Is Mario 80s or 90s?

As someone who has enjoyed Mario games for over 30 years, I‘m often asked – is Mario an icon of the 80s or 90s? The truth is that while he burst onto the scene in the 1980s, Mario‘s popularity and relevance continued growing throughout the 90s to make him a definitive figure across both decades.

Mario Springs to Life in the 1980s

It all began in 1981 when a young Nintendo designer named Shigeru Miyamoto created the arcade classic "Donkey Kong." Under the alias "Jumpman," Mario‘s trademark look of red hat, mustache, blue overalls and energetic leaping ability was on full display. Enchanted gamers poured quarters into arcade cabinets as his pixelated hero set off to rescue the Lady (later named Pauline) from the ape‘s clutches. Miyamoto himself cites Popeye‘s strength and charm as an inspiration for the character that would become gaming royalty [1].

After Donkey Kong cemented his appeal, Mario was given a proper name and profession in 1983‘s "Mario Bros" along with the addition of his taller, lankier brother Luigi. Their family name even reflected Miyamoto‘s desire for Mario to appeal to worldwide audiences – hence the surname "Mario" shared by so many Italian immigrants around the globe [1].

Yet Mario‘s most definitive hit came in 1985 when "Super Mario Bros" took home consoles by storm. Sidescrolling through the colorful locale of the Mushroom Kingdom while stomping Goombas and rescuing Princess Toadstool showed off both the Nintendo Entertainment System‘s graphical flair and Mario‘s versatility. SMB sold an astonishing 40 million copies by 1990 while propelling NES to highs never seen in the industry [2]. Not content to rest on those laurels, the dev team amped up gameplay possibilities even further in 1988‘s "Super Mario Bros. 3" which introduced campy themes, branching level paths, and quirky power-ups like the Raccoon Suit. By decade‘s close, Mario had irreversibly embedded himself into global pop culture and gaming history.

*Ongoing count

The 90s Take Mario to Dizzying Heights

Just when fans wondered what possibly followed those incredible successes, Mario proved his ability to evolve with the times into an icon just as definitive of the 1990s. After dipping his toes into 16-bit graphics with "Super Mario World‘s" dinosaur helper Yoshi and dazzling Mode 7 effects, Mario exploded into the 3D space with 1996‘s genre-defining "Super Mario 64." Running through painting portals into Varreil‘s Castle alongside epic orchestral sounds displayed the N64‘s technological prowess while reimagining his world as never before.

That same hardware also facilitated kart racing in Mario Kart 64, sports battles in Mario Tennis, and the delightfully bonkers Mario Party series too. Alongside stalwart 2D releases like "Yoshi‘s Island" or "Wario Land," Mario demonstrated impressive range across Nintendo‘s catalog. No single year signifies this adaptability across audiences better than 1996 when Mario starred in a whopping six game titles! [3].

Beyond gaming, Mario‘s familiar mug graced cartoons, comics, books, merchandising, and even a critically-panned live action film starring Bob Hoskins (RIP). Mario had officially become a multi-media juggernaut and ubiquitous sensation. I still fondly recall a 1990 survey that revealed American children recognizing Mario faster than that rodent Mickey! [4] By time 1996 rolled around, Mario‘s name stood alongside elite moneymakers like Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse himself in generating over a billion dollars annually [5].

Still Stomping Goombas After All These Years

3 decades and over half a billion sales later, Mario‘s fortunes show no signs of stopping in the new millennium [2]. The Nintendo Switch‘s hybrid console/handheld abilities facilitate on-the-go Super Mario Run play, engrossing open ended exploration in Super Mario Odyssey, and crossover chaos in Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe retains the series‘ popularity as Switch‘s runaway best seller. That‘s not even mentioning the well received New Super Mario Bros series keeping his 2D platforming roots alive. 2022‘s LEGO-fied Mario even indicates his enduring pop culture coolness.

With vibrant worlds, memorable music, loveable characters, innovative powerups, and seemingly infinite high scoring hijinks, Mario boasts an irresistable charm spanning gaming history itself. Whether you first met Mario in the quarter munching arcades, on living room carpet-burning sessions, or just joining his ranks today – his appeal endures across ages. That timeless magic surely guarantees Mario stays synonymous with fun for both the 80s and 90s kid within us all no matter what the next era brings! What other gaming icon can claim such longevity?

So while you could call him an creation of the 80s thanks to the indelible mark of those formative years, Mario equally thrived as a dominant force across the 1990s as well. That rich history lays claim to naming him both definitive mascot of that earlier console age alongside stalwart ambassador ushering the entire medium into today‘s digital landscape. 30 years since his debut upon that first Donkey Kong girdder, gamers still can’t help but smile hearing those iconic coin sounds. And it seems we’ll keep collecting Mario’s shining gold currency across whatever new worlds and wonders await thanks to Miyamoto’s mustachioed marvel.