'Waluigi Was Robbed and Humiliated by Nintendo' (washingtonpost.com)

Gene Park, writing for The Washington Post (shared by numerous readers): In the Nintendo universe, Waluigi is supposed to be as villainous as his cartoonish mustache and perpetual frown would suggest. But what made him that way? Perhaps it is Nintendo's insistence on humiliating the character in front of his friends and the general public. On Tuesday for the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Nintendo announced new details on the much-anticipated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for its Switch console. The 25-minute presentation was long on details. For one thing, the latest game includes every single playable character in the fighting-game franchise's 19-year history. It seemed to exceed fan expectations, except for fans of the meme-ready Waluigi. Waluigi, again, was snubbed by Nintendo. He will not be a playable character in the new game.

Waluigi has traveled a long road. Once he was hated by Nintendo fans, who listed him highly among gaming's most annoying characters. His origin story is unimpressive. Waluigi is simply a bizarro version of Mario's less famous but more charming brother Luigi. In his 18-year existence as a minor character, he's had virtually no back story. But that blank canvas ended up becoming Waluigi's greatest gift. Since he stood for nothing, supporters could project their wildest hopes unto him, like Barack Obama in 2008 but actually good at golf. He can be described in a single website as anyone from a "true nowhere man" to "the logical end point of capitalism" and the "triumph of capital over creativity." In other words, Waluigi became the perfect meme fodder.

Comments

ummmm.......

[rockout]

what the hell is this??

Re:ummmm.......

[rockout]

Life must be difficult when you're reduced to posting political opinions in a story about Waluigi.

Re:ummmm.......

[Anonymous Coward]

You exist because some of your ancestors were assholes who stole someone else's food, or screwed someone else's spouse.

I also exist because for countless thousands of years humans have lived in groups where they all pitched in to maximise the survival of its members.

You know, society.

Now we've been reduced to the idea that rich assholes are out to lower the taxes for their rich asshole friends, so they can become even bigger and richer assholes -- and that somehow this is an evolutionary imperative.

Stop pretending humans would exist in our current form if we didn't form strong bonds and pitch in to help as many people survive as possible.

People who decry any form of society looking out for all of its members are basically advocating the idea that being a selfish bastard is going to work in the long run.

Talk to us when you or one of your loved ones is suffering from a disease that in other parts of the world healthcare would treat without bankrupting you. Then see if you think being a selfish prick is a good evolutionary strategy.

Me, I'm glad I live in a society in which things like healthcare are considered basic human rights, and not a profit centre for some greedy multinational corporation.

Really?

[theurge14]

Is this really a Slashdot post?

Re:Really?

[arth1]

Truly. If they are this desperate to get posts up now, I predict a chapter 11 can't be far off.

Waluigi, the rightfully unloved Nintendo character

[Eloking]

Since the story is on /.

Waluigi was a dump and uninspiring attempt to give Wario a partner for team game like Tennis. But, honestly, what a bad attempt that is.

While Wario did (surprisingly) manage to get some personality and some fanbase, Waluigi was anything except that.

Like his name, pretty much everything about the character lack imagination and there's no surprise that Nintendo didn't bring him in the latest Smash Bro game. Credit to Charles Martinet though, at least the voice is funny. Still, to this day, Waluigi remain to my eye the most unimportant character of the franchise. In fact, the only thing more unimportant than him is maybe this news.

I also want justice

[paulpach]

I am with your Gene Park. I also want justice:

* Jerry should stop bullying Tom
* Squidward should be granted a restraining order against Sponge Bob
* Dogs should stop chasing cats
* Cockroaches should rent their own apartment
* Bullet ants should dip their butts in anesthesia before stinging a person
* Someone should tell Gene Park that Waluigi does not actually exist.

Terminal velocity..?

[cyberchondriac]

Despite it's fall from quality years ago, apparently slashdot has not yet reached it.

Re:Terminal velocity..?

[jellomizer]

Heck it is better then some of the stuff that has been popping up. At least it is news for nerds. Heck people debating cartoon characters is the stereotypical nerd.

Besides why does all the news need to be hard news, why can't we discuss fun topics as well.

Re:Waluigi, the rightfully unloved Nintendo charac

[Eloking]

While I'm at it, if anyone have some love for Mario Franchise, you have to check this interview with Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario : https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Re:Waluigi, the rightfully unloved Nintendo charac

[Volanin]

Actually, his name is one of the only redeeming characteristics. In japanese, we have MARIO and RUIGI... and we also have the term WARUI, which means "bad person". So in order to create bad Mario and Luigi, we ended up with WArio (which, when translated, has the charm of the inverted M) and WARUIgi (which is actually an even better fit in japanese, but is unfortunately completely lost in translation).

Re:Waluigi, the rightfully unloved Nintendo charac

[ph0rk]

Still, to this day, Waluigi remain to my eye the most unimportant character of the franchise.

Worse than $random_toad_02 in New Super Mario Bros.? They simply made different color Toads because they couldn't be bothered to add a real fourth playable character.