Good old days

[Cobra]

It is no secret that the Sega vs. Nintendo days are what I consider the golden age of gaming.
But here is something pretty interesting, this sprite is an unused sprite ripped out of the beautiful game Astal for the Saturn.

Was Mario originally going to be a boss perhaps? We all know Sega & Nintendo like to take borderline stabs at one another, just look at Sonic's sneakers in DK Country in the has-been pile.

[Haoie]

Sonic is fast and sassy.

Mario is slow and, frankly, really homely.

I don't get how a plumber has so much appeal.

[nester]

I guess Mario has that everyman quality that Sonic lacks. Plus he has starred in some wonderful video games. I've never seen  that sprite though. Perhaps it was more of a case of the Sega people goofing around. I imagine video game programing can get tedious.

[Sirgin]

Nice sprite...would've been cool if it actually got in the game.

[Cobra]

Although done by a rival. It is kind of a glimpse of what would it be like if Mario stayed 2D and went 32-bit.

[Sirgin]

Although done by a rival. It is kind of a glimpse of what would it be like if Mario stayed 2D and went 32-bit.

Yeah, you're right. He looks unfriendly here though, almost menacing. Nintendo would've made him look...happier

[Haoie]

Yes, that Mario is like, evil looking.

[captain_nintendo]

It looks like Wario (in a way) dressed in Mario's clothes.

[Cobra]

It is amazing to of put so much work into it, I would have to say at some point they had the full intention of using it.

I'm not surprised he looks less friendly though, this is probably how Sega saw their rival in the day.