The Mario series encompasses are some of the most beloved titles in the history of video gaming. Super Mario Bros. opened up a whole new genre of gaming that is still going strong, with 3D platformers in the Mario series becoming more and more abundant and beloved to this day. Given the tight gameplay of this series, most people consider the story a means to further the gameplay, and nothing else.However, the illustrious history of the Mario franchise means that some die-hard fans are bound to question some of the world's questionable lore. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the biggest inconsistencies and plot holes that plague the Mario franchise.
10 New Donk City's Humans Put Mario's Origin Into Question
New Donk City is one of the most interesting environments to explore in Super Mario Odyssey. However, it also poses some serious questions when it comes to Mario's identity as a human. The design of the city's populace isn't just visually inconsistent; it raises questions about the lore.
The realistically-proportioned humans of New Donk City feel out of place with Mario's cartoony figure jumping all over the place. Does this mean that Mario is an alien? Is he a human being from an alternate universe?
9 Pauline, Mayor Of New Donk City, Has The Same Proportions As Mario
On the subject of New Donk City's humans, the identity of its mayor is also somewhat curious. In a city full of realistic humans, it's weird to see that Pauline, who has the same cartoonish design as Mario, reigns supreme as their mayor.
These inconsistencies have driven many fans up the wall. While gameplay might be the biggest focus of a Mario game, that doesn't give Nintendo a free pass to have lore and design inconsistencies left and right. Ultimately, they're distracting and pull players out of the story.
8 There's No Way Mario Works As A Plumber
Mario's origins as a plumber are well known among the masses. He's an everyman, a simple Italian plumber who got roped into a plot to free the princess and has been jumping into and shooting out of pipes ever since.
However, given the comfortable life that Mario leads in modern times, it's hard to believe that he still works as a plumber. Surely his designation must've changed over the course of all these years? At the very least, he deserves a promotion.
7 The Frequency Of Peach's Kidnappings
Peach is one of the most gullible and fragile characters in gaming history. The industry has long since moved away from the damsel-in-distress concept, yet Peach winds up kidnapped in every Mario game regardless.
With any sense at all, the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom would've wisened up to Bowser's antics and put measures in place keep Princess Peach, their kingdom's royalty, completely safe from any harm. This doesn't seem to be the case, and Mario needs to step up to the plate every time.
6 Mario Can Somehow Breathe In Space
Super Mario Galaxy is one of the greatest 3D Mario games ever made. However, it also messes up Mario's lore even further by giving him the ability to breathe in space — and no explanations whatsoever for this talent.
In this game and its sequel, Mario can breathe in space without issue. This goes against Mario's appearance in Super Mario Land 2, where he needs a proper space suit to roam planets other than Earth. Just when did he become so powerful?
5 No One Knows Who Bowser Jr.'s Mom Is
Bowser Jr. is one of the more interesting characters in the world of Mario. While he appears as an antagonist in the majority of Mario games, he does team up with his father's rival during the events of Bowser's Fury.
While this character is charming in his own way, his backstory is left woefully incomplete. For starters, no one knows who Bowser Jr.'s mom is. Such a revelation could potentially shake up the entire landscape of the Mario series if it was ever revealed.
4 He Keeps Getting Debuffed In Every Game
Mario is one of the most versatile characters in gaming history. He gains a ton of powers over the course of his games, which end up making him an extremely powerful plumber.
However, Mario never manages to take what he's learned in old games and apply them in newer ones. While this is likely done to make the gameplay of each Mario title feel fresh, it does come at the cost of narrative inconsistencies when Mario is so weak at the start of each game.
3 Sworn Enemies Play Sports Together
Mario has his fair share of rivals and enemies that never fail to add roadblocks to his heroic journeys across most games. When witnessing their boss battles, it's only natural to assume that Mario hates all these characters with every fiber of his being.
This makes it rather odd to see Mario casually playing sports or racing go-karts with his rivals across the multitude of Mario Party, Mario Kart, and other spinoff games featuring Mario characters that have been released over time. it seems that recreation trumps survival in Mario's world.
2 The Nature Of The Hell Valley Sky Trees Is Left Up In The Air
Given how child-friendly and accessible the Mario games really are, this disturbing easter egg in Super Mario Galaxy 2 feels all the more sinister. Players can witness this secret in the Shiverburn Galaxy by going into first-person at a particular point in the map.
What's worse is that Nintendo has never given an official explanation for these mysterious figures in the game. As a result, most people can only speculate when it comes to the mysterious origins of this character.
1 There's No Explanation For Why Mario Collects Coins
Coins are an iconic aspect of the Mario series. These things serve as the easiest and most tangible reward that players can obtain across most Mario games.
That being said, it's never explained as to why these coins are lying around all over the game, or why Mario even bothers stealing them in the first place. Surely there are better things to do than being a compulsive coin hoarder? Looks like fans will never know what Mario needs them for.