NOTE: This is an information guide, not a guide on how to beat the game. If you ask me how to beat or find or unlock something, I will ignore you. NOTE #2: This guide is currently a work in progress. As I find time to both play and write, I'll add more to the guide. If there's some information I have WRONG, please let me know, if there's something MISSING, more than likely I just haven't got around to it, yet, so I'd rather you kept it to yourself for the time being. Once I call this guide "1.0", then you can tell me what I'm missing. ****************************************************************************** Super Smash Bros. Brawl Nostalgia FAQ An In-Depth FAQ by CyricZ Version 0.4 E-mail: cyricz42 at yahoo.com ****************************************************************************** 1. Introduction 2. FAQ 3. Character Bios and Histories *FINISHED* 3A. Mario 3B. Donkey Kong 3C. Link 3D. Samus 3E. Yoshi 3F. Kirby 3G. Fox 3H. Pikachu 3I. Bowser 3J. Peach 3K. Zelda/Sheik 3L. Ice Climbers 3M. Meta Knight 3N. Pit 3O. Wario 3P. Ike 3Q. Pokémon Trainer 3R. Diddy Kong 3S. Lucas 3T. King Dedede 3U. Olimar 3V. Ness 3W. Marth 3X. Luigi 3Y. Falco 3Z. Captain Falcon 3AA. Lucario 3BB. R.O.B. 3CC. Mr. Game & Watch 3DD. Ganondorf 3EE. Jigglypuff 3FF. Toon Link 3GG. Wolf 3HH. Snake 3II. Sonic 3JJ. Notes on the Animal Crossing Series 4. Characters in Game 4A. Mario 4B. Donkey Kong 4C. Link 4D. Samus 4E. Yoshi 4F. Kirby 4G. Fox 4H. Pikachu 4I. Bowser 4J. Peach 4K. Zelda/Sheik 4L. Ice Climbers 4M. Meta Knight 4N. Pit 4O. Wario 4P. Ike 4Q. Pokémon Trainer 4R. Diddy Kong 4S. Lucas 4T. King Dedede 4U. Olimar 4V. Ness 4W. Marth 4X. Luigi 4Y. Falco 4Z. Captain Falcon 4AA. Lucario 4BB. R.O.B. 4CC. Mr. Game & Watch 4DD. Ganondorf 4EE. Jigglypuff 4FF. Toon Link 4GG. Wolf 4HH. Snake 4II. Sonic 5. Subspace Emissary 6. Stages 6A. Brawl Stages 6B. Melee Stages 7. Items 7A. Regular Items *FINISHED* 7B. Pokéballs 7C. Assist Trophies 8. Music Analysis 8A. Super Smash Bros. Brawl 8B. Super Smash Bros. 8C. Super Mario Bros. 8D. Mario Kart 8E. Donkey Kong 8F. The Legend of Zelda 8G. Metroid 8H. Yoshi's Island 8I. Kirby 8J. Star Fox 8K. Pokémon 8L. F-Zero 8M. EarthBound (Mother) 8N. Fire Emblem 8O. Kid Icarus 8P. WarioWare, Inc. 8Q. Pikmin 8R. Animal Crossing 8S. Nintendo 8T. Metal Gear 8U. Sonic the Hedgehog 9. Standard Guide Stuff 9A. Legal 9B. E-mail Guidelines 9C. Credits 9D. Version Updates 9E. The Final Word ****************************************************************************** 1. INTRODUCTION ****************************************************************************** Welcome to my Nostalgia FAQ for the third game in the venerable Smash Bros. franchise, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, for the Nintendo Wii! Like Melee before it, this game is a treasure trove of nostalgia for the Nintendo fan, dating back all the way to Nintendo's earliest days as a game company. In this guide, you'll find complete bios for all playable characters, as well examinations on how the characters act in game. Additionally, there are sections for the stages, items, and all the wonderful music, as well. Enjoy! ****************************************************************************** 2. FAQ ****************************************************************************** Q: What is the "Smash" Emblem? A: Well, for those of you who don't know at all, the Smash Emblem is that circle with the perpendicular lines cut out of it that serves as the insignia for the Smash Bros. series, used as the Emblem for guys such as the Fighting Polygons and Wireframes, and pasted over Crates and Barrels. Its origin goes back to the original Super Smash Bros., where the setting was a child's room, and the characters were action figures. The emblem represents the sun (or perhaps the moon) shining through the window and being partially obscured by the window's frame. Q: What do you mean by "Roles"? I've seen Mario in lots of different games as a cameo appearance. A: I tend to define "roles" as either a starring role, a major supporting role (ie. in Super Princess Peach for Mario), or part of an ensemble cast (ie. Mario Party or Smash Bros.). Cameos will not count. Remakes will count. Ports may not count if I feel they lack signficance. Also games that have a larger story but feature (Mario) games inside them will not count, such as the WarioWare series, all of which have Mario microgames in them, but I'm not including them. Also, all dates, unless referenced to being Japan only, are American release dates. Q: Did you know you're missing some games from the Character list? A: I'm sure I am, particularly for the Mario characters. HOWEVER, don't bother telling me about games that were released after 2008. Since SSBB came out in early 2008, we're only concerning games released or announced at that time, and I've chosen 2008 as a cutoff date. ****************************************************************************** 3. CHARACTER BIOS AND HISTORIES ****************************************************************************** Info contained here can be considered entirely independent of the Super Smash Bros. series. What you're getting here doesn't relate to the game, but is useful in knowing where each character comes from, and what they're known for. This may not be as useful for folks like, say, Mario, but perhaps for the more obscure ones. =========== 3A. Mario = =========== Culture: Ask anyone (gamer or not) the first thing that comes into their mind when you say "video game", and chances are greater than not that they'll respond "Mario". Following the video game crash of the mid-80's, Mario represented to the whole world the shining beacon of the Nintendo Entertainment System, and began the over-twenty-year reign of the culture of video games. Today, he remains the mascot of Nintendo. Originally conceived as the character "Jumpman" to be Donkey Kong's nemesis, Mario earned his name from Nintendo of America's landlord, Mario Segale. Mario's voice is provided by Charles Martinet, who has been doing so since Super Mario 64, and he has been portrayed live in television by "Captain Lou" Albano, and by Bob Hoskins in the Super Mario Bros. movie. As a bit of counterculture, Mario has also become synonymous among certain circles of being the icon of the "kid-friendly" nature of Nintendo, as his personality tends to be optimistic and happy-go-lucky. Character: I swear, one of these days, we'll get to do some actual plumbing in a Mario game. Although it's mostly an informed attribute, Mario is a plumber by trade from Brooklyn, NY. An accident involving a pipe transported him and his brother Luigi into the fantasy world: the Mushroom Kingdom. Throughout his life there, Mario has served as the kingdom's official "adventurer", and stands as the first (and let's face it, last) line of defense against the forces of Bowser Koopa. He maintains a solid, yet forever platonic, working relationship with the Mushroom Kingdom's ruler, Princess Peach. The preceding established canon is actually conflicted when it's learned that Mario and Luigi have been in the Mushroom Kingdom since being babies delivered by the stork. Arguments surrounding this are usually academic, as the series has never been one to hold a serious continuous storyline. Apparently, the only true ability he has attributed to his own nature is an incredible jumping ability, but the magical Mushroom Kingdom (and surrounding lands) often provide him with an opportunity to invoke many abilities. Recent games in the series also tie him to the hammer as his weapon of choice, which dates back to the original Donkey Kong. Appearance: Mario is a slightly portly, and not very tall Italian fellow. He has brown hair, but a darker colored mustache. His traditional outfit consists of a red shirt and blue jean overalls, a red painter's cap with his initial "M" on the front, brown boots, and white gloves. Being the mascot of Nintendo, and a character that appears often in varying games, Mario has adopted different costumes over the years, including a doctor's outfit, various sporting outfits, as well as in-universe costumes for different games (such as the Tanooki suit). Series: The Mario franchise is a bit of a whirlwind of styles. Being Nitendo's mascot character, whenever a new IP comes out of the developing houses, there's a good chance the plumber's likeness will be slapped onto it to move merchandise. That said, the "Mario series" as people tend to know it has roots in what's known as "platforming". In a platform series, areas are presented to the player, and they must run, jump, and use their skills to reach the goal. They're usually action-oriented, and often involve "platforms" suspended over a bottomless pit, hence the name of the genre. Specifically, the Mario series puts Mario (and sometimes his brother Luigi) in a series of areas and has him reach the end of each area. Roles: 1981 -- Donkey Kong (Arcade) 1982 -- Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade) 1982 -- Donkey Kong (G&W) 1982 -- Donkey Kong Jr. (G&W) 1983 -- Donkey Kong (NES) 1983 -- Donkey Kong Jr. (NES) 1983 -- Mario Bros. (Arcade/NES) 1983 -- Mario's Cement Factory (G&W) 1983 -- Mario Bros. (G&W) 1983 -- Mario's Bombs Away (G&W) 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. (NES) 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. 2 (Famicom Disk System) 1985 -- Wrecking Crew (NES) 1987 -- Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) 1988 -- Super Mario Bros. (G&W) 1989 -- Super Mario Land (GB) 1990 -- Dr. Mario (NES/GB) 1990 -- Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) 1991 -- Super Mario World (SNES) 1991 -- Mario Open Golf (NES) 1991 -- Mario the Juggler (G&W) 1992 -- Mario Paint (SNES) 1992 -- Super Mario Kart (SNES) 1992 -- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (GB) 1992 -- Mario Teaches Typing (PC) 1993 -- Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) 1993 -- Mario & Wario (SNES) Japan Only 1993 -- Mario is Missing! (NES/SNES/PC) 1993 -- Mario's Time Machine (SNES) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Preschool Fun (SNES) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Fun With Numbers (SNES) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (SNES) 1994 -- Mario's Time Machine (NES) 1994 -- Donkey Kong (GB) 1994 -- Tetris & Dr. Mario (SNES) 1994 -- Hotel Mario (CD-i) 1995 -- Mario's Picross (GB) 1995 -- Mario's Tennis (Virtual Boy) 1995 -- Mario Clash (Virtual Boy) 1995 -- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES) 1996 -- Super Mario RPG (SNES) 1996 -- Super Mario 64 (N64) 1997 -- Game & Watch Gallery (GB) 1997 -- Mario Kart 64 (N64) 1997 -- Mario Teaches Typing 2 (PC) 1998 -- Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Party (N64) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 1999 -- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Golf (N64/GBC) 1999 -- Mario Artist: Paint Studio (N64) Japan Only 1999 -- Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC) 2000 -- Mario Party 2 (N64) 2000 -- Mario Artist: Talent Studio (N64) Japan Only 2000 -- Mario Artist: Communication Kit (N64) Japan Only 2000 -- Mario Tennis (N64) 2000 -- Mario Artist: Polygon Studio (N64) Japan Only 2001 -- Mario Tennis (GBC) 2001 -- Paper Mario (N64) 2001 -- Dr. Mario 64 (N64) 2001 -- Mario Party 3 (N64) 2001 -- Super Mario Advance (GBA) 2001 -- Mario Kart Super Circuit (GBA) 2001 -- Luigi's Mansion (GCN) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (GBA) 2002 -- Super Mario Sunshine (GCN) 2002 -- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (GBA) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2002 -- Mario Party 4 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA) 2003 -- Mario Party 5 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2003 -- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) 2004 -- Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Golf: Advance Tour (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Pinball Land (GBA) 2004 -- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario 64 DS (DS) 2004 -- Mario Party 6 (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (Arcade) Japan Only 2005 -- Yoshi Touch & Go (DS) 2005 -- Mario Party Advance (GBA) 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP (Arcade) 2005 -- Mario Party 7 (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2005 -- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (DS) 2005 -- Mario Tennis: Power Tour (GBA) 2005 -- Super Mario Strikers (GCN) 2006 -- Super Princess Peach (DS) 2006 -- New Super Mario Bros. (DS) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2006 -- Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (DS) 2006 -- Yoshi's Island DS (DS) 2007 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) 2007 -- Super Paper Mario (Wii) 2007 -- Mario Party 8 (Wii) 2007 -- Itadaki Street DS (DS) Japan Only 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/DS) 2007 -- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) 2007 -- Mario Party DS (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ================= 3B. Donkey Kong = ================= Culture: DK was created to be one of the first true gaming antagonists with a personality. Shigeru Miyamoto, under the general impression that he equated "Donkey" with "stupid", created DK to be a "stupid monkey". Since his creation alongside Mario, he became an icon of monkey-related characters. With Mario's popularity skyrocketing away from DK all the way into the 90's, DK needed a revival, and he got it from one of Nintendo's then-second-party, Rare. Rare created a new 3D model for Donkey Kong, which represents him to this day, and created an all-new storyline for him, with him as the hero, thus re-establishing his popularity. Character: Originally, Donkey Kong was Mario's enemy, kidnapping his girlfriend, Pauline, and spiriting her to the top of a construction site, from where he flung barrels and other objects at Mario. Once Rare took the reins, however, Donkey Kong became a character of his own world, DK Island, and surrounding areas. He formed a posse of fellow ape/monkey folk (including Diddy, Dixie, and Kiddy, among others) and protected his island and famous banana horde against the reptilian Kremlings. There's also a slight bit of discrepancy about who is the real Donkey Kong. As a fourth-wall breaking joke, Rare created the character "Cranky Kong" who claims to be the original DK that Mario tangled with back in 1981. Of course, this could mean that the current DK was once Donkey Kong Jr., but this has never been fully explored. Appearance: Donkey Kong is a gorilla, and weighs about 800 pounds. He has brown hair covering most of his body, except for his chest, mouth, hands, and feet, which are bare-skinned. Starting in the 1994 Game Boy version of Donkey Kong, DK adopted a red tie with his initials in yellow emblazoned on it, as a meager costume. Series: For many years following his creation, Donkey Kong existed as little but a foil to Mario. He didn't get his own proper series until the creation of Donkey Kong Country. At that point, he joined the platforming genre. He, his buddy Diddy Kong, and the extended Kong clan went through a series of games that required them to run, jump, and throw barrels. He has continued to participate in games related to the jungle of his birth, as well as feature in Mario-related ensemble games, such as Mario Party and Mario Kart. Roles: 1981 -- Donkey Kong (Arcade) 1982 -- Donkey Kong (Atari 2600) 1982 -- Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade) 1982 -- Donkey Kong (G&W) 1982 -- Donkey Kong Jr. (G&W) 1983 -- Donkey Kong (NES) 1983 -- Donkey Kong Jr. (NES) 1983 -- Donkey Kong 3 (Arcade) 1983 -- Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES) 1983 -- Donkey Kong Classics (NES) 1984 -- Donkey Kong 3 (NES) 1984 -- Donkey Kong