Mario Kart 8 with Mario

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Mario is the main character and protagonist of the long-running and highly successful Mario series. He was created by Japanese…Mario is the main character and protagonist of the long-running and highly successful Mario series. He was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and also serves as the main mascot of Nintendo. Mario made his first appearance as the protagonist of the arcade game Donkey Kong, released in 1981. Since Super Mario Bros., his trademark abilities have been his jumping and stomping powers, with which he defeats most of his enemies, and his ability to change size and gain powers with a plethora of items, such as the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower. Games have usually portrayed Mario as a silent character without a distinct personality (Fortune Street is a notable exception). According to Nintendo's philosophy, this allows Mario to fit in many different genres and roles. In most games, he is the hero that goes on an adventure to save Princess Peach from Bowser, but he has been shown doing other activities besides adventuring, such as racing and sporting with his twin brother.

In Mario Kart 8, Mario is yet again a middleweight, sharing this distinction with not just Luigi, but also Ludwig von Koopa and Iggy Koopa. His stats, however, are not perfectly balanced. His top speed and grip are his strongest stats while his acceleration is his weakest stats. If Mario drives certain vehicles, these vehicles will be colored red to match Mario's dominant color.