It’s as retro as it gets – Mario and Luigi – the famous Italian mushroom-stomping plumber and everyone’s favourite also-fan brother. Some would recall playing the original Mario Bros. (1983 platform game) in the arcades during their youth, but legitimately all gamers the world over would have had their own personalised experiences with Super Mario.
Most recently, our beloved Mario has made the jump from digital screens to a new collaboration with LEGO, the first time a social play experience will be introduced to enable fans to connect LEGO® MarioTM and LEGO® LuigiTM figures for brand new 2-player adventures in the LEGO® Super MarioTM universe. The interactive and highly-anticipated Adventures with Luigi Starter Course is the latest extension of the LEGO® Super MarioTM product line, the result of a unique partnership with Nintendo, that has introduced an entirely new way to play with LEGO bricks. This exciting feature is perfect for family activities, where two players are able to enjoy the universe of LEGO® Super MarioTM at the same time for new brick-built adventures.
Once connected via Bluetooth, 2-player adventures with LEGO Mario and LEGO Luigi (or any combination of the two figures) are made possible. Now, children and fans can play as a team, collect extra digital coins by participating in in-sync activities like walking, flipping and jumping, or work together to defeat enemies, complete challenges, share rewards or even by changing up the play and competing against each other.
Luigi has gotten a lot of love these last few years. From 2013 to 2014, there was the ‘Year of Luigi’, a year dedicated to Mario’s brother. The new product lets players team up with the green-clad LEGO Luigi for new exciting brick-built adventures. LEGO Luigi does draw some inspiration from Mario in technological design, but it isn’t a simple reskin – cosmetically Luigi looks different, and features different sound effects, voice lines, and character interactions.
“For us it’s all about encouraging continuous creative rebuilding and extended playtime. We’re not only bringing LEGO Mario and LEGO Luigi, their friends and enemies to life in new interactive ways for endless fun, we’re also thrilled to expand their play experience and the LEGO Super Mario universe with even more new sets and characters, something we really hope will excite fans,” says Simon Kent, Creative Lead, LEGO Super Mario.
Indeed, creativity has long been baked into the brand principles of LEGO, fuelling free-styling across generations. LEGO Luigi and LEGO Mario, the fraternal twin brothers, are available as separate Starter Courses – both functioning as entry points into the world – with the 2-player interactive play available using any combination of the two figures.
About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well”. Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. However, its products are now sold in more than 140 countries worldwide. For more information: www.LEGO.com.
Super Mario Fact:
Super Mario Bros. was released for the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. It shifted the gameplay away from its single-screen arcade predecessor, Mario Bros., and instead featured side-scrolling platformer levels. This iconic game introduced various series staples, including power-ups, classic enemies such as Little Goombas, and the basic premise of rescuing Princess Toadstool (Watch Retro Games Ep 3 on TechStorm to find out more) from King Koopa.
Super Mario Quote:
As Miyamoto said, Mario is bigger than him and, honestly, bigger than just his own stories and adventures. Through the past 35 years, Mario has seen us through the revival of home gaming, the movement from 2D to 3D graphics, and the integration of motion controls and new, immersive mechanics.
By Editorial Team / October 13, 2021
Dive into one of Nintendo’s dark secrets – The complicated love triangle between Mario, Peach & Pauline! Catch it First & Exclusive on TechStorm’s Retro Games. Premieres 13 October 9:50pm (SG/MY) 8:50pm (BKK/JKT) 7:20pm (SL)