Emma Wilson
In the Super Mario Bros. universe, mushrooms are the most basic power-up, providing additional lives and boosting Mario's strength and abilities. While Mario is shown to eat mushrooms in the games, it is unclear if he actually likes their taste. In the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie, Mario hates mushrooms, although he seems to get over it by the end of the film. In the Paper Mario games, he finds magic mushrooms bland and volt mushrooms tart, but enjoys fried mushrooms and sweet 'shroom cake.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hates mushrooms | Yes, in the Super Mario Bros. Movie |
| Likes the taste of mushrooms | No, but he eats them for power-ups and additional lives |
| Enjoys fried mushrooms | Initially uninteresting, but later finds them "tasty" |
| Opinion on volt mushrooms | Tart |
| Preference for sweet 'shroom cake | Yummy |
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What You'll Learn
Mario hates mushrooms in the Super Mario Bros. movie
In the Super Mario Bros. movie, Mario hates mushrooms. This is a notable change from the video game lore, where Mario is shown to eat mushrooms and gain powers from them. In the movie, Mario's journey focuses on him meeting Peach and receiving training from her, including how to use power-ups, before they embark on an adventure together to save Luigi.
The early games in the Mario franchise often centred on Mario, sometimes accompanied by Luigi, working to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. The movie adaptation marks a shift in this dynamic, introducing a narrative where Peach trains Mario and the two of them join forces to rescue Luigi from Bowser. While the movie largely adheres to the lore of the games, certain adjustments were inevitable to translate the expansive Mario universe onto the big screen.
In the movie, Mario's aversion to mushrooms is evident from the start, but by the end, he seems to have overcome his dislike, no longer minding the taste. This aspect of Mario's character may have been influenced by Shigeru Miyamoto, who suggested that Mario shouldn't like mushrooms in the film. The movie also explores Peach's character in greater depth, portraying her as a fighter and the protector of the Mushroom Kingdom, who bravely stands against Bowser and his army.
The Super Mario Bros. movie also introduces some intriguing details about the Kong family, revealing that their land is close to the Mushroom Kingdom and that Rainbow Road serves as a shortcut between the two realms. Additionally, the film depicts the Kong family's affinity for kart riding, powered by banana juice-fuelled karts. These elements enrich the world-building and offer new insights into the beloved Mario universe.
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In the games, Mario eats mushrooms as power-ups
In the Super Mario games, Mario eats mushrooms as power-ups. The idea that these mushrooms were inspired by hallucinogenic drugs is a long-standing joke among players. While the game's creators were likely aware of this association, there is no definitive evidence to support the theory that the game is "secretly" about drugs. In fact, the mushrooms in the game are described as "magic mushrooms" in the original instruction manual, suggesting that the power-ups are meant to be fantastical and not based solely on real-world substances.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie also dedicated a subplot to confirming that Mario does indeed eat the mushrooms. This detail caused some confusion among the developers of Mario Kart World, who questioned whether Mario ate or simply touched the mushrooms to gain their powers. Ultimately, they received confirmation from Nintendo executive Takashi Tezuka, who worked on the original Super Mario Bros. game, that Mario does, in fact, eat the mushrooms.
However, it's important to note that the act of eating mushrooms is not the only way Mario gains power-ups. In some games, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it is implied that the mushrooms are given to the kart as a boost of energy, rather than being consumed by Mario. Additionally, there are various other power-ups in the games that Mario touches or holds, such as Fire Flowers and Super Stars, rather than eating them.
The interpretation of Mario's mushroom power-ups as a reference to drugs is a cultural phenomenon that has evolved over time. While it can be amusing to speculate about the deeper meanings in media designed for children, it's important to separate fact from speculation. The creators of the Super Mario games have never confirmed any intentional connection between the power-up mushrooms and drug use.
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Mushrooms are the most basic power-up in the games
The Super Mushroom is the most basic power-up in the Mario games. It is also one of the most popular and commonly seen items. The Super Mushroom has been an element in every game style and has appeared in some form in almost every game in the franchise. The power-up is about the size of "small" Mario and has a white stalk with a red cap and white spots. The Super Mushroom has two eyes, like most other power-ups.
The Super Mushroom has a variety of functions. In 2D platformers and some other games, it can increase the character's size and power, allowing them to break Brick Blocks and crush enemies and objects with their fists. In RPG games, the Super Mushroom can heal the player character to varying degrees. In the Mario Kart series, it can boost the player's racing speed, helping them get ahead of other racers.
The Super Mushroom has evolved throughout the series. In Super Mario Bros. 2, it gained a more cartoonish shape, with an almost spherical cap and a stubby stalk. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Super Mushroom could be stacked on power-ups, and it could make enemies larger. In Super Mario 3D Land, Goomba Towers sometimes carry Super Mushrooms, and the player can obtain them by touching the Wii U GamePad's screen to pop the bubble.
The Super Mushroom was originally going to be called the Magic Mushroom, and it was described as such in the original Super Mario Bros. instruction manual. The term "magic mushrooms" is often associated with hallucinogenic drugs, and some have speculated that the Super Mario team intentionally inserted this reference into the game. However, others argue that the association with drugs is merely a theory, and the Super Mario team has never confirmed this interpretation.
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Volt mushrooms are tart, fried mushrooms are uninteresting to Mario
Volt mushrooms, also known as Volt Shrooms, are items that appear in the Paper Mario series. They are yellow mushrooms with a lightning bolt beside them. In the game, these mushrooms electrify Mario for a short time, allowing him to damage enemies when they touch him. However, in Super Paper Mario, the Volt Shroom allows the player to run into enemies and paralyze them without taking damage.
Fried mushrooms, on the other hand, are a popular snack and side dish. They are made by coating mushrooms in a batter of flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt, and then deep-frying them until golden brown. Some people also add beer to the batter to give it a unique flavor. While some enjoy fried mushrooms, Mario might find them uninteresting due to their lack of electrifying powers compared to Volt mushrooms.
The process of frying mushrooms involves dipping them in batter and frying them in oil, resulting in a crispy outer coating and a tender inside. While this cooking technique can enhance the flavor and texture of mushrooms, they do not gain any special abilities that could benefit Mario in his adventures.
Additionally, fried mushrooms are often served as appetizers or snacks, which may not align with Mario's dietary preferences or energy needs during his adventures. Mario is often depicted as an active character, jumping and running through levels, so he may prefer foods that provide sustained energy rather than fried snacks.
Furthermore, Volt mushrooms hold a functional purpose in the Mario universe, aiding Mario in combat and helping him defeat enemies. Fried mushrooms, while tasty to some, do not offer any such advantages to Mario. They are purely a culinary treat, lacking the power-ups and abilities that Volt mushrooms or other magical mushrooms in the Mario franchise provide.
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In the game manuals, mushrooms can refer to the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom
The Mushroom Kingdom is the primary setting of the Super Mario Bros. games. In the game manuals, "mushrooms" can refer to the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom, also known as Toads. The kingdom has been depicted as both a sprawling kingdom with many different environments and a singular city with a bustling marketplace. The kingdom's geography is constantly changing, and it has been revamped several times over the course of the Mario games.
The Mushroom Kingdom typically consists of the same ecosystems from game to game, including plains, deserts, islands, forests, sky, mountains, tundra, and volcanoes. Within each of these worlds are several named locations, such as Peach's Castle, Goomba Village, and Toad Town. Toad Town, the capital of the kingdom in Paper Mario, is depicted as a Toad Town-esque village inhabited by Toads and located near Princess Peach's Castle.
The Mushroom Kingdom is ruled by Princess Peach, who is the leader of the Mushroom People, also known as Toads. The kingdom is often divided into eight different themed worlds with unique environments. The kingdom is shown by random blocks and levels, which are actually people of the Mushroom Kingdom transformed into blocks by Bowser's magic.
The Mario Kart series has shown us Mushroom City, and the Mario Golf series has implied that there are humans in the kingdom as well, although they appear to be a minority. The early games in the Mario franchise usually focused on Mario, often alongside Luigi, working to save Princess Peach from Bowser, who is trying to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Mario hates mushrooms in the Super Mario Bros. movie. However, by the end of the film, he no longer seems to mind the taste.
It is unclear whether Mario likes mushrooms in the video games. In the games, Mario eats mushrooms to gain powers or get stronger. However, it is unknown whether he enjoys the taste of the mushrooms or eats them simply for the benefits they provide. In the Paper Mario game, he finds normal (magic) mushrooms bland and uninteresting.
Yes, there are volt mushrooms and fried mushrooms mentioned in the games. Mario finds volt mushrooms tart and fried mushrooms uninteresting. However, in Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, his opinion on fried mushrooms seems to have changed, and he now finds them "tasty".
