Super Mario 3 was the culmination of the Nintendo Entertainment System’s popularity. By 1989, just about everyone had an NES, and soon enough everyone would own Super Mario 3. And believe me, this game didn’t just live up to everyone’s expectations, it blew them away like Invincible Mario through Koopas. Frankly, its probably my favorite game for the NES, and still in my overall top 5.

As a result, the marketing machine at Nintendo was eager to put Mario’s face everywhere. They had a Saturday morning cartoon show, trading cars, pasta, you name it. So it should come as no surprise that this gained the attention of Ronald McDonald himself. Soon after Mario 3’s release, four fabulous toys found there way into the fabled Happy Meal, easily putting it into the top 5 Happy Meals of all time.

Believe you me, Matt circa 1989 was pumped to get the latest and possibly greatest McDonalds toys. I still remember the commercial for it, featuring Mario and Ronald McDonald comparing boxes. Mario’s was a question mark box containing a leaf, while Ronald’s was a Cheeseburger Happy Meal box. Frankly that’s a tough choice. I don’t think there’s been a crossover like that since Darth Vader had a stare down with the Burger King this past summer.

So, let’s take a looksee at the toys from the Super Mario 3 Happy Meal. Get out your leaf, slip into a frog suit, and don’t forget your warp whistle. And be sure to watch out for those Koopa Kids and their Doom Ships!

First up we have the big man himself, Mario. Decked out in his full Raccoon costume, Mario was spring-loaded and could jump rather high. This was a favorite among kids and parents alike, because of its awesome jumping action, and its ability to distract children long enough for parents to steal their kids’ fries.

Next, we have the beta male of the Mario Bros team, Luigi. Luigi is seen here on a cloud, probably returning from a trip to Coin Heaven. To make things even more difficult for Bowser’s Troops, Luigi is clutching a star, just waiting to spring upon some unsuspecting Koopa that gets a little too close to him.

Choosing not to license his own image, Bowser has sent the grunts of his forces to McDonalds for reproduction. First up we have the Koopa Paratrooper. Attached to the Koopa is a pump and tube that makes the Koopa jump. Not very fast mind you, giving the Mario Bros plenty of time to eat their own Happy Meal and then jump on the sluggish Koopa.

Finally, we have one of my favorite Mario villains, ranked second only to Ludwig Von Koopa, the Goomba! These bad boys proved that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, as although they look short and stocky, these guys were Olympic Level gymnasts, back-flipping as easily as you or I would do a jumping jack. With that kind of agility, it seems strange that they would be so easy to squash in the game. Guess they weren’t as motivated in the game.

Well there you have it, another great Happy Meal at McDonalds. While there would be other video game related Happy Meals, including Sonic the Hedgehog, none would have the same impact as good old Super Mario 3. I guess they really have can’t have Happy Meals based on today’s video games, as San Andreas isn’t as family friendly. Although they could include a free hot coffee with every purchase.

In an interesting sidenote to this article, I came across some great merchandise while looking for pics related to Super Mario 3. It started out with a website where a guy was selling a Mario 3 Happy Meal box for $2 USD. Naturally, I scooped it up immediately and kept searching for more pics. This lead me to another website where a lady was selling all kinds of Happy Meal boxes including Mario 3, Muppet Babies, and Real Ghostbusters. Not being satisfied, I did a search on eBay, and found a Super Mario 3 sign that was used on the Menu at Mickey D’s. The auction ends in 4 days, so I’m hoping to pick it up. I took a look at the seller’s other auctions and found other signs, including one with the Mac Tonight guy. I think I may have found some new collectables to collect. All because of this article. I’m telling you, I can’t make this stuff up.

For those interested in seeing the Mario McDonalds commercials, visit this site. Wasn’t that nice of me, hmmmmmm?