Dr. Mario World is the latest installment in a line of Dr. Mario games. In this puzzle game series, Dr. Mario is tasked with matching virus colors with his signature vitamins. Stages are cleared once you have horizontally and vertically matched all the viruses. In previous games, the vitamin capsules have been unlimited. Think like the popular game Tetris.
In Dr. Mario World, being it’s first appearance on mobile, things were switched up a bit. This time, the capsules are limited. It’s up to you to figure out the best combination or procedure to get rid all of the pesky viruses.
Fortunately, you aren’t alone in this journey. Dr. Mario is now joined by the likes of Dr. Bowser, Dr. Peach, and several others! Who knew the Mushroom Kingdom was a pipeline for medical professionals?!
As you might expect, each doctor has his or her own special abilities. Mario loves his power-ups! Additionally, assistants can be utilized as a power-up to for one-time advantageous tactics. These range from the ever-popular Goombas and Bloopers to King Bob-omb and King Boo!
As previously mentioned, the viruses are new and improved in Dr. Mario World. Well, maybe not improved. But, there are more of them! Old faces are joined by a few new ones.
In past games, some of the viruses have been given names. Unfortunately in Dr. Mario World, they have been reverted back to just color identification. That’s where I come in!
In this article, let’s combine some light research (link 1 & link 2), a little bit of color theory, and a ton of imagination and give each virus a real-life counterpart. Let’s dive in!
When you are done, check out Yoshyaes’ piece on Mario Tennis Aces for the Nintendo Switch!
Red Virus
- Fever (Dr. Mario – NES)
(ColorMatters.com)
Rabies
Rabies have long been associated with aggressive animals. However, the virus can be, and often is, passed to humans. As with many viruses, the symptoms include fevers and headaches. The key reason we want to associate the red virus with rabies is the aggressive saying “seeing red”. Shockingly, nearly 60,000 people die every year from rabies.
Blue Virus
- Chill (Dr. Mario – NES)
“Blue is… nature’s color for water and sky… it is cold, wet, and slow.”
(ColorMatters.com)
Influenza “the flu”
The flu might be the first virus that most people name when listing viruses. The blue virus is one of the three original Dr. Mario viruses, alongside Red and Yellow. Combining this notoriety with the ambiguity between the Influenza virus and the common cold, we are associating the blue virus with the flu. Influenza claims over half a million lives, every year!
Yellow Virus
(ColorMatters.com)
Ebola
Another well-known virus, Ebola seems deserving of the final OG Dr. Mario virus. Yellow’s association with malaria, an early symptom sharer of Ebola only reinforced this pairing. Striking mostly in outbreaks, the Ebola virus has been estimated to have claimed nearly 30,000 lives. It has an extremely high mortality rate.
Pink Virus
- Confused (Dr. Luigi)
(ColorMatters.com)
HIV (human immunodeficiency viruses)
HIV is often associated with the infection of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). It is a sexually transmitted infection. Though stereotypical, pink has been associated with sex. In total, it is estimated that over 75 million people have been infected from HIV with a mortality rate of 43%. That’s over 30 million deaths.
Light-Blue Virus
- Dizzy (Dr. Luigi)
(ColorMatters.com)
Smallpox
In 1980, Smallpox was claimed to be globally eradicated by the World Health Organization. Symptoms included fever and vomiting followed by skin and mouth rashes. It had a mortality rate of about 30%. This number was even higher among babies. Consequently, the association with light-blue felt appropriate.
Green Virus
N/A
“Green is… the symbol of ecology. It is universally associated with nature…and the environment.”
(ColorMatters.com)
Marbug
The Marbug virus is both a human and non-human primates disease. Compared to Ebola for which non-human primates are only an intermediate host, it is sometimes mistaken for that virus. Coincidentally, there is one major reason why the green virus gets this name. The viruses source is believed to be from the African green monkey. If you ask me, that’s a slam dunk. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Marbug. Also, it has an incredibly high mortality rate.
Purple Virus
N/A
(ColorMatters.com)
Coronavirus
The Coronavirus is the new kid on the block in the virus world. It has been affecting both mammals and birds. In 2019, an outbreak began in Wuhan, China and as of this writing, it is still an ongoing worldwide dilemma. The association between the virus and color purple was from two things. One, the lack of knowledge around the virus. Two, the color purple’s history of being mysterious. As of this writing, over 60,000 people have been reported to have contracted the virus.
Read more about the Coronavirus.
Hopefully, you know a little bit more about some of the most devastating viruses the planet has seen. What will you do with this knowledge? Will it propel you try that much harder in Dr. Mario World now that each color has a “face”? Have you given the game a try yet?
You can pick it up free from the Google Play store or the App Store today!
Wahoo! You are a Super Reader! But the adventure doesn’t stop here… There’s more of this project in another castle! This article is just one level in an entire Super Mario Multiverse, a galactic collaboration between writers around the world sharing a bit of our hearts and memories about our favorite Mario games. Visit the Center of the Multiverse to see more:
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