The mainline Mario Bros games?

[samsonlonghair]

Ok, this is just getting silly. Any discussion of video game continuity eventually devolves into this silliness.

OP, just play all of the Mario platformers be they 2D or 3D. When those are done, play the Wario games (which I really like) and the yoshi games (which I don't personally care for) and decide for yourself what counts as a mainline mario game.

[Betagam7]

Yoshi's Island is a prequel to all of the Mario games if we're talking story line. Mario being from Brooklyn and being sucked down a warp pipe while "working on a drain" is, as far as I'm aware, an invention of the cartoon series or possibly NOA, it's not something ever mentioned in the games (where he has a totally different accent.)

Yoshi's Island is, however, told in a children's storybook fashion, which may hint at an unreliable narrator.

The Wario games directly follow the plot of Super Mario Land 2 so they aren't non canon either, unless you consder Mario's adventures in those games to be non canon.

Yoshi's Island really muddies things up as far as whatever the canon is currently supposed to be, but the Brooklyn thing apparently came from Miyamoto himself saying Mario was from New York.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... -wigPldVng

The translation of that interview is hilarious. I have a hard time believing Miyamoto used the phrases "gal" or "and whatnot"...

[Luke]

If it's "Mario Bros." it has to include both Luigi and Mario. Mario 64 and the Galaxy games do not.

[Sload Soap]

If it's "Mario Bros." it has to include both Luigi and Mario. Mario 64 and the Galaxy games do not.

You do play as Luigi in the Galaxy games though.

[Flake]

If it's "Mario Bros." it has to include both Luigi and Mario. Mario 64 and the Galaxy games do not.

You do play as Luigi in the Galaxy games though.

I was not aware of this.

[alienjesus]

You also play as Luigi in the Mario 64 remake. Does that mean Mario 64 DS is a Mario Bros. game and Mario 64 on the N64 isn't?

[Flake]

You also play as Luigi in the Mario 64 remake. Does that mean Mario 64 DS is a Mario Bros. game and Mario 64 on the N64 isn't?

I think it might. Of course, this would push Super Luigi U out.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Truth be told, no one is ever going to agree on a list. The series is just too convoluted, there's too many games, and nothing resembling a coherent plot to link things together. Ultimately I'd just say:

In:
- 2D and 3D Mario platformers (Super Mario Bros, Land, World, 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, New, 3D)

Out:
- RPGs
- Sports
- Edutainment
- Mario appearances, cameos, anything where Mario appears simply as a "Nintendo mascot", Game & Watch, Kart, Super Smash Bros., and pre-SMB games like Donkey Kong 1 & 2 and the original Mario Bros (is it even beatable?).
- 3rd-party and super obscure games: Hudson Mario titles, Hotel Mario, All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros., etc.

[samsonlonghair]

As far as I know, there's no way to truly "beat" the original Mario Bros arcade game (as is the case with most arcade games of the era) but why throw it out? This is an important evolution in Mario's development. If you play Donkey Kong 3, then play Mario Bros you will see a significant change in Mario. This is where Mario becomes the star, not the "jumpman" who plays second fiddle to Donkey Kong. This is also the first time Mario jumps on a turtle, and the first appearance of Luigi. The OP asked for "mainline Mario Bros games". What's more mainline Mario Bros. than Mario Bros?

I know Mario's name had already been established before DK3, I'm just making a point.

[Gunstar Green]

Ok, this is just getting silly. Any discussion of video game continuity eventually devolves into this silliness.

But it's fun!

I agree though. Play the platformers.