The original Super Mario RPG is a well-loved SNES classic featuring many of our favorite Mario characters…except Luigi. Read on to learn more about his cameo, the possible reason for its briefness, and our theories about the upcoming remake.
Luigi’s Brief Cameo in the Original Super Mario RPG
While Mario is definitely the bigger name, the Mario Bros wouldn’t be anything without Mario’s lanky green brother, Luigi. Though the timid plumber is considered a part of the franchise’s main cast nowadays, he wasn’t always at the forefront with his better-known brother. For a time, he was basically invisible. I bet you didn’t notice that he was even in the original Super Mario RPG.
It’s true! Before he was vacuuming up ghosts in a mansion somewhere, he was in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, though not as a playable character. In preparation for the game’s upcoming HD remake, we’ve compiled a list of Luigi’s appearances in the original game, as well as some possible reasons as to why they were so brief.
Luigi’s Wish on Star Hill
Super Mario RPG’s main plot revolves around the destruction of the Star Road at the hands of the Smithy Gang. Without the Star Road, wishes could not be granted, causing them to litter Star Hill as wayward Wish Stars that any passerby could read.
Scattered among various other wishes is one that reads “I wanna be a great plumber like my brother Mario.” Though it doesn’t say who made the wish, this one is certainly Luigi’s, as it expresses his clear adoration for his brother Mario. Apart from this, Luigi makes no real appearance during the game’s main story.
Luigi in The End Credits Parade
Luigi’s next appearance happens during the game’s end credit sequence, where he leads a parade of toads across the screen as the credits roll by. He’s seen holding a parade leader’s stick and marching in tune with the music.
Luigi in The US Version’s Game Manual
Luigi’s only other appearance in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars isn’t even in the game itself, but in the game manual for the US version. There, he plays the role of a guide, telling players which pages have the information they seek and describing game mechanics.
Why Wasn’t Luigi a Playable Character in Super Mario RPG?
There is no official statement as to why Luigi was not a playable character at the time, though fans have come up with their own speculations. Though Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars came out in 1996, more than a decade since Luigi’s first appearance in Super Mario Bros in 1985 at player two, he was still an unpopular and unknown character by then.
Many fans have speculated that he was simply too unpopular or inconsequential to the plot for him to be part of the main roster. I am inclined to believe them, as Luigi did not have his own standalone game until 2001 with the release of Luigi’s Mansion for the Gamecube. His popularity soared due to the game’s apparent success, which cemented his standing as part of the Mario franchise’s main roster alongside Mario, Bowser, Peach, Yoshi, and Toad.
This is all theory, of course, but it does make a lot of sense considering the timeline of Luigi’s rise to popularity among the fandom. While we really can’t fathom why he wasn’t a playable character for the original Super Mario RPG, there was simply no reason to at the time.
Will Luigi Be in The Super Mario RPG Remake?
Now we are left with the following questions: If Luigi wasn’t a part of the original Super Mario RPG as a playable character due to his unpopularity, would he be included in the remake? Will he have a larger role due to his popularity nowadays? Will he be playable as a DLC or unlockable character?
Most Likely, But Probably Not as A Playable Character
Luigi’s popularity now has certainly surpassed his popularity then and I’m sure nobody would bat an eye if he was included in the game’s remake. However, judging from the announcement and gameplay trailers alone, the Super Mario RPG Remake will be staying faithful to the original in most regards. Notable graphical and gameplay changes have been confirmed for the remake, but no changes to the original story have been reported.
Fortunately for his fans, Luigi does make an appearance in the original game, however minor a role it was. With this, it seems very likely that he’ll be reprising his role in the remake as a background character, though maybe to a greater degree than in his original appearance. The jury is still out if he’ll ever join the main roster as either a DLC or unlockable character but until then, Luigi fans will have to be content with his minor role.
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