You may not know that Mario wasn't born on the NES in Super Mario Bros., but in the arcade during the early 1980's.

With video games booming with the Atari and the arcade games, this one was one of the best, yet seems to be underrated to titles like Pac-Man and Space Invaders. But when this was released, nobody knew that the heroin of this game would be as notable as he is today.

This game was called Donkey Kong. A crazed primate, going by the name Donkey Kong, has taken the beautiful Pauline hostage. Jumpman, known today as Mario, must save the day as he battles through platform after platform with fireballs and hammers raining down on him.

Released in 1981, Donkey Kong was the first sighting of today's video game star. We will skip the sequel, going by the name Donkey Kong, Jr. and head on to Mario's first major role.

After we met our plumber hero, Jumpman, in Donkey Kong, we met up with him again in his first starring role in Mario Bros.

Mario Bros. looked similar to Donkey Kong. It was also an arcade game.This time Mario, and his brother that is almost exactly identical (until it becomes obvious they are not) to Mario, Luigi. Mario and Luigi battle through the sewers of Brooklyn where odd villains are taking over the pipes.

Mario and Luigi, either solo or together, must battle through infinite levels to beat the high score as you must kill the enemies using the "POW" block, which knocks enemies on their backs, or by hitting them from underneath, by jumping and hitting the blue blocks the enemies are walking on. Kill them as they are on their backs and score points. The objective is simple: high score.