Small Mario
- Not to be confused withMini Mario orSmall Wario.
- "Little Mario" redirects here. For the character also referred to as "Little Mario" in early arcade materials, seeMario. ForThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode, seeLittle Marios.
| Small Mario | |
|---|---|
 Artwork fromSuper Mario 3D World | |
| Applies to | Mario,Luigi,Peach,Toad,Yellow Toad,Blue Toad,Captain Toad,Hint Toad,Banktoad,Yellow Toad (Toad Brigade),Toadette,Daisy,Rosalina,Yoshi,Yoshis,Mii |
| Power(s) given | Enter small areas (1x1 block) without crouching. |
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. (1985) |
| Latest appearance | Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (2025) |
Small Mario (also referred to asLittle Mario,[1]Regular Mario,[2]Mini Mario,[3] or simplyMario[4]) is the base form of the player character in the 2DSuper Mario games, along withSuper Mario 3D Land,Super Mario 3D World, andCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker. This form does not have any special abilities, and it also does not take anypower-ups to assume this form, unlike other forms. Small Mario, however, cannot breakBrick Blocks unlike Super Mario and any forms taking Super Mario's size.Super Mario turns into Small Mario when he is hit by an enemy or obstacle. Mario loses a life if he takes damage while in Small form. The player almost always starts the game off in this form;Super Mario Bros. 2,Super Mario 3D Land,Super Mario 3D World, andCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker are notable exceptions, as in these games, the player starts each life in Super form regardless of what form they took prior to losing a life.
Being Small Mario can sometimes be useful; in some games, such asSuper Mario Land, there are small crevices that can be passed through easily with Small Mario. Additionally, Small Mario does not have toduck to avoid some obstacles, such asBullet Bills launched fromBill Blasters higher than him.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. /Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels[edit]
Small Mario first appears inSuper Mario Bros. Unlike more modern appearances, starting withSuper Mario World, Mario will not be turned into the form granted by a higher-tiered power-up (like aFire Flower), but rather will only becomeSuper Mario. This behavior is the same inSuper Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and the original andSuper Mario All-Stars versions ofSuper Mario Bros. 3 (this only applies to the Fire Flower andSuper Leaf inSuper Mario Bros. 3, though). In this game, as well asSuper Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (where Mario can also be hurt by touching aPoison Mushroom), the Family Computer version ofSuper Mario Bros. 3, and the original version ofSuper Mario World, taking damage asFire Mario (or any other higher-tiered form in the latter two games) immediately shrinks Mario down to his Small form.
Due to certain glitches inSuper Mario Bros. and the Japanese version ofSuper Mario Bros. Deluxe, it is possible to turn into Fire Mario while remaining Small.
Super Mario Bros. 2 /Super Mario Advance[edit]
InSuper Mario Bros. 2, Mario, Luigi,Toad andPrincess Toadstool start out each life in Super form (at the start of each level, they only have two hit points; they start with the current maximum hit points full after defeat), regardless of what their form was upon defeat or exiting the previous level. They become Small if they only have one hit point left. By finding the twoMushrooms hidden inSubspace, the characters can extend their maximum hit points to four; also, upon the Mushroom's collection, the character always regains full health. When characters are in their Small forms, only their lower halves shrink while their upper halves remain intact. In theSuper Mario All-Stars remaster andSuper Mario Advance, this was changed so that their entire bodies shrink. Peach is also affected, as her hair becomes shorter as she shrinks into her Small form, rather than remaining intact like in the original version.
InSuper Mario Advance, the Small form persists between levels (unless the player finished the previous level in their Super form, in which case it transfers to that level for that life only, even if the player switches characters), the characters start the game and each life in their Small forms with only one hit point remaining (of the current maximum), rather than their Super forms, and the maximum hit points per level is five, due to an added Mushroom per level.Additionally, selecting "Try Again" from the Pause Menu reverts the player to their Small form, regardless of the form they entered the level with.
Super Mario Bros. 3 /Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
In international versions ofSuper Mario Bros. 3, Mario now reverts to his Super form instead of his Small form if he takes damage in a second-tier form (e.g. Fire,Raccoon). This also applies to almost all 2DSuper Mario games afterSuper Mario World (including its remake,Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2). In the original Japanese release, Mario still reverts back to his Small form regardless of what power-up he was using, which also applies while he has aGoomba's Shoe.
InSuper Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, the original damage system is one of the effects that thered switch card has on the game, but not in international releases.