Circus (G&W) 1984 -- Donkey Kong 3 (G&W) 1984 -- Donkey Kong Hockey (G&W) 1992 -- Super Mario Kart (SNES) (assuming you count DK Jr.) 1994 -- Donkey Kong (GB) 1994 -- Donkey Kong Country (SNES) 1995 -- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES) 1995 -- Donkey Kong Land (GB) 1995 -- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (SNES) 1996 -- Donkey Kong Land 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (GB) 1997 -- Mario Kart 64 (N64) 1997 -- Donkey Kong Land 3 (GB) 1998 -- Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Party (N64) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 1999 -- Mario Golf (N64) 1999 -- Donkey Kong 64 (N64) 1999 -- Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC) 2000 -- Mario Party 2 (N64) 2000 -- Mario Tennis (N64) 2000 -- Donkey Kong Country (GBC) 2001 -- Mario Party 3 (N64) 2001 -- Mario Kart Super Circuit (GBA) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2002 -- Mario Party 4 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Party 5 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2004 -- Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA) 2004 -- Donkey Konga (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Pinball Land (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Party 6 (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (Arcade) Japan Only 2005 -- Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GCN) 2005 -- Donkey Konga 2 (GCN) 2005 -- Donkey Konga 3 (GCN) Japan Only 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- DK: King of Swing (GBA) 2005 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP (Arcade) 2005 -- Mario Party 7 (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2005 -- Mario Tennis: Power Tour (GBA) 2005 -- Super Mario Strikers (GCN) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2006 -- Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (DS) 2006 -- Yoshi's Island DS (DS) 2007 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) 2007 -- Mario Party 8 (Wii) 2007 -- Itadaki Street DS (DS) Japan Only 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- DK Jungle Climber (DS) 2007 -- Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ========== 3C. Link = ========== Culture: Shigeru Miyamoto has described his envisioning of Link as an avatar of himself when he explored the woods in his hometown. He also states that he wanted Link to be the conceptual silent protagonist, and for the player to connect as much as possible with the boy. The dramatic yang to Mario's happy-go-lucky yin, Link has been considered the "more mature" side of Nintendo's greatest franchises, with his adventures tending to be more serious, and the stakes being higher. Over the years, and particularly since the N64 days, when Eiji Aonuma took over the directorial reins for the Legend of Zelda series, the series seems to be taking on a form of continuity, and this is one of the most hotly debated subjects among video game theorists. The inherent difficulties in this continuity discussion stem from vague references between games in the series, as well as inconsistencies between games that are supposedly closely releated. Link has been "voiced" by Noboyuki Hiyama, Fujiko Takimoto, Sachi Matsumoto, and Akira Sasanuma in the various games. "Voiced" is in quotes due to the fact that Link is a silent protagonist, and only speaking through grunts, yells, and some minor vocalizations. However, an animated series produced in the late 80's made his character a cocky, lovestruck teenager with a full personality and voice (provided by Jonathan Potts), his catchphrase being "Well excuuuuse me, Princess!" which he directed at Princess Zelda when she grew annoyed with him. Character: In actuality, "Link" has been portrayed as several different characters throughout the history of the archaic fantasy world of Hyrule. The major thread (or link, HA!) connecting all of them is the concept of a young man or boy starting from humble beginnings and rising to become one of the greatest heroes the land has ever seen (ironically, the only other heroes on par with Link tend to be other Links). Sometimes, Link will save the kingdom of Hyrule directly, usually by combating the evil Ganon/Ganondorf. Other times, he'll travel to a neighboring country in some manner and aid them. There's really very little else to say about Link's character, since he's meant to be established as an extension of the player. Appearance: The appearance common with all Links in the series is a young man or boy of the Hylian race of humans (yes, it's an offshoot of humans, this is official). The most distinguishing characteristic of this people is pointed elfin ears. As for dress, Link is nearly always in a green thigh-length tunic, with a green floppy cap completing the ensemble. Various iterations of Link have added accessories such as belts and straps, leggings or stockings, or leather guantlets and earrings on older Links. Link has taken other costumes at times, however, which include a blue island outfit with a crawfish design in Wind Waker, and a simple peasant wrangler's garb in Twilight Princess. Series: The Legend of Zelda series follows a traditional action-adventure format. Viewed from either a top-down or behind-the-hero perspective, the player starts with a relatively weak Link and proceeds through an "overworld" of sorts. Eventually, he'll come upon one of a series of dungeons, which he'll have to conquer, defeating the major enemy at the end, and usually recovering some sort of item. As he progresses, he acquires new tools and weapons, and becomes stronger. Eventually, he'll find all the requisite items necessary to access the final dungeon to complete the game. Roles: 1987 -- The Legend of Zelda (NES) 1988 -- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES) 1989 -- Zelda (G&W) 1992 -- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) 1992 -- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GB) 1993 -- Link: The Faces of Evil (CD-i) 1993 -- Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (CD-i) 1994 -- Zelda's Adventure (CD-i) 1998 -- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) 1998 -- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (GBC) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 2000 -- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64) 2001 -- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC) 2001 -- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (GBA) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2003 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN) 2003 -- Soul Calibur II (GCN) 2004 -- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GCN) 2005 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) 2006 -- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GCN/Wii) 2007 -- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) 2007 -- Link's Crossbow Training (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3D. Samus = =========== Culture: The first players of Metroid, having blasted through the game in a record time, destroyed the Mother Brain, and escaped the Zebes base before it self-destructed, could best be described as slack-jawed when they learned that the hardcore bounty hunter they controlled throughout the game was, in fact, a woman. Not the first female role in a video game by any stretch, but definitely the most important. Samus screw-attacked through the glass ceiling of video game heroes, and has since taken her rightful place as one of the most respected heroines in the gaming universe. The popularity of the Metroid series has been far greater in the West than in Japan. This was one of the many reasons that American developer Retro Studios took the reins of the series several years after Super Metroid to revive the franchise with their Metroid Prime series. Samus also has a spiritual sibling in Link, as both heroes are billed as silent protagonists. In truth, Samus hasn't truly been as silent as Link. In Metroid Fusion, she held a conversation with a computer, which, although simple text, was actual in-game speech. However, she has yet to speak in any of her 3D outings, although actress Jennifer Hale supplies her voice for grunts and yells. Also a point of interest in the Metroid series is that it's one of the few Nintendo series to have a well-established and concrete continuity. Character: Samus was reportedly born on a Terran colony on the planet K-2L. In a Space Pirate attack, her colony was wiped out, including her parents. Following the destruction, members of the peaceful bird-like Chozo species found the toddler Samus amongst the wreckage. Taking her in as an orphan, they raised her as a warrior, a role which had long been absent from their society. When she came of age, she was given a special cybernetic battle suit that connected with her on far more than a mere physical level. After leaving the Chozo, she found her qualities suited to that of a bounty hunter. Often working with the Galactic Federation, she has taken it upon herself to combat the Space Pirates and the Metroid menace. Appearance: Samus is most often publically seen in her full-body Chozo cybernetic battle suit, a mechanical affair colored predominantly red and yellow. Notable features of the suit include spherical shoulder pads and a beam cannon mounted straight on to the right arm, as opposed to being a separate weapon. Without the suit, Samus' "official" appearance is that of a slim blonde human woman in her twenties. She wears a blue skin-tight jumpsuit, which sheathes her entire body below the neck. Throughout the series, Samus' appearance has slightly changed. Her original look was that of a brunette wearing a purple leotard, for example. Also, her modular battle suit has been known to change as she acquires upgrades to augment its abilities, particularly in the Prime trilogy. Series: The Metroid series involves adventuring and shooting. Samus is often placed on a planet, usually in a cavernous situation, and is required to travel through a series of rooms, blasting enemies. The series is known for being non-linear, in that Samus generally can go in one of several directions to explore her surroundings, perhaps finding objects which can power up her abilities. Also trademark to the series is the feeling of solitude, as Samus is generally the only friendly force in the game, set alone against a planet full of enemies. There are two perspectives common to the Metroid series. The original Metroid and the early console releases viewed Samus as a side- scrolling adventure, while the Prime series put players behind Samus' visor as a first-person perspective. Roles: 1986 -- Metroid (NES) 1991 -- Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB) 1994 -- Super Metroid (SNES) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Metroid Fusion (GBA) 2002 -- Metroid Prime (GCN) 2004 -- Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA) 2004 -- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GCN) 2005 -- Metroid Prime Pinball (DS) 2006 -- Metroid Prime: Hunters (DS) 2007 -- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3E. Yoshi = =========== Culture: The character of Yoshi was conceived by designer Shigefumi Hino, not long after the completion of Super Mario Bros., when series creator Shigeru Miyamoto suggested the idea of Mario riding a dinosaur. It wouldn't be until Super Mario World was released on the Super Nintendo that he finally took full form. Fans fell in love with the happy-go-lucky dinosaur and his wacky prehensile tongue, and Yoshi soon began appearing in several spin-off games, eventually becoming part of the standard Mario "cast". When Yoshi earned a voice in Yoshi's Story, his usual "zip" was replaced with the voice of Kazumi Totaka, Nintendo musician speaking in sounds, such as "bum" or "hup". Character: The Yoshis are a species of dinosaurs native to the eponymous Dinosaur Land. Mario first found a Yoshi on the island that bears their name. Intelligent from a very young age, all Yoshis serve as mounts for Mario and Luigi. Their main skill is a prehensile tongue that can grab many kinds of enemies and either swallow them or spit them out. Certain Koopa shells could also give Yoshis specific powers when held in their mouths. Later (or earlier, continuity-wise), Yoshis would be able to have a minimal flying ability by beating their legs hard, as well as the ability to create and throw eggs. They used these skills to help Baby Mario find Baby Luigi and defeat Kamek and Baby Bowser. In 1998, the Yoshis were redesigned as infants. This gave them their new voice and a new look, but their abilities largely remained the same. In this incarnation, they took on the forces of Baby Bowser alone, without support from Mario & co. Since that time, Yoshis have continued to serve roles as part of the Mario series cast, routinely appearing in the sports series', as well as continued games based on the Yoshi's Island storyline. Appearance: A Yoshi is a dinosaur that stands about six feet tall at full height and maturity. It walks on its hind legs, and has largely inoperable forearms. Its hind legs are encased in boots, and Yoshis (conveniently) have evolved with a saddle on their backs. Yoshis come in vastly different colors, but the "official" Yoshi color is green. One of the Yoshi's more distinguishing features is the unique-shaped head, with a rounded and rather large nose/beak, which houses a prehensile tongue which can extend its full body length, or more, depending on the situation. At the release of Yoshi's Story, the Yoshis were slightly redesigned to be more anthropomorphic (human-shaped). Their arms became fingered and operable, their saddles less prominent, and their feet larger. Following this change, future incarnations of Yoshi would look like an amalagmation of the two concepts. Series: Being an extension of the Mario franchise, games that specifically feature Yoshi often end up as platformers, as well. More information is in "Mario". Roles: 1991 -- Super Mario World (SNES) 1991 -- Yoshi (NES/GB) 1992 -- Yoshi's Cookie (NES/GB/SNES) 1992 -- Super Mario Kart (SNES) 1993 -- Mario is Missing! (SNES) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Preschool Fun (SNES) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Fun With Numbers (SNES) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (SNES) 1993 -- Yoshi's Safari (SNES) 1995 -- Yoshi's Island (Super Mario World 2) (SNES) 1995 -- Mario's Tennis (Virtual Boy) 1996 -- Super Mario RPG (SNES) 1996 -- Tetris Attack [Yoshi's Panepon] (GB) 1996 -- Super Mario 64 (N64) 1997 -- Mario Kart 64 (N64) 1997 -- Game & Watch Gallery (GB) 1998 -- Yoshi's Story (N64) 1998 -- Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Party (N64) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 1999 -- Mario Golf (N64) 1999 -- Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC) 2000 -- Mario Party 2 (N64) 2000 -- Mario Tennis (N64) 2001 -- Mario Tennis (GBC) 2001 -- Mario Party 3 (N64) 2001 -- Mario Kart Super Circuit (GBA) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (GBA) 2002 -- Super Mario Sunshine (GCN) 2002 -- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (GBA) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2002 -- Mario Party 4 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Party 5 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario 64 DS (DS) 2004 -- Mario Party 6 (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (Arcade) Japan Only 2005 -- Yoshi Touch & Go (DS) 2005 -- Mario Party Advance (GBA) 2005 -- Yoshi Topsy-Turvy (GBA) 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP (Arcade) 2005 -- Mario Party 7 (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2005 -- Super Mario Strikers (GCN) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2006 -- Yoshi's Island DS (DS) 2007 