Now, you might be thinking that I meant Julio – and while the statement is true for him as well, there is a another man in my life that has been there for me and whom I love with all my heart. Many of you know him, or maybe it’s time you reacquaint yourself with him. So… without further ado, let me tell you why I was inspired to write this love letter- esque blog post.
Mario. That beautiful man in that iconic red hat – probably one of my longest relationships with a man who consistently has made me smile in Nintendo games since the first ever console.
In a time when so much of the world is uncertain, I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with Nintendo as we inch towards celebrating Mario and a big anniversary.
On the heels of our love affair with Animal Crossing, and Pokemon Sword and Shield in the early months of lock down, I have realized that having something fun to enjoy on a daily basis with Julio is more important than ever.
Mario has come a long way since jumping on that first Goomba in World 1-1 of the original Super Mario Bros. game. Now, 35 years since the launch of that game in Japan, he is starring in new games on the Nintendo Switch system, lending his likeness to brands like LEGO®, PUMA and Monopoly, and watching as fans battle it out using Super Mario power-ups in Splatoon 2.
“Nintendo Canada recently detailed several games, products and in-game events that are all arriving for the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. This includes games new to the Nintendo Switch family of systems like Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a collection of three Super Mario games of the modern era, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy; Super Mario Bros. 35, a 35-player online battle in the world of the original Super Mario Bros. game; and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, an enhanced version of the Super Mario 3D World game which originally launched on Wii U.
Additionally, the video revealed other Super Mario experiences launching this year, like Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, which brings the fun of the Mario Kart series to the real world using the Nintendo Switch system to control a real-life, physical Kart; the launch of the classic Super NES game Super Mario All-Stars on Nintendo Switch Online later today*; and a new Nintendo product called Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros., a mini gaming device inspired by the retro Game & Watch systems that plays the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and Ball games.”
I think now more than ever, enjoying the simple things in life like playing a new Mario game on your Nintendo Switch can help to disconnect from the intensity we all can feel. Not to mention it’s a fantastic way to enjoy a date night with your special someone, pass on a tradition to your kids or children in your life (I need to get a Switch for my niece now that she’s five years old and old enough to enjoy it properly), and to just smile for the sake of smiling.
To join in on the social media conversation, make sure to follow @Nintendo on Instagram, @NintendoCanada on Twitter & ‘Like’ their Facebook page. Make sure to follow and use the #SuperMario35 hashtag to tell us how excited you are for the suite and to see what people are saying about it starting tonight with the media preview.
For more behind the scenes of this and other amazing brands I’m working with around the world, make sure to follow along with the #DoTheDaniel Instagram account. I’d love to have you join on the adventures.
Photos: Daniel Reyes & All Social Media accounts listed above
Don’t forget to be kind & laugh a little more this year
Mobile photos were taken with my Mobile Device of choice on the Rogers network.
*Please note that this may be a sponsored post and promotional consideration may have been offered by participating brands – our disclosure can be found at all times by clicking here.