41 Years Later, This Super Mario Bros. Line Is The Greatest Quote In Video Game History
Throughout the years, we have been blessed with some truly iconic lines from video games, even going back to the original Super Mario Bros., where little needed to be said to make it a fantastic platforming game. Mario continues to be one of the most recognizable characters in the gaming world, and since 1985, the franchise has had ample opportunities to give new one-liners and catchphrases.
Of course, Mario isn't unique in having lines that have transcended the video game community to become common phrases of modern culture. Even The Legend of Zelda has famous quotes going back 40 years, such as "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this," which is still regularly found on merchandise, memes, and more. Whatever the psychological reasons are, there are just some moments in these iconic games that will always be remembered.
Super Mario Bros. Is Light On Dialogue Until It Counts
The early Super Mario Bros. didn't have a lot of dialogue at all. In those days, video games were necessarily much less focused on a lot of talking and cutscenes. In fact, even in more recent Mario games, the most oft-quoted lines are along the lines of "Let's-a-go!," "Mamma Mia!," or the incorrectly stated, "It's-a me, Mario!" However, perhaps the rarity and brevity of Super Mario phrases is part of why quotes like this stand out.
Upon reaching the end of a castle in the 1985 Super Mario Bros. for the NES, Mario finds a Toad waiting for him, where Mario expected to find Princess Toadstool (later named Princess Peach). Here, Toad delivers the line, "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!" which is then repeated at the end of each of the seven castle levels preceding the final stage with Bowser.
Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!
The Super Mario franchise seemed to immediately recognize the gold that this line was, quoting it again throughout other games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and even Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Of course, this classic and unforgettable line went far beyond Nintendo, to the point that it is rooted in video game history and today's meme culture.
This Iconic Line Is Still Referenced Today
Perhaps it's because of the immediate feeling of despair that we all felt upon realizing that the game was far from over. Or maybe it's because finding that our efforts have been fruitless and "our princess is in another castle" feels too much like a metaphor for our lives at times. Ultimately, the ever-shifting goalposts of our lives and the corresponding frustration are a familiar feeling for everyone.
The emotion that these simple sentences evoke has made the quote grow far beyond Super Mario. Whether it's comedy skits like Dropout making light of Princess Peach's kidnappings, or the plethora of memes that borrow the phrase "our princess is in another castle!" it has ingrained itself into modern culture in ways that nobody could have predicted.
Today, Super Mario has become so much bigger and more distinctive than it was in 1985, going on to create a massive franchise with its own movies and theme parks. And in the midst of it all is the simple image of Toad telling a blank-faced Mario that our princess is in another castle.