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) 2007 -- Mario Party 8 (Wii) 2007 -- Itadaki Street DS (DS) Japan Only 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/DS) 2007 -- Mario Party DS (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3F. Kirby = =========== Culture: A strong contender for the definition of "cute", Kirby was envisioned as a cute character for a beginner's game. It's unknown how Kirby got his name, and even series creator Masahiro Sakurai admits he has forgotten how. Rumors speculate that he was either named after vaccuum cleaner manufacturers "Kirby Corporation", or perhaps attorney John Kirby, who fought for Nintendo when Universal studios filed a lawsuit against them for the use of the Donkey Kong character. The mystery will forever remain. What's not a mystery is Kirby's appeal. A perfectly optimistic series based on light, happy music, with a bouncy, fluffy protagonist, Kirby has captured many gamers' hearts in Japan and in other countries. While Kirby tends not to form coherent words (except for "Hi!"), he is voiced by actress Makiko Oumoto, and his speech in games and anime is mostly "reactionary", despite the diction of any characters around him. Character: Kirby is a cheerful and innocent fellow from the planet Popstar. Little is known about his background or heritage. What is known is that he has a positive outlook on life, loves to eat, and loves to sleep. His unique physique allows him to inhale very forcefully. Once he sucks up his quarry, he can usually spit it back out as a weapon, or sometimes swallow what he's eaten, and perhaps copy the ability of whatever he ate. Also, he can inhale air, giving him the ability to float through the sky. With these powers, he's always on hand to save Popstar, or even the known galaxy, against anything it can throw at him. Appearance: Kirby has remained basically unchanged throughout his games. He appears as a small, pink ball, with small floppy arms, a small face on the front of his body, and two red feet. In certain games, he's given the opportunity to copy the abilities of his enemies, which is usually noted by a brief costume to reflect his ability (a floppy cap for the Sword ability, or a backwards baseball cap for the Wheel ability). Series: Kirby's main series is platforming, similar to the Mario series. Differences come with Kirby's control scheme, with his ability to float, inhale, and copy enemy powers. Roles: 1992 -- Kirby's Dream Land (GB) 1993 -- Kirby's Pinball Land (GB) 1993 -- Kirby's Adventure (NES) 1993 -- Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB) 1995 -- Kirby's Dream Course (SNES) 1995 -- Kirby's Avalanche (SNES) 1995 -- Kirby's Blockball (GB) 1996 -- Kirby Super Star (SNES) 1996 -- Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES) 1997 -- Kirby's Star Stacker (GB) 1997 -- Kirby's Super Star Stacker (Super Famicom) Japan Only 1998 -- Kirby Baseball (Super Famicom) Japan Only 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 2000 -- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64) 2001 -- Kirby's Tilt 'n' Tumble (GBC) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA) 2003 -- Kirby Air Ride (GCN) 2004 -- Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (GBA) 2005 -- Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS) 2006 -- Kirby: Squeak Squad (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ========== 3G. Fox = ========== Culture: Designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takaya Imamura, Fox was designed around the Star Fox series of video games. While Fox alone has had little cultural impact, he was at the forefront of Nintendo's technological battles for a time as his game heralded the dawn of the Super Nintendo's Super FX chip. Fox's model is based off of the mythical Japanese foxes of Inari, known as kitsune. The red scarf he traditionally wears is an homage to the custom of adorning kitsune statues with red neckwear. Character: The son of venerable pilot, James McCloud, Fox followed in his father's footsteps, proving himself just as hot in a fighter as his father. His skills led him to become the leader of the Star Fox mercenary squadron after the death of his father. He roams the Lylat system in the battle cruiser: Great Fox, protecting the planet Corneria and surrounding planets against the forces of Emperor Andross of Venom. Fox's character has evolved much over recent years, particularly with the addition of his love interest, Krystal, to the story. While it seemed at first that their relationship was almost too smooth, recent events have shaken their future, with no clear path in sight. Appearance: Fox is an anthropomorphic fox, in that he has a basic human skeletal structure and build, but his head is clearly that of a fox. He also has the fur and tail of a fox. He's most commonly seen wearing a simple and rustic flight suit, although the exact costume has varied from game to game. Series: The Star Fox series is largely a sci-fi flight simulator. Taking place in the Lylat System, the majority of the games in the series focus on flying your spacecraft (usually an "Arwing") in one of two ways: the first being down a "corridor" in which you can reorient yourself, but not change direction (also known as being "on rails"), and the second being freely flying around in a smaller area. In either situation, you shoot down enemy spacecraft and weapons, either on the surface of a planet or in space. Roles: 1993 -- Star Fox (SNES) 1997 -- Star Fox 64 (N64) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet (GCN) 2005 -- Star Fox Assault (GCN) 2006 -- Star Fox Command (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ============= 3H. Pikachu = ============= Culture: Adorable, yes, but parents tend to loathe the appearance of this yellow mouse-like creature known as Pikachu, as his coming foretells a sagging on their wallets. Pikachu is the flagship creature of Nintendo and Game Freak's cash cow, "Pokémon", short for "Pocket Monsters". The origins are traced back to series executive director, Satoshi Tajiri, and his love of insect collecting. Envisioned as a simple game where your trainer would capture cute monsters to battle against other trainers' monsters, this concept exploded across Japan, and then the world, into a massive frenzy, spurred on by the tagline, "Gotta catch 'em all!" Most Pokémon games are released in sets of two, encouraging trading between owners of each set. Another common release tactic is to release a third game some time later of the same "generation", with a new story. Pikachu sits on top of the Pokémon heap as the reigning most popular Pokémon. Much like the other Pokémon, he was simply imagined into existence as part of the other 150 original species. His name is derived from two Japanese onomatopoeia: "pika", the sound an electric spark makes, and "chuu", the sound a squeaking mouse makes. In all versions of voices heard, through games and anime, Pikachu is voiced by Ikue Otani, even though Pikachu has no real language, except for repeatedly saying the syllables of its own name to communicate. Character: There are two ways to characterize Pikachu. First is as the Pokémon type. Pokédex Entry #25 (according to the National Pokédex) is an electric mouse. It tends to live in grassy or lightly-forested areas. It tends to store electrical energy in pouches in its cheeks, and when agitated, it will release this energy. It can evolve into a Raichu by being exposed to a Thunder Stone. The second way to characterize Pikachu is as Ash Ketchum's famous friend in the Pokémon anime. Given to him by Professor Oak when the "starter three" were unavailable, Pikachu and Ash started off rocky at first in their relationship, but soon became the best of friends. Pikachu tends not to hang out in his Pokéball, but instead simply tags along with Ash, or rests on his shoulder. He and Ash remain inseparable throughout the series. Appearance: All Pikachu appear as predominantly yellow mice, with brown stripes on their back, red circular cheeks, and black-tipped pointy ears. They walk on their hind legs, and have a tail shaped like a lightning bolt. Series: The main Pokémon series is an RPG focused around your character as being a Pokémon Trainer. While your character alone doesn't fight, you command a team of the eponymous Pokémon, who you can command to fight for you. You progress through the game, from town to town, battling both wild Pokémon and other trainers, in the hopes of improving your own Pokémon as well as capturing new ones to create a bigger and better team. Roles: 1998 -- Pokémon Red/Blue (GB) (introduced in Japan as Red/Green, then Blue) 1998 -- Pokémon Pikachu (LCD Unit) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 1999 -- Pokémon Pinball (GB) 1999 -- Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (GBC) 1999 -- Pokémon Snap (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Stadium (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Trading Card Game (GBC) 2000 -- Pokémon Puzzle League (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Gold/Silver (GBC) 2000 -- Hey You, Pikachu! (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (GBC) 2001 -- Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64) 2001 -- Pokémon Crystal (GBC) 2001 -- Pokémon Card GB 2 (GBC) Japan Only 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2003 -- Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (GBA) 2003 -- Pokémon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire (GBA) 2003 -- Pokémon Channel (GCN) 2004 -- Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA) 2004 -- Pokémon Colosseum (GCN) 2005 -- Pokémon Emerald (GBA) 2005 -- Pokémon Dash (DS) 2005 -- Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (GCN) 2006 -- Pokémon Trozei! (DS) 2006 -- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team (GBA) 2006 -- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team (DS) 2006 -- Pokémon Ranger (DS) 2007 -- Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS) 2007 -- Pokémon Battle Revolution (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ============ 3I. Bowser = ============ Culture: The eternal bad guy of the Mario series, Bowser began his days as a direct opponent to Mario and all he stood for. His original conception was based as a turtle with dragon elements. It's possible he was modeled off a kappa, a water sprite from Japanese folklore. This follows with his name in Japan: Koopa. The name "Bowser" was given to him in the American version of Super Mario Bros. Bowser has been voiced by several actors throughout the years. In animated Mario TV series', Harvey Atkin provided the voice. In the video games, he has been voiced by Isaac Marshall, Scott Burns, and Eric Newsome. In the Super Mario Bros. movie, "King Koopa" was portrayed as a human by Dennis Hopper. However, Bowser's not a particularly vocal character (outside of text) and tends to communicate more often with roars and growls. One of the largest inconsistencies surrounding Bowser is his actual size, which seems to vary greatly depending on the game. He's almost always portrayed as being larger than Mario. In most games, Bowser is about seven to ten feet tall (scale), but in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, he's considerably larger, and would be quite tall if he stretched up to his full height. Character: The king of the Koopa army, Bowser rules over his fiery and mountainous kingdom with an iron fist. He continually has his sights set on ruling the Mushroom Kingdom, as well, although his aim in that goal is unclear. Towards that end, he routinely kidnaps the Mushroom Kingdom's Princess Peach. There are rumors that he has a romantic interest towards her, but those are largely unsubstantiated. Early in his career (and in straight Mario games thereafter), Bowser is specifically bent on his goal of conquering the Mushroom Kingdom. However, in recent times, he has become sort of simply a diabolical character, simply acting mean and nasty because it fits his character, as opposed to having a specific goal in mind. This has also led to him becoming a somewhat sympathetic evil character, in that his plans are foiled by incompetence or bad luck. Such sympathies have also led to him being a playable character in storylines, particularly in the RPG/Paper series, which often see him as a bad guy overshadowed by a far greater evil, requiring him to ally with Mario to respond to the threat. Also of note is Bowser's family. Introduced in Super Mario Bros. 3 were the Koopalings, or Koopa Kids. Each having a distinct amoral personality and many sporting odd hairstyles, they served as world-ending villains for Mario to tangle with. Beyond that, an "eighth" Koopaling, known as Bowser Jr., was featured prominently in Super Mario Sunshine. These appearances are independent of the other Koopalings, suggesting perhaps that they exist in different universes, or that the original seven have been retconned. Appearance: Bowser's official appearance is that of dinosaur-like turtle with a touch of dragon. His main body is covered in yellow scales, except on his chest, which is colored a lighter yellow. He has four fingers and three toes on his limbs, each ending in claws. He has a green-and-white-skinned grinning dragon-face with two horns, sharp teeth, and a shock of red hair and eyebrows. He has a shell on his back that's fully green and covered in large spikes. To round off his ensemble, he wears bands on his arms and neck studded with spikes. This appearance has largely remained the same throughout his tenure, with the exception of his hair in the original Super Mario Bros., which apparently could not be implemented due to graphical limitations. Also, in the TV animated series, Bowser was fully green and looked more akin to a crocodile. Series: See Mario. Roles: 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. (NES) 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. 