It'sa me, Luigi!

You have to wonder what Nintendo was thinking. Back in the '80s, they were preparing to pioneer the original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System, for those not hip with all the cool acronyms), a console that would quickly come to dominate the video game market for years to come. Obviously, a good launch title was needed that would demonstrate the technical prowess of this new machine, one that would introduce mascots that could brand Nintendo for years to come. Other child-oriented companies would employ mascots like obnoxious hedgehogs and clowns with big shoes to attract their target audience. However, the folks at the Big N weren't about conforming to those sorts of standards; they were all about pushing the envelope (I can only assume), and it led them to come up with rather unique mascots: plumbers. Seriously, what possessed them to inextricably tie their company's fortunes with a couple overweight (at least in Mario's case) Italian plumbers? Not, you understand, that I'm trying to knock Mario and Luigi. I'm just saying that I haven't met too many kids that aspire to become plumbers. I wouldn't think that plumbing is something that would prove interesting to many children. In fact, I doubt many kids really even understand what plumbers do. Especially after playing one of the games featuring the Mario Brothers. I really don't think it's as exciting as Nintendo is making it out to be.

So where did this crazy mascot idea come from? I can only presume that Nintendo had some problems with its pipes while brainstorming their first major title. Apparently, they were so impressed by the plumbers brought in to deal with this crisis that they decided to glorify the profession as a whole with a series of games that portrays average plumbers as nothing less than action heroes. And features a bunch of evil turtle creatures living within normal, household pipes. I guess plumbing is more interesting when blocked pipes can be blamed on the inhabitants of an entire kingdom that can be reached by sliding through said pipes. It's also quite possible that the people at Nintendo understand plumbing no better than the kids buying their games. In any case, Super Mario Bros. has several other elements that are every bit as insane. Such as the way Mario and Luigi can eat giant 'mushrooms' in order to grow 'bigger'. And the way they defeat enemies by jumping on their heads. All things considered, you'd think they'd at least throw wrenches, plungers or anything else related to their supposed profession. When it comes right down to it, I can't help but speculate that a few of Nintendo's designers might have spent a bit too much time in 'Mushroom Kingdom' themslves, if you know what I mean.

While it's amusing to ruminate on the events leading up to the release of Super Mario Bros., there's little doubt about its aftermath. Nintendo has grown into a giant company (without even the use of a super mushroom), with a long legacy of successful Mario titles. However, there haven't been nearly as many games focused on Luigi, the younger (and superior, in this author's mind) Mario brother. As such, I've recently very much enjoyed playing through Luigi's Mansion, a ghostbusters inspired parody that puts Luigi on center stage. It's about time he escaped from the plump shadow of his older brother. Frankly, I think Luigi needs to take a starring role in more Nintendo titles. After all, he's got a vertical advantage, and we all know that being tall is an important heroic trait. Mario just doesn't measure up.

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