Worst use of the Mario license?

[Snapple]

By worst use of the license, I mean games where Mario is used outside of his normal platforming goodness, where he's shoehorned into genres where he maybe doesn't belong.

I'm going to be forgiving on the educational games, because they're, well, educational. So I won't say Mario is Missing or Mario's Time Machine.

I'm going to say it's Mario Pinball Land. It has some of the worst pinball physics of anything made in the last 15 years. And because there are so many complicated goals, the game is just way more frustrating than it's worth. This is contrary to other video pinball games I've played for Gameboy, like Pokemon Pinball and Metroid Pinball, which I've enjoyed.

[Slate]

Well it isn't licensed, But that pirate sega genesis game with mario throwing boxes instead of jumping on enemies seems nasty from what I've heard of it.

[agbulls]

I'm voting for Mario Party GBA. I can't even believe they made that game--totally illogical!

[bangtango]

I'm sure this may have been covered at some point but I'll bite.

The Mario is Missing game was fun, in my opinion. Mario's Time Machine was half decent. I never enjoyed Donkey Kong Jr, even though Mario wasn't playable, and have never really warmed up to Mario Bros or Dr. Mario. Despite that, I'd still like to get Dr. Mario someday, though, probably on Gameboy.

[swlovinist]

How about Dr. Jr Math for the Nes? You have mario in it, and gosh it was a piece of crap

[T2KFreeker]

How about those horrid CD-i games man? Hell, the movie that they made scared the Hell out of me. I still have nightmares about giant killer boogers, sheesh!

[Snapple]

Aw, I love Dr. Mario. Give it another chance. I still pick it up at least once a year and play the heck out of it.



How about those horrid CD-i games man? Hell, the movie that they made scared the Hell out of me. I still have nightmares about giant killer boogers, sheesh!

Well, the Zelda games are awful, but I've heard that Hotel Mario (the only Mario game on CD-i) isn't nearly as bad. I haven't played it though.

[T2KFreeker]

Aw, I love Dr. Mario. Give it another chance. I still pick it up at least once a year and play the heck out of it.




Well, the Zelda games are awful, but I've heard that Hotel Mario (the only Mario game on CD-i) isn't nearly as bad. I haven't played it though.

I saw enough of the Hotel Mario to know it was not a very good game, but yeah, nowhere near as bad as the Zelda games for sure!

[xfrumx]

The CD-I Mario game (Hotel Mario) is pretty darn good

[Jorpho]

I thought I posted this already.

http://www.errormacro.com/2006/06/marios_bastard_children.php

[tom]

the official NES Cleaning kit feat Mario, worst ever.....

[Rogmeister]

I'm not sure about all those sports games. Would Mario really challenge his worst enemy to a game of baseball? The mind boggles. I'm not sure about the soccer game...that's one Mario sports game I've not played or even seen in action.

[Kitsune Sniper]

The Super Mario Bros. movie. Good cheesy fun, but hoo boy.

[DigitalSpace]

That "virtual coloring book" in Jorpho's link looks pretty bad, but I'm giving it to the Super Mario Bros. movie. Total "WTF?"

[Famidrive-16]

Ugghh, definitely Mario Pinball Land. Thanks for erasing my saved game randomly!

[rob black]

I’m really surprised there isn’t Mario cereal out yet. It will kind of be like Lucky Charms but the marshmallows with be characters from the Mario games

[Daria]

I’m really surprised there isn’t Mario cereal out yet. It will kind of be like Lucky Charms but the marshmallows with be characters from the Mario games

It's old but it's been done.
http://www.smbhq.com/cereal.htm

[RockyRaccoon]

Right, the Mario Movie. Thats the worse useage. Ever.

Look Deep into your Heart! YOU KNOW IT BE TRUE!

[Push Upstairs]

Most of the Mario related stuff in that early 90's Nintendo catalog that was posted a few months back.

Also:

Mario shampoo.

[Imstarryeyed]

Mario Teaches Typing for the PC is my vote.. using our favorite plumber to teach typing with no platforming goodness is crazy. It is however an interesting concept, but stick with traditional typing class or Mavis Beacon if you need to learn how to type.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Mario is Missing, is what I would have to agree on. They made it look like a platformer, even the box art looks like it was trying to aim in that direction.

[j_factor]

Mario Party -e. What possessed them to even think about making such an abomination?

[Push Upstairs]

Which time? There are like 800 Mario Party games.

[7th lutz]

Super Mario bros. the movie.

[WanganRunner]

The CD-I Mario game (Hotel Mario) is pretty darn good

+1

Everyone lumps it in with the awful Zelda titles, but it's better than that IMO.

[Speedy_NES]

I thought I posted this already.

http://www.errormacro.com/2006/06/marios_bastard_children.php

Cool list of games. In the review of the first game, Super Mario & Friends, he speaks of a random Russian dancer from this pic (the guy on the right):

http://www.errormacro.com/images/2006/features/mario/ballet.gif

Coincidentally, I just checked this auction on eBay a few minutes ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230071116377

I would've never thought that that guy was from Tetris!


Also, speaking of weird PC Mario licenses, I have a European game called Mario Teaches Sums from The Software Toolworks...I didn't see this on the PC game list, so maybe this was only released in Europe?

[Snapple]

I've heard of Mario Teaches Typing, but I've never heard of Mario Teaches Sums.

[Jorpho]

Also, speaking of weird PC Mario licenses, I have a European game called Mario Teaches Sums from The Software Toolworks...I didn't see this on the PC game list, so maybe this was only released in Europe?

Yeah, it sounds like an iteration of Fun With Numbers. (Maybe it was renamed due to problems with a previously-trademarked name?) By the way, you can still purchase that:
http://www.cdaccess.com/html/quick/marioeyrpo.htm
http://www.discountsoftware.zoovy.com/product/MARI1

Not to mention http://www.cdaccess.com/html/quick/mariofundj.htm .

[Famidrive-16]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_Mario_games

I'm guessing it was Fun With Numbers.

[tornadostormxl]

Mario pinball land was the worst i couldnt stand that game.