Game Over
A Game Over is a term in nearly every Mario Game, given to the player when they run out of lives. Usually, they cannot continue and must restart the game, but can still often load their progress. In few cases, they cannot load any progress at all and a Game Over can be more of a big deal than in other games.
The game over screen differs from game to game, but the text is usually against a black screen and playing background music that seems to be mocking the player.
In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, if the player dies in World 9, the Game Over screen looks different.
Apparently, a Game Over in the Mario series is the equivalent of death, as evidenced in Super Paper Mario, when Dimentio sends Mario and his teammates to "the next world", which is like either going to Heaven or Hell. Mario, Luigi, and Bowser end up in The Underwhere which is a little like Hell, where some Shaydes ask Mario how his "game", referring to his life, was. Also, many Shaydes can be seen discussing how they got a Game Over. The Overthere, where Princess Peach went, is like the Heaven surrounded in clouds, sun, and rainbows.
That said, all the conversations in the The Underwhere seem to suggest that Shaydes can request an audience with Queen Jaydes who will weigh in their sins and send them to The Overthere, submit them to punishments befitting of their crimes or even return them to the land of the playing if the situation calls it.
One Shayde speculates that if a dead person dies in the Underwhere or Overthere, their aftergame ends and they go to the "post-aftergame", if such a place really exists.
Aside from Bowser (who appears to have infinite lives, though his deaths in New Super Mario Bros. and Super Paper Mario seem to be the exception, as in the former he has to be revived by Bowser Jr. with his bones, and in the latter, he was only temporarily killed. However, it is also likely he survived all his other defeats), several enemies have appeared to return from the dead. The most infamous is Petey Piranha, who dies after each battle yet often returns for another game. King Boo was also killed in Super Mario Sunshine, yet returned in Super Princess Peach. Also, the Koopalings were apparently killed in their respective battles in Super Mario World and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, (either falling into the lava or vanishing in a puff of smoke in the former, and suffering the normal enemy death scene in the latter) yet returned in Partners in Time and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, respectively. It is likely that Bowser somehow revived all seven for their next appearances. This suggests that he has the power to resurrect his destroyed followers. It is more than likely, since Bowser Jr. is seen bringing Bowser back to life in New Super Mario Bros. after he is killed and reduced to a skeleton.
In Super Mario 64, when Mario gets a game over, the game will return to the title screen, but the background is red, and says "Game Over". Disappointing music plays, and Mario's face looks worn out. In Super Mario 64 DS, Mario's face doesn't appear, but the disappointing music still plays.
In Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy, the "Too Bad!" changes into a red Game Over sign. In the latter one, the color of is purple. Both include a brief disappointing song.
