How did Nintendo make Mario what it is today?

[Soundwave]

What are all these "better than Mario games from the 80s" that you're talking about anyway?

I had the original NES, and Mario was always one of the best games. When Super Mario Bros. 3 came out everyone agreed it was the best game on the system.

Super Mario 64 was the best game ever released when it came out, and play it today compare it to other 3D platformers from that era -- it has aged so much better it's not even funny.

The only time a Mario game came out that wasn't best in class was Super Mario Sunshine, which was still a good game, just not Mario 64/Mario 3 level good.