As far as video game characters go, there are few as iconic as Mario, the Italian plumber that has become the face of video games as a whole. Mario has been present in hundreds of games, though it appears that he was almost absent from one of Nintendo's premier franchises, Super Smash Bros., according to Mario's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto.
Miyamoto actually had to beg Nintendo to let Mario in Super Smash Bros., as Nintendo was worried over whether or not it was right for Mario to "punch and kick." However, Miyamoto was able to convince them to let the plumber into the franchise by explaining that Mario "already pulls turtles out of their shells."
Super Smash Bros. wouldn't be the same without Mario, so it's a good thing that Miyamoto was able to convince Nintendo to let the character in. Mario is an important character in the history of video games, even breaking out of gaming itself and landing a Super Mario crossover with Levi's jeans, which just might be enough to bring back overalls into the spotlight.
A Super Smash Bros. roster without Mario would simply feel lackluster, though it is a testament to how much Miyamoto cares for his creation. Of course, Miyamoto himself is just as iconic as Mario. The developer has been with Nintendo for decades and even has a solid explanation as to why Nintendo isn't as big as Disney. Without Miyamoto, gaming as it currently exists may have been radically different, considering how instrumental Mario was after the video game market crash in the '80s.
Nintendo ultimately made the right choice by allowing Mario to be in the fighting game's roster. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the best selling fighting game ever, and the franchise likely would've found far less initial success had Mario been omitted.
The future seems bright for Mario. Super Nintendo World is making progress at Universal Studios in Japan, and will feature quite a bit of Mario Jumpman Mario. The character hasn't faded from prominence after decades of being featured in video games, movies, and TV, so who knows what else could be on the horizon for the gaming icon.
Source: Famitsu (via Nintendo Everything)