15 Mario Sidekicks More Useful Than Luigi
Super Mario has had a parade of terrible sidekicks in his time. All of them better than poor old Luigi.
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Mario. The head honcho. The mustachioed maestro. There’s really no introduction needed here, but I guess I should do that whole ‘writing’ thing and provide one anyway. If I don’t, I don’t get paid, and then who’s to feed my seven baby honey badgers?
Mario, as we know, is one of the greatest icons in video game history, if not just plain the greatest. Indeed, he’s transcended gaming to become a pop culture juggernaut in his own right. Back in the day, a survey of US children found him to be more recognizable than Mickey Mouse. If that’s not freaking Justin Bieber or Kim Kardashian levels of celebrity, I don’t know what is.
Since his first appearance as Jumpman in 1981’s Donkey Kong, he has gone on to feature in a couple hundred video games. Starring roles, cameos, there’s nothing the guy can’t do. As we speak, his latest opus Super Mario Odyssey is rocking store shelves, and the hype is as real as ever.
Let’s not get it twisted, though, because there’s an important thing to remember: He hasn’t achieved all of this alone. Much like Beyonce’s backing dancers, there’s a huge supporting cast at work too. Some of them are almost as beloved as the man himself. Certainly more so than his brother. Buckle up and let’s check out 15 Mario Sidekicks More Useful Than Luigi.
15 Yes, A Dang Water Gun Is More Useful Than The Green Man
The GameCube’s Super Mario Sunshine was a bit of a departure for the series. Super Mario 64, the first 3D installment, was a revelation, and there was a lot of pressure on the follow up to surpass it. Mario arrived quite late to the GameCube party, and that also added to this feeling. Luigi’s Mansion was the only Mario brother action we were given on the console’s launch, and it was unlike any Mushroom Kingdom adventures we’d embarked on. Sunshine, then, better do something darn special as a main series title.
The game was tied together with an overarching tropical theme, set on the sun-kissed Isle Delfino. Its fresh new addition was the FLUDD (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device), a fancy backpack water gun. It gave us advice in its cutesy robo-voice, and its various functions and nozzles enabled us to traverse the wide open levels and hub with ease.
14 Take A Bullet For Mario
The FLUDD, I guess you could say, was all kinds of gimmicky. Granted, it was a neat one, and was a perfect fit for the whole summertime vibes thing that Sunshine had going on, but still. It was something that an entire paint and oil-covered world had to be designed around. I don’t see the Flash Liquidizer doing much for you in Mario Odyssey, unless there’s a secret stage set on a planet of super, super thirsty friendly aliens.
Let’s change tack, then, and give props to one of Mario’s most versatile and loyal sidekicks. Our buddy Yoshi has featured in several series entries since Super Mario World, and he’s completely indispensable. A super useful mount, he offers much faster speed and damage negation, and will even sacrifice himself to enable you to make that extra corkscrew jump. Granted, you’ll feel like a huge a-hole doing it, but still.
13 Mario’s Newest BFF, Cappy
We’ve already spoken about Mario’s irreplaceable status in gaming history, so let’s no start that again. The guy’s got more than enough of an ego already, after all. To go at a slightly different angle, then, let’s talk about that cap of his.
Almost as iconic as the main man himself, that red hat just en-cap-sulates everything Nintendo. For the latest instalment, Super Mario Odyssey, it’s more significant than ever. Mario’s new sidekick, Cappy, even takes its form. The little guy hails from the Cap Kingdom, and join forces with our hero in order to find his missing sister Tiara.
The primary gameplay mechanic of Odyssey is the cap-ture function, which allows Mario to throw Cappy at opponents and ‘possess’ them and their abilities, Kirby style. The entire game is built around this new ability, and Mario would be nowhere without his new buddy.
12 Watt, You Light Up My Life
Watt may not be a big star (yes, I’m much prouder of that pun than I have any right to be) as far as the greater Super Mario franchise goes, but never mind that. This isn’t just a popularity contest we’re running here. This Lil’ Sparky has a huge role in one game in particular, and that’s why she warrants inclusion. Let’s take a look.
Watt is one of Mario’s allies in the original Paper Mario. She joins your party during the Shy Guys’ attack on Toad Town, after you defeat her kidnapper and free her from her imprisonment.
She may not have the most straight-up attack power, but her tricksy moves give her great utility. Mega Shock, for instance, gives her a chance to immobilize all enemies, and she can also show Mario the location of hidden blocks outside of battle.
11 My, Madame Flurrie, What Big… Lungs You Have
Over in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Madame Flurrie boasts similar abilities to Watt. The bustiest ghost you ever saw (think Pamela Anderson meets that creepy dead girl who crawls out of the TV in The Ring), her name alludes to her command of wind. Using this talent, she can blow away flaps of paper while on the world map to reveal all kinds of hidden areas. Can you do that, Luigi? Can you? That’s what I thought.
When it’s battle to,e, she’s no slouch either. A great tank, she can dizzy opponents, pierce defense and steal their HP with Lip Lock, and even boost Mario’s evasion with a sneaky blast of Dodgy Fog. Let’s not forget how darn invaluable her Body Slam is for getting those darn enemies off of the ceiling, either.
10 Luigi’s Hat Is Lame
Goombella also hails from 2004’s The Thousand-Year Door, the first character to join Mario’s party. She is very similar Paper Mario’s Goombario, serving as a guide of sorts and giving you a lot of information about the enemies you’ll face.
In battle, she has a function similar to that of Final Fantasy’s Scholar job. She can Tattle on opponents, giving the player information about their stats, weaknesses and a strategy to defeat them. Tattle also works in the overworld, giving you an interesting (and usually hilarious, as per Paper Mario’s dialogue) insight into the places you’ll travel to on your journey.
While quite weak in battle, she has a nice multi-hit move, as well as the ability to give Mario a second turn with Rally Wink.
9 Mallow, Mighty Magic Master
Another unassuming little guy that proves to be pretty darn good, Mallow is the first character to join your party in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. He is a Nimbus, a cutesy little race of marshmallow cloud-people that reside in Nimbus Land. The prince of the Nimbus, more specifically, so you’d better buckle your pants and pay attention when we talk about him.
Mallow is, physically, about as powerful as a one-legged arthritic kitten in coma, but don’t let that fool you. He’s one of the game’s most powerful spellcasters, with a super useful range of weather-based magic that can hit all enemies. Throw in a decent sideline as a healer, and you’ve got one party member you don’t want to leave behind.
8 The Big Bad Himself, Bowser
That’s right, friends. As I say, the big, bad, spiky Bowser was indeed fighting the good fight as Mario’s ally for a moment there. Purely for his own dastardly ends, you understand. He’s got a reputation to protect, after all. Still, though, this was an actual thing that happened, and quite a moment in Legend of the Seven Stars it was too.
The whole thing comes about when the game’s true villains exile Bowser from his castle. After much distrust and reluctance between the two long-time arch enemies, they join forces to put a stop to threat (and get Bowser’s scaly butt back on his throne again, naturally).
He’s a great ally throughout the adventure, boasting high strength and special abilities that can call on various monsters.
7 Oh Geno, Woh-Oh-Oh Geno
This enigmatic being is another member of Mario’s ragtag Legend of the Seven Stars party. A celestial warrior, he is sent by a ‘higher power’ to join the fight and so restore peace and harmony to the kingdom. He is a Star (as in, the species), and you don’t really argue with those guys. Stars with faces? Granted, in the Mushroom Kingdom, freaking hills and clouds have faces, but never mind that.
This wise figure is the party’s advisor, and a real physical powerhouse in battle. Not to mention the fact that he manages to convince Bowser to continue to fight as Mario’s ally. Needless to say, it was a cold, cold day in frozen hell when that decision was made, but there’s nothing that Geno can’t do.
