Mario v. Zelda

Video games are becoming a more and more integral part of childhoods. Over the years, several video game franchises have made their mark on the industry. Few, however, have attained the level of greatness that The Legend of Zelda and Mario Brothers have. If you look at any Top-10 list of video games, you are likely to see at least one appearance of each franchise (oftentimes, more than one). Suffice it to say, both of these video game moguls have altered history. While their profound impact on the world of video games is shared, there seems to be few other similarities, at least until one looks beyond the surface.
The first Mario Bros. game, if “Donkey Kong” (which only features Mario, in a primitive form) isn’t taken into account, appeared in 1983. This predates the release of the first Legend of Zelda game by three years. The first Mario Bros. game, simply titled “Mario Bros.”, was a stand-up arcade game, whereas The Legend of Zelda was made for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a home console (although Mario Bros. has been re-released multiple times, and is now available on the NES as well.) The general mode of game play is also very different. The Legend of Zelda is a complex and unique game (even in 2D), utilizing puzzle solving, action, adventure, and role-playing. While Mario Bros. was a relatively simple platform game, its descendents (while still maintaining the genre of ‘platform game’) evolved the game play in many ways.
The Mario Bros. franchise is unique, as it features two protagonists: Mario and his brother Luigi. For most of the 2D games, in one-player mode, you may play as either brother; in two-player mode you and a friend each play as one (although you never truly play ‘together’, you simply take over when they complete a level or die.) Mario tends to play a much larger role than that of his brother, though Luigi is definitely considered a protagonist of the series. The Legend of Zelda only has one leading man: Link. This character has gone through more complicated development than those of Mario and Luigi, evolving into a complicated story that spans centuries. Mario and Luigi are short and pudgy stereotype Italian-Americans, whereas Link is a lanky, elf-eared Hylian (one of many fictional races that appear in the Zelda series). Despite the characters’ vast differences, they share a common goal: save the princess.
The princesses, unlike their heroes, are actually vastly similar. Princess Peach of the Mario Bros. series and the titular princess Zelda are both blondes (usually), and both typically are seen wearing pink or other pastels. Both characters have a generally kind and dignified nature, and are fairly smart (despite their helpless roles). In most plotlines, they have both been captured by the main boss, and both rely on their respective saviors for rescue. This formula is not always used, but has been a major and oft-repeated theme throughout both series. The princesses are each featured in games in which the roles are reversed: Princess Peach saves Mario in Super Princess Peach on the Nintendo DS. Zelda sets off on her own adventure to return the favor in The Legend of Zelda: Zelda’s Adventure, and The Legend of Zelda: Wand of Gamelon on the Phillips CD-i, though it is important to note that these games were poorly-received and also not considered canon.
Both games require you to attack enemies, although the enemies are definitely not the same. Enemies from both series, however, tend to be fantasy rooted in reality. The enemies, while different, seem to share a common factor: they do not exist in our reality, but things like them do. Even the manner of attack itself is radically different; Mario and Luigi typically attack using a jumping mechanism, whereas Link uses a sword for most of his attacks (slingshots also play an integral role in his arsenal). A defining difference, though, is that Link has a shield, whereas Mario and Luigi are not able to block attacks in most games (they must simply get out of harm’s way in time.) Both games feature mini-bosses, and one main boss (Bowser in the Mario Bros series, Ganon in The Legend of Zelda), although the smaller bosses in The Legend of Zelda are admittedly a little harder to get rid of.
The system of being attacked is even different. In Mario Bros, when you are attacked, that is it. You start the level over, or from a checkpoint you came across earlier in the level. This is true in all instances without power-ups; if you have a power-up, you lose your power-up but remain playing until you are out of power-ups, and only then must you start the level over. The Legend of Zelda features a heart system; you begin with three hearts and toward the end of your game Link can have upwards of fifteen hearts (depending on the game and your skill level). When attacked, you lose a heart (or a fraction of one, if your enemy is weaker). When all hearts are lost, you begin at the beginning of the level again (usually further back than Mario Bros would send you). Albeit infuriating, both systems work well for their respective games.
Each game has its own unique fantasy world, with its own creatures and surroundings. The fictional world of Mario Bros consists of mushrooms, feathers, stars, and fire-flowers for power-ups, coins to be collected (100 coins usually gives you an extra life), and bricks that are jumped underneath and smashed with the player’s head. The enemies vary, but the most recognizable are the koopas (which resemble turtles) and goombas (which seem to be little mushrooms with angry eyebrows and pointed teeth.) Link’s world is more medieval, featuring many fantasy races of creatures such as Fairies, Gerudo, Gorons, Hylia, Koriki, Sheikah, and Zora. Link is faced with battling an array of opponents as well, usually fantastical renderings of bats (Keese) and spiders (Skulltula), or other imaginative fictional monsters. Both games feature one similar reoccurring enemy: a story bound incarnation of a Venus Fly-Trap plant (Mario Bros.’ Piranha Plant and the Deku Baba of the Zelda series).
These worlds are both elaborated upon and expanded throughout the span of each series, evolving immensely but still remaining familiar. This is perhaps one reason the games are so popular; the fantasy world you go into is the same (or very similar) each time you visit, be it in 2D on the NES or in sophisticated 3D on your Wii. It’s refreshing to know that although imaginary, the world seems finite and true to itself. The fact that these games have been around for so long, but are able to retain such a strong sense of acquaintance is nothing less than astounding, and is exactly what makes these games so great.
The fact that both games are able to attain this level of familiarity could be attributed to perhaps the most important similarity of all: they are from the same creator. Shigeru Miyamoto is responsible for the existence of both empires. Of course, he didn’t do it all alone, but the creative mind behind both games is the same. This creativity and ingenuity is precisely the reason he has come to be called the “Walt Disney of the video game world” and the “father of modern gaming”. This common factor explains the thorough development of the fictional worlds the games take place in, the attention to detail paid to the characters and enemies, and the captivating nature of these games. Almost every similarity these game empires share can be traced right back to Shigeru Miyamoto.
Of course, the defining similarity in these games is not their creator. The most crucial likeness of these franchises is simply their impact upon the world of video games. It is hard for most people, myself included, to imagine the world of video games as they are today without Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda. Often imitated, these games have become not only a great experience to the player, but they have become a mold for games to come. These games are not only a source of nostalgia; they are part of the strong and sturdy foundation that is laid for the future of gaming.