There's lots of nostalgia going around with the impending release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is set to debut in theaters in April 2023. The Mario franchise has existed since the arcade era, with Donkey Kong releasing in 1981. It has since become not only one of Nintendo's biggest franchises, but one of the most iconic video game series of all time.
One recurring element of the franchise ever since Super Mario Bros. for the NES is the use of power-ups. Items like the Fire Flower or Super Mushroom allow Mario to utilize various abilities as well as prolong the amount of times he can be hit before dying. While many power-ups appear multiple times throughout the series, these only showed up once.
10 Hammer Suit
The Hammer Suit, along with many other one-time power-ups, debuted in Super Mario Bros. 3 on the NES in 1988. This suit outfits Mario with the helmet and shell of the Hammer Bro, an enemy who dates back to the very first Super Mario Bros. as one of the most difficult enemies to fight. With the Hammer Suit, however, Mario can return the favor.
The item bears some resemblance in aesthetic to the Boomerang Flower with appeared in 2011's Super Mario 3D Land as well as Super Mario 3D World, though the Hammer Bro equivalent only appeared in the one Mario game. However, the power-up did re-appear in the Game Boy Advance re-release of the title from 2003.
9 Frog Suit
Another beloved power-up from Super Mario Bros. 3 was the Frog Suit, which seems to be a source of inspiration for many future suits in the franchise. The Frog Suit would allow Mario or Luigi to not only jump higher, but also move faster during underwater levels. The only downside is that, on land, players could only hop small distances instead of run or walk.
The Frog Suit's closest relative in the franchise's future is the Penguin Suit, which debuted in New Super Mario Bros Wii, and allows Mario to throw ice balls, slide down icy surfaces, and swim easily underwater. The Frog Suit can also be added to player's courses in Super Mario Maker 2 as of their version 3 update.
8 Goomba Shoe
A fairly iconic power-up from Super Mario Bros. 3 was the Goomba Shoe which, unlike other power-ups, Mario had to earn. By stomping on a Goomba hopping in a Goomba Shoe, Mario could take control of the shoe and jump incredibly high, as well as walk over spikes. It made a return in Super Mario Maker in 2015, along with a high heel variant.
In terms of mainline Mario games, the Goomba Shoe's remained mostly absent. A similar power-up was introduced in Super Mario 3D World: the Ice Skate. It also requires players to kill a Goomba riding the Ice Skate for them to take control of the oversized boot-on-ice. A car version of the Goomba Shoe also appears in Paper Mario: The Origami King.
7 Metal Cap
Metal Mario first appeared in Super Mario 64, which Mario can acquire by donning the Metal Cap when it appears via item blocks. As Metal Mario, Mario is practically invincible, though he also walks slower and jumps a shorter height. The item has become one of Mario's most iconic looks, with Metal Mario made playable in spin-offs like Mario Kart 7 & Mario Kart 8.
However, the Metal Cap power-up has yet to return to the series, maybe because of how much of a drudge it was to control Mario with it. Nevertheless, a costume in Super Mario Odyssey makes Mario appear like his Nintendo 64 Metal Mario form, and the Metal Cap is also a power-up in the Super Smash Bros. series, as well as Metal Mario acting as a boss.
6 Red Star
The Red Star made its debut in the Nintendo Wii title Super Mario Galaxy, though its appearance even in that game is sparse. It first appears during a Purple Coin challenge in Gateway Galaxy, one of the earliest levels in the game. By obtaining the Red Star, Mario (or Luigi) can freely fly and use their spin to pull in coins and Star Bits through gravity.
However, outside this one Purple Coin challenge, the Red Star can only be acquired in the Comet Observatory hub between levels. It seems like a greatly misused power-up, which harkens back to previous Flying Mario forms like the Wing Cap or the P-Wing. Hopefully, Nintendo nails the premise of Flying Mario in a future mainline series game.
5 Cloud Flower
Super Mario Galaxy 2 features many recurring power-ups from its predecessor, as well as a slate of new ones. Alongside returning power-ups like the Boo Mushroom and Bee Mushroom, the Cloud Flower debuts alongside the Rock Mushroom, which also makes its sole appearance in this Nintendo Wii sequel, though the Cloud Flower is way more useful.
With the Cloud Flower, Mario is able to summon three cloud platform to assist with reaching high places or traverse large pits. However, to refill his supply of clouds to create, Mario must obtain another Cloud Flower, which players should surely pay attention to. In case they forget, three smiling clouds at a time follow Mario before he uses them.
4 Gold Flower
New Super Mario Bros 2, which released on the 3DS in 2012, emphasized the goal of collecting coins. As part of this premise, one of Mario's new power-ups is the Gold Flower, which when obtained turns Mario into Gold Mario (and Luigi into Silver Luigi). Unlike regular Fire or Ice Flowers, the Gold Flower serves a special, monetary purpose.
When hit with Mario's gold fireball, an enemy will turn into coins, which help players attain their gold of getting 1 million coins. Brick Blocks will also turn into coins when hit by a gold fireball, and enemies will drop even more coins when they are killed while Mario or Luigi are affected by the Gold Flower's power.
3 Double Cherry
The Double Cherry is one of many new power-ups in the Wii U title Super Mario 3D World, which was re-released on the Switch as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. By obtaining a Double Cherry, a duplicate of Mario, Peach, Luigi, or Toad appears, and is controlled simultaneously as the original player character.
This can be quite disorienting with just one clone, but it gets even more hectic when every new Double Cherry obtained adds another duplicate. Some levels in Super Mario 3D World reward players for keeping a certain number of copies alive. The Double Cherry also appears with the same function in the spin-off title Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
2 Super Bell
By far the most popular Mario power-up in recent games has been the Super Bell, which grants Mario and his friends a Cat Suit. Not only does the Cat Suit allow them to run around on all fours, but it also lets Mario race up walls to reach high surfaces, or even the top of a flagpole at the end of the every level. Plus, it's quite a cute costume to don.
There are many variations of this item, including the Giga Bell, which appears in the Bowser's Fury expansion. There's also the Lucky Bell, which turns Mario into Lucky Cat Mario, which operates similarly to the Tanooki Suit's statue form except it gives Mario coins while he falls. The Cat Suit will also make an appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
1 Weird Mushroom
Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker 2 incorporate many items from Mario's past, particularly ones that appeared in Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros Wii. However, one power-up that appears in the game, albeit only spawns randomly, is the Weird Mushroom, which gives Mario a strangely tall appearance.
When powered up by the Weird Mushroom, Mario gains abilities similar to Luigi in Super Mario Bros. 2, allowing him to flutter in the air for a short amount of time. According to the designer of Super Mario Maker, it originated as a glitch that the developers decided to incorporate into the game. Despite its oddity, it makes for a fun Easter egg for Mario fans.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is set to debut in theaters in April 2023