2 (Famicom Disk System) Japan Only 1988 -- Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) 1990 -- Super Mario World (SNES) 1992 -- Super Mario Kart (SNES) 1993 -- Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) 1993 -- Mario is Missing! (NES/SNES/PC) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Preschool Fun (SNES) 1994 -- Hotel Mario (CD-i) 1995 -- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES) 1996 -- Super Mario RPG (SNES) 1996 -- Super Mario 64 (N64) 1997 -- Mario Kart 64 (N64) 1997 -- Game & Watch Gallery (GB) 1999 -- Mario Party (N64) 1999 -- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Golf (N64) 2000 -- Mario Party 2 (N64) 2000 -- Mario Tennis (N64) 2001 -- Mario Tennis (GBC) 2001 -- Paper Mario (N64) 2001 -- Mario Party 3 (N64) 2001 -- Mario Kart Super Circuit (GBA) 2001 -- Luigi's Mansion (GCN) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (GBA) 2002 -- Super Mario Sunshine (GCN) 2002 -- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (GBA) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2002 -- Mario Party 4 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA) 2003 -- Mario Party 5 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2003 -- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Pinball Land (GBA) 2004 -- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario 64 DS (DS) 2004 -- Mario Party 6 (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (Arcade) Japan Only 2005 -- Yoshi Touch & Go (DS) 2005 -- Mario Party Advance (GBA) 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP (Arcade) 2005 -- Mario Party 7 (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2005 -- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (DS) 2005 -- Mario Tennis: Power Tour (GBA) 2005 -- Super Mario Strikers (GCN) 2006 -- Super Princess Peach (DS) 2006 -- New Super Mario Bros. (DS) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2006 -- Yoshi's Island DS (DS) 2007 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) 2007 -- Super Paper Mario (Wii) 2007 -- Mario Party 8 (Wii) 2007 -- Itadaki Street DS (DS) Japan Only 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) 2007 -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/DS) 2007 -- Mario Party DS (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3J. Peach = =========== Culture: One of Nintendo's two "damsels in distress", Peach has the dubious distinction of representing the argument of sexism in video games. In her first appearance, and in several thereafter, Peach plays the role of nothing more than the reward at the end of the game. This has become less of a habit in recent years, as Peach has played a more active role in the latest adventures, even being playable in certain games, and the main character in her recent starring debut: Super Princess Peach. One of the controversies about the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom was her name. In Japan, she has been called "Peach" from day one, but in North America, she was referred to as "Princess Toadstool" or simply "Princess" for a long time. The reason for this is largely unknown, and with the release of Super Mario 64, her name was "retconned" to Peach through the opening letter to Mario. This has led to belief that her "full name" is Princess Peach Toadstool, or perhaps that Peach is a nickname. Regardless, she has been known simply as Peach in North America ever since. I should point out that Super Mario 64 isn't exactly the first game where she was called Peach in America (that would be Yoshi's Safari), but it is the first EAD-made game to do so, making it official, then. Across video games and animations, Peach has been voiced by several actresses: Mami Yamase, Jeannie Elias, Tracey Moore, Jocelyn Benford, Leslie Swan, Asako Kozuki, Jen Taylor, and Nicole Mills. Character: Princess Peach is the de facto ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. She serves her people with kindness and grace. Despite her proper attitude, though, she sometimes shows a bit of a wild streak, with a thirst for adventure that can rival Mario's. Her talents, outside of royalty-related duties, aren't as pronounced as others, but one that has stood by her ever since her playable debut in Super Mario Bros. 2 is her ability to float for a short amount of time. It is unknown whether this is accomplished by using her gown as a sort of lift device, or if this is an inherent ability. She has also accomplished this feat with the use of a parasol. While it is often implied that she has had relatives that also serve as royalty, none have ever been seen in any game. Despite her solitude on the throne of the Mushroom Kingdom, she has a large and dedicated staff, including Toadsworth, her chancellor, and Toad, her personal retainer. Like most other prominent members of the Mario universe, Peach has found a regular calling among ensemble cast roles in sports and party games. Often, Peach is the one to provide the feminine touch to a largely masculine cast. Appearance: Peach is a human woman in her late teens or early twenties. She has blonde hair that reaches down her back and is usually styled in a feathery hairdo. She's most commonly seen wearing a pink royal gown, a sapphire brooch and earrings, arm-length white gloves, red high-heel shoes, and a small golden crown decorated with sapphires and rubies. Past iterations have interpreted Peach has having darker hair, and the gloves weren't added until Super Mario World. Furthermore, Peach's gown has received an overhaul in recent years. Formerly, her gown was belted with a darker sash that was held tight around her waist, but currently, that has been replaced with looser frills that drape to either side of her. Furthermore, Peach's outfit has changed based on the game she appears in. For example, in sports games, Peach's full-length gown would be a liability, so she often dresses in shorter skirts and more sensible shoes to accommodate. She does have the distinction of having the largest variation in costume of any Mario universe character. Series: See Mario. Roles: 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. (NES) 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. 2 (Famicom Disk System) Japan Only 1987 -- Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) 1988 -- Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) 1990 -- Super Mario World (SNES) 1992 -- Super Mario Kart (SNES) 1993 -- Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) 1993 -- Mario is Missing! (NES/SNES/PC) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Preschool Fun (SNES) 1994 -- Hotel Mario (CD-i) 1996 -- Super Mario RPG (SNES) 1996 -- Super Mario 64 (N64) 1997 -- Game & Watch Gallery (GB) 1997 -- Mario Kart 64 (N64) 1998 -- Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Party (N64) 1999 -- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Golf (N64) 1999 -- Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC) 2000 -- Mario Party 2 (N64) 2000 -- Mario Tennis (N64) 2001 -- Mario Tennis (GBC) 2001 -- Paper Mario (N64) 2001 -- Mario Party 3 (N64) 2001 -- Super Mario Advance (GBA) 2001 -- Mario Kart Super Circuit (GBA) 2001 -- Luigi's Mansion (GCN) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (GBA) 2002 -- Super Mario Sunshine (GCN) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2002 -- Mario Party 4 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA) 2003 -- Mario Party 5 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2003 -- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Pinball Land (GBA) 2004 -- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario 64 DS (DS) 2004 -- Mario Party 6 (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (Arcade) Japan Only 2005 -- Mario Party Advance (GBA) 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP (Arcade) 2005 -- Mario Party 7 (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2005 -- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (DS) 2005 -- Mario Tennis: Power Tour (GBA) 2005 -- Super Mario Strikers (GCN) 2006 -- Super Princess Peach (DS) 2006 -- New Super Mario Bros. (DS) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2006 -- Yoshi's Island DS (DS) 2007 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) 2007 -- Super Paper Mario (Wii) 2007 -- Mario Party 8 (Wii) 2007 -- Itadaki Street DS (DS) Japan Only 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/DS) 2007 -- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) 2007 -- Mario Party DS (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ================= 3K. Zelda/Sheik = ================= Culture: The other of Nintendo's two "damsels in distress", Zelda has often found herself in the role of captive, in the Legend of Zelda series, requiring the heroic Link to come and rescue her. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto to simply be the object of Link's quest, thus the naming of the game, "The Legend of Zelda". This becomes a bit misleading in the end, considering that the entire series shares the name, despite the fact that Zelda is not only unplayable, but sometimes doesn't even appear in certain games in the series. Her name is said to come from Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott. Naturally, Zelda's repeated state of distress, particularly in early years caused a bit of upheaval, particularly in the West. Accordingly, recent roles that the character of Zelda has filled put her in a more active and powerful role, but she still has yet to be playable in any official Nintendo game besides the Smash Bros. series. Zelda's alter-ego, Sheik, became a hot topic once Ocarina of Time was released. A particularly sticky point of discussion is whether "Sheik" is male or female. Allow me to weigh in on the topic. First of all, arguing this point is entirely moot, as a person named "Sheik" never existed, and it was always Zelda under that disguise. That said, I believe that, in Ocarina of Time, the intention was to portray Zelda as disguising herself as a male. Now, before you start throwing obvious physical attributes of "Sheik" at me, I ALSO believe that, once Melee rolled around, "Sheik" BECAME female, not only to settle the argument, but also to simplify the convention of pronouns when switching between Zelda and Sheik. Much like Link, Zelda has not been vocalized outside of accents and yells, but in the animated series of the late 80's, she was voiced by Cyndy Preston, who portrayed her as a more warrior-like and tomboyish princess, who often rebuffed the brash Link's advances. Character: Like Link, the character of "Zelda" has been portrayed by several different women in Hyrule's history. It is assumed that all are vaguely related to one another, given their connection to the royal blood of Hyrule. Most serve as the active Princess of Hyrule during the time their game takes place, either being the de facto ruler of Hyrule, or the daughter of its King. As has been said earlier, Zelda typically is one to be abducted or otherwise subdued throughout the course of the game. The reasons for these attacks usually refer to both Zelda's latent magical abilities, which tend to be quite powerful, and quite simply her standing as a member of the Hyrule ruling class. As most Zeldas carry the Triforce of Wisdom within them, their powers do not tend to be particularly active or overt, but generally more of a passive nature. However, there are times when Zelda is forced to fight, and a couple have proved themselves competent archers. The Sheik persona is one adopted by Zelda in Ocarina of Time. With Link being held in stasis by the Master Sword and Ganondorf taking over Hyrule, Zelda needed to go into hiding to prevent capture and eventually guide Link. She did this by disguising herself as a Sheikah, not revealing her identity even to Link until all the sages in Hyrule were awakened. Appearance: Zelda is a slender woman of elegant stature. She is generally blonde-haired, and has the pointed ears common to the Hylian race. She is typically dressed in a royal gown, bedecked with Hyrule motif, including the Triforce symbol. She is sometimes found in a simpler dress, and has even been in disguise on occasion. Zelda's "accepted" royal gown is largely white, with a purple upper half. This is accented in gold on the shoulders and in other trim locations. She also typically wears a tiara of some sort. Sheik is an androgynous looking costume. It's a dark form-fitting leotard- like garment, wrapped in bandages on joints, and with the head almost completely covered in a white cloth wrap. The "eye" emblem of the Sheikah is emblazoned on the front. Series: See Link. Roles: 1987 -- The Legend of Zelda (NES) 1988 -- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES) 1989 -- Zelda (G&W) 1992 -- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) 1992 -- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GB) 1993 -- Link: The Faces of Evil (CD-i) 1993 -- Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (CD-i) 1994 -- Zelda's Adventure (CD-i) 1998 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (N64) (Sheik appearance) 1998 -- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (GBC) 2000 -- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64) 2001 -- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC) 2001 -- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) (Sheik appearance) 2002 -- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (GBA) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2003 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN) 2004 -- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GCN) 2005 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) 2006 -- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GCN/Wii) 2007 -- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) (Sheik appearance) ================== 3L. Ice Climbers = ================== Culture: I think the poignant thing about the Ice Climbers is their almost complete LACK of cultural impact. When characters for Melee were announced, these two snowy kids came out of nowhere, not having been in a game for well over a decade. Character: Popo (in the blue) and Nana (in the pink) are two parka-wearing kids who love to climb mountains. There isn't much to them besides that. Appearance: Popo is a young boy wearing a blue eskimo parka with the hood pulled up. He also wears mittens and boots. Nana is similar to Popo, except that she wears pink as her dominant color. Both kids are armed with large wooden mallets as a primary weapon. Series: The Ice Climbers only have one game to their name. Ice Climber is a vertically-scrolling game which can be played by two players simultaneously or one alone. The mountain consists of vertically stacked platforms, which the player must break through to reach the next level, all the while avoiding enemies, or bopping them with one's hammer. Roles: 1984 -- Ice Climber (Arcade) 1985 -- Ice Climber (NES) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ================= 3M. Meta Knight = ================= Culture: While Meta Knight has had little cultural effect, he is believed to be the second most-liked character in the Kirby series, after Kirby. Character: Meta Knight has had many different roles throughout the series: enemy, anti-hero, ally, and secret playable character. He is considered one of the most honorable characters in the Kirby series, despite his ruthlessness. He is the leader of a gang called the "Meta-Knights", which consist of armored characters wielding different weapons, and he commands a floating battleship known as the Halberd. Appearance: Meta Knight's basic body is spherical and blue, and quite similar to Kirby's. He wears purple armored shoes, white gloves, and a grand purple cape. He also wears a mask with a slit for his eyes. He tends to carry a golden sword, which he's incredibly skilled with. Also, in some iterations, his cape can become wings, which he uses to float, similar to Kirby. Series: See Kirby. Roles: 1993 -- Kirby's Adventure (NES) 1995 -- Kirby's Avalanche (SNES) 1996 -- Kirby Super Star (SNES) 1997 -- Kirby's Super Star Stacker (Super Famicom) Japan Only 2002 -- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA) 2003 -- Kirby Air Ride (GCN) 2004 -- Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (GBA) 2005 -- Kirby Canvas Curse (DS) 2006 -- Kirby Squeak Squad (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ========= 3N. Pit = ========= Culture: Well, there really isn't much of a cultural impact from this fellow. He was largely known as Kid Icarus throughout history, despite being clearly named "Pit" even during the first game. It is worth noting that, among fans, Pit has been a long-time holdout to appear in a Smash Bros. game. Pit appeared (named "Kid Icarus") in the cartoon "Captain N: The Game Master" as one of the plucky sidekicks to Captain N. Character: Pit is the leader of Lady Paletuna's bodyguard. As the protector of the Goddess of Light, it was his task to traverse the underworld and retrieve the Three Sacred Treasures in order to defeat Medusa and save Angel Land. Appearance: Pit's standard appearance, while generally low-pixel, was defined as being a young man dressed in ancient garb, specifically a chiton and sandals, as well as a golden laurel adorning his head. He also has a small pair of white-feathered wings growing out of his back. Series: The two-game series of Kid Icarus is a side-scrolling platform affair. Pit must jump up and across platforms to reach the end of each area, all while fending off enemies with his bow. Roles: 1987 -- Kid Icarus (NES) 1991 -- Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (GB) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3O. Wario = =========== Culture: Wario was created by Hirofumi Matsuoka as