Finally, after far too many delays and plenty of procrastination, we’re ready to announce the winners of our ThinkGeek Mario contest (where we asked you what your favorite game featuring Mario was). There were a lot great entries out of the 30-something that we received, and it certainly wasn’t easy to pick a winner. From the heartfelt nostalgic entries to the humorous ones to the lengthy essays, there was a lot of variety in not only the choices but the style.

Following are some of the best entries (in chronological order, and be warned, there is a lot of text), and if you can’t take the anticipation just scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post to see who won.

Dexter345

Mario Kart 64

When trying to decide what is the best game with Mario in it, I couldn’t decide if I would go with the game that is the most epic, or the funniest, or the hardest, or the most accessible, or just the one I spent the most time playing. I think with everything taken into account, the best game that Mario has been in is Mario Kart 64.

It is by far my favorite Mario Kart game, not only because it was almost perfect, but also because of nostalgia. Certainly, the newer games have improved on a lot of aspects of the series, but none have gotten the formula just right, and none have caused me to spend literally hundreds of hours playing them like Mario Kart 64 did.

I can recall playing for hours at a time, with three of my friends. I remember sniping people with red shells from atop Block Fort. I remember beating all of my older cousins and their friends at the game when I was only twelve and they were twenty. I remember playing a four play vs. race on Rainbow Road, and having all four of us take and hit the shortcut, all three laps.

I still play the game to this day. It is currently the only N64 game that I have downloaded on my Wii, and every now and then I’ll fire it up just to see if I still have the skills. They’re there, just buried a bit. Mario Kart 64 was great for its time, and it still holds up as a fun game to play today.

And in case you were wondering, I was debating between this and Super Mario RPG.

Geo

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Super Mario RPG and the Legend of the Seven Stars is the best game that has ever included Mario. It was a great opening-level RPG with a decent cast of characters, classic Mario characters and even Geno, the most underrated badass of gaming history. I mean, sure it introduced Mallow who was just a pansy little marshmallow guy, but frickin Geno man! He was all awesome! His hand was a *gun*! This was before Final Fantasy VII did it too! I mean HOW do you top that? I mean yea sure, it could’ve shot flying sharks with chainsaws, but that might have been overkill. Lets get off the subject of Genos awesome badassness for a minute though and remember its gameplay. It actually required you to PAY ATTENTION during combat, not doze off! It lets you do more damage by timing attacks properly, something very few RPGs seem to do anymore thanks to what I call “Lazy Player Syndrome” where most of you just want to sit back, watch some cutscenes and press “X” in between.

This is why, SMRPGTLOTSS is the best Mario game of all time. Ever.

Holden

Mario Tennis

My vote goes out to Mario Tennis because I love balls, er, rather, I love the combination of Mario and balls…but not Mario’s balls, you see. Mario Tennis for the N64 was the first game to expand the plumber’s horizons beyond monkey-slaying, princess-saving, racing, time-traveling, painting, medicine-practicing, golfing, and typing-tutoring. See, Mario Tennis on the good ‘ol 64 bit system was actually his third attempt at the sport. He inspires us all by living the example of never giving up. If at first you fail, hire a new developer to try again. Words to live by, my friends.

I’ll never forget the first time I laid my hands on the tennis racket and slammed a ball straight into Birdo’s nose. I wondered what would happen. Maybe an egg would pop out Yoshi-style or something, but that might be irreverent or something, teaching kids that life comes from balls. I remember when I played through the tournament bracket for the first time and felt a huge sense of accomplishment just before realizing that I had spent the last three hours sitting in front of my television in the middle of the night in my underwear watching a bunch of strange-looking blocky characters run around on a screen and repeat the same basic movements over and over. But whereas modern day games with that characterization are quickly dismissed, Mario Tennis actually made it fun. Of any N64 game I have played, I think Mario Tennis aged the best. I can still go back to it this day, although fully clothed, and get the same enjoyment I got eight years ago. Smash Bros. games come and go, but Mario Tennis is eternal. Except for the Gamecube version, which sucked.

