Summary
Out of all the most well-known and iconicSuper Mariocharacters that have become mainstays in the broader franchise, it does seem that Nintendo has had a distinct disinterest in Waluigi in recent years regardless of how vocal fans have been. Perhaps best exemplified byWaluigi’s inclusion inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateas anything but a playable fighter despite players constantly expecting his announcement in DLC, he appears to have been unceremoniously sidelined fromSuper Mario. So while Waluigi occasionally features or cameos as just one of manySuper Mariocharacters, it seems that Nintendo no longer seems concerned with this fan-favorite figure.
However, whether Nintendo is intentionally pushing Waluigi away from public view has not been confirmed as yet, but considering that he is the second half of the familiar Wario brother duo, it seems unusual to constantly reduce the character to a filler background character. Among Waluigi’s various appearances inSuper Mariospin-offs such asMario KartorMario Tennis, arguably his most significant role has been the antagonist inDance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, demonstrating that the character has the potential to be taken more seriously. So between a new surge inSuper Mario’sown spin-offs and fan-made games, it’s time Nintendo finally remembers Waluigi.
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Waluigi Has Become A Running Joke Within Super Mario
Out of all of Waluigi’s most recent appearances inSuper Mariogames or its spin-offs, these have all reduced the character’s role in one way or another. For example, Waluigi featured inMario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battlenot as himself but as a Rabbid counterpart named Bwaluigi, while other games likeSuper Mario Party,Mario Tennis Aces, andMario Kart 8 Deluxehave included Waluigi as one playable option among many. Even his appearance inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatewas only as an Assist Trophy, a Spirit, and as an alternative color for Mario and Luigi, all in spite of the game’s tagline “everybody is here.”
But it is arguably more telling how Nintendo views Waluigi after looking back intoSuper Smash Bros.history, back when he was first introduced to the series on the 3DS and Wii U. Game director Masahiro Sakurai stated that just because Waluigi made it into the game doesn’t mean he gets to fight, something which now seems less of an intended joke asSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatecontinued to sideline Waluigi. Though this all may be a commitment to the bit of reducing Waluigi to a running gag inSuper Mario, this isn’t a sentiment that fans seem to share based on their persisting support for the character.
It’s Time Waluigi Makes A Comeback
Over the years, many ofSuper Mario’s secondary characters have evolved to become protagonists in new spin-offs, with some even giving rise to their very own series likeLuigi’sMansionor Yoshi’s multiple games. Even within recent years, Nintendo has released or plans to release spin-offs for even its unlikeliest characters with games such asCaptain Toad: Treasure Trackerand the latest reveal ofPrincess Peach Showtime. So given that Wario has his own spin-off series with the upcomingWarioWare: Move It, there no longer is any reason to continue to ignore the otherWario brothers and create an all-new spin-off.
If Nintendo isn’t going to utilize Waluigi as an antagonistic character in otherSuper Mariogames, then the least it could do iscapitalize on Waluigi’s popularityand instead make him the protagonist in a spin-off. Though Nintendo’s view on fan-made content is wary at best, unofficial games likePsycho Waluigiat least showcase how Waluigi has the potential to be more based on the positive reception the game received. However, with many upcomingSuper Mariogames likeSuper Mario Bros. Wonder,Mario Kart 9’s development, and various remakes and remasters, it could be some time before Nintendo sees fit to back Waluigi.
