Mario Paint

The game allowed the user to create artwork using various tools controlled by a mouse (similar to computer painting programs like Microsoft Paint). Not only could the user paint and draw freehand, but colorless pre-made drawings could be displayed and then colored in using various methods similar to coloring books. Another feature included pictures that could be inserted with the stamp tool. Stamps of everyday objects such as the Sun and fruit were provided by default, and users could even make custom stamps pixel-by-pixel. Several publications, such as Nintendo Power, released how-to guides on how to create iconic Nintendo related stamps for use within Mario Paint. Besides just creating static pictures, a user could also make simple looping animations which could then be set to music created in the music generator. These animations painted by the user could only be viewed on a television screen, and while instructions were provided to users on how to record these to a video cassette recorder, there was no other way to export any of the work done in Mario Paint.

In addition, standard features consist of:

• 30 different colors
• 60 different textures and patterns
• 75 different stamps
• 15 customizable stamps
• Battery back-up capability for saving certain aspects of the game
• 9 different special erasers: Fade Erase, Water Erase (The picture becomes a grayscale and then disappears), Timed Erase, Rain Erase, Split Image Erase, Pixelated Erase, Blinds Erase, Rocket Erase, Abrupt Erase.

Mini Games

Mario Paint also contains a fly-swatting mini-game, known as "Coffee Break" or "Gnat Attack," which is a fast-paced action game that takes full advantage of the Super NES mouse. The player controls a gloved hand (similar to the one seen on the title screen) holding a flyswatter, which must swat flying insects on the screen, before the insect stings the player's hand in one way or another. There are three levels, each with 100 insects and a boss. When you win the last boss it takes you back to level one and adds a small icon in the top left corner of the screen. There is no final level or reward, as the game will loop endlessly.

The title screen for Mario Paint proved to be a mini-game of sorts. The user was able to click each letter in the title to trigger a certain action. Certain letters would cause the music to change, have Yoshi run by on screen, and even allow the user to temporarily paint the background.

Totaka's Song in Mario Paint

Kazumi Totaka's Song is a 19-note song that appears in many Nintendo games. In Mario Paint, the song is an Easter egg, found on the front screen when a user clicks the O in "Mario Paint." Its first appearance was in a Japanese-only Game Boy Game, X.

Reception and legacy

Mario Paint was rated the 162nd best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Powers Top 200 Games list.

Ironically, despite its artistic premise, it is the musical side of Mario Paint that has perhaps had the longest-lasting legacy. Today YouTube features dozens of musical compositions conducted with the Mario Paint music program, or similar online programs that use the Mario Paint system, but allow for unlimited musical length.

The first episode of Homestar Runner was animated using Mario Paint.

Sequels

A series of games was released exclusively in Japan for the Nintendo 64DD under the title Mario Artist. The initial game was a launch title for the 64DD and was packaged with a mouse for the Nintendo 64. Throughout the series, the games featured ways for the user to create 3D polygonal models, insert images onto 3D models via a Nintendo 64 Capture Cartridge, and even share their artwork via an online Communication Kit.

While no official sequel has been released in North America, Mario Paint makes a cameo appearance in WarioWare: Touched! as "Wario Paint," allowing the player to use the stylus to color various characters in the game. Also, you can listen to the Mario Paint Song with the toy "Turntable" in the "Toy Room". The fly-swatting game makes an additional appearance in the preceding game, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$. The Wii photo channel featuring similar editing to Mario Paint, and even includes several of the special erasers.

Two stand-alone applications of the Music program have been faithfully recreated for composing music in the style of the limited Music program.

References

External links

• Mario Paint at Nintendo.com
• Mario Paint at MobyGames