Guinness World Records names Mario 'best videogame character'. World implodes in shock

The Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition is on sale now. Did I mention I'm in it? Well, I am.And so are a lot of interesting records like 'Biggest collection of Mario memorabilia', 'Highest score for a single track on Guitar Hero III (female)' and 'Most F-words in a videogame', the latter of which has just been claimed by Scarface: The World is Yoursfrom Mafia II. But it also has a poll result for 'best' game character. And Sonic fans are not gonna like it...

Turns out Mario is 'best', closely followed by Link, then Master Chief. Is it possible that Nintendo fans read the Guinness World Records more than Sony fans? Mario also reportedly got 'more than 10% of the vote', which means it was by no means a landslide victory. Will he still win next year? Will anybody care except his mum? Damn fine questions that we'll no doubt be typing into this very internet in 365 days' time.

Here's the top 10:

1: Mario
2: Link
3: Master Chief
4: Solid Snake
5: Cloud Strife
6: Pac-Man
7: Lara Croft
8: Gordon Freeman
9: Kratos
10: Sonic the Hedgehog

To celebrate, Mario's gone and been 'collected' by this fella - Mitsugu Kikai of Tokyo, Japan, who has an incredible 5,400 individual Mario items. I'm 100% certain he doesn't wear that outfit and fake moustache all day every day. Well, 99.9% certain.

Above: That is a LOT of Marios. That yoshi in the front looks like he's had one too many power mushrooms...

You can see more of Mitsugu in this video, sitting in exactly the same pose, along with other record breakers from this year.

Did I mention I'm in the book? I don't think I did. I am, though. On page 111. And allegedly somewhere else, but I couldn't find it. So... buy a copy and then be sure to let me know where I am in it. Thanks.

Above: Has it really been that long already? I'd better start training for a new one. Laurels, resting and all that

I've already shown you how to beat it, of course. And it's not the fastest time for that level on Mega Drive, which stands at 20 seconds, so it's not something I like to brag about. No, seriously! Ah, believe what you want. But my Sega Rally record... I am most certainly proud of that. So proud, I've re-encoded the video for you in better resolution than our old video player. No, really, no need to thank me.

And now I promise never to mention it on the site again*

The Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition is available now for £14.99 RRP. I highly recommend having a look through, finding a record you think you can beat and then beating it. It's great fun.

21 Jan, 2011

*This week