How Nintendo Perfected Mario’s Controls: Insights from Rare’s Chris Sutherland

Nintendo’s enduring legacy in platforming game design is inseparable from the character who helped define it—Mario.

Over nearly four decades, the Super Mario series has set the benchmark for controls, player feedback, and platforming innovation.

Chris Sutherland, former Rare Ltd developer renowned for his work on Donkey Kong Country, recently discussed how Mario’s controls have not only influenced iconic games but also established long-lasting design standards for the genre. Reflecting on his experience creating Donkey Kong Country—a classic itself inspired by Nintendo’s earlier platformers like Super Mario Bros.

and Super Mario World—Sutherland explained how the evolution of Mario’s controls was foundational.

"In the original Donkey Kong, Mario’s jumping followed a set arc.

However, in Super Mario Bros., players gained enhanced control of Mario mid-jump," Sutherland noted.

"This added a significant element of risk and reward—approaching enemies to jump on them required precision, and mistiming meant taking a hit.

Additionally, the jump mechanic was nuanced; the height depended on how long you held the button.

Even familiar enemies like Koopas responded to this, as jumping on them could knock them away instead of simply defeating them.

These subtle differences meant every action had multiple possible outcomes, deepening the gameplay." Discussing Super Mario Bros.

3, Sutherland highlighted how Nintendo used transformation suits to showcase Mario’s expanding repertoire of moves.

"Mario’s suits in Super Mario Bros.

3 served not only as entertaining visual upgrades but also as indicators of new abilities.

These transformations underscored the variety in gameplay that Nintendo was keen to deliver," Sutherland said.

He emphasized that the visual communication of new abilities was critical; simply giving Mario new moves without a transforming element would have lacked the same charm and clarity for players.

"Visual cues were—and still are—vital for helping players understand their character’s capabilities." On the topic of Super Mario Land for the Game Boy, Sutherland praised how Nintendo adapted the core Mario gameplay experience to portable hardware.

"Super Mario Land managed to retain the feel of Mario despite simpler, non-blurry backgrounds and a slower pace, which suited the clarity and size limitations of the Game Boy screen.

Yet the essence of Mario’s signature jump and enemy interactions remained consistent, effectively shrinking the NES experience into the player’s pocket." Turning to Super Mario 64, one of Nintendo’s most revolutionary titles, Sutherland spoke about the significant leap into 3D gaming.

"Nintendo wanted Mario to feel truly free.

The game provides players with the ability to run, jump, backflip, and more within a fully explorable environment—a sensation never before experienced.

While direct translation of 2D mechanics, such as jumping on enemies, introduced new challenges like judging depth, Nintendo addressed this by introducing alternative attacks, such as Mario’s punch, to preserve gameplay fluidity and enjoyment." Since its 1985 debut with Super Mario Bros.

on the Nintendo Entertainment System, the franchise has expanded onto every major Nintendo console, from the Nintendo Switch and eShop releases to appearances in Nintendo Direct showcases.

Sales of Mario titles routinely top the charts, with Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch surpassing over 26 million copies sold worldwide. The legacy of Mario’s controls continues to resonate with both developers and players worldwide, shaping almost every platformer that followed.

Insights from industry veterans like Chris Sutherland underline how thoughtful iteration and a commitment to player experience keep Mario at the forefront of game design.

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