Kojima: Super Mario Bros. Inspired My Career and Gaming’s Future
▼ Summary
– Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, has played Super Mario Bros. more than any other game.
– He played it extensively for a year while in college, even skipping school to do so.
– Kojima stated that if Super Mario Bros. didn’t exist, he likely would not have entered the video game industry.
– Despite its simple side-scrolling action and minimal story, the game made him feel he was on an adventure.
– Playing it gave him the conviction that video games would one day surpass movies as a medium.
The profound impact of a single video game can shape an entire creative journey, a truth vividly illustrated by legendary designer Hideo Kojima. In a recent discussion, the visionary behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding revealed that the title he has played more than any other is the iconic Super Mario Bros.. Kojima credits this foundational experience with not only drawing him into the games industry but also solidifying his belief in the artistic potential of the medium.
Reflecting on his time as a university student, Kojima admitted to skipping classes for a full year to immerse himself in the world of Mario. He stated unequivocally that without that game, he likely would never have pursued a career in this field. What captivated him was not a complex narrative, but the elegant simplicity of the mechanics. He observed how the subtle interplay between the dash button and the jump command could alter trajectories for attack and evasion, creating a compelling sense of adventure from pure gameplay.
This experience was transformative. Despite the game’s basic pixel art and minimal story, Kojima felt a powerful conviction that interactive entertainment possessed the capacity to one day surpass traditional cinema in its impact. That specific insight became the driving force that propelled him into game development, where he would later redefine narrative storytelling within the medium. For Kojima, Super Mario Bros. was far more than a pastime; it was the catalyst that revealed the future.
(Source: Nintendo Everything)
