7 Video Game Heroes Who Broke Their "No Killing" Rule

5. Mario - Super Mario Bros.

You wouldn't think Super Mario was a mass murderer, but here we are.

See, to clarify just how someone as innocent as the portly plumber ends up contributing more bloodshed than Bowser and his army of Koopas, we need to look back at the instruction book, included with the NES original Super Mario.

Here, a choice excerpt highlights something horrifying about the various blocks Mario has been shattering into oblivion.

And I quote:

"One day the kingdom of the peaceful mushroom people was invaded by the Koopa, a tribe of turtles famous for their black magic. The quiet, peace-loving Mushroom People were turned into mere stones, bricks and even field horse-hair plants, and the Mushroom Kingdom fell into ruin."

The Mushroom Kingdom's denizens all being turned into stones and bricks brings about one hell of a switcheroo on the playful nature of Mario.

Which is to say: He - and by proxy, you - have been leaping about the place, shattering innocent people into handfuls of pieces.

Even after Mario defeats Bowser and reclaims the land, it's no wonder all that's left is a handful of Toads.

Princess Peach is forever "in another castle" just to stay alive.