Sarah Brown
The red mushrooms, or Super Mushrooms, in Super Mario Bros. are power-up items that make Mario grow in size and give him an extra hit point. They are based on real-life mushrooms called Amanita Muscaria, also known as fly agaric or fly amanita, which have psychedelic effects that can make people feel like they are growing in size. While the Super Mushrooms in Mario do not grant the power of flight, other mushrooms in the series, such as the Propeller Mushroom and Boo Mushroom, do provide temporary flight abilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Red |
| Design | Red cap with white spots |
| Scientific Name | Amanita Muscaria |
| Inspiration | Fly Agaric or Fly Amanita mushroom |
| Effects | Makes Mario grow, gives an extra hit point, gives temporary flight |
| Other Uses | Healing item in Mario RPGs, speed boost in Mario Kart games |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The red mushroom's design
The red mushrooms in the Super Mario Bros. games are based on the Amanita Muscaria mushroom, also known as the fly agaric or fly amanita mushroom. This distinctive “red cap with white spots” mushroom is commonly found in parts of northern Europe, where many classic fantasy stories were written. Its striking and otherworldly appearance may have been an incentive for the Super Mario Bros. team to choose it as the visual basis for their in-game power-up.
The Amanita Muscaria mushroom has psychedelic effects that can make people feel like they are growing in size when consumed. This ties in with the power-up effect of the red mushrooms in the game, which make Mario grow bigger and allow him to take an extra hit. The mushroom's association with the "magic mushroom" trope and its potential reference to Alice in Wonderland have also been noted by players, adding to the playful and imaginative design of the game.
The design of the red mushrooms in Super Mario Bros. is not just visually appealing but also functionally meaningful. The mushroom's iconic look, with its bright red cap and white spots, makes it stand out in the game's world, attracting players' attention and indicating a beneficial item. This design choice was a deliberate decision by the creators, who wanted to ensure players understood the mushroom's positive impact, differentiating it from enemy characters like the mushroom-shaped Goombas.
The red mushrooms in Super Mario Bros. have become synonymous with the franchise, and their design has been carefully crafted to balance aesthetics and gameplay functionality. The choice to base the mushrooms on the Amanita Muscaria variety adds a layer of intrigue and playful allusion to fantasy tropes and popular culture. This thoughtful design contributes to the enduring popularity and iconic status of the red mushrooms in gaming history.
Mushroom Magic: Enhancing Your Culinary Experience
You may want to see also
Real-life inspiration
The red mushrooms in the Super Mario Bros. games, which make Mario bigger, are based on actual real-life mushrooms with the scientific name Amanita Muscaria, also known as fly agaric or fly amanita. These mushrooms have a distinctive appearance, with a red cap and white spots. When eaten, they cause psychedelic effects, including feelings of growing in size. This likely inspired the power-up effect in the game, where Mario grows in size and gains extra abilities after consuming the mushroom.
The Amanita Muscaria mushroom has a long history of use in traditional folklore and shamanic practices. In some cultures, it was believed to possess magical properties and was used in rituals and ceremonies. The mushroom's ability to alter perception and induce hallucinations likely contributed to its association with supernatural forces and spiritual experiences.
The unique appearance of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom may have also played a role in its selection as the model for the Super Mario mushrooms. The bright red cap with white spots makes it instantly recognizable and visually appealing. Additionally, the mushroom's association with fantasy and folklore may have influenced the game designers' decision to incorporate it as a magical power-up item.
While the Super Mario mushrooms are inspired by the Amanita Muscaria, it is important to note that consuming this mushroom in real life can be dangerous. It is considered poisonous and can cause nausea, seizures, and other adverse effects if ingested in large quantities. The Super Mario games transform this toxic mushroom into a beneficial power-up, showcasing the creative liberty taken by the game designers in adapting the mushroom to fit the fantasy world of Mario.
Mushrooms: Negative Prana or Positive Prana?
You may want to see also
The 'high' Mario
The Super Mushroom is a power-up item in Super Mario that allows Mario to grow in size and gain an extra hit point. The red mushroom with white spots is based on the Amanita Muscaria mushroom (also known as the fly agaric or fly amanita mushroom), a real-life mushroom with psychedelic effects that can make people feel like they are growing in size. While the Super Mushroom does not grant Mario the ability to fly, other mushrooms in the series, such as the Propeller Mushroom and Boo Mushroom, do provide temporary flight abilities.
The Amanita Muscaria mushroom is commonly found in parts of northern Europe, where many classic fantasy stories were written. Its striking and otherworldly appearance may have been an incentive for the Super Mario Bros. team to choose it as the visual basis for their in-game power-up. Additionally, the mushroom's association with “magic mushrooms” and the “Mario is on drugs” joke may have contributed to the perception of "The High Mario."
