The TRUE first Mario game

We all know that Mario is superstar icon in the gaming world and Super Mario Bros. was the game that made him that. But for the misinformed, there was another Mario game starred in four years earlier during the Golden Age of Arcade Days called Donkey Kong. This was Mario's (then named Jumpman) first ever appearance in a game, which explains why you see Mario next to Donkey Kong in the Smash Bros. games. Now, of course, difference between Donkey Kong (1981) and Super Mario Bros. (1985) are immesely high: One is too short and simplistic to be considered a "proper" Mario game at this point, and the other is a groundbreaking gaming revolution that has become the industry standard. But the status of these two games in terms of Mario's history are practically identical. Both games have solidified Mario as gaming icon and both have laid the groundwork for the future of Mario.

What do you think? Should it go to the game where he first appeared? Or the game that made him a superstar?

So, uh, where does Mario Bros. fit in?

Mario Bros is. Donkey Kong was his first appearance, but it was DK's game. Super Mario Bros was his second.

But technically, in DK, Mario was the protagonist.

But then again, if they put an unnamed green-clothed elf kid in Mario Bros as a protagonist, would it be a Zelda game?

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

So, uh, where does Mario Bros. fit in?

Haha, fail.

Donkey Kong. It has Mario and jumping. That defines a Mario game for me.

1. Mario and Luigi first appeared in their current iterations in the arcade game Mario Bros, not Super Mario Bros. for the NES.

2. While never called "Mario" in the arcade original Donkey Kong, it's fairly obvious that the protaganist is indeed Mario, as has been supported by the handheld Mario vs. DK games.

3. Not much room for discussion here.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

So, uh, where does Mario Bros. fit in?

Originally Posted by Phazon goron

Originally Posted by silver arrow

Mario Bros is. Donkey Kong was his first appearance, but it was DK's game. Super Mario Bros was his second.

Super Mario Bros. was not his second appearance. Super Mario Bros. != Mario Bros.