Nintendo veteran Shigeru Miyamoto, probably best known as the grandaddy of all things Mario, says he has no idea why the old fella is so appealing to players. While Miyamoto designed the jumping plumber alongside artist Yoichi Kotabe, he still doesn't understand why people find him so likeable.
Gaming giant Nintendo is well known for its adorable mascots like Pikachu, Kirby, and the ever pleasing Pikmin, but not all of its main characters are quite as friend shaped as these. Mario's rotund form is charming in its own way, but at its core, he's just a stout adult man with a fetching mustache.
In an interview with Famitsu, that's been translated by GamesRadar+, Miyamoto was asked why he thinks Nintendo's key franchises are so beloved all over the world. In response the Nintendo fellow says, "I wish someone would tell me," with a chuckle.
"I always hear people say 'why does a mustachioed old dude like Mario sell so well?'," he continues. "While I think that's rude, truthfully I've had the same thought. 'Why does this old guy sell so well?'"
Nintendo has plenty of human protagonists aside from Mario, but characters like Link and Samus look strong and give a powerful aura. They are heroes. Mario is a plumber.
However, there is an answer that Miyamoto has come up with, and it's not that people are just in awe of his stylish dungarees and rippling mustache. "The simple answer that I've come up with is that he's bundled with incredibly fun games," he says. We think he doesn't give the goomba-stomping gallivanter enough credit.
