Read the history of Super Mario from 1990 to 2000.
The 1990s were big years for Super Mario,
shaping huge swathes of the history and mythology of the Nintendo landscape. With the initial might of the Super Nintendo, Mario made 16 bits look good. It was also a decade that saw handheld gaming from the Gameboy reach a fever pitch, as well as Mario’s first forays into 3D polygon brilliance with the Nintendo 64.
1991
Another big year for Mario as he moved to the brilliance of the Super NES in Super Mario World. If the addition of Yoshi and the caterpillar baddies weren’t enough, the excitement of the final Bowser battle would send any 10 year old’s mind into a spin. Mario also appeared in NES Open Tournament Golf.
1992
The spinning continued in 1992 with the release of Yoshi (NES & Game Boy), Mario Paint on the SNES, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy) and the amazing might of Super Mario Kart on the SNES.
1993
The big release of 1993 was the combo reload of Super Mario Allstars (SNES), but there was also Super Mario's Time Machine (SNES), Yoshi's Cookie on the NES, the bazooka might of Yoshi's Safari (SNES) and Mario's Missing (NES)
1994
If Mario didn't necessarily take the year off, he definitely took a back seat in 1994, as it only saw him show his face in a NES version of Super Mario's Time Machine, an end game cameo in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 on the Game Boy, on advertising boards in Stunt Race FX (SNES) and in a Gameboy version of Donkey Kong.
1995
Mario went all red though in 1995 with the release of Mario Clash and Mario's Tennis on the Virtual Boy. He also regressed for his appearance on the back of Yoshi in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES).
1996
1996 was another landmark year for Mario with the sublime Super Mario 64, launch game for the analogue stick inspired N64. He also flirted with pseudo 3D excellence in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES).
1997
Mario took on the Game Boy once again in 1997 with the release of the Game and Watch Gallery, but the biggie was undoubtedly Super Mario Kart 64, which took the brilliance of Mario Kart and re-span it in 3D form.
1998
The Game and Watch Gallery 2 on the Game Boy is Mario's only innings in 1998. Sad times indeed. Luckily Banjo-Kazooie came out to take up the slack. Thanks again Rare. We miss you!
1999
1999 was a bigger year for the big M with the release of both Mario Party and Super Smash Bros., both on the Nintendo 64. He also put in a shift or two in Game & Watch Gallery 3 on the Game Boy.
2000
Form was well and truly re-established in 2000 with frenetic fun in Mario Tennis 64. It was also backed up with Mario Golf (Game Boy Colour & Nintendo 64) and Mario Party 2.