Jeff

Super Mario All-Stars

While this was probably one of the tougher assignments I’ve found for mahself, I gotta admit coming to the decision was pretty simple. The best game to ever feature Mario is Super Mario All-Stars for the Super Nintendo. Hax? Why yes, yes it is. But nevertheless. When it comes to Super Mario Bros. what could be better than re-living the childhood of games that the little roly poly plumber had gifted you with all on one cartridge? With enhanced graphics even! Super Mario Bros., the classic that started it all, and the gameplay that defined a generation of video games. Super Mario Bros. 2, the whacked out dream sequence that got us all to actually respect Toad and Princess Toadstool as viable heroes. Super Mario Bros. 3, the most fun I personally ever had with a Mario Bros. game singularly, that made us all wonder, WTF is a Tanuki anyway? And throw in ontop of that the original Mario Bros. as a 2-Player affair and the original Mario 2 from Japan thrown in as ‘ The Lost Levels ‘ and you have the single greatest Mario Bros. game ever conceived! Introducing an entire new generation to the games we loved as kids, Super Mario All-Stars was and is, the greatest.

Andy Kluthe

Hotel Mario

After thinking it over, I believe I have finally decided on the best game of all time. And that game is Hotel Mario. Now some of you may be thinking “Wait a minute, I’ve played all the Mario games. How come I never heard of this one?” That’s because your parents didn’t priveledge you with a Phillips CD-i when you asked for a Super Nintendo. Yes, while your friends were playing Mortal Kombat and Star Fox, you were…enjoying compressed video with really cra– I mean awesome — controls. Unless you had Super Paint Drying 2 or Mega Linoleum Peeler III: Renegade Saga, there’s no way your gaming experience could have compared. No - way.

Here’s the rousing story (because you care): Mario’s back, and apparently Koopa Bowser Turtleface was so horribly, terribly defeated in the last title he has decided to become Donald Trump and run a chain of hotels. And like all millionaire hotel owners, he has now given his temporary-living-space-based legacy to his children. Oh, also, he kidnapped the princess. Again. What these two activities have to do with one another, I do not know.

I know, I haven’t begun to explain how this game rocks the socks off everything else. And yes, sir, I just used “rocks the socks” in an actual essay. Deal with it. There are three main reasons Hotel Mario kicks ass.

First of all, platforming, exploring levels, fighting giant turtles – if you like that crap, you can leave now. Hotel Mario is all about solving puzzles. And if that ain’t extreme enough for you, the entirety of the game takes place in Bowser’s previously-mentioned chain of hotels (Dinosaur Land? Big Land? Sky Land? Pssssh, eat your heart out!). I, of course, use ‘puzzle’ in the weakest of ways as the gameplay of Hotel Mario consists entirely of opening and closing doors – my most favorite of activities. If I find a revolving door I can be entertained for hours on end. But I digress; Mario must close doors to complete each and every level. After doing this ten times you get to fight a boss. But don’t be fooled, because this also consists of closing doors.

I know! Awesome, right? I’ll bet you’re sad now you were dealing with “FIIIINIIIIIIISH HIIIIIIIM!” back in the 90s, instead of beating the ever-loving piss out of your enemies with “DOOOOOR-CLOOOOSE-ALIIITY!” … It…uh…didn’t actually say that, though.

