- This article is about the form granted upon using a Mini Mushroom. For the toys from the Mario Toy Company, see Mini Mario (toy).
Mini Mario is a form that Mario and Luigi become upon obtaining a Mini Mushroom, while in the form, the plumbers can jump higher, walk on water, and also fit through tiny Warp Pipes. This form is just like Wario's Tiny Form. If damage is taken when in this form, rather than reverting back to regular-sized Mario, Mario instantly dies. Mini Mushrooms make their debut in Mario Party 4.
History[]
Mario Party 4[]
Mario after using the Mini Mushroom.
Mario Party 4 marks the introduction of the Mini Mushroom, which enables players to transform into the Mini form, a new power-up form. While in the mini form, players can only roll a 1-5. Another item, the Super Mini Mushroom, can also transform players into their mini form and allows them to roll two 1-5 Dice Blocks. In addition, miniaturized players can pass through Gates and play Mini Mini-Games, in that sense, the form can be have it's uses that help getting the Stars easier.
Mario Pinball Land[]
Mini Pinball Mario.
The Mini Mario form reappears in Mario Pinball Land, in this game, Mario can become Mini Mario upon using a Mini Mushroom which can be purchased for 10 Coins, while in the form, Mario can enter beehives and igloos (that are too small for him to enter while in normal form) to gain more Coins and Power Stars.
New Super Mario Bros.[]
Mini Mario runs across the water.
Mini Mario returns in New Super Mario Bros., in this game, Mario or Luigi can assume the Mini form upon obtaining a Mini Mushroom, while in the form, the plumbers can run faster, jump higher and farther, descend slower, run across water (they can dunk below water if they stand on it for a few seconds), stand on Donut Lifts without them falling, and enter small holes to reach secret areas as well as entering Mini Pipes which are often times required for finding Star Coins and secret exits. The Mini form is also required to unlock World 4 and World 7 respectively, to unlock these two worlds, Mummipokey and Petey Piranha respectively must be beaten while in the mini form, beating them this way will trigger a cutscene where the mini plumber will fall through a tiny hole in the ground and flip the sign to point to the alternate world.
While the Mini form does have it's upsides, there are also a few downsides as well, to start off, Mario/Luigi can no longer duck while in this form, additionally most enemies are immune to regular stomp attacks and can only be killed or damaged with Ground Pounds, this also applies to bosses as well. Enemies that can only be killed with Ground Pounds are completely immune to all of Mini Mario's attacks, one such example is the Super Dry Bones which merely shakes it's head upon ground pounding (something that normally happens when it's stomped on), the Micro Goomba is the only enemy that can be killed with a stomp while in the Mini form, additionally, the Mega Goomba boss needs to be ground pounded nine times rather than three while in the mini form, also, Mini Mario is critically vulnerable so if he takes even one hit from a foe, Mini Mario is done for.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)[]
Mini Mario Skating.
The Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games features Mini Mushrooms in Polastraits, Icepeak, and Blizland. When Mario transforms into Mini Mario, he gains the ability to traverse thin ice and narrow spaces. However, it is worth noting that while Mario is able to become Mini Mario, Sonic cannot.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
Mini Mario dashes across the waters.
Mini Mario reappears in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, in this game, Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad can assume the form upon obtaining a Mini Mushroom. Just as before, the heroes can run faster, jump higher and farther, descend slower, run across water while in the form in addition to being able to stand on Donut Lifts without them falling. The heroes can also fit through holes and enter Mini Pipes as well, additionally, they can only kill enemies with Ground Pounds and a single hit is enough to do him in. The Mini form is often times required for getting certain Star Coins and secret exits. Unlike before, the heroes can duck while in this form, something that would be carried to later games in the series.
Mario Sports Mix[]
Mini Mario on the Sports Court.
In Mario Sports Mix, Mini Mushrooms reappear as items that can be tossed at other players to turn them mini. While mini, the affected player cannot carry a basketball, hockey puck, or dodgeball. They also have the inability to spike in volleyball, or perform a defensive maneuver in dodgeball. This effectively makes the form as more of a disadvantage than an advantage.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[]
Mini Mario's Course.
Mini Mario is back in New Super Mario Bros. 2, in this game, the form is once again attained by obtaining a Mini Mushroom, once again, Mario/Luigi gains the ability to run faster, jump higher and farther, descend slower, run across water while in the form in addition to being able to stand on Donut Lifts and Icy Donut Lifts without having them fall. World 3-B also requires the use of Mini Mario and his abilities to progress through the level, just as before, typical enemies can't be beaten with stomps while in the Mini form and must be ground pounded instead and Mini Mario/Luigi can be killed by a single hit. Just as before, the plumbers can enter Mini Pipes and run through small holes while in the form which often allows them to obtain hidden Star Coins as well as finding secret exits.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]
Mini Mario running up a wall...
The Mini Mario form also appears in New Super Mario Bros. U as well as New Super Luigi U and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, just as before, Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, Toadette, and the Miis (but not Nabbit) can run faster, jump higher and farther, descend slower, run across water while in the form in addition to being able to pass through small holes and enter Mini Pipes (where Star Coins and secret exits can be found). In addition to all these abilities, the heroes are granted a new ability which is that they can now run up and down walls as well (this even applies to liquified walls such as Waterspouts). Unlike earlier games however, Donut Lifts can still descend if the heroes stand on one while in the mini form and just as before, typical enemies can only be killed by ground pounds and a single hit is enough to do the heroes in while Mini.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2[]
Although Mini Mario doesn't physically appear in Super Mario Maker as well as Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS and Super Mario Maker 2, a smaller version of Weird Mario does make a brief appearance when a Door is tapped on during the level editor, when tapped, the Door will open revealing a mini Weird Mario.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Poison Mushrooms also have the ability to shrink the plumbers in certain games; however this isn't technically considered the Mini Mario form as they don't gain the advantages of the Mini Mushroom, not to mention that they are downgraded in terms of capabilities, this is comparable to the Tiny aliment in the RPG's.
- Mini Mario briefly appears in Mario Party 8 when Mario eats a Weeglee Candy.
- In Super Paper Mario, Dottie could shrink Mario, Princess Peach, Luigi, and Bowser, giving them access to tiny pipes and so forth in a similar fashion to Mini Mario.
- In Mario Party DS, all the playable characters have been shrunk by Bowser's magic however despite this, they aren't considered in the same form as Mini Mario for that game.
Appereances in other media[]
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[]
Mini Mario makes an appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as one of many forms Mario takes on. Mini Mario is only seen during Mario's fight with Donkey Kong after he unknowingly eats a Mini Mushroom. After being transformed into Mini Mario, Mario stood no chance fighting off against the much more bigger Donkey Kong who was able to easily thrash him around. Fortunately for Mario, he takes enough damage to revert back to his regular form when Donkey Kong throws him against a wall. Mario was eventually able to use the Cat Bell to transform into Cat Mario in order to defeat Donkey Kong. At the end of the film, after Mario and Luigi defeats Bowser, Peach feeds him with the Mini Mushroom to shrink him and Toad imprison him inside the jar and later birdcage inside of Peach’s Castle as punishment for all his crimes.
