Emma Wilson
Mushrooms are a staple of the Super Mario franchise, with the original game being set in the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario and Luigi gaining their powers from eating mushrooms. Since their debut in 1985, many different types of mushrooms have appeared in the games, each with its own unique properties and effects. From the classic Super Mushroom that makes Mario grow to the Mega Mushroom that turns him into a giant, the variety of mushrooms adds a fun twist to the gameplay and has become synonymous with the Mario series.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Mushroom Types | Several, including Super Mushroom, Mega Mushroom, Mid Mushroom, Max Mushroom, Red Mushroom, Green Mushroom, Ultra Mushroom, Drill Mushroom, Jelly Ultra, Boo Mushroom, Poison Mushroom, Life Shroom, Slow Shroom, Volt Shroom, and Mushroom Drops |
| Purpose | To make Mario grow, gain extra lives, heal or gain extra hit points, and gain superpowers |
| Availability | Some mushrooms are readily available, while others require preparation or are limited in availability |
| Other Uses | Used as a speed boost in Mario Kart games, as an item card in Card Party mode, and in minigames |
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Red and white mushrooms
Mushrooms are a common theme in the Super Mario universe, with the original game set in the Mushroom Kingdom and Peach originally called Princess Toadstool. Mario and Luigi gain their powers of growth and extra life collection by eating mushrooms.
The most iconic mushroom in the Super Mario universe is the Super Mushroom, which is red with white spots. This is believed to be the Amanita muscaria mushroom, also known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, which is considered a poisonous and psychoactive mushroom. It is known for its hallucinogenic properties, causing effects such as hallucinations, nausea, twitching, drowsiness, low blood pressure, sweating, salivation, auditory and visual distortions, mood changes, euphoria, relaxation, ataxia, and loss of equilibrium. The fly agaric can grow up to 30 cm tall and 20 cm wide and is found in New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, and boreal regions. It has been associated with sacred rituals for over 4,000 years and was used by Siberian shamans.
In the Super Mario games, when Mario comes into contact with a Super Mushroom, he grows taller, returning to his original height. The Super Mushroom also grants him basic superpowers, such as the ability to break through bricks. Other types of mushrooms in the games include the Mini Mushroom, which makes Mario smaller, and the Mega Mushroom, which makes him enormous. There are also Ultra Mushrooms, which restore a high amount of HP, and Max Mushrooms, which fully restore HP to one party member.
While the Super Mushroom is often associated with the red and white Amanita muscaria, it is worth noting that the design of the mushroom has varied throughout the games. For example, in Super Mario Bros. 3, the mushroom had white spots on a red cap, but in earlier games, it was depicted as beige with red spots.
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Green mushrooms
Mushrooms are a common theme in the Super Mario universe. The original game was set in the Mushroom Kingdom, and Princess Peach was originally called Princess Toadstool. Mario and Luigi gain their powers of growth and extra life collection by eating mushrooms.
There are several varieties of mushrooms in the Mario universe, including the 1-Up Mushroom, which has a green cap with white spots. These first appeared in Super Mario Bros. and give the player an extra life upon being collected. In some games, they can also be used to revive dead characters. 1-Up Mushrooms can be found in Question Blocks and Hidden Blocks, as well as in Green Toad Houses, where they can be earned by playing minigames.
Another type of green mushroom in the Mario universe is the Mid Mushroom, which has a green cap and recovers 80 HP for one party member.
In Mario Maker 2, players can find green mushrooms in Expert mode. If a player starts with 15 lives, finishes the first level without dying, and finds three green mushrooms in the level, they will start the second level with 18 lives.
While the mushrooms in the Mario universe are often depicted as green, it is important to note that the games caution players against eating unknown mushrooms in real life. The Poison Mushroom in the Mario universe, for example, has changed its appearance several times, reflecting the variety of poisonous mushrooms in the real world.
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Poison mushrooms
In terms of appearance, Poison Mushrooms have had a variety of different looks throughout the Super Mario series. In the Super Mario All-Stars remaster of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Poison Mushrooms typically have a purple cap with a skull symbol and "angry" eyes. In other versions, such as Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, they may have a red stalk, a green cap, and a pink skull, or even no eyes at all. In the original Lost Levels, Poison Mushrooms shared a palette with Goombas, appearing brown, blue, or light gray depending on the environment.
The effects of consuming a Poison Mushroom vary slightly depending on the game. In most cases, they have the opposite effect of a Super Mushroom, damaging the player character or reducing their size. In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, a Poison Mushroom will change Super or Fiery Mario into Small Mario, who loses a life if he touches one. In Super Mario 3D Land, Poison Mushrooms emit purple spore-like dust and follow Mario or Luigi around until they reach an unreachable area or the Poison Mushroom falls off the course.
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Volt Shrooms
While the exact number of mushroom types in the Mario universe is unclear, there are certainly several varieties, including Volt Shrooms, Life Shrooms, Poison Mushrooms, Mid Mushrooms, and Max Mushrooms.
In Super Paper Mario, the mechanics of the Volt Shroom change slightly. When used, the player becomes electrified, and can run into enemies to paralyze them without taking damage. However, unlike in the previous games, using a Volt Shroom in Super Paper Mario does not damage enemies. To activate the Volt Shroom, the player must press the buttons shown on the screen.
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Life Shrooms
While the exact number of mushroom types in the Mario universe is unclear, there are several varieties mentioned, including Volt Shrooms and Life Shrooms.
In the Mario universe, mushrooms are typically obtained by punching a box and absorbing the item that appears, implying that the characters are consuming the mushrooms to gain their powers. This has led to speculation about the potential real-world dangers of consuming mushrooms, as not all mushrooms are safe for human consumption.
Interestingly, recent studies in the real world have suggested potential health benefits associated with certain types of mushrooms. For example, research has indicated that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may have anti-aging properties and could potentially extend lifespans. However, it is important to note that consuming mushrooms found in the wild can be dangerous, and it is not recommended to randomly pick and eat mushrooms from the forest.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several types of mushrooms in the Mario universe, with new variations being introduced in subsequent games. The most well-known mushroom is the Super Mushroom, which first appeared in the 1985 Super Mario Bros. game.
The Super Mushroom, also known as the Mega Mushroom, makes Mario grow in size and allows him to take an extra hit.
Yes, the Mid Mushroom and Max Mushroom (known as Super Mushroom and Ultra Mushroom in Japanese versions) are used for basic recovery. The Mid Mushroom has a green cap and recovers 80 HP for one party member, while the Max Mushroom has a yellow cap and recovers all HP for one party member.
Yes, the Poison Mushroom makes the character smaller, reducing the damage inflicted on opponents and making them more susceptible to being knocked out.
Yes, there are many other types of mushrooms in the Mario games, each with unique functions. Some examples include the Drill Mushroom, Boo Mushroom, Jelly Ultra Mushroom, Life Shroom, and Volt Shroom.
