PC/Apple Mac (Optical disc)
I’m on the final part of my 40 formats in 40 days countdown to celebrate 40 years of Mario! Who said Mario only belonged on consoles?! Today, let’s spin up the CD-ROM.
The CD-ROM opened up new possibilities for Nintendo’s licensed IP on PC and Apple platforms during the ’90s. With much larger capacity, higher-quality graphics, and capable of full-motion video, CD-ROMs enabled Mario to appear in more interactive experiences than ever before.
While we take such features for granted today, back then, it was a game-changer. For the first time, Mario could venture beyond traditional consoles and appear on millions of home computers in new adventures.
This is definitely a format with so many examples to talk about! The Mario Museum features around 30 examples across PC and Apple platforms. Tons of Mario games came out on CD-ROM. I’ll highlight a few unique and notable ones:
Mario Teaches Typing (1994)
Mario Teaches Typing had a simple educational aim: teach kids how to type more efficiently. It blended Mario’s iconic world with lessons in a way that made learning fun. Players typed out words and phrases while controlling Mario, with mini-games adding a playful touch.
An MS-DOS version was first released on floppy disk 2 years earlier, but this later CD-ROM release also marked the first appearance of Charles Martinet‘s voice as Mario, helping shape his character and personality for years to come.
Mario Teaches Typing 2 (1996)
A sequel, Mario Teaches Typing 2, levelled up the original with full-screen graphics, smoother animations, and more colourful, dynamic backgrounds. It introduced a friendlier interface and detailed feedback to help players improve.
Mario is Missing! (1993)
Mario is Missing! was another edutainment game developed by The Software Toolworks, but this time with a geography twist! Mario is kidnapped by Bowser, and it’s up to Luigi to rescue him by traveling around the world and solving puzzles.
This gave Luigi his first starring role in a game, long before he became a more prominent figure in titles like Luigi’s Mansion. This version for Apple II and Macintosh was also released on CD-ROM, with better visuals and sound compared to the earlier releases.
Mario’s Game Gallery (1995)
Mario’s Game Gallery was a collection of classic board games like checkers, backgammon, Go Fish, dominoes, and Yahtzee (or “yacht”). The twist? They were all Mario-themed, and players could compete against Mario or his friends, who would offer encouragement.
It was another early title to feature Charles Martinet’s voice, and was also later re-released in 1998 under the name Mario’s FUNdamentals. This was also the last Mario game to appear on CD-ROM. Despite its unique place in Mario’s history, the game received mixed reviews.
Super Mario Collection Screen Saver (1997)
Super Mario Collection Screen Saver, released only in Japan, was a program for Windows and Mac OS. It featured Mario-themed wallpapers and sound effects, making it an odd but fun collectible.
Developed by Yutaka, a subsidiary of Bandai, this was a fairly obscure footnote in Mario’s back catalogue; however, it features some cute details to its packaging and is sought after by collectors.
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