Super Mario World /Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]
As ofSuper Mario World andSuper Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, grabbing any higher-tiered power-up as Small Mario will bypass the Super form (e.g. grabbing a Fire Flower turns Small Mario right toFire Mario). This property was also included inSuper Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (though it was formerlya glitch in the original andSuper Mario All-Stars versions of that game). Small Mario can transform into Super Mario in this game by cutting the tape of aMidway Gate, a functionality that was retained forCheckpoint Flags in many later games, beginning withNew Super Mario Bros. Wii.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
New Super Mario Bros. marks the first appearance of the form sinceSuper Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. It also features an even smaller form,Mini Mario.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
InNew Super Mario Bros. Wii, theToads to be saved in the levels becomeSmall Toads after being hit once by enemies; if brought to theFlagpole in this state, they will only give Mario one extra life, rather than three.
Super Mario 3D Land[edit]
InSuper Mario 3D Land, Small Mario makes its 3DSuper Mario debut, as previous 3DSuper Mario games had ahealth meter. In this form, Mario and Luigi lose their caps, making this form similar toWario'sSmall form, as seen inWario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (though if the player collects the maximum amount of lives [1,110 lives], they lose their caps in Super form instead). Their voices are also higher-pitched (i.e., pitched up by six semitones). However, like inSuper Mario Bros. 2, Mario and Luigi start out each life in their Super forms.
Super Mario 3D World /Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]
Small forms are introduced inSuper Mario 3D World forRosalina andCaptain Toad.Hint Toad,Banktoad, andYellow Toad also gain Small forms inSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury.Peach andToad can also become this form for the first time sinceSuper Mario Bros. 2. The form works as it does inSuper Mario 3D Land, but the form's voice is pitched down by four semitones compared toSuper Mario 3D Land. As such, Peach and Rosalina's hair becomes shorter (looking much likeBaby Peach andBaby Rosalina respectively), and theToads' cap colors are reversed, making the playable Toad's cap similar to that of aMini Mushroom. This also applies to Hint Toad in the Nintendo Switch version. Likewise, Captain Toad's cap resembles aSuper Mushroom and Banktoad's cap a1-Up Mushroom.
In theBowser's Fury campaign, Mario reverts to a giant version of his Small form upon taking damage twice consecutively from hisGiga Cat form without touching another power-up item. Despite being much larger, this version of Small Mario is defeated if damaged by an attack fromFury Bowser. Out ofGiga Bell fights, Small Mario can collect aCat Shine to turn back intoSuper Mario.
Additionally,Super Mario Bros.-styled Small Luigis appear in someLuigi sightings, in addition to being the icon forLuigi Bros.
Super Mario Run[edit]
In versions ofSuper Mario Run prior to Version 3.0.4., only Mario and Luigi can shrink into their Small forms, thusPeach,Toad,Toadette, andtheYoshis are defeated in one hit and therefore do not have their Small forms. In versions since Version 3.0.4., all the characters (including then-addedDaisy) are now given Small forms, therefore letting them take one more hit before being defeated. As a result, the characters lose their advantage over Mario and Luigi and require their regular forms to break Brick Blocks, although they still start the level in their regular forms as they did in prior versions, unlike Mario and Luigi.
Characters return in their Small form after being defeated or falling in a hole or in lava (or if they are in their usual regular forms upon touching lava, they shrink in the bubble to their Small forms) even though they start the level in their regular forms, like how they did in earlier versions. However, in the Remix 10 mode, their form is determined based on whether Mario completed the fourth course while Small or Super, similar toSuper Mario Advance. For example, if Mario is Small when he completes the fourth course and switches to Peach, she starts off in her Small form, as opposed to her regular form.
As inSuper Mario Bros. 2's remakes andSuper Mario 3D World, Peach's hair gets shorter when she shrinks into her Small form. Daisy's hair becomes slightly shorter as well while still retaining the flip at the ends.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]
Super Mario Bros. Wonder once again features the Small form, acting as it did in prior 2DSuper Mario games. This is the first game since the original version ofSuper Mario Bros. 2 to not shorten Peach's (nor Daisy's) hair in this form.
Mario Golf: World Tour /Mario Sports Superstars[edit]
When Mario gets aDouble Bogey or below inMario Golf: World Tour andMario Sports Superstars, his animation depicts him getting hit by a shell, which turns him into Small Mario.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker[edit]
Captain Toad andToadette's Small forms appear inCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker, retaining the features fromSuper Mario 3D World (including Captain Toad's reversed cap colors and their higher-pitched voices); Toadette's cap instead turns light pink with magenta spots. However, as in the original andAll-Stars versions ofSuper Mario Bros. 2, the Small form does not persist between levels; every level is started in Super form, regardless of what form the previous level was finished in.