The second reason: fully rendered cut scenes. Back while you losers were enjoying riding Yoshi and being told “Your princess is in another castle.”, those of us with The Hardware King (aka: The CD-i) knew what was what: we had fully rendered cut scenes. That’s because it was on a CD. Cartridges…pssh…CD’s are the wave of the future! Do you have any idea how much stuff you can put on a CD? Tons. That’s because you need a laser to see the data. You can’t even see it with your eye. Like, literally tons of datas fit on CDs. Like, you could probably put a bunch of songs and some movies on it. Those compensate when your gameplay is lacking. Not that Hotel Mario’s gameplay was lacking! Remember, if closing a door is rated a 10 on the awesome scale then…uh…Hotel Mario’s a 10/10 of Awesome. These most-awe-inspiring of Mario’s early cinematic glory looked like they were animated by maybe one guy, and with only the almighty MS Paint, but they got the job done. Sure, Mario and Luigi were constantly off-model and they sounded like angry Italian immigrants, but I didn’t see any of this over on the Super Nintendo. Huh? Did you? Yeah, that’s right. …Dude, guy in the back…just…no, put your hand down. You didn’t see it. Put it down.

Finally, the last key point. Remember when I said Mario and Luigi sounded like Italian immigrants? Remember when I said the game came on a CD? And how those things have, like, infinite storage? Remember if you turned the oven off last night? Congrats, you don’t have Alzheimer’s Disease. Anyway, these pimped out discs had real voice acting. Yeah, that’s right! The music may’ve been bloops and bleeps attempting to be classic Mario themes — …er..theme? — but this technological wonder made it sound like the Philharmonic Orchestra was in Mario’s mouth. And they all became gruff, English-speaking males. And wanted lotsa spaghetti. My point is, with your amazing moving pictures you had real, talking Mario and Luigi. I guess that was implied with the whole Italian thing, though. Eeeeey! Faahget aboud it! And Mario could tell you to do things. Normally, only your mom could do that while you were playing games. And you would tell her “Moooooom! In a minute, I’m at an important part!” Remember that manual that always came with your new game. Did anyone ever seriously read those things? No? Well Mario reminded you too, so you would remember to read it – and get tips! How’s that for awesome?

As you can see, Hotel Mario was the most awesome of the Mario games. It took that awesome scale I rated door-closing with earlier, and cranked it up to 11. It had intense gameplay, jaw-dropping cinematic MSpaint visuals, and Mario wanted lotsa spaghetti. Oh, and told you to look at a stupid book instead of just telling you a damn hint. It doesn’t get much more awesome than that.

Adam

Hotel Mario

I had to think about this one for a bit. The original Super Mario Bros was my first choice; it was my first foray into the NES, and to this day one of the best platformers available. Still, I realized that it was purely nostalgia motivating me to pick SMB. I then thought about Paper Mario: one of the only RPGs I’ve sat through all the way, and funny to boot. But again, I realized that Mario’s greatest platforming beats his best RPG any day. Lastly, I thought about Galaxy; the obvious choice for a Wii fan, and the game that proved that traditional gaming doesn’t die with motion control. But alas, most of the Mario greats were better in their day than Galaxy is today, and I shouldn’t pick an average new over an old classic. Then it hit me:

Hotel Mario.

The concept, the execution, the graphics, the drama! Oh yes, this game had it all. From the first moment, you knew it was going to be epic; full motion video! And Bowser, that cad! He not only calls our heroes “Pesky Plumbers,” but in a surprising plot twist, kidnaps the Princess! Yikes! And then he hides her in not one, not two, not even three, but SEVEN of his deadly koopa hotels! While before this game Bowser was often dwarfed by villains such as Ganon and the New Age Retro Hippie, Hotel Mario boosted him to the top of the evil ladder in every gamer’s book. So now Mario and Luigi must save the Princess. Their reaction is very dramatic: from the part where Mario reads the note aloud to the moment Luigi realizes he will no longer be getting lotsa spaghetti, the tension only rises. And that Mario, reminding us to consult the instruction booklet for help. What a gentleman! Sonic certainly never informed me how to read. But onto the main game:

