Charles Martinet stopped recording character voices for Nintendo games in 2023 and became a Mario Ambassador. Nintendo later confirmed Kevin Afghani as Mario’s new voice actor; Afghani voiced Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
What changed for Charles Martinet?
Nintendo of America announced on August 21, 2023, that Martinet would step back from recording character voices for Nintendo games and take on the newly named role of Mario Ambassador. Martinet had voiced Mario, Luigi, Wario and Waluigi in Nintendo games. Nintendo thanked him, saying: “It’s been a privilege working with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years and we want to thank and celebrate him.” (AP News, August 21, 2023)
Who is the new voice of Mario?
Nintendo confirmed Kevin Afghani as Mario’s new voice actor in October 2023. Afghani voiced both Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which launched for Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2023. (Game Informer, October 13, 2023)
Why did Martinet step down?
Nintendo did not give a reason for the change in its August announcement, as reported by the Associated Press. The available reporting does not establish that age, health, performance or a conflict prompted the decision, so those explanations should not be treated as fact.
#1 Best Overall
- Find wonder in the Flower Kingdom in the next side-scrolling Super Mario adventure
- Collect Wonder Flowers for surprising, game-changing effects like pipes coming alive, an enemy stampede, and much, much more
- Choose from the largest cast of characters in a side-scrolling Mario game, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy and other favorites
- Ease into the action with four different-colored Yoshis and Nabbit who can’t take damage
- Discover new power-ups like Elephant Fruit, which transforms Mario and friends into an elephant that can swing its trunk and spray water
What is a Mario Ambassador?
The title’s practical scope was not clear when it was announced. At a GalaxyCon Austin panel in September 2023, Martinet said he did not yet know what the role involved and added that he was “not retired” as a voice actor generally. He also described himself as an ambassador of Nintendo and Mario at events. Those were his comments at the time, not a formal description of the role’s duties or its current scope. (Nintendo Life, September 5, 2023)
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Super Mario Bros. Wonder : Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51L8nX0TqaL._SL160_.jpg)
- Find wonder in the Flower Kingdom in the next side-scrolling Super Mario adventure
- Collect Wonder Flowers for surprising, game-changing effects like pipes coming alive, an enemy stampede, and much, much more
- Choose from the largest cast of characters in a side-scrolling Mario game, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy and other favorites
- Ease into the action with four different-colored Yoshis and Nabbit who can’t take damage
- Discover new power-ups like Elephant Fruit, which transforms Mario and friends into an elephant that can swing its trunk and spray water
Rank #4
- Find wonder in the Flower Kingdom in the next side-scrolling Super Mario adventure
- Collect Wonder Flowers for surprising, game-changing effects like pipes coming alive, an enemy stampede, and much, much more
- Choose from the largest cast of characters in a side-scrolling Mario game, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy and other favorites
- Ease into the action with four different-colored Yoshis and Nabbit who can’t take damage
- Discover new power-ups like Elephant Fruit, which transforms Mario and friends into an elephant that can swing its trunk and spray water
Rank #3
- Choose heroic Super Mario characters and power-ups Choose between well-known characters such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi or Toad. Transform yourself into Elephant Mario with a surprising new power-up and poor opponents with your trunk!
- Share the miracle with friends and Mario fans games with up to three friends to experience the game-changing wonders locally on a Nintendo Switch console as you master the levels as a team and support each other on the way to the goal!
Rank #2
- Super Mario Bros: Wonder was awarded Best Family Game at the awards ceremony as part of The Game Awards
- The classic Mario experience is turned upside down by the new miracle flower item. When you collect it, the game changes: tubes come to life, you turn into a giant spiked ball and much more happens!
- Play with up to three friends on one Nintendo Switch console to tackle levels together in local mode.
- Choose from the popular characters Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi or Toad and start a fantastic journey full of wonders.
- Turn into Elephant Mario with a surprising new power-up and use your trunk to defeat your opponents!
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