There are a few key points in video game history where a game singlehandedly becomes the public's entire concept of what a video game is. Games that not only become so popular in their own right that they become ubiquitously synonymous with the medium itself, but prove to be so inspirational to other developers that they bring about a convergence.

Within a year of Super Mario Bros, every other developer was trying to make a Super Mario Bros. Mario became video games, and through repeated demonstrations of polish and visionaryism, he would remain video games for the next four console generations.

Mario is good.