an antithesis to Mario. His name is meant to combine the name "Mario", and the adjective "warui" (bad). The more obvious (at least to Westerners) suggestion is that it's simply an inversion of the "M" on Mario's cap to create Wario. Like most of Nintendo's mustachioed crew, Wario is voiced by Charles Martinet. Character: Wario's first appearance was meant to be a straight nemesis of Mario, greedy and manipulative compared to Mario's virtues. Soon afterwards, Wario developed into a character of his own, away from Mario. He became more of an anti-hero than a villain, still focusing on greed and mischief, but being less truly diabolical. In addition to roles that concern him looking for treasure, he's also moved on to making games through his company: WarioWare Inc., as a source of income, which has attracted a colorful cast of characters. Appearance: Wario is a larger and more muscular fellow than Mario. He has a jagged mustache, mad-looking eyes, and a large pink nose. Wario has two popular costumes. The first is a spoof of Mario's overalls, only with a yellow hat and shirt, and purple overalls. Also, his gloves have a W on them, and he wears green pointed boots. Wario's second costume is based on his WarioWare appearances: He wears a yellow cycling helmet with his W emblem, a blue shirt, purple pants, a light blue cutoff vest, and yellow fingerless gloves. Series: Despite being a character spawned of Mario, Wario has also developed his own pair of series. The first is a platforming series that involves Wario collecting treasures to satisfy his greed. His signature move in this series is a running shoulder charge. The second series attributed to Wario is the "Warioware, Inc." series. In these games, the player is challenged by a series of "microgames". A microgame is a quick game (usually five seconds) where the player is usually given a one or two-word command about what to do, and it's the player's job to figure out how to beat the game in the short amount of time allotted. These games are presented to the player one after the other, with increasing speed and difficulty. Each game in the series features a cast of colorful characters, and the microgames for each character tend to focus on a specific theme. Roles: 1992 -- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (GB) 1993 -- Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (GB) 1993 -- Mario & Wario (SNES) Japan Only 1994 -- Wario's Woods (NES/SNES) 1994 -- Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! (GB) 1995 -- Virtual Boy Wario Land (Virtual Boy) 1997 -- Mario Kart 64 (N64) 1998 -- Wario Land II (GB/GBC) 1998 -- Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Party 1999 -- Mario Golf (N64/GBC) 2000 -- Wario Land 3 (GBC) 2000 -- Mario Party 2 (N64) 2000 -- Mario Tennis (N64) 2001 -- Mario Tennis (GBC) 2001 -- Dr. Mario 64 (N64) 2001 -- Mario Party 3 (N64) 2001 -- Mario Kart Super Circuit (GBA) 2001 -- Wario Land 4 (GBA) 2002 -- Mario Party 4 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Wario World (GCN) 2003 -- WarioWare, Inc: Mega Microgame$ (GBA) 2003 -- Mario Party 5 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2004 -- WarioWare, Inc: Mega Party Game$ (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Golf: Advance Tour (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario 64 DS (DS) 2004 -- Mario Party 6 (GCN) 2005 -- WarioWare: Touched! (DS) 2005 -- WarioWare: Twisted! (GBA) 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP (Arcade) 2005 -- Mario Party 7 (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2005 -- Super Mario Strikers (GCN) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2007 -- WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Wii) 2007 -- Wario: Master of Disguise (DS) 2007 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) 2007 -- Mario Party 8 (Wii) 2007 -- Itadaki Street DS (DS) Japan Only 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/DS) 2007 -- Mario Party DS (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ========= 3P. Ike = ========= Culture: There's not much to say here for Ike except that he represents the long- vaunted Fire Emblem series, which for many years was exclusive to Japan. Only in 2003 was the seventh game released in North America, and every game since. Character: The main character of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Ike is the son of Commander Greil, leader of the Greil mercenaries. He inherits the mercenaries from his father soon after his last day of training and leads them across the continent of Tellius, intent on restoring peace and defeating the Daein Army, for the hope of restoring Crimea, installing Princess Elincia on the throne, and uniting the human beorc and the half-beast laguz. He also plays an important role in the sequel, Radiant Dawn, which takes place three years later. Resuming command of the Greil Mercenaries after the war, Ike is hired halfway through the game to back up the Laguz Alliance as they lead a war against Begnion oppression. Appearance: Ike is a young man with blue hair (gotta have blue hair). He wears a red tunic under a blue jacket, with white leggings and boots. He also wears light gauntlets, sports a red cape, and a greenish-black headband. His main weapon is a sword. Series: The Fire Emblem series is a tactical turn-based strategy game in a fantasy setting. Characters in an army or battalion are pitted against opposing enemy forces, where the armies take turns moving and attacking with their weapons or magic. Unlike some other series that involve creating or hiring faceless soldiers to battle with, Fire Emblem has you take from a cast of individual people, all with a story behind them. Also distinctive to the game is that there is no way to revive comrades who have fallen in battle. Roles: 2005 -- Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GCN) 2007 -- Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ===================== 3Q. Pokémon Trainer = ===================== Culture: The stars of the Pokémon series have always been the cute little monsters themselves, so it's easy to forget that behind most great Pokémon, you'll find a talented and determined Pokémon Trainer. Serving as the human connection to the world, the PT represents the player as he explores the world of Pokémon. Character: Since each trainer is meant to be an avatar of the player him/herself, there really is very little established character to attribute to the PT. He starts from humble beginnings in his hometown, receiving his first Pokémon and setting out to explore the world, meeting all kinds of different trainers and battling their Pokémon teams. If you wish to know the identity of each Trainer "costume", head over to the corresponding section in the "Character in Game" section. However, the Pokémon he uses are quite distinctive. Specifically, they're all the original three Pokémon available in the first game, in various states of evolution. Ivysaur is National Pokédex #2. It is known in Japan as "Fushigi Sou" (strange grass). It is the second stage of evolution, preceded by Bulbasaur and succeeded by Venusaur. It is a grass/poison-type Seed Pokémon, with common traits of both plants and animals. Charizard is National Pokédex #6. It is known in Japan as "Lizardon", most likely a portmanteau of "Lizard" and the suffix "-don", used for certain dinosaurs. It is a fire/flying-type Flame Pokémon. It is the final stage of its evolution, preceded by Charmander and Charmeleon. Its flame is said to be hot enough to melt rock. Squirtle is National Pokédex #7. It is known in Japan as "Zenigame" (pond turtle). It is the first stage of evolution, followed by Wartortle and Blastoise. It is a water-type Tiny Turtle Pokémon, with the ability to shoot water out of its mouth, and to hide inside its shell. Appearance: The appearance of the PT is variable in nature, since people from all walks of life find a calling to be Trainers. The "default" playable trainer from the very first game (and the default costume for the Brawl character) is a ten-year-old boy who wears a shirt, jeans, vest jacket, and a hat based off the concept of a Poké Ball. The Ivysaur is a squat blue-colored lizard with pointy ears and a fanged maw. Its most distinctive feature is the plant that grows out of its back. In this stage of evolution, the plant has begun to blossom, with the leaves fanning out, exposing the pink bud. The Charizard is a larger red western-type dragon. It walks on its hind legs, has forearms, large wings, and a tail whose tip is always on fire. The Squirtle is a blue turtle with a brown shell that walks on its hind legs. It has a generally pleasant look on its face. Series: See Pikachu. Roles: 1998 -- Pokémon Red/Blue (GB) (introduced in Japan as Red/Green, then Blue) 1999 -- Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (GBC) 2000 -- Pokémon Stadium (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Gold/Silver (GBC) 2001 -- Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64) 2001 -- Pokémon Crystal (GBC) 2003 -- Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (GBA) 2004 -- Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA) 2004 -- Pokémon Colosseum (GCN) 2005 -- Pokémon Emerald (GBA) 2005 -- Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (GCN) 2006 -- Pokémon Ranger (DS) 2007 -- Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS) 2007 -- Pokémon Battle Revolution (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) Note: Of course, it's difficult to determine what constitutes a PT being in a Pokémon game. One could make the case that every game has a "trainer" that is represented by the player interacting, but I chose to include only those games where a trainer is physically represented in the game in the pictoral sense. If someone wants to argue that a game does, in fact, feature a trainer, you're more than welcome to. ================ 3R. Diddy Kong = ================ Culture: Possibly one of the first Nintendo characters created outside of Japan, Diddy Kong was created by English company Rare to give Donkey Kong a partner as he struck out on his own in the Donkey Kong Country series. Following the character's success in that role, Diddy was continually used in the further Donkey Kong series games, even starring in some on his own, as well as becoming a supporting character in the Mario sports games. Character: Diddy Kong is Donkey Kong's "little buddy". It's unknown how they first met, but it is generally assumed that the young chimp started tagging along with the more venerable DK to bask in his fame. They developed into friends, with Diddy's first active role occurring at a time when the Kremlings stole DK's banana hoard. Since then, Diddy has been ever-present in the fight against the Kremlings. Appearance: Diddy is a chimp with brown hair covering most of his body, except for his hands and feet, his face, and his stomach. He generally wears a red baseball cap and a red sleeveless t-shirt, which may or may not have yellow stars on it. Series: See Donkey Kong. Roles: 1994 -- Donkey Kong Country (SNES) 1995 -- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES) 1995 -- Donkey Kong Land (GB) 1995 -- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (SNES) 1996 -- Donkey Kong Land 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (GB) 1997 -- Donkey Kong Land 3 (GB) 1997 -- Diddy Kong Racing (N64) 1999 -- Donkey Kong 64 (N64) 2000 -- Donkey Kong Country (GBC) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2004 -- Donkey Konga (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2005 -- Donkey Konga 2 (GCN) 2005 -- Donkey Konga 3 (GCN) Japan Only 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- DK: King of Swing (GBA) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2007 -- Diddy Kong Racing DS (DS) 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- DK Jungle Climber (DS) 2007 -- Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3S. Lucas = =========== Culture: Outside of Japan, there's almost no culture impact of the new Mother protagonist. The only pull that Lucas gets in this country is from die-hard Mother/EarthBound fans (like me) seriously praying for a North America release of Mother 3. Character: Lucas is a young boy living on Nowhere Islands, which is under the control of the Pig Army. He's considered something of a crybaby by his twin brother Claus, who is more adventurous. His father, Flint, is also quite an adventurer. Lucas is somewhat reluctant to fight against the Pig Army, but through the course of events, the burden is thrust upon him, as his psychic powers flourish. Appearance: Lucas is a chubby boy with solid black eyes, and swirly blonde hair. He wears a striped shirt, blue jean shorts, and sneakers. Series: The Mother series is an RPG set in modern times. The characters wander around small towns, cities, as well as stranger areas, all populated with regular- looking people. Combat is similar to the Dragon Quest series, in that the monsters appear facing the screen, which gives the perpsective of the team. The Mother series is known for its quirky humor and odd enemies. Roles: 2006 -- Mother 3 (GBA) Japan Only 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ================= 3T. King Dedede = ================= Culture: Dedede has little cultural significance, apart from his standing as a member of the Kirby cast. It's of note to say that Dedede was originally intended to be in the original Super Smash Bros., but was cut from the cast before the end, so he only existed as a background character in Kirby's stage. The voice of Dedede has been provided by actors Ted Lewis and Kenichi Ogata, in the Kirby anime (known in the US as Kirby: Right Back at Ya!) Character: Appearing as the main antagonist in the first Kirby game, Dedede has been an everpresent thorn in the side of justice on Popstar. He declares himself the planet's de facto king, but as they say, no one voted for him. His evildoings tend to run on the side of mischief, gluttony, or selfishness, as opposed to outright malicious schemes. On occasions, he and Kirby have teamed up to take down a common foe. Despite their differences in appearance, Kirby and Dedede have much the same abilities. Dedede can inhale and exhale forcefully, as well as inflate himself to float. Other attributes include the ability to leap in the air and bodyslam to the ground, and the use of his weapon of choice: a large wooden mallet. Appearance: Dedede is a large penguin-type character. His "feathers" are predominantly blue, except for a tan belly, and he has an orange beak and feet. His outfit consists mainly of a red fur-lined robe (with his "DDD" insignia on the back), and a red bobble hat that looks somewhat like a crown. Also, he wears a red and yellow belt, and sometimes is seen wearing a robe underneath that. Also, he's sometimes seen with yellow gloves, or just bare blue flippers. Series: See Kirby. Roles: 1992 -- Kirby's Dream Land (GB) 1993 -- Kirby's Pinball Land (GB) 1993 -- Kirby's Adventure (NES) 1993 -- Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB) 1995 -- Kirby's Dream Course (SNES) 1995 -- Kirby's Avalanche (SNES) 1995 -- Kirby's Blockball (GB) 1996 -- Kirby Super Star (SNES) 1996 -- Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES) 1997 -- Kirby's Star Stacker (GB) 1997 -- Kirby's Super Star Stacker (Super Famicom) Japan Only 1998 -- Kirby Baseball (Super Famicom) Japan Only 2000 -- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64) 2001 -- Kirby's Tilt 'n' Tumble (GBC) 2002 -- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA) 2003 -- Kirby Air Ride (GCN) 2005 -- Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS) 2006 -- Kirby: Squeak Squad (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ============ 3U. Olimar = ============ Culture: Captain Olimar was introduced as the protagonist of the Pikmin series, when it was released in 2001 on the GameCube. Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto has said he conceived of the concept while working in his garden, watching his plants grow, and conceiving the little Pikmin creatures as a result. Character: Olimar is a space freighter captain from the planet Hocotate. He first lands on the planet of the Pikmin (which is in reality, Earth), after being struck by a meteor. After landing, he finds that his ship has partially broken apart and he needs to enlist the help of the Pikmin in order to find all the parts and put the ship back together so he can leave the planet before his air supply runs out. The Pikmin themselves are plant-animal hybrids. They live in structures called Onions. They tend to be a rather timid race, but they can band together in the presence of a strong leader in order to defend themselves or accomplish a task. Appearance: Olimar is a very small humanoid, most commonly seen in his space suit. He stands at approximately one inch tall. His non-human characteristics are centered around his head, which is much larger in proportion to the rest of his body than a humans. He also has a rather large nose, pointed ears, a small tuft of brown hair, and sleepy-looking eyes. His space suit is a simple white suit with a bubble-like helmet. The helmet is topped off with an antenna that ends in a red bulb. The Pikmin are small and vaguely humanoid, in that they have two arms, two legs, and an obvious head. They stand at half an inch tall. They are predominantly a single color, one of five. Pikmin have a stem-like antenna on top of their head that ends in a plant-like object: either a leaf, a bud, or a flower. Red Pikmin have a pointed nose. Yellow Pikmin have large pointed ears. Blue Pikmin have obvious gills. Purple Pikmin are larger and more bulbous, and White Pikmin are thinner and have segmented pink eyes. Series: The two Pikmin games are action games with elements of growth simulation games. The objective is to use Olimar to guide his group of Pikmin. Since Olimar can't do much on his own, he relies on the abilities of the Pikmin to carry items, fight, and create new paths to travel. The main focus of the games are to find ship parts or treasures and bring them back to the ship, all while avoiding death by the game's large predators. Roles: 2001 - Pikmin (GCN) 2004 - Pikmin 2 (GCN) 2008 - Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ========== 3V. Ness = ========== Culture: Ness' cultural impact has been very slight, except among American EarthBound fans desperately clamoring for a localization of the third game. He was created by "Mother" series creator Shigesato Itoi simply as a small boy from humble beginnings who ends up saving the world. He was also considered one of the oddest of inclusions in the original Super Smash Bros., as he was the only character in the game to only have been featured in one game at that time. Of note is the fact that EarthBound (Mother 2) is the ONLY game that features Ness. The first Mother features a boy named Ninten, who looks admittedly simliar to Ness. Mother 3 doesn't feature Ness specifically, but there are a few references made to him. Character: Ness is a small boy from the town of Onett in the country of Eagleland. When a meteor crashes in his town, he investigates and begins a world-saving adventure. With his friends Paula, Jeff, and Poo, and his amazing psychic abilities, Ness protects the world against the infestation of the alien, Giygas. Appearance: Ness is a small boy with a round head. He's dressed in a striped shirt, jean shorts, sneakers, and wears a red cap on his head, turned sideways. He also sports a yellow backpack. Series: See Lucas. Roles: 1994 -- Mother 2/EarthBound (SNES) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3W. Marth = =========== Culture: As the banner character of the Fire Emblem series, Marth was assured a spot in this roster, despite the fact that American folk still don't know him outside of a Smash Bros. game. Still, we may yet get that chance when the DS Fire Emblem drops some time this year. Character: Marth is the prince of the kingdom of Altea and a direct descendant of the legendary hero, Anri, who slew the dark dragon Medeus. When his father is killed by a priest who follows Medeus, he sets out to reclaim his throne and save his captured sister, using the treasure known as the Fire Emblem and the legendary sword, Falchion, the Sword of Light. Appearance: Marth is a thin, noble-looking young man in his late teens/early twenties. He has blue hair, wears a diadem on his head. His main outfit is predominantly blue, with a tunic, breeches, boots, gloves, and a long flowing cape, which has an inner red trim. His main weapon, the Falchion, is a relatively slim-looking sword, with a size that belies its true power. Series: See Ike. Roles: 1990 -- Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi (Famicom) Japan Only 1994 -- Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo (Super Famicom) Japan Only 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) 2008 -- Fire Emblem DS (DS) =========== 3X. Luigi = =========== Culture: The absolute definition of "2P", Luigi was created to be Mario's brother, a second-player character in the game Mario Bros. The name came from a pizza parlor near Redmond, WA named "Mario & Luigi's". Ever playing second fiddle to his brother, Luigi has nonetheless developed into a character all his own, particularly in Super Mario Bros. 2, where all four characters had different abilities. Also, there have been games that have put Luigi in the driver's seat, such as Mario is Missing and Luigi's Mansion. Luigi, like all of the plumbers, is voiced by Charles Martinet. His tone of voice differs from game to game. In certain games, such as Mario Party and Super Smash Bros., his voice is higher-pitched than Mario's. In other games, such as Mario Kart 64, he has a noticably deeper voice. This deeper voice has appeared in far more recent games, and is more than likely the proper tone. In live action, Luigi is portrayed by Danny Wells in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show, and is played by John Leguizamo in the Super Mario Bros. movie. Character: Mario's younger, yet taller brother has been portrayed as being more timid than his sibling. Not as used to the concept of adventure, Luigi seems to prefer to stay at home while Mario goes out on adventures. Of course, Luigi has been put into action many times, most often by his brother's side. Once his distinct ablities developed, it had been revealed that Luigi can jump quite a bit higher than his brother, but he tends to have worse traction. In addition to travelling with Mario on his adventures, Luigi has also become a regular in the "Mario cast" that frequents sports and party games. Appearance: Luigi's current appearance shows a taller and thinner Italian guy, with brown hair and a darker mustache. He generally wears a green shirt and painter's cap with an "L" on it. He wears blue jean overalls, white gloves, and brown boots, much like his brother. Series: See Mario. Roles: 1983 -- Mario Bros. (Arcade/NES) 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. (NES) 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. 2 (Famicom Disk System) 1985 -- Wrecking Crew (NES) 1987 -- Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) 1990 -- Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) 1991 -- Super Mario World (SNES) 1991 -- Mario Open Golf (NES) 1992 -- Super Mario Kart (SNES) 1993 -- Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) 1993 -- Mario & Wario (SNES) Japan Only 1993 -- Mario is Missing! (NES/SNES/PC) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Fun With Numbers (SNES) 1993 -- Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (SNES) 1994 -- Hotel Mario (CD-i) 1995 -- Mario's Tennis (Virtual Boy) 1995 -- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES) (as Baby Mario) 1996 -- Super Mario RPG (SNES) 1996 -- Super Mario 64 (N64) 1997 -- Game & Watch Gallery (GB) 1997 -- Mario Kart 64 (N64) 1999 -- Mario Party (N64) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 1999 -- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (GBC) 1999 -- Mario Golf (N64/GBC) 1999 -- Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC) 2000 -- Mario Party 2 (N64) 2000 -- Mario Tennis (N64) 2001 -- Mario Tennis (GBC) 2001 -- Paper Mario (N64) 2001 -- Mario Party 3 (N64) 2001 -- Super Mario Advance (GBA) 2001 -- Mario Kart Super Circuit (GBA) 2001 -- Luigi's Mansion (GCN) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (GBA) 2002 -- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (GBA) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2002 -- Mario Party 4 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN) 2003 -- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA) 2003 -- Mario Party 5 (GCN) 2003 -- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN) 2003 -- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Golf: Advance Tour (GBA) 2004 -- Mario Pinball Land (GBA) 2004 -- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN) 2004 -- Mario Power Tennis (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario 64 DS (DS) 2004 -- Mario Party 6 (GCN) 2004 -- Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (Arcade) Japan Only 2005 -- Yoshi Touch & Go (DS) 2005 -- Mario Party Advance (GBA) 2005 -- Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) 2005 -- Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP (Arcade) 2005 -- Mario Party 7 (GCN) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2005 -- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (DS) 2005 -- Mario Tennis: Power Tour (GBA) 2005 -- Super Mario Strikers (GCN) 2006 -- Super Princess Peach (DS) 2006 -- New Super Mario Bros. (DS) 2006 -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS) 2006 -- Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (DS) 2006 -- Yoshi's Island DS (DS) 2007 -- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) 2007 -- Super Paper Mario (Wii) 2007 -- Mario Party 8 (Wii) 2007 -- Itadaki Street DS (DS) Japan Only 2007 -- Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) 2007 -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/DS) 2007 -- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) 2007 -- Mario Party DS (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3Y. Falco = =========== Culture: Although not nearly as culturally important as Fox to the Star Fox series, Falco has earned a proper fan following as a result of his appearance and attitude. Character: Falco Lombardi is an expert pilot from the Lylat system. He's a long-time friend of Fox McCloud, even though the two don't always see eye-to-eye. He often acts arrogant and overconfident, which can sometimes land him in a mess, but he's usually skilled enough to get out of them. There has been more than occasion where Falco has actually left the Star Fox team to pursue his own goals, but in the end, he always seems to come back to the team, often when they need the help the most. Appearance: Falco is an anthropomorphic bird. He is similar to Fox and the rest of the Star Fox cast in that he has a basic humanoid shape, but he has an obviously avian head. His feathers are almost entirely blue, except for a ridge around his eyes that is colored red. His beak is yellow, and he has tail-feathers that stick out his rear. He's most often seen in a rugged-looking flight suit, similar to Fox's, but has adopted different costumes based on the game. Series: See Fox. Roles: 1993 -- Star Fox (SNES) 1997 -- Star Fox 64 (N64) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet (GCN) 2005 -- Star Fox Assault (GCN) 2006 -- Star Fox Command (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ==================== 3Z. Captain Falcon = ==================== Culture: In the "real world", Falcon has had little impact, except for his roles as the poster boy of the F-Zero series and his resurgence as a member of the Smash Bros. series. He was created by Takaya Imamura and Shigeru Miyamoto along with the other original four racers as simply to prove that there were beings in those racers. Character: Captain Douglas Jay Falcon is the pilot of the Blue Falcon in the F-Zero Grand Prix. His origins are mysterious, and tend to change from game to game. Currently, it has been established that he has worked on the Internova Police Force, and as a bounty hunter prior to becoming an F-Zero star. The F-Zero anime fleshed out his character a bit more, placing him as the reluctant hero on the trail of Black Shadow, while avoiding his clone, Blood Hawk. Appearance: Falcon wears a combination flight suit and body armor. The suit itself is predominantly blue (or bluish-purple, depending on the game). He wears yellow and red gloves, gold metallic boots, a yellow scarf, a gray metallic shoulder pad on his right shoulder, and his trademark red racing helmet, with black visor, and golden falcon emblazoned on the front. Under the helmet, Falcon appears to be an unremarkable brown-haired man in his thirties. Series: The F-Zero series is a high-speed racing game series, set in the distant future where wheel-less floating craft race on fast-moving sci-fi tracks. Known for its breakneck speeds and dangerous tracks, the series tends to focus more on the racing than the story of its characters, which explains why Captain Falcon had to be built from the ground up for the Smash series. Roles: 1990 -- F-Zero (SNES) 1998 -- F-Zero X (N64) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 2001 -- F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (GBA) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2003 -- F-Zero GX (GCN) 2003 -- F-Zero AX (Arcade) 2004 -- F-Zero: GP Legend (GBA) 2004 -- F-Zero Climax (GBA) Japan Only 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ============== 3AA. Lucario = ============== Culture: One of the more popular Pokémon to come out of the latest generation, Lucario earned its popularity as a result of its appearance and style, as well as its use as a Pokémon. It has also starred in its own Pokémon movie, Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, where it was voiced by Sean Schemmel and Daisuke Namikawa, in the respective English and Japanese dubs. Character: National Pokédex #448 is a Fighting/Steel Aura Pokémon. It evolves from a baby form, Riolu, after achieving a certain amount of Happiness. One of its trademarks is its ability to sense something called "Aura", which it will use to track the movements of its opponents. It is apparently also able to understand human speech. Appearance: Lucario appears as an anthropomorphic jackal. It is colored a combination of black and blue on its fur, with a cream-colored midsection. It has pointed ears, black flaps that stretch behind its head, and a blue tail. It also has a spike on the back of each hand, and one in the center of its chest. Series: See Pikachu. Roles: 2007 -- Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS) 2007 -- Pokémon Battle Revolution (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ============= 3BB. R.O.B. = ============= Culture: One of the first most recognizable faces of Nintendo, R.O.B., known simply as the Famicom Robot in Japan, gained quite a bit of notoriety in Nintendo's early days despite his relative lack of use. He was designed as a robot that the player could operate and interact with through the Nintendo Entertainment System and specialized games, but was eventually shelved due to his relative lack of use. In the decades since, he has earned an underground fanbase who adore his old-school charm, and has had several cameo appearances in certain Nintendo games. Character: As R.O.B. is just a Robotic Operating Buddy, he doesn't truly have a character attached to him. His lot in life is to