Dr. Mario
- For fighter info, see Dr. Mario (SSBM), Dr. Mario (SSB4), and Dr. Mario (SSBU).
- For information on the original character, see Mario.
- "Doc" redirects here. For the character from Punch-Out!!, see Doc Louis.
| Dr. Mario | |
|---|---|
Dr. Mario
Official artwork of Dr. Mario from Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure. | |
| Universe | Mario |
| Debut | Dr. Mario (1990) |
| Smash Bros. appearances | Melee Brawl SSB4 Ultimate |
| Most recent non-Smash appearance | WarioWare Gold (2018) |
| Console/platform of origin | Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Place of origin | Mushroom Kingdom |
| Voice actor | Charles Martinet |
| Article on Super Mario Wiki | Dr. Mario |
Dr. Mario (Dr. マリオ, Dr. Mario) is the persona Mario assumes within the eponymous Dr. Mario series. In addition to his home series, Dr. Mario has made a number of cameos in other games. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, he is an unlockable character, and returns in that capacity in both Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate after being absent from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Character description
Dr. Mario is simply Mario in a doctor's uniform, fighting against multicolored Viruses by throwing variously-colored Megavitamins into position and lining them up four in a row. He originated in the 1990 NES/Game Boy game Dr. Mario. Almost all of Dr. Mario's appearances have been in his eponymous subseries of puzzle games, which has received entries on numerous Nintendo systems. The most recent installment is Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure for the Nintendo 3DS, which curates the majority of the content from throughout the series into one package including the remixed game mode starring his brother. Mario can also unlock and wear the Dr. Mario costume in Super Mario Maker from the Mystery Mushroom and Super Mario Odyssey from purchasing it in the in-game shop.
In the Super Smash Bros. series, Dr. Mario is depicted as being slower, yet stronger, than his normal self. A trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee attributes his sluggishness to lack of exercise, whereas SSB4 variously attributes this to his white coat or medical doctorate status. In regard to Dr. Mario's raw strength, Palutena's Guidance attributes it to his knowledge of anatomy.
Some of Dr. Mario's aesthetics also differ from Mario's. Most noticeably, his forward smash discharges electricity, instead of producing a small burst of fire. In addition, Dr. Mario is less vocal and his animations are less energetic, depicting him as more serious and contemplative.
In Super Smash Bros.
In Super Smash Bros., Dr. Mario was briefly mentioned in Mario's biography as one of his many other past professions.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
As a playable character
Dr. Mario appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as one of the thirteen newcomers introduced. Although Dr. Mario's design is based off his appearance in Dr. Mario, Melee modified his design by giving him dark gray pants instead of his traditional white pants. He is an unlockable character and, unsurprisingly, a clone of Mario. Although Dr. Mario is a stronger version of Mario that is supposed to be slower, in actuality, almost all of his speed attributes are equal to Mario's, with the only two exceptions to this being his air speed, which is faster than his normal self's, and his jab, which is slower than his normal self's.
Despite this, at least a few significant differences exist between the two, both in regard to mechanics and aesthetics. Ultimately, these differences, primarily Dr. Mario's superior KO potential, result in him faring better than Mario within the competitive scene. As such, he is currently ranked 11th on the tier list, four places higher than his normal self.
Trophies
Dr. Mario, like the rest of the playable characters, has three different trophies dedicated to him. The Viruses from the Dr. Mario game also appear as a trophy. His Classic mode trophy is as follows:
Dr. Mario Immaculate in his medical garb, Dr. Mario destroys killer viruses with his amazing vitamin capsules. With his dedicated nurse, Princess Peach, at his side, Dr. Mario spends day and night in his laboratory working on new miracle cures. Somehow he's managed to keep up with all the new viruses that have arisen over the years.
- Dr. Mario, 10/90 (NES,GB)
![Dr. Mario [Classic Mode] trophy](https://ssb.wiki.gallery/images/thumb/3/3f/Dr._Mario_Trophy_Melee.png/90px-Dr._Mario_Trophy_Melee.png)
Dr. Mario [Classic Mode] trophy
![Dr. Mario [Smash, Adventure Mode] trophy](https://ssb.wiki.gallery/images/thumb/0/05/Dr._Mario_Trophy_%28Smash%29.png/106px-Dr._Mario_Trophy_%28Smash%29.png)
Dr. Mario [Smash, Adventure Mode] trophy
![Dr. Mario [Smash, All-Star Mode] trophy](https://ssb.wiki.gallery/images/thumb/9/91/Dr._Mario_Trophy_%28Smash_2%29.png/90px-Dr._Mario_Trophy_%28Smash_2%29.png)
Dr. Mario [Smash, All-Star Mode] trophy
![Dr. Mario [Classic Mode] trophy](/File:Dr._Mario_Trophy_Melee.png)
![Dr. Mario [Smash, Adventure Mode] trophy](/File:Dr._Mario_Trophy_(Smash).png)
![Dr. Mario [Smash, All-Star Mode] trophy](/File:Dr._Mario_Trophy_(Smash_2).png)
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Dr. Mario was one of the five playable characters in Melee who did not return as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Instead, his only appearance in the game is as a single sticker that can only be used to power up characters from the Mario universe and Yoshi. Additionally, he is referenced with the inclusion of "Dr. Mario (Melee)" as an immediately available music track for PictoChat, and the inclusion of "Chill (Dr. Mario)" as an unlockable music track for Flat Zone 2.
