A Super Mario variety blog.
Screenshots, photos, sprites, gifs, scans and more from all around the world of Super Mario Bros.
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Early concept art for Princess Toadstool for the Super Mario Bros. Super Show cartoon series, likely inspired by classic Disney princess designs.
Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source: max6464646464
A commonly known glitch in Super Mario Sunshine is the “invisible barrel”, whereby leaving the Gooper Blooper battle in Episode 1 of Ricco Harbor and returning to the start of the level will reveal that there is seemingly an invisible barrel Mario can stand on, but not actually pick up.
While this has been known since shortly after the game’s release, it was only relatively recently that it was discovered what exactly is happening to cause this effect. The barrel is not actually “invisible”, but rather its top collision is detached from the actual barrel.
During the scene design process, the barrel was placed slightly below the ground instead of on the ground. Whenever barrels spawn, they snap to the ground below them, which caused this barrel to snap to the death barrier below the stage since it was already slightly below the ground it was supposed to be placed on.
However, another oddity of barrels is that whenever they move out of bounds, their top collision does not update. As such, the barrel loads in, puts its top collision where it should be (slightly above the ground), then snaps out of bounds to the death barrier and leaves the collision behind. This all comes together to create the “invisible barrel” effect.
Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source: AngryMax
It is possible that Peach’s horn in Mario Kart 8/Deluxe is a reference to the first four notes of the main melody of the Peach Gardens track from Mario Kart DS (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass version used in the post, but the original track has the same notes).
Even if the reference is not intentional (since Peach Gardens was not part of Mario Kart 8 originally), the coincidence of a Peach-themed track starting off with a similar 4-note progression is slightly notable.
Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source
Cover of a 1988 issue of the Japanese Famicom Hisshoubon magazine, featuring original pixel art of Super Mario Bros. 3.
Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source: VGArtAndTidbits
Full 1991 Japanese commercial for Kirin Lemon soda, featuring a Super Mario World cross-promotion. Note how despite creating a variety of Super Mario World-inspired scenes with drawings and claymation, no assets from the game were used, and the level layouts are original designs as well.
Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Small Findings | Source: JohnAndersen21
Poster with a stylized Mario scene, included with a 2006 issue of Nintendo Power (please zoom in to view details). This poster was designed by artist Gabe Swarr, known for artwork showcased at the iam8bit video game art exhibition.
Main Blog | Patreon | Twitter | Bluesky | Source: NP (US), Issue 204, 2006