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition[edit]
Small Mario appears inPuzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition as the player's starting form, available at the beginning of the game. The player must play as either Small Mario or Small Luigi until clearing the tower inWorld 1, at which point Super Mario and Super Luigi become available as playable characters. Most characters attribute a pair of elements, while Small Mario only attributes the fire element.
Development[edit]
When developingSuper Mario Bros., players were originally supposed to start as Super Mario. However, because of the way the camera was zoomed in during development, it made seeing around Mario difficult. After pulling the camera away, Mario appeared smaller, at which pointToshihiko Nakago suggested they make Mario smaller instead of pulling the camera away. The team then decided that Super Mario would shrink into Small Mario if he touches an enemy, but if Small Mario touches an enemy, he will be defeated instead.
When asked ifShigeru Miyamoto considered letting the players start as Super Mario rather than Small Mario, he responded with "Starting with the small Mario would make players happier when Mario got big later, and it would also give a better impression to players."[5]
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, seeGallery:Small Mario.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ちびマリオ[?] Chibi Mario | Small Mario | |
| ノーマルマリオ[6] Nōmaru Mario | Normal Mario | ||
| マリオ[7] Mario | Mario | ||
| Chinese(Simplified) | 迷你马力欧[8] Mínǐ Mǎlì'ōu | Mini Mario | Super Mario 3D Land |
| 小马力欧[?] Xiǎo Mǎlì'ōu | Small Mario | Super Mario Maker 2 | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 小瑪利歐[9] Xiǎo Mǎlì'ōu | Small Mario | |
| Dutch | Kleine Mario[?] | Small Mario | |
| French | Petit Mario[?] | Small Mario | |
| Mini Mario[10] | Mini Mario | ||
| German | Klein-Mario[?] | Small Mario | |
| Italian | Mario[11][12]/Mario normale[12] | Mario/Normal Mario | |
| Mario piccolo[?] | Small Mario | earlier games | |
| Piccolo Mario[13] | recent games | ||
| Korean | 꼬마리오[14] Kkomario | Portmanteau of 꼬마kkoma ("kid") and 마리오 ("Mario") | |
| Portuguese(Brazilian) | Mario pequeno[?] | Small Mario | |
| Portuguese(European) | Mario Pequeno[?] | Small Mario | |
| Russian | Маленький Марио[?] Malen'kiy Mario | Small Mario | |
| Spanish | Peque Mario[?] | Pun on the wordpequeño ("small") |
References[edit]
- ^Yamashita, Tatsumi (1987).The Official Nintendo Player's Guide.Tokuma Shoten. ISBN999832369X. Page 29.
- ^1999.Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Prima Games guide.Prima Games (American English). ISBN0-7615-2190-9. Page 8.
- ^August 1991.Mario Mania.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 47.
- ^1985.Super Mario Bros. instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 8.
- ^Developer Interview: Super Mario Bros. – Nintendo Entertainment System.NES Classic Edition – Official Site (American English). Archived November 11, 2016, 05:44:27 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
- ^「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオコレクション」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario Collection).Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 8.
- ^Super Mario Bros. Japanese instruction booklet (PDF). Page 8.
- ^超级马力欧 3D乐园:是什么样的游戏？轻松又愉快的3D马力欧.iQue (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^超級瑪利歐 3D樂園 繁體中文版 - 香港任天堂網站.Nintendo of HK (Traditional Chinese). Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^Super Mario All Stars French instruction booklet[page number needed]
- ^Super Mario Bros. Italian instruction booklet. Page 8.
- ^abSuper Mario All-Stars Italian instruction booklet. Page 9.
- ^Super Mario All-Stars Italian instruction booklet. Page 11.
- ^New Super Mario Bros. instruction booklet.Nintendo Korea (Korean).[page number needed]
- Mario forms
- Small variants
- Hotel Mario
- New Super Mario Bros. forms
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 forms
- New Super Mario Bros. U forms
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii forms
- Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition leaders and helpers
- Super Mario 3D Land forms
- Super Mario 3D World forms
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury forms
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario Bros. 3 forms
- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder forms
- Super Mario Land forms
- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins forms
- Super Mario Maker forms
- Super Mario Maker 2 forms
- Super Mario World forms
