“It’s-a Me! How Mario Represents Us All”

image credit Supper Broth:

It’s-A Me… Mario?

It was during a soccer game when I realized Mario had ruined any chance I ever had of a sports career. I was a midfielder, meaning I wasn’t very good at shooting or defending, but I was pretty good at running the ball between those who were. The game was going fine. I had put in the same amount of effort as I normally did, and we were ahead. But I noticed my coach was watching me differently.

After the game, we had a team meeting. Coach said, “Langer, what were you doing out there today?” I was dumbfounded.

“What do you mean?” I asked. “We won, and I did my job, right?”

“Yeah, but why the heck are you out there running like this?!” He then demonstrated how I apparently had been running, teetering over and my arms waving horizontally instead of close by my side. “Lookin’ like a toddler learning to walk!”

My teammates snickered. Those closest to me, however, knew. They spoke up and said, “He’s not running like a toddler. He’s running like Mario!”

Ugh. They were right. I had just received Mario 64 for my birthday and, after hours and hours of playing, I was emulating the cartoonish way Mario moved in that game. To this day, I’m mortified I had somehow subconsciously adopted his movements! My own embarrassment aside, the point stands that there’s always been a part of me that wanted to be like Mario.

Actual Image of Me in a Soccer Game

The Most Recognizable Video Game Character of All Time

Inarguably, Mario is the most recognizable video game character of all time. Sure, the hardcore may prefer other games and characters over Mario, but many gamers will admit respect for the Mario franchise—even if they don’t often play the games themselves. Even beyond the traditional gaming space, people know Mario. They know him as synonymous with video games. And almost everyone has a story or memory about him (like this article from earlier this week).

Why do so many people remember Mario? Simple. Because Mario is for everyone.

No matter who you are, your background, or even your interest level in video games, the Mario universe is for you. He represents you, despite the fact you may not be an Italian plumber from Brooklyn. Or that you’ve never thrown banana peels out your car window. Or that your vertical leap looks more like a hiccup.

We at The Pixels asked our readers what Mario represented to them this week. Several people responded with their heartfelt stories connecting them to the series. Responses ranged from how Mario brought families together, strengthening sibling relationships and creating beautiful memories between parents and kids, to how Mario made players feel seen when they ordinarily felt overlooked.

A Patron Saint?

From the responses, a common theme kept emerging. People would share stories about how they connected personally with the character of Mario, or characters in the universe (like Peach, above). This is particularly important, I think. Mario isn’t the most athletic-looking character. He’s an unlikely hero.

These two responses struck me because they’re so true! Mario is utterly unremarkable, making him utterly approachable. In nearly every medium, we see peak humanity with chiseled abs and superhuman strength win the day. But with Mario, we have a portly plumber with overalls and a ballcap topple obstacles to become a hero. This is important.

The reality is, most of us aren’t spectacular superheroes. Despite our best efforts, most of us are “Average Joes.” And Mario is the patron saint of “Average Joes.”

This is why I think Mario appeals to us all. Sure, he represents our highest ideals and hopes of being a hero, but he seems more attainable to us than most others. Mario is driven by a love for his brother, his princess, and a community he grows to love. Mario represents our highest ideals and hopes of who we are and what we can be. He reminds us that some things (like family and community) are worth fighting for and that even when our princesses are in other castles, we change direction, but never give up.

I’ll never have the opportunity to save the world, perhaps. But I do have this innate desire to do things that matter, and make a difference. And like Mario, I do have opportunities to care for people I love and to better my community. I may never be super, but I can be Mario. It’s-a me? It’s a you!

This time, I’ll just be sure to keep my arms down.

Editor-in-Chief of The Pixels, Wade (aka ProfNoctis) teaches and plays video games at the University of Alabama. His dissertation combined Judeo-Christian kingship and Final Fantasy XV. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch.