Super Mario Bros. is possibly the most iconic gaming franchise and Nintendo’s mascot worldwide. Standing alongside the red plumber is his loyal brother, Luigi. Since the days of the original arcade cabinet, the duo have become arguably the most iconic siblings in gaming.
Throughout this history, Luigi has attained a sizeable fanbase of his own. While many see Luigi as just a green Mario for player two, his character and lore go far beyond that. To this day, he is a staple Nintendo character. Here is exactly why Luigi earned his popularity.
Luigi Is More Than Green Mario
As many are probably aware, he began his gaming career as a palette-swap of Mario for the original arcade game. Since then, his character has evolved, and he has developed his character as Mario’s goofier, paranoid, yet ultimately heroic brother. Compared to Mario’s more stoic persona as a silent main protagonist, many find Luigi more interesting. Over the years, the character has seen many different takes, such as his snarkier characterization in the Super Mario Super Show courtesy of Danny Wells.
This also extends to gameplay, such as in the Super Smash Bros. series, where Mario is a more rounded character, and Luigi is much more skill-based with his agility. There are probably several mains of his who can attest.
His Unique Titles
The next reason he deserves more appreciation is that he gave us several hit titles during his run. Much like Wario and Princess Peach, Luigi himself has naturally had several spinoff titles. Some were retellings of Mario’s games, such as New Super Luigi U, and others were fairly avante-garde, such as the educational game Mario is Missing.
The best example of this would easily be the Luigi’s Mansion trilogy. An homage to the Ghostbusters franchise, the game follows the plumber as he clears out an abandoned manse and beyond of evil spirits. The game is known as one of the most unique titles in the franchise and the highlight of the character’s career. What makes these games classic is our hero’s endearing persona of the “cowardly lion” charging into battle.
A Great Foil To Mario
Finally, the best reason he deserves love as a character is he is an excellent foil to Mario, adding depth to both characters. While Luigi is undoubtedly a great character on his own and as a star, he shines the best opposite to his brother.
This is demonstrated in Illumination’s Super Mario Bros. Movie, where he is given a great arc and a brilliantly neurotic performance by Charlie Day. Whereas Pratt’s Mario is a hero, his brother becomes one by surviving on his own, and eventually, the two reunite to save New York. For that reason, Day’s performance was seen as one of the film’s better parts.
However, the best example would be in the aptly titled Mario and Luigi series of JRPGs. The duo goes from silent vessels to highly expressive protagonists in this series. Through excellent sprite animations and sound designs, the two become a team of a level-headed Mario and an eccentric Luigi. He is and will remain a staple character of the Mario franchise.
About the Author
Edward Fargis is a seasoned writer from across the web. He mostly writes about the latest video games, movies, anime, and TV. His work can be found on Total Apex Gaming, Total Apex Entertainment, Strangely Awesome Games, Dead Talk News, Siliconera, and Comic Book Resource.
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