mario Party already has three installments on the N64, with a fourth coming out for the GameCube early 2003. Mario Party pits up to four players against each other on a board game where players can obtain coins through mini-games to buy stars. But beware for challenges as they might give asome of your hard-earned stash to someone else, and Bowser will try to sell you bogus Stars and steal you stuff. Whoever has the most Stars at the end of a certain time, or whoever meets the Star quota is the winner.
Other Mario Games:
 
[LEFT- Mario’s Time Machine] – [RIGHT – Super Smash Brothers: Melee]
There are many other titles out there where Mario has shed his adventuring persona for a more enlightened approach to gaming. Mario is Missing and Mario’s Time Machine for the SNES were “edutainment” titles designed to teach gamers about history and other such subjects while providing a wholesome and enjoyable gaming experience. Mario has also been called upon to teach typing to kids and adults unfamiliar with the workings of a QWERTY keyboard with Mario Teaches Typing for the PC. He’s even starred in his own graphics program called Mario Paint for the SNES. The title, which came bundled with a mouse and pad, allowed you to draw, make music, and even play some hidden games.
Mario Cameos:
 
[LEFT – Donkey Kong Country 2] – [RIGHT – Pilotwings 64]
Being the star jewel of Nintendo means public appearances and Mario is, by far, the most alluded to game character ever. Mario has appeared in both Super Smash Brothers and Super Smash Brothers: Melee, serving as one of the numerous Nintendo-based fighters. He’s been spotted with his friends watching a nice bout of boxing in Punch-Out!! And can even be seen in the NES classic Tetris to give you congratulations after passing a level. There’s also many pictures of him in other, unrelated games, such as many of the Legend of Zelda titles, Banjo-Kazooie, and he’s even got a mountain sculpture in his likeness in Pilotwings 64.
Pictures courtesy of The Mushroom Kingdom.
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