10 Hidden Meanings Behind Iconic Video Game Characters
7. Yoshi Is As Close As Mario Will Get To A Horse
This green dinosaur is a crucial part of the Nintendo brand and was a great companion in Super Mario World. However, just like Mario, there is a secret hidden within his design, as the character has a link towards something the legendary creator Shigeru Miyamoto was desperate to put in the games.
In an interview with the Super Mario World developers, Takashi Tezuka - one of the lead designers - talked about how Miyamoto wanted Mario to ride a horse.
Apparently, Miyamoto really liked horses and had plenty of drawings of Mario riding one. So, in order to bring this to the games, he decided to create a character that Mario could ride, and to match the dinosaur theme of the game, he decided to make them reptilian.
Yoshi also bears a resemblance to Tamagon, the leading figure of Devil World. This game was a Pac-Man clone created by Miyamoto and Tezuka, and the leading green dragon clearly became an influence when it came to designing Mario's green buddy.
He may not have ended up being a horse, but Miyamoto certainly got what he wanted, as Mario now had an iconic friend to ride atop.