10 Video Game Plot Points Everybody Gets Wrong

1. Mario Isn't From Earth - Super Mario Bros.

SUPER MARIO 3
Nintendo

In 1982, Nintendo's moustachioed mascot, Super Mario debuted in Donkey Kong. When he appeared in Super Mario Bros. three years later, he became an icon almost overnight. Decades later, the pasta-loving, princess-saving, goomba-stomping, impossibly acrobatic hero has never been more popular.

But despite appearing in over 200 games, we know next-to-nothing about Mario.

According to the common consensus, Mario is an Italian plumber from Brooklyn who fell into a pipe, which transported him to The Mushroom Kingdom. Because this origin story was followed in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, the Super Mario Bros. film, and the recent Super Mario Bros. Movie, you'd assume it's canon.

However, it's established in Yoshi's Island that Mario was born in The Mushroom Kingdom (although it's never explained how his parents got there). Just in case you thought Mario's past have been retconned since, Yoshi's New Island and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time have reaffirmed his backstory too.

Now, there's no mistake Mario has been to Earth. (How else could he pop up in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out?) Nevertheless, Mario's homeworld has and always will be The Mushroom Kingdom.

Watch Next


Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows