Video games go through all sorts of intense changes during development. Some cool ideas end up on the cutting room floor and are either never seen again, or eventually used in a future game. The same goes for the Super Mario Bros. franchise. Even from the debut entry, Nintendo has axed a whole slew of ideas that might have drastically changed the game's finished form.

The reasons for the cut content below are surely rational, and it is not like the finished product was lacking in quality. Still, it would have been really cool to see these ideas brought to life. There is surely an alternate universe somewhere where players are enjoying these games with these ideas fully implemented into the final release.

8 A Top-Down View For Super Mario Bros. 3

super mario bros 3 title screen

All the early 2D Super Mario Bros. games follow a similar format. Players go from left to right to reach the end of a level. This is in contrast to other popular franchises that experimented more in their early years. Consider, for example, how different Zelda II is from the debut entry.

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Super Mario Bros. 3 was almost a radically different experience when early development was toying with playing the game from a top-down view. Ultimately, however, the view was changed back early during the development cycle. There are few, if any, platformers that play from a top-down view, so it is no wonder the developers found out this method wouldn't work.

7 Yoshi Was Planned To Appear In Super Mario Bros.

Mario and Yoshi in Super Mario World

Using Yoshi in Super Mario World is pure joy. Players might have been able to use the creature earlier if Shigeru Miyamoto had gone through with implementing the beast all the way back during the original Super Mario Bros.

Plans existed for a dinosaur companion for the plumber, but fears the NES could not handle a mechanic led to the idea being scrapped before time was dedicated to it. One can only wonder how different the debut entry would have been if it had been implemented. One also has to wonder how different Yoshi might have been as a character.

6 Koopa Kids In The Overworld Of Super Mario World

roy koopa boss fight super mario world

Platformers of the day always try to find creative uses of the overworld so that it does not just seem like a level select screen. Super Mario Bros. 3 has hazards the protagonist has to deal with hunting the player on the world map. Overworld sprites of the koopalings exist in Super Mario World and they even have locations on the map.

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One can assume these characters either would have fought Mario or pulled him to new levels. It would have been to see these characters more, considering their unique personalities and most of their names resembling rock stars.

5 Prototype Controllers For The N64 Tested For Super Mario 64

Bob-omb Battlefield in Super Mario 64

The development of Super Mario 64 is closely tied to the creation of the Nintendo 64 console. Nintendo used the game to test out numerous controller prototypes. Some of the unused ideas tested out even include motion sensing technology.

Even though the actual tech was said to work fine all the way back in the mid-90s, the hurdle came in conveying to playtesters how to actually control Mario. The finished controller design did not work well for a lot of third-party games, but was perfect for Super Mario 64. Nintendo would later find huge success with motion controls with the Nintendo Wii.

4 Super Mario Maker Used The Original Physics From Each Game

An impossible Super Mario World level with lava bars and Thwomps from Super Mario Maker

One of the coolest things about Super Mario Maker is its ease of use. It does not take a lot of effort to create levels. Players can even switch the graphics style between the 2D games without having to readjust the levels themselves. This was originally different, however.

The physics from each game were to be implemented to change up the way levels play and add variety. However, the decision was made to make them all uniform after playtesters found the physics to be not exactly how they remembered.

3 Cut Characters From Super Mario 3D World

Super Bell Hill in Super Mario 3D World

The playable characters in Super Mario 3D World are the same lineup from the American release of Super Mario Bros. 2. This was a coincidence, and the original lineup of characters included some differences. Two toad characters were originally intended before Princess Peach was added.

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The cut character that really stings, however, is Yoshi. Mario's trusted companion was not put in because the floating move would have been too similar to Princess Peach's ability to levitate. Princess Daisy was also left out of the game because she looks too similar to Peach. At least Rosalina remains in the game as an unlockable playable character.

2 Throwing Punches In Super Mario Galaxy

Mario in Super Mario Galaxy 2

Within Super Mario Galaxy's files are animations of the character punching, similar to Super Mario 64. However, these were left out in favor of jumping on enemies the old-fashioned way.

In one way, removing traditional melee attacks forces more traditional ways of dispatching enemies. But on the other hand, it always feels good to throw punches in a video game, especially in a series like Super Mario where characters always play as smoothly as warm butter.

1 Other Nintendo Characters In Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2 Mario Jumping On Platforms In The Perfect Run Level

Even though games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart often bring characters from different franchises together, they rarely show up in mainline Super Mario games. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was meant to feature cameos by characters from Pikmin and Donkey Kong.

This idea was axed by none other than Shigeru Miyamoto himself. It at least would have made some sense for Donkey Kong to show up, considering both he and Mario have the same origins. They essentially belong to the same continuity.

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