Loading

Handheld video game:Nintendo Game Boy Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

Nintendo1994

The Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong National Museum of Play
Rochester , United States

Mario is the most popular video game franchise of all time, selling over 260 million games worldwide. The character Mario appears in over 200 games on every Nintendo console ever made, and in the 1990s, a survey discovered more children recognized Mario than Mickey Mouse. While the Mario series mainly features platform adventures, often involving the safe rescue of Princess Peach, it also includes role-playing, puzzle, racing, and educational games. The franchise further includes television shows, a live-action movie, comics, and promotional materials. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto in 1981, Mario first appeared as the protagonist Jumpman in Donkey Kong. As his name suggests, the character completed levels by jumping over barrels and climbing ladders to rescue the Lady kidnapped by Donkey Kong. In certain advertisements, Jumpman was named Mario, after the landlord of Nintendo of America's offices, and the name stuck. In 1985, Miyamoto produced the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game Super Mario Bros. The game takes place in the mythical Mushroom kingdom and stars Mario as he attempts to save Princess Peach from an antagonistic, anthropomorphized turtle named Bowser. Similar gameplay, reoccurring characters and power-ups link the games of the main Mario series. In almost all cases, the goal is to navigate the titular character through various levels or worlds, each of which concludes with a castle or dungeon and a boss fight. Nintendo released Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 for the Game Boy in 1994. While serving as a sequel to the first Super Mario Land entries, this game was unique for providing Mario's enemy, Wario, with a starring role. Following the events of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (where Wario takes over Mario's castle and subsequently loses control of it), Wario decides to chase after the Brown Sugar Pirates in order to use their treasure to fund the creation of a new castle. This game is significant for being the first Mario entry to feature Wario as the protagonist. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 sold over five million copies, making it a successful addition to the franchise.

Show lessRead more
  • Title: Handheld video game:Nintendo Game Boy Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
  • Creator: Nintendo
  • Date Created: 1994
  • Location: Japan
  • Subject Keywords: electronic game, video game, Nintendo, Game Boy
  • Type: Handhelds
  • Medium: plastic, metal
  • Object ID: 109.6952
The Strong National Museum of Play

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Interested in Nature?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites