The Devil in the Mushroom Kingdom
Nintendo’s early ban on religious imagery (Satan included) was inconsistent.
Is There a Wizard of Oz Reference Hidden in Super Mario Galaxy?
How Rosalina was supposed to be an homage to Glinda the Good Witch — and might still be.
Does the Tower of Babel Make a Cameo in Super Mario Bros. 3?
The Super Mario games generally don’t incorporate religious iconography, but…
A Complete History of Birdo’s Gender
In English and Japanese, from Doki Doki Panic to present, Nintendo’s stance on the pink egg-spitter has evolved.
Princess Peach Can’t Get a Break
Princess Peach: Showtime! makes it seem like Nintendo didn’t learn the right lesson from her first solo adventure.
The Legend of Bowser’s Dead Wife
Was Nintendo punking Mario diehards into thinking Bowser’s long missing missus had been revealed?
Is Valentina from Super Mario RPG a Jimmy Buffett Reference or Not?
Sometimes a woman with a parrot on her head is just that, margarita or no margarita.
Localization Strangeness in the Super Mario RPG Remake
It’s less what got changed from the original so much as what stayed the same.
Hard Hats in the Mushroom Kingdom
The Mets of Mega Man are a lot like Buzzy Beetle… which isn’t actually a beetle at all.
Bowser vs. Koopa
Nintendo standardized Peach’s name in all territories. Why didn’t they do the same with Bowser?
Mallow’s Name Is a Better Pun in the Japanese Version of Super Mario RPG
He’s a marshmallow, obviously, but there’s a lot more wordplay going on involving Mario and mushrooms.
Princess Daisy’s Long Road to Being Playable in Super Mario Bros. Wonder
“Hi, I’m Daisy — and I’m no longer a B-tier Super Mario character.”
Is Super Mario Wonder’s Prince Florian a Nod to the Mario Anime?
Surely all these nods to the Mario anime can’t be a coincidence, right? Well…
Secrets of the Super Mario RPG Shaman
One minor Super Mario RPG character actually did make the transition to Paper Mario.
Why Did Nintendo Change Foreman Spike’s Name?
This might be the first instance of the movie’s success affecting the games that inspired it.
Foreman Spike Was the Original Wario
If you saw the Super Mario Bros. movie and wondered who Spike guy was, this is the post for you.
A History of Toad’s Gender… One Way or Another
The most famous mushroom in video games wasn't supposed to be male or female.
Did Super Mario Bros. 3 Change Our Understanding of the Tanuki?
Tanuki don’t fly and don’t have ringed tails… until Mario told the world they did.
The Indie Pop Legacy of Super Mario Land 2
And the very curious way that pop music interacts with VGM… but doesn’t usually acknowledge it.