Mario
The main mascot and guide, appearing throughout the interface and mini-game presentation.
Documented for this version
Mouse Left Button | Select tools, colors, stamps, and canvas options; draw or place items. |
|---|---|
Mouse Right Button | Use the alternate tool behavior shown by the current interface. The exact function depends on the selected tool. |
Start | Pause or confirm in applicable screens. |
Select | Open or change applicable interface options. |
The Super NES Mouse is the primary input device.
Some menu functions vary according to the currently selected tool.
How it plays
The main interface presents a large canvas with drawing tools, colors, patterns, stamps, erasers, and screen-area controls. Players can create still pictures, frame-based animations, and simple musical compositions, then replay or revise their work.
Progression is non-linear: there are no stages, character statistics, or campaign objectives. The separate Gnat Attack mode uses the mouse for shooting flying targets across successive screens, while the creative tools provide the primary long-term activity.
Plan your run
Begin with a rough sketch and use the undo or eraser tools before adding fine details. Patterns and stamps can quickly fill large areas, while animation is easier to manage when each frame changes only a small part of the scene.
For Gnat Attack, keep the cursor near the center between targets and make short, deliberate movements. Save or record important creations regularly because the software is designed for making and revising work rather than tracking a conventional progression.
Meet the cast
The main mascot and guide, appearing throughout the interface and mini-game presentation.
Before you begin
Use the Super NES Mouse for precise drawing and menu selection.
Try stamps and patterns before spending time on detailed freehand work.
Animation is easier to edit when frames are planned in small steps.
Mario Paint is a creative art application and minigame collection developed by Nintendo R&D1 and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Using the Super NES Mouse, players can draw, animate short scenes, compose music, design stamps, and create custom patterns. The software also includes the action minigame Gnat Attack, which provides a simple arcade-style diversion. Rather than presenting a traditional story or campaign, Mario Paint is an open-ended sandbox built around experimentation and saving creations. It was well received for making mouse-based creativity accessible on a home console and became one of the system’s most distinctive nontraditional releases.
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