Chapter 9 - 8: Testing Super Mario Bros and Planning Ahead
"Finally, Super Mario Bros. is complete and ready for testing!" Zaboru exclaimed, feeling a surge of excitement as he slotted the cartridge into his console. The satisfying click echoed in the room, followed by the cheerful chime of his console powering on.
Gripping his controller, Zaboru pressed "Start." Instantly, the iconic Super Mario Bros. music began to play, filling the room with nostalgia. Mario appeared on the screen, standing on a colorful landscape of blue skies, white clouds, and earthy platforms.
As he guided Mario through the first level, jumping over pipes and stomping Goombas, Zaboru couldn't stop grinning. "It's just like I remembered," he muttered to himself, immersed in the game. After clearing the first stage and sending Mario down a pipe, Zaboru noticed a new addition—a small black-and-gray character hopping around near the pipe's edge.
Zaboru laughed out loud. "That's Zabo-man! My personal easter egg!"
Zabo-man was a character Zaboru had designed as a playful homage to himself. He envisioned Zabo-man becoming a recurring figure in all his future games, whether as a cameo, a side character, or even a secret boss. The idea thrilled him.
"Stan Lee had his cameos in the MCU; I'll have Zabo-man in my games!" Zaboru said with a grin.
He decided to integrate Zabo-man into his previous games too:
Donkey Kong: Zabo-man occasionally pops up to bonk Donkey Kong on the head, causing the big ape to momentarily stumble.
Mario Bros.: Zabo-man appears as a hidden enemy if the player scores high enough.