Unfinished data
While Dr. Mario does not appear as a playable character, an unfinished character file that makes reference to him exists inside the game's files, called (ef_dr_mario.pac). There is no explanation as to why the data exists; however, it is commonly inferred that he was intended to be included in Brawl's roster before being scrapped for unknown reasons, though he is uncovered by hacking in a Mario alternate costume.
Sticker
| Name | Game | Effect | Character(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Mario | Nintendo Puzzle Collection |  Attack +18
|
    
|
.png) Dr. Mario (Nintendo Puzzle Collection) |
In Super Smash Bros. 4
As a playable character
After being absent from Brawl, Dr. Mario returned as an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. Although he was originally planned to be an alternate costume of Mario, Dr. Mario ultimately retained his status as a clone late in SSB4's development for the purpose of appealing to his Melee fanbase.[1]
Dr. Mario's moveset from Melee has been largely unchanged, with its most notable addition being his own Final Smash called Doctor Finale. True to its name, it is Dr. Mario's version of Mario's Mario Finale and uses giant Megavitamins instead of streams of fire, as well as boasting more power. His design is now based on a combination of his appearance as of Dr. Mario 64 and the dark gray pants he sported in Melee.
Dr. Mario is currently ranked 49th on the tier list, placing him within the F tier. Unlike in Melee, Dr. Mario now functions as a slower, yet stronger Mario: he still possesses noticeably more power overall than his normal self (which has been increased even further since Melee), but he is now noticeably slower overall. Additionally, both his combo game and recovery are noticeably weaker than Mario's, with the latter trait's weakness being attributed to his slower mobility. These factors have resulted in Dr. Mario's tier status and tournament representation both suffering from a vast downturn compared to his appearance in Melee.
Trophies
- Dr. Mario
In the 1990 puzzle game Dr. Mario, Mario threw on a white coat and decided to take a shot at that whole "medicine" thing. In this game, he's a balanced fighter who can throw Megavitamin capsules and nimbly deflect blows with his Super Sheet. He's not quite as quick as normal Mario, but his attacks deal a bit more damage.
In Dr. Mario, released in Europe in 1991, Mario threw on a white coat and decided to have a bash at the whole medicine thing. In this game, he's an all-rounder who can throw Megavitamin capsules and nimbly deflect blows with his Super Sheet. He's not quite as quick as normal Mario, but his attacks deal a bit more damage.
- Dr. Mario (Alt.)
- Mario and Dr. Mario are only slightly different. Basically, Dr. Mario is stronger, but his MD slows his speed and lowers his jump. He also has a move Mario doesn't: Dr. Tornado, a down special that can trap opponents before launching them. You can move left and right while doing it and press the button repeatedly to rise into the air.
- Mario and Dr. Mario are only slightly different. Basically, Dr. Mario is stronger, but his heavy coat affects his speed and jumping. He also has a move Mario doesn't: Dr. Tornado, a down special that can trap opponents before launching them. You can move left and right while doing it and press the button repeatedly to rise into the air.
Classic (3DS)
Classic (Wii U)
Alt. (3DS)
Alt. (Wii U)
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
As a playable character
Dr. Mario returns as an unlockable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He still functions as a slower yet stronger clone of Mario, yet has nevertheless been marginally decloned, thanks to his slightly higher traction and new back throw: a two-handed overhead toss with much higher KO power than before. Dr. Mario has also gained a new down aerial: a downwards dropkick which possesses meteor smashing potential like his base character's forward aerial.
Despite the term "Echo Fighter" being used in Ultimate to officially denote clone characters, Dr. Mario is not labeled as such. No reason has officially been given for this oddity, though it is likely due to Dr. Mario debuting in Melee rather than SSB4 or Ultimate as was the case of other Echo Fighters. Aside from having an updated idle animation, slightly higher traction compared to Mario, an altered animation for his side special, as well as the aforementioned back throw and down aerial, he has not been further decloned. He has also received many of the same changes and reworks as Mario.
Spirits
- Dr. Mario Fighter Spirit.png
8. Dr. Mario
Trivia
- Dr. Mario and Young Link are the only clones who are the exact same character as the character they are cloned from. However, in Young Link's case, this only applies to his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
- He is the only character in the series whose voice clips are taken directly from another fighter’s.
- He is the only clone from Melee to return in a later installment while remaining a full clone.
- Dr. Mario is the only Mario representative who:
- Has been an unlockable character in all of his appearances.
- Has been removed from a later installment.
References
