Mario
Age: 30.
Job: Plumber.
Sidelines: Carpenter, doctor, archaeologist.
Antagonist: Bowser, an evil turtle with an unwelcome fondness for young women.
Allies: His brother Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach.
Quest: To restore order to Mushroom World and rescue Princess Peach.
Methods: Power-ups, jumping, collecting coins.
Greatest achievement: Preventing arch-nemesis Bowser from taking over the universe.
Classic line: "It's a-me, Mario!"
Mario Monti
Age: 68.
Job: Italian prime minister-designate.
Sidelines: Advisor to Goldman Sachs.
Antagonist: Silvio Berlusconi. Not a turtle.
Allies: Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel.
Quest: To restore stability to Italy and rescue the eurozone.
Methods: Labour reforms; taxes; collecting coins.
Greatest achievement: Preventing General Electric from acquiring technology firm Honeywell.
Classic line: "Italy must become a point of strength, and not of weakness, in the union of which we were founders."
