Conspiracy Theory: The Mario Series' "Pixel" Characters

Archive — Fri, 08 May 2015 06:38:00 +0000

Have you ever had the feeling that things were going to change in your favorite game series? Sometimes it could be a small change like when the Pokemon franchise added new types to future titles, or it could be be a big change like when The Legend of Zelda games became more cinematic. Well I have that feeling right now that Nintendo is planning something that could completely retcon the stories from the older Mario titles and I don't think it's going to be for the better...

Over a decade ago when Super Smash Bros Melee was released and subsequently reintroduced Mr. Game & Watch to the world, Nintendo created a stage for him based on the handheld devices of his namesake. This stage was Flat Zone, an entirely 2D arena that even made all the fighters paper thin when they would turn around. This may seem like there was nothing special to theorize about it, but hear me out, I have more to tell.

Now when the Wii came out, I started to notice a trend in some of the games that Nintendo developed. More and more titles that Nintendo released for the console had 8-bit sprites of Mario and company hidden in the environment. An example would be in Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus where both had Mario sprites hidden on the running trails. Alone, this would just seem like a simple Easter egg, but there is more to be found.

Further along the line when Super Paper Mario was released, the concept of alternate dimensions was introduced and also the gimmick where you could alter Mario's perspective of the world from 2D to 3D. This brings the focus back to Smash Bros's Flat Zone Stage where it is the home of the always 2D Mr. Game & Watch. Further more, there is a power-up in Super Paper Mario that further make me suspicious that there may be something to this theory of mine. A very particular defensive power-up called the Pal Pill summons eight small 8-bit versions of the character that picked up the item. THIS is where I started to think something was up. In my head, these petite pixellated partners shouldn't exist at the same time as normal Mario as they are visualized as Mario and co. back during the NES era. But then I remembered, Super Paper Mario takes place in a multiverse of locations outside of the Mushroom Kingdom's own reality. These pixel people could theoretically be citizens of Flat Zone as they are also 2D in design.

Now this is where things get interesting. Shortly after the release of the Wii U, Nintendo did their little Year of Luigi event that included Dr. Luigi, New Super Luigi U, Super Mario 3D World and Super Luigi Bros in NES Remix 2. During this time, specifically in Super Mario 3D World, MANY pixel versions of Luigi could be found hidden in the stages, usually either appearing out of nowhere for a split second or even appearing walking in the background of a large open area. Now normally, I would just chalk it up as another Easter Egg, but then Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker came onto the scene and introduced the amiibo activated game mode Hide & Seek with Pixel Toad. THIS is a vital piece of information that helps further solidify my theory. This little game mode ACKNOWLEDGES the existence of these Pixel characters and even names them as such.

With the fact that now even ONE pixel character has been officially named within the games, I propose that one of two scenarios will happen in the future. Either A: Nintendo will retcon the old arcade and NES titles to being set in the Flat Zone and ignoring Mario's past life living in Brooklyn, New York with Pauline and his pet ape Donkey Kong; or B: Nintendo is planning a new game in which the denizens of Flat Zone invade and have taken on the forms of the first people they see being Mario, Luigi and the people of the Mushroom Kingdom. Personally, I think the former theory holds more merit, but until then, I'll be seeing you.

Analyzing the Nintendo Switch Super Bowl Commercial

Archive — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 01:02:00 +0000

If you clicked this article, I'm betting you're all thinking right now that I've completely lost my mind. First I write a short story about Cookie Clicker, and now I'm going to analyze the details about the Super Bowl commercial Nintendo produced for the Switch. Well to tell you the truth I'm actually a bit sleep deprived at the time of writing this, but hear me out as I think I might be on to something with how the commercial is presented, but not in the way that you might think.

First, lets start with the commercial itself.

Now as you can see, the commercial starts up with the song Believer by Imagine Dragons. A young man in his home wakes up and grabs the Switch console off of his night stand so he can continue his gameplay in Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Then it switches to a different scene of an older man and his son playing Arms with the Joy-Con controllers in TV mode. During this time, the lyrics of the first half of the first verse are playing.

First things first
I'ma say all the words inside my head
I'm fired up and tired of the way that things have been, oh ooh
The way that things have been, oh ooh

In my eyes, these lyrics surprisingly enough actually have quite a bit of weight to them in this context. The way I see it, this bit represents Nintendo's quiet thoughts regarding the reception of the Wii U. The console did poorly, so Nintendo got "fired up" to create the Switch because they were "tired of the way that things have been."

In the next part, the scene changes to the present the Switch's tabletop mode with the Joy-Cons being used to play some party games with a second person. The second half of the first verse starts to play during this section.

Second things second
Don't you tell me what you think that I can be
I'm the one at the sail, I'm the master of my sea, oh ooh
The master of my sea, oh ooh

To me, this part represents a frustrated Nintendo's response to the backlash of the Wii U. Also, by showing off that each Joy-Con can be used combined as one controller in the first part and as two separate controllers in the next, it mirrors the lyrics' message saying that Nintendo is the master of their domain. No amount of backlash will be able to tell them what everyone thinks they should be.

At this time, the song begins to reach the chorus and it switches back to the young man from the first part. He then proceeds to dock the console so it can switch to TV mode. Right when the TV screen flips on is when the chorus rapidly crescendos to display the feature that the Switch is both a portable system and a home console skipping the song's bridge in the process. The first half of the chorus couldn't describe Nintendo's situation better.

(Pain) You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
(Pain) You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer

This part to me shows Nintendo's struggles with the Wii U over the five years its been out. The Wii U broke them down to the point where they were built back up and inspired by it to make the Switch.

The second half of this part then shows off the Switch's local WiFi multi-player by using Splatoon 2 as the demo. The lyrics presented a nice pun during this part.

(Pain) I let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
My luck, my love, my God, they came from
(Pain) You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

The use of Splatoon 2's gameplay during "I let the bullets fly" was a nice touch, but my speculation is that the other half of this excerpt is Nintendo's way of saying that despite the backlash, they appreciate the criticism that they've had to endure and they're better because of it.

It's here where they skip to the final verse where everything culminates to one final demo reel of many of the games that are coming out for the Switch in the coming months mimicking the lyrics in this part as well.

Last things last
By the grace of the fire and the flames
You're the face of the future, the blood in my veins, oh ooh
The blood in my veins, oh ooh

This last part right here has two meanings to me. It's both referring to the games coming out for the Switch in the near future, and the fans who are what shaped the company to what they are today and likely who will shape the company in the future. If it wasn't for us and how verbal we are, whether it be positive or negative, Nintendo wouldn't be able to survive.

This commercial was so masterfully crafted that I can't fathom how they manged to present such a deep message in a 1 minute 41 second long advertisement (assuming it was intentional). Now this is all just theory and speculation, but I believe it to be true. And if it is true, then you can bet Nintendo has made a "Believer" out of me. So until then, I'll be seeing you.

novogamer.com

Conspiracy Theory: The Mario Series' "Pixel" Characters

Analyzing the Nintendo Switch Super Bowl Commercial