I've just stumbled across this ambitious fan project that has some great ideas of where to take the stale Mario franchise. Instead of continuing the kid-friendly art style we've known for years, the folks behind I, Mario want to take the series in a more mature, realistic direction. Here's their mission statement:

I, Mario is the title of a game project intended to reinvent the setting of the Super Mario series of games, in a meticulously realistic style. It is meant as a tribute to the series, an exercise in imaginative science fiction for the project members, and an opportunity to create a new game. ... While it is true that the game is darker than the original Mario series, this is merely a result of contrast with the original, sunny, hyperglycemic style of the main series. The project team has discovered that attempting to translate the original mythos into a more realistic science fiction setting simply produces many dark aspects. Its intention is to remain faithful to the Super Mario series, while simultaneously diverging from it, in order to produce a realistic justification for and presentation of the Mushroom Kingdom's oddities. The team has, however, been forced to take certain creative liberties with the series in order to produce a coherent and satisfying game.

You can check out their Wikipedia-type entry here and then their message board here. Otherwise, check after the jump for some cool character art and background story. Personally, I'd love to see something like this happen. It would certainly liven up and give us a fresh perspective on a series that has been used and abused to no end by Nintendo. Here's the backstory they have laid out so far: This is pretty much all the ideas I've come up with for the novelization. This will also be useful for newcomers trying to grasp the core aspects of the project. Most of it is based on the concepts from the original thread and the forum, and it was a little difficult tying all of the stronger ideas together. Not much has been set in stone yet, so if there's something that is missing or should be changed, please let me know. Thanks. The Bomb: Aftermath Though its creator remains largely unknown and the events behind its use were lost over time, the Bomb drastically altered the physics of the Mushroom Kingdom upon detonation, allowing fluctuations in gravity, mass, etc. It would also tear open a large "warp-hole" in the center of the Kingdom that would slowly envelop the land. Those at the center of the explosion died instantly, but just within the perimeter it caused mutations that changed most of the surviving races, giving them strange abilities and characteristics. The creatures at the outer reaches of the Kingdom would remain unaltered, "pure" races. The Koopa Wars Shortly before the attacks began, the Toads ruled the Mushroom Kingdom. Then a human female appeared from thin air and was perceived as a divine being. Ongoing politics within the Kingdom coupled with her sudden arrival eventually dethroned the Toad Queen and thus the human was christened Princess Peach Toadstool, new leader of the MK. The newly formed Toad government took advantage of Peach's figurehead status, imposing harsh rule and attempting to overthrow existing Koopa settlements. This culminated into the Koopa Wars, a series of battles and political strife over territory and civil liberties between MK's races. The war finally landmarked by the destruction of the original Mushroom Palace, leaving the Toad survivors to migrate outward to the edges of the land once the Koopa took it over. After they had successfully distanced themselves, the Toad settlers founded Land's End, a place that existed outside of the Kingdom's former rule. Laki, a former activist, was the only Koopa who lived there. Telepathy and Humans Due to a combination of their unique physiology and the lingering effects the Bomb has on them, humans have increased mental strength in the Mushroom Kingdom. When properly applied, humans can gain incredible telepathic energy. The regular consumption of Starmen accelerates this ability. Booster and Shy Guys Booster, a Starman trafficker and junkie, makes his way into the Kingdom and quickly gains his powers. He uses them to manipulate the Shy Guy tribes into working under his command and discovers information about the Princess Peach. The idea of meeting the only other human in the Kingdom intrigues him and his actions in attempting to obtain her kick off another battle. The Koopa Empire The altered Koopas grow in number and support their new leader, Bowser. Lakitu, brother of Laki and the most intelligent of the beasts, informs them of Peach's evacuatory escape from the castle before its destruction and his plan to uncover her secret location. Meanwhile, Booster's spies help piece together facts and rumors to find the Princess first. After his confused attempt to mate, Booster explains the newfound benefits of the Starmen and helps to develop her powers. With Peach and the Shy Guys by his side, Booster engages in the last of the Koopa battles, destroying many of the altered creatures. Peach disappears, Bowser is mortally wounded, and the Shy Guy army recedes into the jungle. A New Goal Much later, Luigi and Mario enter the MK at opposite ends of the land. Luigi stumbles about the untamed landscape, struggling to gain understanding. His powers emerge, but he mistakes this for insanity as he becomes accustomed the wilderness. He eventually reaches Land's End and is informed of the princess' existence. After a failed attempt to reach Bowser's castle, Luigi returns to the wild and finds Mario in an open field, alive.