Super Mario in the Real World

Growing up in the 80s and the 90s, you could not have missed out on the Super Mario Brothers and all the different adaptations, sequels and spinoffs. I found myself learning more and more everyday about the Super Mario World.

 Over time, questions arose such as:

• Who is the older brother? (I heard that Luigi was older, but this was just hearsay)
• Are there two princesses with different names or is it just one?
• What will Bowser do to the princesses? Eat them?

 Also, once you enter into adulthood, you begin to associate some of the images and characters with subliminal meanings. Even before I saw this video, I already thought to myself "Was Mario (or his creator) under the influence of narcotics?".

Playing the game, even just at a novice level, the player experiences mario's different power-ups. The mushroom, for example turns mario "super". The flower gives Mario firepower and the star, renders him invincible.

Back in the real world, "Shrooms" (or Magic Mushrooms) are hallucinogens similar to LSD, in which user experiences an intense appreciation of everyday things, normally taken for granted, and a feeling of having found their "true self" (http://www.guide4living.com/drugabuse/magic-mushrooms-effects.htm).  This altered state of perception could lead you to believe that you are larger or more powerful than you really are, hence the "super" state.
The flower is a slightly more complicated association. Though I cannot recall of any flower as a drug in itself, I know of users who have smoked/puffed pollen much like they smoke pot/marijuana. Lighting them up coulkd be the association of firepower and the flower. Also, the symbol of the narcotic-influenced hippie culture was the flower.

An even more complicated association would be the star and its invincibility. When Mario touches the star, he becomes temporarily invincible and flashes many different colors. Now, in 1938, research scientist Albert Hoffman derived LSD from ergot, a fungus found growing wild on rye and other grasses. Five years later he underwent the first ever LSD trip by mistake while carrying out an experiment in his laboratory. "..I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense kaleidoscopic play of colours." And the world hasn't looked back since. (http://www.guide4living.com/drugabuse/lsd.htm) Aside from the flashing of many colors, it can also alter one's perception, such as appearing invincible, as this is a hallucinogen.

Of course, I still enjoy, my Mario games. I'm not saying that Mario IS an addict, but the association is just funny. I mean it may be possible but so what? it's not like kids who play Mario become drug addicts (well, not because of the game anyway).

The video should provide for a laughtrip. That should give you a natural high.