6 Run, Toad, Run! Pump Those Stumpy Legs!
Contrary to popular belief, Toad is actually one specific creature of a species, which is also named Toad. Which makes perfect sense, really. The same is true of Yoshi and the Yoshis (which sounds like an incredible band name, come to think of it).
The Toad we know and love had his first playable role in Super Mario Bros. 2, where he was easily my favorite of the four characters. That speed and ability to carry heavy objects with no penalties paid dividends. Various members of the species are also playable across the series, such as the yellow Toad and blue Toad of New Super Mario Bros.
For me, though, the true Toad will always be the one featured in my favorite puzzler, Wario’s Woods.
5 Rosalina, Galactic Princess
I’ll admit, at first sight, I wasn’t entirely sold on the Wii. Sure, its spangly new motion control scheme was intriguing, as it was for so many of us (seasoned gamers and newbies alike), but it all seemed a little impractical to me. What will motion controls really bring to the table, that a plain old button-controlled method couldn’t?
For me, it was Super Mario Galaxy that finally got me on board. Aside from the obscure space zone in Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins, this was the final frontier for Mario, and it looked epic in the truest sense of the word. I adored the game, and Mario’s all-powerful new celestial buddy Rosalina. She was a new kind of Mushroom Kingdom-flavored ‘princess,’ and I dug that.
4 Sonic And Mario, The Original Dream Team
I know what you’re thinking. I hear you, friends, I totally do. Calling Mario’s erstwhile cutthroat rival a ‘sidekick’ may be pushing things a little, but stick with me here. After all, since that historic occasion they first appeared in a video game together (2007’s Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games), they seem to have made a habit of starring side by side.
That first crossover sports title was developed by Sega Sports R&D, and allows players to take part in a number of Olympic events (read: minigames) as characters from both Sonic and Mario’s universes. That first super fun Wii title has since been joined by Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, At The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, and At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
3 Princess Peach, Crackin’ Some Heads Like A Pro
By the same token, you might not think of Princess Peach as much of a sidekick in the traditional sense. Generally, her role is to simper around, host cocktail parties and howl MAAAAAARIO as Bowser gallops away with her in hand. This isn’t the sort of thing that the girl power-centric Spice Girls would be proud of, but she’s served as the catalyst for dozens of Mario games in this manner. So she’s got that on her side.
When she is allowed some time in the spotlight, though, she always performs. In Super Mario RPG, she is the last to join your party, and is a powerful ally and a huge asset with her defensive magic. She’s a potent healer. She can also be a real powerhouse in Super Smash Bros.
2 Admiral Bobbery Blasts Off
Back with The Thousand Year Door, I’ve always loved the Paper Mario series for its inclusion of just about every species as playable characters. I’d never have thought of crossing a Bob-omb with just about every pirate stereotype in existence (think The Simpsons’ Sea Captain), but these crazy guys did.
We meet Admiral Bobbery in chapter five of the game, a wise and beardy old sea-faring Bob-omb. He is lamenting the loss of his wife, Scarlette, but a letter from his lost love encourages him to take to the seas once more with Mario.
A valuable teammate, Bobbery is a great damage dealer. He can set time bombs around his enemies which will explode the next turn, or simply hit them all with one great blast.
1 The Raving Rabbids And The Mushroom Kingdom Collide
As was the case with Sonic, here’s another collaboration that nobody could ever have imagined seeing a short while ago. Nintendo are known for their reluctance to let anybody’s darn greasy hands within four thousand feet of their beloved Mario. They’ve only just lumbered their way, dinosaur-like, into the modern era of mobile gaming with Super Mario Run.
A big name like Sonic, I can understand, but the Rabbids? These half-assed experimental characters from Ubisoft’s Rayman franchise died out years ago, didn’t they?
Nope, no they didn’t. Apparently. In late August this year, Mario and Rabbids Kingdom Battle hit the Nintendo Switch. It’sa a typically zany, turn-based strategy affair, with combat based on a range of odd guns. As odd as it sounds, the game has done rather well, proving quite a lot of us wrong in the process.