In Super Mario Maker, Super Mushrooms can also power up enemies and be stacked on power-ups. They can be found in various locations within the game, such as inside bricks or as rewards for boss battles. In the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong, Super Mushrooms turn Donkey Kong gigantic before the final battle. In the ending, Mario uses a Super Mushroom to change size and catch Donkey Kong as he falls.
The Super Mushroom has had minor variations in different Super Mario games. For example, in the Game Boy version of Super Mario Land 2, Mario reverts to his Super form if he collects a Super Mushroom while in a higher-tier form. In Super Mario 3D Land, collecting a power-up item while having an item in storage earns the player ten coins instead.
Mushroom Suits: Protecting Us From Impact
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$12.95 $16.39
Other mushroom types
The Super Mushroom is a power-up item in Super Mario that allows Mario to grow in size. It also appears in Yoshi's Safari, where it is dropped from Flying ? Blocks. In the game, Super Mushrooms can also be stacked on power-ups and can be found outside of blocks. In certain cases, a Super Mushroom found outside of a block may not move at all.
In Paper Mario, Mushrooms act as healing items, restoring 5 HP when used. Several variations of Mushrooms can be found, such as Volt Shrooms, Life Shrooms, and Slow Mushrooms. In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, regular Mushrooms heal 30 HP, while Ultra Mushrooms heal 80 HP. In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Mushrooms restore HP for one member.
Mushrooms also appear in Mario Party 2 and Mario Party 3, where they can be bought from an Item Shop and Toad's Trading Post, respectively. They allow the player to roll two Dice Blocks instead of one and can negate curses granted by Bowser, Poison Mushrooms, and Reverse Mushrooms.
In addition to the Super Mushroom, there are also Poison Mushrooms in the Mario universe. These first appeared in the Japan-only original Super Mario Bros. 2 and have changed their look several times. Poison Mushrooms are designed to resemble the many varieties of poisonous mushrooms found in the world, such as the "destroying angels," a family of white mushrooms that are highly toxic.
Another type of mushroom in the Mario universe is the 1-Up Mushroom, which gives Mario or Luigi an extra life, allowing them to return from the dead. This mushroom is white with green spots and is purely fictional, bearing no resemblance to any real-world mushroom species.
Mushrooms: Nature's Superfood and Medicine
You may want to see also
Other power-ups
The red mushrooms in the Super Mario Bros. games are based on the Amanita Muscaria mushroom, also known as the fly agaric or fly amanita mushroom. These mushrooms are known for their psychedelic effects, which can make people feel like they are growing in size. However, the red mushrooms in the game do not give Mario the power to fly. Instead, they make him bigger and allow him to take an extra hit.
Super Mushrooms
Super Mushrooms are a type of power-up mushroom that appear in various Super Mario games, including Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, New Super Mario Bros., and Super Mario 3D Land. They can make the player character grow gigantic for a limited time and allow them to destroy objects or enemies upon contact. In some games, they also function as healing items or provide extra lives.
Fire Flower
The Fire Flower is a power-up that gives Mario the ability to shoot fireballs.
Leaf and Feather
The leaf and feather power-ups are inspired by traditional Japanese folklore. They give Mario a raccoon tail and ears, which allow him to fly.
Cape
The cape is a power-up that gives Mario the ability to fly. It is likely included because he is a hero, as capes are often associated with heroic figures.
Propeller Mushrooms
Propeller Mushrooms give the player the power of temporary flight, allowing them to fly over obstacles and dangers.
Drill Mushroom
The Drill Mushroom in Super Mario Bros. Wonder allows the player to burrow through the ground and the ceiling, providing a unique way to evade and attack enemies.
Volt Mushroom, Boo Mushroom, and Golden Dash Mushroom
These special mushrooms provide interesting gameplay twists and advantages, such as electrifying foes or providing speed boosts.
Weird Mushroom
The Weird Mushroom is a rare power-up that can appear instead of a Super Mushroom. It gives the player unique abilities, such as temporary flight or burrowing.
Mushroom Spore Mystery: What's the Truth?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, red mushrooms, or Super Mushrooms, in Mario make Mario grow bigger and allow him to take an extra hit. However, there are other mushrooms in the Mario games that do give the player temporary flight power, such as the Propeller Mushrooms and Boo Mushrooms.
The red mushrooms in Mario, also known as Super Mushrooms, make Mario grow bigger and allow him to take an extra hit. They can also be stacked on power-ups and can be used to power up enemies.
The red mushrooms in Mario are based on the Amanita Muscaria mushroom, also known as the fly agaric or fly amanita mushroom. This mushroom has psychoactive properties that make your body feel like it's inflating when eaten.
