10 Most Epic Moments In Super Mario History

Bowser Jr was first introduced to Mario fans in 2002's Super Mario Sunshine, and immediately became one of the most interesting characters with his small size, troublesome persona and the surprisingly deep storyline about who his real mother was.

There hadn't been a major 2D platforming Mario title in the franchise since Super Mario World in the early 1990s when Nintendo announced the release of New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS in 2006. The hot property in the gaming world at the time, players around the world flocked to their local stores and bought the game by the millions, making it one of the most hyped and sold titles in Mario history at that point.

The opening cutscene played as usual, however things immediately stood out when it was the little runt Bowser Jr that was shown kidnapping Princess Peach, not his Koopa King dad as he had done in games of old. Not only did this immediately help this new title stand out from any main 2D Mario game in the series prior, but it introduced the idea of Bowser Jr being a real piece of work behind the scenes.

It also helped to lay the foundations for the return of the Koopalings who, along with Bowser Jr, have become the go-to villains for most 2D Mario adventures since this one defining moment.