Mario Maker is here, and the consensus seems to be this: it's a real nice thing. Consequently, we are already being treated to slightly more phallus-inspired Mario levels than even we can stomach - and we can stomach quite a lot.
Nevertheless, it's not the first time that Mario has influenced others to make games based upon his vaguely peculiar adventures.
Here are ten such games that have done an impression of the Italian pipesmith, and then tried to get people to buy them - because who doesn't love a copyright infringement-based listicle? We'll tell you who: goddamn idiots. It's a-me, Nintendo's intellectual property lawyer!
Nevertheless, it's not the first time that Mario has influenced others to make games based upon his vaguely peculiar adventures.
Here are ten such games that have done an impression of the Italian pipesmith, and then tried to get people to buy them - because who doesn't love a copyright infringement-based listicle? We'll tell you who: goddamn idiots. It's a-me, Nintendo's intellectual property lawyer!
10. GREAT GIANA SISTERS
Ah yes... we say, as if seeing this list for the first time... It's the original Mario rip-off, from 1987. Famously, Great Giana Sisters was removed from sale after unspecified "pressure" from Nintendo (we speculate it was neck pressure - the late Satoru Iwata was famous for his iron grasp/stranglings, allegedly). Such is the fondness for the game that it has returned in reworked form in recent years, in a less Nintendo-bothering form.
9. ALEX KIDD IN MIRACLE WORLD
Sega's first attempt at a Mario-style corporate mascot was the wholly unappealing Alex Kidd, a big-eared, dungaree-wearing, fist-happy, pillock who enjoyed punching bricks. Basically, he's the village idiot. Just look at him, for pity's sake. Look at his stupid head.
8. 3D CARTOON LAND SAFARI
Well. This is awkward...
7. SUPER DADDIO
Oh dear. It's like a bunch of 7 year-olds were asked by their teacher to make a classroom mural of their favourite video game.
6. YOGURT BROTHERS
For pity's sake. This isn't even a game. It's a yoghurt shop in Colorado. Still - these beautiful blonde boys have clearly taken style inspiration from Mario and Luigi. We note that their names - judging from their monogrammed caps - begin with Y and B. Presumably, one of them is called "Yogurt". So, that's "Yogurt Yogurt". COMPETITION: We'll give £5 to the first Digi2000 reader who changes their name by deed poll to "Yogurt Yogurt".
5. ULTRA DARIO
Not even hiding it, aren they? "Oh, Nintendo won't strangle us," they probably assured themselves. "Our character is completely different - he's not wearing a hat, and he has a beard, and... Is that the ghost of Saturo Iwata?! Why is he floating towards us with his hands out in front of him like tha... ack! Glaaccckkk-kk-kk!". It's like somebody doing an unofficial shot-for-shot remake for Star Wars, and then trying to argue against accusations of copyright infringement because they gave Han Solo a nose piercing.
4. MOLE KART
Like so many rip-offs, this shameless clone lasted about two weeks on the App Store before it was pulled off. And not in a good way.
3. BANJO KAZOOIE
We know it has its fans, but let's not pretend that Banjo Kazooie would've existed if Mario 64 hadn't got there first. The collectibles, the big, open worlds, the flying... all of it built on what Nintendo had done already. There were other Mario 64 rip-offs, but few of them were developed by a team as talented and able as Rare. Ironically, that only made Banjo Kazooie's influences all the more apparent. Hoisted by their own petards.
2. STREET RACER
Blending a Street Fighter II vibe with Mario Kart seems like a smart idea, but in play Street Racer was basically just another Mario Kart. A good one, mind - with a clever kart-based football game included - but still just Mario Kart.
1. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Stop complaining. Sonic may have been faster, trying a little too hard to be cooler, and better looking, but if you think it was anything other than an attempt by Sega to out-mascot Nintendo, then you're a bigger fool than Fooly-D-Bang. Of course, history records that Sega's efforts paid off - at least in the short term. It's telling that Mario continues to thrive, while the ageing Sonic is becoming ever more desperate, photographed coming out of clubs with his arm around models half his age, and denying he's had work done...
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