be used as an accessory to the games he was created for. However, he has had a small revival in the Star Fox series, as the android caretaker of the Great Fox was named "ROB 64", and looked somewhat similar to his accessory of origin. Appearance: R.O.B. is a squat robot about 24 cm tall. He has a flat rectangular head with two optical sensors which detect flashes from the TV screen. His upper body is also rectangular and he sports two gray arms that he uses for grasping. He has no legs; just a hexagonal base to perch on. Series: Well, there's not much to say about the two games that star R.O.B., since he's meant to be more of an accessory than a standing series. Games involving R.O.B. were rather dependant on his own abilities, and tended to operate on an honor system. Roles: 1985 -- Gyromite (NES) 1985 -- Stack-Up (NES) 2005 -- Mario Kart DS (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ======================= 3CC. Mr. Game & Watch = ======================= Culture: The very first Nintendo "character" was this rather indistinct looking black fellow. Representing the protagonist's character in the myriad Game & Watch library, Mr. G&W has known several different jobs. The entire Game & Watch series was reportedly developed by Gunpei Yokoi after he sat on a train and observed a bored businessman pressing the buttons on his LCD calculator. The rest was history, and these LCD games flew off the shelves, being the first truly successful portable systems of their time. Character: Uh, there's not much to say. He's certainly an industrious fellow, but he's hardly a character outside of being an output for the system. He was apparently known fondly as "Hideo", until SSBM, where he became an official character with a style all his own. Appearance: Mr. G&W is a completely black humanoid seen from profile. He has a bulbous body, spindly legs with fat feet, and thin arms that end in balled fists. His nose is about a quarter the size of his large oval-shaped head, which is always seen in profile, and his mouth often opens, but he has no other visible facial features. Series: The Game & Watch games, being some of the earliest portable games, were designed to be simple tasks, generally not involving much besides one thing to do, such as juggling, or catching something. They were simple LCD games, so their range was rather limited, even as the series progressed through the 80's. Roles: 1980 -- Ball (G&W) 1980 -- Flagman (G&W) 1980 -- Vermin (G&W) 1980 -- Fire (G&W) 1980 -- Judge (G&W) 1981 -- Manhole (G&W) 1981 -- Helmet (G&W) 1981 -- Lion (G&W) 1981 -- Parachute (G&W) 1981 -- Octopus (G&W) 1981 -- Chef (G&W) 1981 -- Egg (G&W) 1981 -- Turtle Bridge (G&W) 1982 -- Fire Attack (G&W) 1982 -- Oil Panic (G&W) 1982 -- Green House (G&W) 1983 -- Rain Shower (G&W) 1983 -- Life Boat (G&W) 1984 -- Spitball Sparky (G&W) 1984 -- Crab Grab (G&W) 1988 -- Goldcliff (G&W) 1988 -- Climber (G&W) 1997 -- Game & Watch Gallery (GB) 1998 -- Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC) 1999 -- Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) Unfortunately, it's kinda tough to define exactly what roles have featured Mr. G&W. Certain games, while not obviously featuring specific characters, are defined enough that they don't look like a blank black-colored fellow. ================ 3DD. Ganondorf = ================ Culture: Far more villainous than Bowser, but with more personality than any Metroid, Ganondorf has a large fan following as one of Nintendo's more favorite villains. Originally conceived as a massive blue pig demon known as "Ganon" (no, not "Gannon"), he was installed as the main antagonist for the Zelda series. Later games in the series fleshed out his character, establishing him as being a human before his current form, then establishing his history and beginnings, making him one of the few Nintendo characters with a large retroactive history. Like the rest of the Zelda cast, Ganondorf has never spoken lines, but has grunted and yelled. He has been voiced by Takashi Nagasako and Hironori Miyata. Ganon has appeared in the Zelda animated series as a brown pig-like sorcerer, where he was voiced by Len Carlson. Character: While there are reportedly several "Links" and "Zeldas" throughout Hyrule's history, there is believed to be only one Ganondorf, also known as Ganon. He was born as one of the only males born to the Gerudo tribe every 100 years, and as such, he became their king. Despite his power and abilities, he desired more, so he feigned pledging loyalty to the King of Hyrule so he could become closer to the power of the Triforce. Once he acquired the Triforce, the holy artifact split, and he retained only one third: the Triforce of Power. Since then he has been obsessed both with acquiring the complete Triforce as well as wreaking his revenge on the Royal House of Hyrule and the line of Heroes. Appearance: Ganondorf's human appearance is that of a bronze-skinned red-haired Gerudo thief. He generally wears dark clothes or armor of varying styles, depending on the game. In his "pig" form, he's generally blue in color, and his actual form varies depending on the game, be it bulbously humanoid, more feral with larger horns, or completely a hairy boar-like creature. In his human form, he tends to use one or two swords as weapons, while his pig forms wield a large trident. Series: See Link. Roles: 1987 -- The Legend of Zelda (NES) 1992 -- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) 1993 -- Link: The Faces of Evil (CD-i) 1993 -- Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (CD-i) 1994 -- Zelda's Adventure (CD-i) 1998 -- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) 2001 -- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC) 2001 -- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC) 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2002 -- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (GBA) 2003 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN) 2004 -- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GCN) 2006 -- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GCN/Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ================= 3EE. Jigglypuff = ================= Culture: Most of what has been said about Pokémon can be found in Pikachu's entry. Notable about Jigglypuff is that it's reported as being the second most- popular Pokémon. Also, it's important to note that the Japanese name of Jigglypuff is Purin, which means pudding. This is due to its bouncy and jiggly physical nature. Character: Like Pikachu, there are two facets to the character of Jigglypuff. The first is as National Pokédex #039, the Normal-type Balloon Pokémon. Its most popular attack is its voice, which can lull almost any trainer or Pokémon into a deep sleep. It's said that a Jigglypuff's deep blue eyes and ability to adjust the wavelength of its voice contribute to its singing power. The second is as the character in the Pokémon anime. The Jigglypuff that tends to hound Ash and his friends enjoys singing, and does so often, which puts anyone who hears it into a fast sleep. There being no one to appreciate its music, Jigglypuff gets huffy and proceeds to draw on the faces of those who've fallen asleep. Appearance: A Jigglypuff appears as a round pink object, with small pointed ears, and a tuft of "hair" growing out of the top of its head (although this is more than likely an extension is rubbery skin). It also has four floppy limbs; two arms and two legs, a mouth, and two big blue eyes. Series: See Pikachu. Roles: 1998 -- Pokémon Red/Blue (GB) (introduced in Japan as Red/Green, then Blue) 1999 -- Super Smash Bros. (N64) 1999 -- Pokémon Pinball (GB) 1999 -- Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (GBC) 1999 -- Pokémon Snap (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Stadium (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Trading Card Game (GBC) 2000 -- Pokémon Puzzle League (N64) 2000 -- Pokémon Gold/Silver (GBC) 2000 -- Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (GBC) 2001 -- Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64) 2001 -- Pokémon Crystal (GBC) 2001 -- Pokémon Card GB 2 (GBC) Japan Only 2001 -- Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN) 2003 -- Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (GBA) 2003 -- Pokémon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire (GBA) 2004 -- Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA) 2004 -- Pokémon Colosseum (GCN) 2005 -- Pokémon Emerald (GBA) 2005 -- Pokémon Dash (DS) 2005 -- Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (GCN) 2006 -- Pokémon Trozei! (DS) 2006 -- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team (GBA) 2006 -- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team (DS) 2006 -- Pokémon Ranger (DS) 2007 -- Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (DS) 2007 -- Pokémon Battle Revolution (Wii) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ================ 3FF. Toon Link = ================ Culture: Dateline: August, 2001. Nintendo's Space World show in Tokyo. A technical demonstration of the GameCube's hardware, in which a fully 3D exhibition of Link and Ganondorf battle bitterly in a castle setting. Flash forward to the first quarter of the next year, where the next Zelda game is named and revealed, and faces all across the world fell. Truly one of the more controversial moves in any Nintendo series, fanboys were up in arms over "Celda", their pet name for The Wind Waker, which would be the first Zelda game to feature fully cel-shaded graphics in a cartoonish setting. After learning the game was just as well-made as any other Zelda game, the complaints grew mostly quiet Character: This specific Link is a young boy from Outset, one of the many islands in the Great Sea. After his sister Aryll is kidnapped, he is forced to don the green garb of the ancient hero and set off for the Forsaken Fortress, in the company of Tetra and her band of pirates. Appearance: Toon Link wears the dark green tunic of the hero of Hyrule, with a lighter green undershirt and white breeches. He wears short brown boots and a floppy green cap. He also wears a belt with a spiralish buckle. As weapons, he carries a small sword and shield, tailored for his size. Series: See Link. Roles: 2003 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN) 2007 -- The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) =========== 3GG. Wolf = =========== Culture: Wolf has had rather little cultural impact, aside from being a member of the Star Fox cast. His leadership of the antagonistic Star Wolf team does give him a nice amount of notoriety, though. Character: Wolf O'Donnell, like Fox McCloud, is an ace pilot and leader of a mercenary squadron, known as Star Wolf. Unlike Fox, Wolf has fewer qualms about who he works for, and sells the talents of his team to the highest bidder. He does have a code of honor, as he has on more than one occasion teamed up with Fox to counter a galactic threat, but the rivalry between the two runs deep. The Star Wolf team has seen several members of varying backgrounds join its ranks, such as the conniving Leon Powalski, the traitorous Pigma Dengar, the nephew of Andross, Andrew Oikonny, the flirtatious Panther Caruso, and even the psychic warrior, Krystal. Appearance: Wolf is an anthropomorphic wolf with grey fur. He's taller than Fox and wears a dark-colored flight suit. He also has an eyepatch over his left eye, something that Fox apparently gave him. Series: See Fox. Roles: 1997 -- Star Fox 64 (N64) 2005 -- Star Fox Assault (GCN) 2006 -- Star Fox Command (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) ============ 3HH. Snake = ============ Culture: When one talks about the culture of Solid Snake, one has to look at the Metal Gear mythos as a whole, from each individual game all the way to the series creator, Hideo Kojima. Designed to take a different direction from the action games of the time, Metal Gear was created as incorporating stealth as much as action, rewarding the character for not being seen. While this was a modestly novel concept and execution in the beginning, once Kojima released Metal Gear Solid in 1998, the popularity exploded exponentially. Suddenly, the Metal Gear world was full of anime-inspired influences: full 3D mecha of destruction, ninjas with cloaking abilities, pontificating villains, and lots of kooky one-liners that didn't translate perfectly. This led to a large franchise blossoming from this one point, securing Snake's status as an icon among gamers. In the series, Kojima often tries to tie several war-related themes together to amplify the human side of the series: the futility of war, the attitude of the battlefield, the danger of nuclear proliferation, the reliance on technology, and connections to military history, among others. Since Metal Gear Solid, Snake has been voiced by actor David Hayter in English appearances, and Akio Otsuka in Japanese appearances. As the first announced character in the Smash Bros. series to not be of Nintendo origin (or the origin of one of its second parties), Snake has thrown open the door to all kinds of speculation regarding the inclusion of third-party fighters in this and future installments of Smash Bros. Smash Bros. series director Masahiro Sakurai is reported as saying that Kojima "practically begged" for his character to be in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but time constraints wouldn't allow it. Character: Solid Snake began his military days as a soldier for the unit FOXHOUND, where he infiltrated the military fortress "Outer Heaven" in order to destroy the weapon, Metal Gear, and defeat the fortress leader, Big Boss. After completing that mission, he was called again to infiltrate the commune "Zanzibar Land" to again combat the threat of Metal Gear. Following those missions, Snake went into retirement in Alaska, but was called back to service to combat the FOXHOUND unit itself, it having gone rogue, and destroy a new model of Metal Gear, this time in the remote base, Shadow Moses. Following that, Snake and his closest ally, Otacon, established an anti-Metal-Gear organization: Philanthropy, and Snake attempted to stop a Metal Gear-related plot in the Hudson Bay, alongside a fellow agent, Raiden. Really, I'm only touching the highlights here, as spoiling the plotlines is not what I'm after, here. If you really want insight into the character of Snake, you owe it to yourself to play the Metal Gear games, even if it would require owning non-Nintendo systems to do so. Appearance: Snake is an average-sized, but well-built man, generally appearing to be in his mid-to-late thirties. He has brown hair, and sometimes sports facial hair, depending on the game. His costume is typically some sort of combat gear. In particular, he's famous for wearing a "Sneaking Suit": a blue-gray skin-tight suit that allows him to blend in with his surroundings more easily. Series: The Metal Gear series was designed to be a stealth infiltration series. The protagonist (usually Snake) would enter his mission and attempt to reach his objective, ideally being spotted as infrequently as possible. Snake is often able to hide and subvert his enemies in creative ways, such as distracting them, hiding in lockers or underneath tables, as well as using his weapons or close-combat techniques to subdue them. The series began with a top-down perspective, but was changed with the Metal Gear Solid series to become more cinematic. Roles: 1987 -- Metal Gear (NES/MSX2) 1990 -- Snake's Revenge (NES) 1990 -- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (MSX2) 1998 -- Metal Gear Solid (PS1) 1999 -- Metal Gear Solid: Integral (PS1/PC) 1999 -- Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions (PS1/PC) 2000 -- Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (GBC) 2001 -- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2) 