WAAAH a wonderful world
When Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was announced, and Masahiro Sakurai promised that it will every bit worth that “Ultimate” moniker, fans of different fringe characters were thrilled. Each hoped that their previously ignored favorites would be included in this most ultimate of video game celebrations.
Waluigi fans were the loudest. After all, Waluigi was the king of fringe.
And so, in a fated E3 2018 Nintendo Direct, Waluigi was revealed… as an Assist Trophy, confirming his absence as a playable character. That’s the point in which something strange happened. For some reason, Waluigi fans sprang through the web, converging together in a critical mass of “WAAAAH”s and “WALUIGI TIME!” cries.
It was the explosion of a little-known internet meme into full-blown mainstream recognition and outrage culture. Predictably, the tireless Sakurai was harassed and harangued repeatedly, the game was dismissed by a vocal minority and fans of other characters were flamed in online boards for not agreeing with the WAAAAH brigade.
For some reason, the king of fringe was expected by some to take part in the game, as if his position in it was only natural. This outrage, if nothing, assumed that it makes basic sense to include Waluigi in the game.
This ignores one basic fact.
The fact that, as a character, Waluigi just plain sucks.
Let’s review the character history. Needing a doubles partner for Wario in the Nintendo 64’s Mario Tennis game, Camelot Software (who were developing the game for Nintendo) just threw together this character. He was a spin-off of a spin-off character, who is also a rival of a spin-off character. Everything in his design is thrown together, including the name. The Wa, in Wario, was a pun for evil in Japanese. It was meant to roll off the tongue and be a corruption of the famous plumber’s name. Waluigi is just an extension to Luigi’s name; “Evil Luigi” basically. All symptoms of creative bankruptcy, as if he was created by some Sonic fandom site rather than Nintendo themselves.
From that point forward, featured exclusively in Mario spin-off titles. Jumping hoops in one game, driving maniacally in another, and to the riotous joy of his fans, signaling his crotch at one time. In the sum of these games, he is just another extra character, someone to round out the numbers.
Whereas the characters who inspired him, Wario and Luigi, both went on to have their separate solo games that showcased their personality. Waluigi just “WAAAAH”-ed his way into more spin-off games. One reason is that, like Daisy, the character simply had little personality to showcase.
In the latest Mario Party game, where you have access to many of Bowser’s minions as playable characters, Waluigi’s faults are laid bare. Even the most innocent of Goombas have more charm and personality than this internet celebrity.
For some reason, the internet mistook their created meme, something entirely independent of the character as Nintendo have utilized him, and took that as his canon personality. Maybe, just maybe, the internet-created Waluigi is worth considering for Ultimate.
However, unlike the true Waluigi…
A Goomba would be a better and more iconic fit.
“WAAAAH!”
S- Like last year, Agent 9 is back with his October themed blog series where he discusses one horror-themed tune every day and occasionally gives out prizes. This is an excellent series that goes into respectable depth on the background and effect of each tune. Here are the blogs he wrote this week:
- The Pokemon series has its fair share of spooky tunes and spooky levels, and the “Strange House” theme gives “Lavender Town” a run for its money.
- Sonic is not a series you usually associate with horror tunes, and “Mystic Mansion” from Sonic Heroes is definitely a more playful take on a haunted mansion theme.
- This tune is a more unsettling track than usual, and is probably a bit more unsettling than a game called Jump Scare Mansion warrants.
- The original Rayman had an excellent atmospheric soundtrack, and I see that the sequel continued in that style, if this creepy tune is any indication.
- Ghosts can be scarier than monsters, and this creepy but hauntingly beautiful theme from Oxenfree just pulls me into playing a spooky game. It has a sad and melancholic pull to it that is difficult to let go of.
- It’s not an uncommon opinion that there is an eerie and disturbing background to many Nintendo games, like Pikmin, if you stop and think about it. As such, it is no surprise that Agent 9 chose a boss theme from the game, “Waterwraith Attack,” as a tense reminder of the many Pikmin cries of agony you experience throughout.
- Even terrible games can have good music, as this track from Metal Gear Survive can ascertain. Doesn’t change anyone’s opinion about the game though.
Last week, we managed to get 29 blogs, which is up from the previous week and looks like it’s picking up in the middle of the month. We are sure to get more horror themed tunes from Agent 9 as well, and we will probably get some more horror themed blogs too. We still need some fresh blood on the recaps team, so give us a shout out if you are willing to join.
Next week, you will get another Weekly Recap, covering the days from 10/14 to 10/20. So keep reading and writing blogs!
Be Lucky
Blog Count: 18
