Rosalina is a gorgeous space queen and guardian of all of the Lumas. Unlike many Super Mario characters who have existed since the eighties and early nineties, Rosalina debuted in 2007, ready to take Nintendo into the future. With her sparkling blue gown and her intriguing backstory, she instantly made an impression on gamers. Let’s look at the history of Nintendo’s galactic gal.
Super Mario Galaxy
The Wii brought a new era of gaming. The motion controls opened up new dynamics for the gaming experience, and to enhance the attitude of the future being now, Mario journeyed into space for his Wii adventures. In addition to gorgeous music and innovative level design, the game implemented motion controls almost seamlessly into the platforming. You could use the Wii-mote almost like a mouse, waving it to collect Star Bits and perform certain actions.
The leap into the future also involved the creation of a new character. At the beginning of the game, Bowser destroys the Mushroom Kingdom’s Star Festival, freezing the Toads and (of course) kidnapping Peach. All seems lost, but then Mario wakes up to meet little star spirits called Lumas. They take him to their queen, Rosalina, who enlists Mario’s help in reclaiming the Power Stars to power the Comet Observatory. From the beginning, Rosalina is portrayed as wise, mystical, and otherworldly.
Rosalina’s Backstory
Rosalina is one of the few Super Mario characters to have a detailed backstory in one of the games. Periodically throughout Super Mario Galaxy, Mario can visit the library, where Rosalina will read chapters of her backstory from a storybook. She tells the story of how her child self befriended a young Luma and they set off into the stars in search of the Luma’s mother. The story captures both childlike wonder and deep heartbreak as Rosalina ascends to her role as mother of all the Lumas while also accepting that her human family is long dead.
Other Appearances
While Rosalina was a major character in Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2 lacked the Comet Observatory hub world, meaning that her role was reduced to a few minor appearances. However, she soon became playable in Mario Kart, and she would eventually become a staple in other spin-off series like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Tennis. She was also an unlockable playable character in the mainline game Super Mario 3D World. In addition, the plot of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope involves the gang rescuing Rosalina, who has been merged with the villain, Cursa.
The Future?
What does the future hold for this galaxy queen? Well, she is already confirmed as a playable character in Mario Kart World, and she will likely have a role in other Mario spin-off games on the Nintendo Switch 2. However, what is her future in mainline games? Will there ever be a Super Mario Galaxy 3? Could Rosalina perhaps get her own game like Princess Peach? Will she have a role in the upcoming sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie? No matter what happens, Rosalina is sure to remain a favorite with Nintendo fans.
