Hotel Mario: The game Nintendo would rather forget?
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879 mots | Temps de lecture : 4 minute(s)
Published on June 1, 2025 | Retro Gaming
In Nintendo 's history, some games stand out for their excellence and mark entire generations. Others, however, prefer to remain in the shadows. Hotel Mario , released in 1994 on the Philips CD-i console, undeniably falls into this second category. But what makes this title so special, and why does Nintendo seem to want to erase it from its archives?
Summary
- The eventful history of Hotel Mario
- Divisive gameplay
- The cult cinematics that have marked the Internet
- Why does Nintendo want to forget Hotel Mario?
- Hotel Mario's legacy today
- Summary table
- FAQ
- Conclusion
The eventful history of Hotel Mario
A partnership gone wrong
In the early 1990s, Nintendo collaborated with Philips to create a CD player for the Super Nintendo. The project failed, but Philips retained the right to use some Nintendo characters on its own console, the CD-i . This situation gave rise to Hotel Mario , a game developed without Nintendo's direct supervision.
The birth of a video game UFO
Released in 1994 , the game puts Mario on a strange mission: closing the doors of enemy-infested hotels to save Princess Peach. All in a disconcerting gameplay , far from his usual adventures.
Divisive gameplay
Atypical mechanics
The player must close all the doors in a hotel while avoiding enemies. Timed , each level relies on timing , dodging, and memory. Some levels require reopening and closing doors multiple times to progress.
Mixed critical reception
- Cons: Repetitive gameplay, dated graphics, limited lifespan
- Positive points: decent music, original concept, smooth animations
The cult cinematics that have marked the Internet
Memorable animated sequences
The opening and closing scenes, with their strange dialogue and questionable voice acting, went viral . The line "Nice of the Princess to invite us over for a picnic, eh Luigi?" has remained in the memory as an iconic meme.
The meme effect and popular culture
Thanks to the internet, Hotel Mario has achieved posthumous fame. Comedy videos and remixes based around the game have transformed the title into a reluctant cult classic .
Why does Nintendo want to forget Hotel Mario?
A question of quality control
Without direct supervision, the game falls short of Nintendo's usual standards : unintuitive gameplay, awkward mechanics, and repetitive design. The company thus prefers to relegate it to oblivion.
Brand image protection
Each Mario game shapes the image of the franchise , so Nintendo seeks to maintain the consistency and overall quality of its productions, minimizing the exposure of failures resulting from uncontrolled partnerships.
Hotel Mario's legacy today
An object of study
Despite its shortcomings, the game is used in game design courses as a counterexample: poor exploitation of the license, inconsistency with the original universe, and lack of creative oversight.
A rare piece for collectors
The game has become a sought-after collector's item . In good condition, a complete copy on CD-i can fetch a high price, especially among fans of video game curiosities.
Summary table: Hotel Mario at a glance
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1994 |
| Platform | Philips CD-i |
| Developer | Fantasy Factory |
| Concept | Close doors in different hotels to save Peach |
| Special feature | Nintendo's Uncontrolled Mario Game |
| Reception | Negative to moderate reviews; internet cult following |
FAQ: Hotel Mario
- Was Hotel Mario developed by Nintendo? No, it was developed by Fantasy Factory without any direct involvement from Nintendo.
- Can it be played today? Yes, via an original CD-i (rare) or emulation, although CD-i emulation is complex.
- Why did it become a cult classic? Mainly because of its awkward cutscenes that have become internet memes.
- Is the game considered canon? No, it is officially ignored by Nintendo.
Conclusion: a failure that has become a cult
Hotel Mario illustrates the excesses that can occur when a creator loses control of their work . While Nintendo prefers to move on, fans have given this title a second life by elevating it to the status of cult curiosity . With its strange gameplay, viral cutscenes, and rare status, Hotel Mario remains a unique and unforgettable piece of video game history.