2002 -- Evolution Skateboarding (PS2) 2002 -- Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PS2/XBOX/PC) 2003 -- DreamMix TV World Fighters (GCN/PS2) Japan Only 2004 -- Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (GCN) 2004 -- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2) 2004 -- Metal Gear Ac!d (PSP) 2005 -- Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (PS2) 2005 -- Metal Gear Ac!d 2 (PSP) 2006 -- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP) 2007 -- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (PSP) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) 2008 -- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) Note: I'm aware of the "actual" stars for certain games on this list. However, these games all feature (if nothing else), a "Snake-like" character, which, in order to eliminate confusion, will be enough for me. ============ 3II. Sonic = ============ Culture: The mascot of the Sega corporation, Sonic the Hedgehog was reportedly designed by artist Naoto Oushima, designer Hirokazu Yasuhara, and programmer Yuji Naka. Envisioned as being a new mascot for the Sega Genesis, seemingly specifically designed to directly take on Nintendo's Mario, Sonic won hearts the world over for his cocky attitude and lightning-fast speeds. Sonic has been voiced by several actors in games and television media, including Takeshi Kusao, Jaleel White (yes, Urkel himself), Masami Kikuchi, Samuel Vincent, Martin Burke, Junichi Kanemaru, and Ryan Drummond. His current "game" voice is provided by Jason Griffith. As a bit of irony, the April 2002 edition of EGM magazine gave, as their April Fool's joke of the year, a fake code giving the means to unlock Sonic and Tails as playable characters. Sonic's induction into Brawl brings that back to light, and further throws open the door for even more potential newcomers from outside Nintendo. Character: Known as "the fastest thing alive", Sonic the Hedgehog lives in the "real world" (according to the games), along with several of his anthropomorphic pals. Given his speed and tenacity, he's very cocky, aggressive, and tends to lack forethought, often impatiently jumping into dangerous situations feet-first. He's also very positive and righteous, willing to brave dangers for a good cause, while still maintaining his optimism. Sonic's clear and obvious primary ability is his outright land speed, which has allowed him to reach speeds above Mach 1. He often uses this speed and momentum in his attacks, often combining them with a hedgehog's natural inclination to roll up into a ball, allowing him to barrel into enemies, either in the air or on the land. Some games have also given him the ability to grind on rails with nothing but his shoes. Sonic can also turn into Super Sonic using the powers of the Chaos Emeralds, which turns him gold and gives him the added abilities of flight and near-invincibility. Despite all these abilities, Sonic has a few glaring weaknesses. For one, he dislikes water, and can't swim. For another, he's not very durable. In many games, being hit once will cost him his collected rings, and another hit will finish him. Appearance: Sonic appears as a predominantly blue anthropomorphic hedgehog. His skin is beige in parts of his stomach, his arms, his maw, and inside his ears. His head is his most promiennt feature, featuring two pointed ears, a flat rodent- like face, and a mane of blue hair or spikes that curves from the back of his head. He also has a short blue tail. For clothing, Sonic wears white gloves and shoes that are mostly red, with some white and gold accent. Series: In the simplest sense, the Sonic series is a platform series. The important thing that sets it apart from most other series is related to Sonic's blinding speed. Essentially, a lot of the game involves Sonic travelling fast and blazing through an area, rather than taking his time and exploring. The original games in the series were side-scrolling, and 3D adaptations were developed in later years. Roles: 1991 -- Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN/SMS/GG) 1991 -- Sonic Eraser (Mega Drive) Japan Only 1992 -- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (GEN/SMS/GG) 1993 -- Sonic the Hedgehog CD (SCD/PC) 1993 -- Sonic Chaos (SMS/GG) 1993 -- Sonic Spinball (GEN/SMS/GG) 1993 -- SegaSonic the Hedgehog (Arcade) Japan Only 1994 -- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN) 1994 -- Sonic Drift (GG) Japan Only 1994 -- Tails and the Music Maker (Sega Pico) 1994 -- Sonic & Knuckles (GEN) 1994 -- Sonic Drift 2 (GG) 1994 -- Sonic Triple Trouble (GG) 1995 -- Tails Skypatrol (GG) Japan Only 1995 -- Tails Adventure (GG) 1995 -- Sonic Labyrinth (GG) 1996 -- Sonic 3D Blast (GEN/PC/SAT) 1996 -- Sonic Blast (GG) 1996 -- Sonic's Schoolhouse (PC) 1996 -- Sonic the Fighters (Arcade) 1996 -- Christmas NiGHTS (SAT) 1997 -- Sonic & Knuckles Collection (PC) 1997 -- Sonic Classics 3 in 1 (GEN) 1997 -- Sonic Jam (SAT/Game.com) 1997 -- Sonic R (SAT) 1999 -- Sega Smash Pack (PC/DC/GBA) 1999 -- Sonic Adventure (DC) 1999 -- Sonic Pocket Adventure (NGPC) 2000 -- Sonic Shuffle (DC) 2001 -- Segagaga (DC) 2001 -- Sonic Adventure 2 (DC) 2001 -- Sonic Advance (GBA) 2002 -- Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (GCN) 2002 -- Sonic Mega Collection (GCN) 2003 -- Sonic Advance 2 (GBA) 2003 -- Sonic Pinball Party (GBA) 2003 -- Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut (GCN/PC) 2003 -- SonicN (N-GAGE) 2004 -- Sonic Battle (GBA) 2004 -- Sonic Heroes (GCN/PS2/XBOX/PC) 2004 -- Sonic Advance 3 (GBA) 2004 -- Sonic Mega Collection Plus (PS2/XBOX/PC) 2004 -- Sega Superstars (PS2) 2004 -- Sonic Gems Collection (GCN/PS2) 2005 -- Shadow the Hedgehog (GCN/PS2/XBOX) 2005 -- Sonic Rush (DS) 2006 -- Sonic Riders (GCN/PS2/XBOX/PC) 2006 -- Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis (GBA) 2006 -- Sega Genesis Collection (PS2/PSP) 2006 -- Sonic Rivals (PSP) 2006 -- Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (PS3/360) 2007 -- Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii) 2007 -- Sonic Rush Adventure (DS) 2007 -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/DS) 2007 -- Sonic Rivals 2 (PSP) 2008 -- Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (Wii/PS2) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) 2008 -- Sega Superstars Tennis (Wii/DS/PS2/PS3/360) ========================================== 3JJ. Notes on the Animal Crossing Series = ========================================== Despite the use of the Animal Crossing series as a stage, certain items, and music, there are no playable characters featured from the series in this game. Still, if this is a series that's important enough to warrant its own emblem (the leaf), then I should do it proper by explaining what it's all about: Series: Animal Crossing is a series where you live in a town. This town contains many creatures of varying animal species. You begin the game having a debt to pay off to Tom Nook, the local shopkeep, for your house. You must work, farm, hunt, fish, and explore in order to earn money to pay off your house, and then decorate this house however you wish. The series is a rather open- ended simulation game with no clear objective; just to live and work with your neighbors. Some of its more well-known features involve working with the system's internal clock to plan events, and the incorporation of other Nintendo series in the decorations, etc. "Roles": 2001 -- Animal Forest (N64) Japan Only 2002 -- Animal Crossing (GCN) 2005 -- Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) 2008 -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) 2008 -- Animal Crossing Wii (Wii) ****************************************************************************** 4. CHARACTERS IN GAME ****************************************************************************** As the title says, here you'll find info on the characters as they relate to this game, then back to their other appearances. Or, to put it another way, this section tells you why Mario throws fireballs out of his hands, why Kirby can inhale, and who that blonde chick in the blue jumpsuit is. =========== 4A. Mario = =========== Appearance: Mario wears his classic red shirt, red cap, and blue overalls. All his voice tracks are derived from his Super Mario 64 appearance. His details have been slightly updated for his first Wii appearance, otherwise he retains his classic look. Emblem: Mario's emblem is the Super Mushroom, a prominent item in the early days of Super Mario Bros, which doubled Mario's size and made him more resistant to damage. Entrance: Mario enters the field through a Warp Pipe, a common mode of transport since the earliest days of Super Mario Bros. Alternate Costumes: Mario has a white and red ensemble, mimicking, what he looks like when he picks up a Fire Flower, and a yellow and purple ensemble, which resembles Wario's original plumber outfit. --- Jump/Double Jump: The noises Mario makes as he jumps correspond with those made in Super Mario 64. Neutral Attack: Originates from Mario's punch-punch-kick combo in Super Mario 64. Down Smash Attack: This is Mario's crouching swing kick from Super Mario 64. Dash Attack: This is similar to Mario's sliding kick in Super Mario 64. Dash Attack (with swinging item): With an item in his hand, Mario mimics his dive attack from Super Mario 64. Grab and Back Throw: This may originate from Super Mario 64, when Mario flings Bowser around by the tail. Wall Jump: In Super Mario 64, Mario could bounce off walls to extend his jumping. He can also do so in SSBM. Taunt: Mario grows whenever he snags a Super Mushroom. Granted, the taunt is spontaneous, but that's where it comes from. --- Standard Special - Fireball: Originated in Super Mario Bros., and also exists in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros., among other games. Mario gains the power to cast fire from his hands when he collects a Fire Flower. This isn't true to every one of his fire-invoking appearances, but serves as a standard for most purposes. The sound of shooting the fireball has been reproduced from Super Mario Bros. Side Special - Cape: In Super Mario World, Mario earned himself a yellow cape when he grabbed a Feather. While the Smash Bros. use is a simple swing, its use in SMW was based around both flight and a spinning attack. Up Special - Super Jump Punch: This attack to Mario's famed jump dating back to Super Mario Bros. It invokes the same *boing* sound, and involves Mario punching the air as he goes up. The coins that pop up are the same that Mario collects in his many games. Down Special - F.L.U.D.D.: This device was introduced in Super Mario Sunshine. Mario used F.L.U.D.D. throughout the game to spray water at paint, enemies, dirt, and just about anything else that struck his fancy. Final Smash - Mario Finale: While Mario has yet to specifically have an attack such as this, it's based on his fireball powers (see Fireball above). The flashiest attack he's had in relation to his fire powers up until now had been his "Ultra Flame" in Super Mario RPG, which was several large fireballs that attacked enemies randomly. ================= 4B. Donkey Kong = ================= Appearance: DK's first appearance with his necktie was in Donkey Kong for the Game Boy, but Donkey Kong Country was the first game to have the current three-dimensional model appearance. Emblem: The "DK" emblem as it stands has been in place since Donkey Kong Country. It's a simple derivation of his initials from the similar font used in the original game. Entrance: DK starts as a barrel, then bursts out of it, as was done in Donkey Kong Country. --- Air Forward Attack: DK slams both hands forward, similar to his midair attack in Donkey Kong 64. Grab and Forward Throw: DK carries enemies over his head much like he carries barrels in Donkey Kong Country, and throws in the same manner. --- Down Special - Hand Slap: From Donkey Kong Country. DK used this move to unearth things underground. Final Smash - Konga Beat: This attack is quite obviously based around the recent Donkey Konga series of games. Not only does DK utilize the bongos and clapping attributed to the bonogs peripheral, but proper musical timing also plays a factor in how effective this move is. ========== 4C. Link = ========== Appearance: Link's appearance in this game is derived from Twilight Princess, which has a slightly duller color scheme than past games, the brown leggings, and the chainmail beneath the tunic. Link is armed with the Master Sword and Hylian Shield, staple weapons for him since Ocarina of Time. Emblem: The Triforce serves as the emblem for the Zelda crew. This artifact is a relic left behind by the goddesses of Hyrule after its creation, and bestows considerable abilities to the one who possesses it, usually centered around wishes. Entrance: Link floats down on a beam of light, much as he's done to exit dungeons after completing them, such as in Ocarina of Time. Alternate Costumes: Link has a Dark costume, which represents Dark Link faced in Ocarina of Time. --- Air Up Attack: Link uses his Upward Thrust technique from Adventure of Link, a technique he needs to learn as his experience level progresses. Air Down Attack: Link uses his Downward Thrust technique from Adventure of Link, another technique he needs to learn as his experience level progresses. Grab: Link uses the Clawshot from Twilight Princess to grab, which debuted as the Hookshot in Link to the Past, and has appeared in some form in many other games in the series. This is a device that consists of a claw attached to a long retractable chain, which can either bring things to Link or carry him to them. --- Standard Special - Hero's Bow: Link has used a bow in the majority of his adventures, ever since the original Legend of Zelda. They were used as long-range piercing weapons. He never had to hold the button to make the arrow go farther, though. The arrow always flew straight and never succumbed to gravity. This particular bow is patterned off the same one from Twilight Princess. Side Special - Gale Boomerang: Link used boomerangs in several games, beginning with the Legend of Zelda. The use of boomerangs is generally meant to stun enemies and retrieve items. The Gale Boomerang, which debuted in Twilight Princess, attached the power of wind to the boomerang, carrying a small cyclone, with which to manipulate objects. Up Special - Spin Attack: Link knew this technique starting in Link to the Past. It's a relatively simple spinning technique that Link uses by focusing power in his sword, then releasing it. Down Special - Bomb: Link had bombs in all the Zelda games but Adventure of Link. The point of bombs is quite simply as a means of explosive to clear rocks or damage enemies. These particular bombs are designed off the type that appeared in Twilight Princess. Final Smash - Triforce Slash: This doesn't really translate to any particular attack that Link has ever had. It just uses the familiar Triforce as a focus point. =========== 4D. Samus = =========== Appearance (PSS): Samus wears the Varia variation of her power suit, specifically derived from her appearance in the Metroid Prime series. Appearance (ZSS): Samus wears a more detailed version of her jumpsuit, which first appeared in Metroid: Zero Mission. She's also armed with the "Paralyzer", an emergency pistol that didn't do any serious damage in Zero Mission. Emblem: The "S" emblem first appeared in Super Metroid, and was roughly the game's emblem. This was held to all future games. Some believe the "S" emblem to be a derivation of the Screw Attack item. Although the Screw Attack's symbol clearly is a lightning bolt and not an angular "S", there is grounds for seeing how the emblem could have been based off the item. Entrance: A small beam of light opens and Samus steps out of it, as if she was exiting a space ship.