Which version of Mario is the best version of Mario?

If you could only play as one Mario forever, which would it be?

Words: on April 3, 2009
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Earlier in the week, we published an article showing some 50 versions of Sonic the Hedgehog to see which one is the 'best' to play as. But you can't do one without the other, so here are nearly 70 versions of Mario for your eyes to boggle at.

As with Sonic, we'll show you our least-favourite Marios over the page, before concluding with the best Marios of all time, finally choosing one as the Ultimate Mario. Be sure to let us know which one your favourite is in the comments. OK, ready? As Mario himself would surely say, "Here we goooo!"








 
Phew! It's amazing how different a moustache, nose, hat and eyes can be drawn. But which ones looked the worst? Head over the page to find out...

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91 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
  • BellaKazza

    BellaKazza  - 1 year, 1 month ago  - Report

    @JosefMotley Bullcrud, but I guess that is what comes strait from the donkey's (you) mouth.

    Super Mario Sunshine had controls as great as Super Mario 64's controls and had awesome grafics, awesome voice acting and awesome level design.

    You are just an idiot.
    Reply
  • killerhi5

    killerhi5  - 1 year, 6 months ago  - Report

    I cant choose from Brawl mario and Galaxy mario there both so awsome
    Reply
  • NitWitt

    NitWitt  - 1 year, 7 months ago  - Report

    It's gotta be Superstar Saga Mario, he's just got so much personality.

    Oh, and you forgot Hotel Mario on the list.
    Reply
  • JosefMotley

    JosefMotley  - 1 year, 7 months ago  - Report

    also; mario sunshine is a joke. seven levels. the most bugged controls in any mario game ever. awful voice acting. dull level design. completely overhyped by everyone when it came out too, surprise surprise
    Reply
  • JosefMotley

    JosefMotley  - 1 year, 7 months ago  - Report

    mario vs donkey kong is the single biggest travesty nintendo have ever slapped mario in. no run button, dull single screen puzzling that was done better in countless 20 year old amiga games, horrible graphics, terrible game. i still want my money back twice over for it
    Reply
  • BellaKazza

    BellaKazza  - 1 year, 9 months ago  - Report

    Super Mario Sunshine was awesome, I bet you people never even played the Game.
    Reply
  • aliendentist

    aliendentist  - 2 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    super mario sunshine
    Reply
  • jmcgrotty

    jmcgrotty  - 2 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    You're way out of line saying SMB1's mario has any negative facets. It's perfect.
    Reply
  • sklorbit

    sklorbit  - 2 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    for me the best mario will always be all of the n64 marios. mario party, super mario 64, mario kart64, and so on
    Reply
  • pokebeater

    pokebeater  - 2 years, 7 months ago  - Report

    let's just say they are all good!
    Reply
  • Wizrai

    Wizrai  - 2 years, 8 months ago  - Report

    I say Paper Mario, he's cute!
    Reply
  • YoshiFtJ

    YoshiFtJ  - 2 years, 9 months ago  - Report

    Paper Mario will always be my favorite Mario design.

    Yoshi's Island is still the best Mario game :)
    Reply
  • Monkeylink

    Monkeylink  - 2 years, 9 months ago  - Report

    favorite is paper mario and it's weird to see the new versions of Mario,you can't see all of his face :)
    Reply
  • wiigamer024

    wiigamer024  - 2 years, 9 months ago  - Report

    2D Best: Super Mario World
    3D Best: Super Smash Bros Brawl

    Have you noticed that the sprite for Mario Teaches Typing kinda looks like he's pissed off, at the same time sayin something like "ROCK ON!"
    Reply
  • dibber

    dibber  - 2 years, 10 months ago  - Report

    Good call with the SMB3 Mario verdict.

    I don't know what a Tanooki is, exactly, but I'm pretty sure I'd want to be one if I were Mario.

    Although, if the selection process had included powered-up Mario outfits, I'd have to go with the Sledgehammer Mario vestments from SMB3. That was fierce enough to make even Smash Bros Brawl-era Mario crawl back into Kuribo's shoe.
    Reply
  • gdubbs359

    gdubbs359  - 2 years, 10 months ago  - Report

    im gonna have to go with the bob hoskins mario for worst.
    Reply
  • melloe

    melloe  - 2 years, 10 months ago  - Report

    PAPER MARIO FTW
    Reply
  • Spybreak8

    Spybreak8  - 2 years, 10 months ago  - Report

    With all these marios, I would hear:

    It's a ME MARIO!! (insert massive echoes)
    Reply
  • FierceDeity

    FierceDeity  - 2 years, 10 months ago  - Report

    the brawl mario is best
    in fact brawls art style makes EVERYONE look better. they all look more badass. and mario is actually wearing JEANS. well denim dungarees but theres stitching and everything. better than those plain blue plasticy trousers he usually wears.

    also i love the how badass the mario gang look in mario football on the wii.

    and i reckon you should do a feature like this with more characters :)
    like Link maybe? :D
    Reply
  • RamenDragon

    RamenDragon  - 2 years, 10 months ago  - Report

    I gotta say, Brawl looked the best to me. Just as a disclaimer, Galaxy was my favorite of the games, and I think the Super Mario World one was better than Bros. 3, so I'm not graphic biased.
    Reply
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