About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215522-1126399876_04.png" data-ref-id="1300-215522" data-ratio="0.75" data-width="320" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 320px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:75.0%" href="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215522-1126399876_04.png" data-ref-id="1300-215522"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215522-1126399876_04.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215522-1126399876_04.png 320w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" data-width="320"></a></figure><p>Mario is Missing! is a comedic <a href="/edutainment/3015-2173/" data-ref-id="3015-2173">educational</a> <a href="/point-and-click/3015-75/" data-ref-id="3015-75">point-and-click</a> adventure game developed and published by <a href="/the-software-toolworks/3010-10/" data-ref-id="3010-10">The Software Toolworks</a> (with <a href="/mindscape/3010-132/" data-ref-id="3010-132">Mindscape</a> publishing it in Europe) for <a href="/pc/3045-94/" data-ref-id="3045-94">DOS PCs</a> in early 1993.</p><p>Part of the <a href="/mario-discovery-series/3025-3127/" data-ref-id="3025-3127">"Mario Discovery Series"</a> (an <a href="/edutainment/3015-2173/" data-ref-id="3015-2173">edutainment</a> <a href="/spin-off/3015-1100/" data-ref-id="3015-1100">spin-off</a> series of <a href="/nintendo/3010-90/" data-ref-id="3010-90">Nintendo's</a> mascot <a href="/mario/3025-1/" data-ref-id="3025-1">Mario</a> series), Mario is Missing switches the setting from the fantasy world of the <a href="/the-mushroom-kingdom/3035-14/" data-ref-id="3035-14">Mushroom Kingdom</a> to contemporary <a href="/earth/3035-65/" data-ref-id="3035-65">Earth</a>, with some elements from other Western adaptations (such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Super_Mario_Bros._Super_Show!" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!</a>). Intended on teaching geography and social studies with a variety of selectable skill levels, the game also received a historical-focused sibling game with <a href="/marios-time-machine/3030-7067/" data-ref-id="3030-7067">Mario's Time Machine</a>.</p><p>The game puts players in the role of <a href="/luigi/3005-370/" data-ref-id="3005-370">Luigi</a>, brother of the eponymous <a href="/mario/3005-177/" data-ref-id="3005-177">Mario</a>, after the latter becomes captured trying to enter the Anarctic castle of the Koopa King <a href="/bowser/3005-337/" data-ref-id="3005-337">Bowser</a> (who is using stolen artifacts to fund enough high-powered hair dryers to melt the continent). Navigating the castle, Luigi uses various <a href="/teleportation/3015-8/" data-ref-id="3015-8">warp pipes</a> that lead him to one of various <a href="/city/3035-2093/" data-ref-id="3035-2093">cities</a> around the world, where he must use clues to figure out where he is, clear out the <a href="/koopa/3015-120/" data-ref-id="3015-120">Koopas</a>, return stolen artifacts (which involve <a href="/trivia/3015-2810/" data-ref-id="3015-2810">solving trivia questions</a>), and summon <a href="/yoshi/3005-700/" data-ref-id="3005-700">Yoshi</a> to help him return to the castle.</p><p>The game later received a CD-ROM re-release, known as <em>Mario is Missing! CD-ROM Deluxe</em>. Also released on <a href="/mac/3045-17/" data-ref-id="3045-17">Macintosh</a> computers, this version features voice acting, enhanced sound effects, and video clips for several of the game's landmarks. It also received conversions for both the <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a> and <a href="/nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-21/" data-ref-id="3045-21">Nintendo Entertainment System</a> (the latter ported by <a href="/radical-entertainment-inc/3010-2249/" data-ref-id="3010-2249">Radical Entertainment</a>), both of which switch from a point-and-click interface to the series's traditional side-scrolling platforming while using assets and visual styling from the 1990 game <a href="/super-mario-world/3030-1334/" data-ref-id="3030-1334">Super Mario World</a> and simplifying the story.</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p>From the warp doors in Bowser's castle, players are transported to various cities across the world. Here, by the flyers attached to tourist information booths, Luigi discovers that the Koopas have stolen culturally significant artifacts. Luigi is able to speak to other people populating the town, ranging from a professor, to a schoolboy, to a police woman. The player gathers clues to correctly identify the missing artifacts, such as the Sistine Chapel painting, or the Forbidden City. To gather additional clues, Luigi also has access to a computer and telephone, both from which he can learn about the missing artifacts. Luigi can call general information, and also receives calls from Mario from time to time, giving tips on generic gameplay.</p><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/775/215418-1109561316_00.png" data-ref-id="1300-215418" data-size="small" data-ratio="0.87109375" data-width="256" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 256px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:87.1%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/775/215418-1109561316_00.png" data-ref-id="1300-215418"><img alt="Save the world, or keep the flute. Hmm..." src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215418-1109561316_00.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215418-1109561316_00.png 256w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-width="256"></a><figcaption>Save the world, or keep the flute. Hmm...</figcaption></figure><p>Players also have access to an overworld map, showing the street connections, as well as Koopa and warp pipe locations. Being in the real world, Luigi is also able to speed up travel by taking a taxi cab across town, or out to hard to reach places, such as Alcatraz Island.</p><p>A map showing the entire world, called the Globulator, allows players to control Yoshi, as he hops from continent to continent. When the player places Yoshi on the correct city of Luigi's location, Yoshi appears on the stage with him, and Luigi is able to ride the dinosaur throughout the city. Players will not be able to stomp on Koopas until they have acquired Yoshi.</p><p>Once the player has stomped a Koopa to reclaim an artifact, Luigi must take it back to the proper information booth. There, the player will be asked a series of questions by an information attendant, bearing resemblance to Princess Peach. If the player fails a certain number of questions, she will dismiss Luigi as a phony, and he will have to wait until the information booth is reopened to attempt to return the artifact again.</p><p>Upon the successful returning and delivery, Luigi takes a picture of the fully restored artifact for his photo album. Players are able to view this photo album at any point in the game, along with the facts learned along the way about the important cultural piece.</p><h2>Story</h2><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/775/215417-1109440421_01.png" data-ref-id="1300-215417" data-size="small" data-ratio="0.87109375" data-width="256" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 256px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:87.1%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/775/215417-1109440421_01.png" data-ref-id="1300-215417"><img alt="Even the greats have bad days." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-width="256" class="js-lazy-load-image" data-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215417-1109440421_01.png" data-srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215417-1109440421_01.png 256w"><noscript><img alt="Even the greats have bad days." src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215417-1109440421_01.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/775/215417-1109440421_01.png 256w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-width="256"></noscript></a><figcaption>Even the greats have bad days.</figcaption></figure><p>Mario sets off towards Bowser's castle to stop Bowser's evil plan of covering the world in water by melting Antarctica. It is later discovered that Bowser plans to melt the continent with a large number of hair dryers, purchased with money gained from stolen valuable artifacts from across the Earth.</p><p>While Luigi is hesitant to enter Bowser's castle, Mario makes a bold entrance, only to be captured moments later. Luigi must then enter the castle solo, searching through each of the dungeon's warp doors for Mario, while at the same time recovering all of the stolen artifacts from Bowser's loyal Koopas. Upon returning each stolen artifact, more doors to the castle unlock, allowing Luigi to search more places until he eventually reaches Antarctica to save his brother and stop Bowser from his evil plan.</p>