Hotel Mario is known for it’s innovations in gameplay, and singlehandedly established the genres of Elevator games, Door Closing games, and First Person Shooters. It’s tight control and fluent animation is unrivaled to this day, though often replicated; The three current gen consoles, the Stick Waver, red-ringed brick, and that expensive one nobody owns, are all powered by the “Hotel Engine.” The main objective in Hotel Mario is to shut all of the doors in a Hotel, all the while navigating around enemies and riding elevators. It is clear that the developers thought this through, as I cannot think of a more perfect environment for Mario to be in. But it’s no walk in the park! The enemies will not only harm you, but also commit the most heinous of crimes: THEY OPEN DOORS. Luckily, you can defeat them by jumping on their heads; a touching show of homage to lesser mario games like Super Mario 3 or Mario 64. There are also boss fights, which are fought in the most epic style possible, while the boss attacks relentlessly, Mario bravely continues to shut doors! What style! What finesse! No squeaky hinge nor misplaced doorstop stops this plumber: he will shut all of those doors, the obvious solution to saving the Princess. Of course, you will learn a lesson or two along the way; Mario taught us to remember that all toasters toast toast, single-handedly saving breakfast for millions of CD-I owners worldwide. And even after all of this, Hotel Mario does not just end with a flop. No, there is not a single gap left open in the entire epic of a story! *spoilers*The Princess is saved, Bowser is defeated, and Mario, once again talking to the player, informs you that you are “The Best Player Ever.” Oh no, you aren’t just a good player. You are THE BEST. EVER. It’s true, because Mario never lies.

But don’t just take my word for it that this game is great. Gamespot gave the game a 10 out of 10, citing it’s level design, music, and definitely not just because of the banner ads on the site. The editor on board for IGN quit his job after reviewing Hotel Mario; he reportedly said that, “I could never rate a game fairly after that Hotel Mario. I would never be able to get off that subconcious track that I have played a much better game.” Nintendo Power declined to review the game as it was not on an official Nintendo console, and subsequently lost half of their subscriptions. Hotel Mario is number one on MetaCritic to this day, with an average score of 110%. Ironically, the game’s quality has hurt the industry. Gunpei Yokoi, creator of the game boy, and more importantly, the Virtual Boy, died of a heart attack after playing the game. The recent release of Grand Theft Auto 4 was hurt by ongoing sales of Hotel Mario, which has been a bestseller since it’s release 14 years ago. Many gamers have become homeless after spending all of their funds an time on Hotel Mario; some have admitted to selling their organs on the black market for extra Hotel funding.

But in the end, we can’t fault Hotel Mario for being so great. The game is the best selling Mario game of all time, (beating out such classics as Mario Kart, Máriomon, and Mortal Kombat vs. DC vs. Mario) and generally considered to be the best quality one as well. Maybe one day we will see the long fabled Hotel Mario 2 come to fruition, but until that day, Hotel Mario remains my favorite Mario game of all time.

Josh

Mario Teaches Typing

The reason for my choosing Mario Teaches Typing doesn’t have to be loquacious and drawn-out like several other replies solely for the fact that we all know how awesome it was.

Mario Teaches Typing combined a recognizable character with a relatively new technology and introduced it to a young generation eager to learn, thus resulting in the computer age we’re currently in. In the ScrewAttack video, Mario Teaches Typing was considered deplorable by using an iconic figure in a “boring” educational game, but how many of us bought Mario Teaches Typing for Mario and ended up learning how to type? Those once young computer novices who became infatuated with computers through this game paved the way for UseNet, the Internet, and will help in implementing the Grid. And when these Mario typing aficionados eventually create a computer faster than the human brain, who will they have to thank?

While it may not have been the most “graphically superior” game ever, Mario Teaches Typing was a stepping stone into MS-DOS for many of today’s leading programmers and scientists. And it sure beats learning on a typewriter and being forced to watch nude Rhea Perlman massage Michael Jackson with White-Out.

Sofa King Kool

Super Mario 64

My favorite Mario game of all time is Super Mario 64.

I entered the gaming world a little late in the game (heh). Super Mario 64 was the first game I ever played. Some people may be quick to criticize my judgment on Mario games because I never truly played the classics, but hear me out.

