The clash between two legendary video game titans echoes around the world. Their success and influence in the industry are unmatched. They are: Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. There’s no doubt in their popularity and legacy, but which one ultimately had the bigger impact?
Pac-Man is a household name. Even the younger generations that did not grow up playing in arcades knows about the yellow ball and his quest to munch on dots. Namco initially released Pac-Man in the 80s. Since then, it had numerous sequels, merchandise, and helped shape the gaming industry as we know it. It’s still so hot that Pac-Man 99 was released this year for the Nintendo Switch!
On the other end of the ring is Super Mario Bros., the game that gave birth to Nintendo’s most recognized franchise with Mario as the mascot. Super Mario Bros. was initially released in 1985 on the NES, shortly after the infamous video game crash. So, one could deduce that Shigeru Miyamoto helped jumpstart the console industry with this blockbuster. The legacy is extensive with about 47 titles in total, 21 of which as mainline games. Mario is still alive and well and most recently celebrated his 35th anniversary.
First thing’s first: the gaming industry would not be the same without either Pac-Man or Super Mario Bros. When it comes to who had the biggest impact, I propose that Pac-Man has the slight edge over Mario. While Mario has remained relevant to current gamers through spin-offs and sequels such as Super Mario 3D-World + Bowser’s Fury and Mario Golf: Super Rush, we need to dive deeply to see the ripples each original game made.
Pac-Man technically offered the first “true” playable character. The little, yellow orb with a mouth gave more identity to who you were playing as in a game. Also, remember those “power pellets”? For a short period of time, Pac-Man is able to chase after and consume the ghostly baddies. That was considered one of the first power-ups in gaming history. Even the concept of a cut-scene was explored: after you clear the first level, you are rewarded with a brief visual of Pac-Man being chased by a ghost, but after briefly disappeared off screen, Pac-Man is larger and chasing after Blinky! Finally, you can thank Pac-Man for stealth segments or stealth-focused games. Prior to Pac-Man, video games focused on shooting or defeating enemies; however, this game prioritized avoiding them. Sure, those are incredibly simplistic versions of what we see now, but Pac-Man was there in the beginning. These subtle differences branched into larger influences we see in modern gaming.
What about Super Mario Bros.? I didn’t say this was an easy debate. I recognize the impact of the humble plumber as a playable character, and yes, there were power-ups in the original game (and beyond). Both franchises were neck and neck; however, I give the slight edge to Pac-Man. He’s still boppin’ around via Pac-Man 99, flaunting all the things he did first.
Now, it’s time for me to hide. I’m pretty sure I’m getting my Nintendo fan card taken away…Love you, Mario!
Who do you think had the larger impact? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the Boss Rush Discord channel!
Sources: Fandom, Lifewire, Mario Wiki, Wikipedia
Featured Image Source: Pac-Man
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