Do you remember the first time you played a game as a kid? The very first time you felt that overwhelming excitement while playing a game? This was that game for me. I was in second grade when I finally got my Nintendo 64 with Super Mario. I spent hours on end playing the same levels over and over again. I never got tired of them. I loved all the cool little characters, especially Bob-omb.

This game single handedly evoked every emotion I could possibly feel. I was terrified of the giant eel in Jolly Roger Bay. I died laughing every time I shot Mario out of a cannon, (I don’t know why I found that so funny). I loved chasing that damn rabbit around the basement. And, I swear to god, getting into the cannon that launches you to the top of the castle was the greatest mystery of my childhood. I know it sound silly now, but seriously, staring at that roof, I was like a kid staring up at the moon, wishing I could someday reach it.

Since then, no other game has ever made me feel the way Super Mario 64 did. It was the most wondrous thing I had ever experienced. I don’t know how Nintendo does it, but, (at the risk of sounding really, REALLY cheesy), their games were magical as a little kid.

Nowadays, all I ever hear is “OMG look at teh grafix!” and “Um no sony r liek waaay bettr than nubtendo LOL!” and “OMG master cheef! sooo badazzz!!!11!” Don’t get me wrong, I love the new generation of gaming, and I love where it’s headed; but every now and then, I love to dust of the ol’N64 and play some Super Mario 64. Some people claim I only feel this way about the game because it was the first game I ever played, and it could’ve easily been some other game. But I don’t think that’s the case. I think it was just a genuinely fantastic game.

That’s why Super Mario 64 is my favorite.

Dustin Gunnerson

Mario is Missing

You know, it came down between Mario Paint and Mario is Missing for me. Just for the hell of it I had to go with Mario is Missing.

Mario is Missing? Is he rescuing princesses or eating sushi in Japan? Only you can find out in Mario is Missing.

This game insanely difficult for the age group it was aimed at, I remember getting it at a garage sale when I was around 6 and playing it to death. I didn’t understand most of the clues, but it did teach me, it taught me that by failing thousands of time I might be able to guess where he was. If only there were strategy guides back then.

But besides the educational point, seeing Luigi running down the street pimp slappin’ people for clues was a sight to see in all of its 16 bit glory. You get a clue “Mario likes hairy women” (No offense, I am Italian) and you just beam over to Italy and find traces of him. Or “Mario smells like fish” and you teleport down to the Pike Place Market in Seattle (or the red light district in Amsterdam).

Who doesn’t love getting relics from all over the world also? Finding the pharaoh’s nipple ring will clearly lead you to Mario!

Oh, and the sound was revolutionary. Click! Beep! Click! Beep! Click! Euphoria is what it was, straight out of Megaman.

In conclusion, Mario is Missing, well its teh awsum.

TJ

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

I’m not a writer, I’m not a persuader. However, I want my voice to be heard.
My favorite game featuring Mario is, without a doubt, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for the GBC.
Why?
Simple enough: When I was a young boy, I’d escape from my life just with a rectangular prism, a cartridge, and 2 AA batteries. I’d just got and play it to let off stress, to get away from my parents…it turned me into the introvert I am today, but it also kept me from going downhill mentally.
I owe that game a lot. So here’s to you, SMBD. Here’s to you.

There were some other great entries that I didn’t include because there is a momentous amount of text here already, and I figure you’ve scrolled far enough.

So, finally, after all that time and all that text and all that anticipation, there can still only be two. And those two are… *drumroll*

Andy Kluthe, with his 899 word examination of Hotel Mario, and Adam, with his 926 word analysis of Hotel Mario (again). Congratulations to both of you!

And for all of you who didn’t win, you can always buy the Plush Mario Sound Bops yourself. While it won’t be quite as nice as getting them free, once they arrive you can pretend that you won them in this contest if it makes you feel any better.

Special thanks to ThinkGeek for supplying us with the prizes - make sure to check them out since they’ve got plenty of awesome video game stuff for sale.

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