Cory Barlog may have sneered at what he deemed to be Super Mario Galaxy's "vapid story," but game researcher and designer Douglas Wilson couldn't feel more differently. Writing for GameSetWatch, Wilson argues that Galaxy is not only the first Mario title to produce an engaging story, but that it addresses human tragedy more expertly than most other games.To illustrate his point, Wilson draws on the story told by Princess Rosalina, whose life story is recounted throughout Galaxy. Although this narrative thread starts life as the kind of standard fare you'd expect from a Mario title, Rosalina's tale quickly becomes tragic, as she recalls how she realized her mother had passed away -- or, as she touchingly puts it, is "sleeping under the tree on the hill." Sad face.
As Wilson points out, this surprisingly poignant turn of events creates a pretty weird dichotomy. After all, Galaxy is a game where you fight a giant piranha plant in a diaper.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-09-2008 @ 3:21PM
cbylife said...
i'd like to admit, here and now, that rosalina's story time is a part of the game i look foward to most because of the heartwarming and emotional story.
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5-09-2008 @ 3:28PM
canaroo said...
I agree. It was one of the most appealing and "human" part of the entire game. I always looked forward to it.
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5-09-2008 @ 3:29PM
macanima said...
I teared up a little.
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5-09-2008 @ 3:34PM
Metayoshi said...
I was one of those who didn't like Rosalina's story too much. It was nice and emotional and all, but it felt really out of place in my opinion. I just want to get on with the Mario platforming. If I want story, I'm going to play an RPG.
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5-11-2008 @ 11:32AM
J rod said...
Why did you bother to watch it then? You didn't have to. It's an OPTIONAL side quest.
5-12-2008 @ 1:16AM
Metayoshi said...
Firstly, this website needs to somehow enable replies to a reply.
In any case, I enjoy completing games and experiencing what it has to offer so I watched all of it during Mario's adventure.
I did skip it in Luigi's adventure though because I don't need to see it a second time.
5-09-2008 @ 3:53PM
Scotty said...
I like the part of Rosalina's story where she hopped on a motorcycle and joined Mario Kart, cause I frickin rip it up when I play as her.
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5-09-2008 @ 3:55PM
Roto13 said...
The story is a nice bonus, but I honestly forgot it existed until I read this article. Who cares? Most of the time, when a lot of effort is put into a video game story, it just gets in the way. Especially since they can rarely compete with a good movie or book.
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5-10-2008 @ 6:35AM
Lord Bowser said...
Shut up, old man. Just shut up. Go back to making mediocre movies.
5-11-2008 @ 11:34AM
J rod said...
Wow. you're a rude asshole, Lord Bowser.
5-09-2008 @ 4:46PM
Mr Khan said...
Made me tear up a little, too
It was a brilliantly realized story, and best of all, they didn't cram it down our throats. It was just there if you wanted it
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5-09-2008 @ 5:02PM
brbarnhart said...
It did nothing for me. I went through it because I thought I had to.
5-09-2008 @ 5:06PM
Jhongerkong said...
What the hell? No spoiler warning or anything? Gee thanks...
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5-11-2008 @ 11:36AM
J rod said...
The game is 6 months old! I beat it in 6 days. Normal Nintendo gamers have beaten it already.
5-10-2008 @ 1:00AM
Waffala said...
I haven't gotten this far either in the story, thanks Chris, anyways, I really liked the art they used to tell the story, I don't really remember so much what was happening though the last time I read.
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5-10-2008 @ 2:17AM
rainking187 said...
SPOILERSnape killed Rosalina's mom.
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5-11-2008 @ 4:38AM
Ethan said...
It was lovely but a bit cheaply done.
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5-11-2008 @ 7:03PM
Wiseguy said...
Uh.... the "narrative thread" is a series of still screens. With text. That you read. But only if you feel like it. The story itself is completely disonnected and unrelated to the actual gameplay (ie: flawless Miamoto platforming action.) The only real integration of story with game was the two bookend cutscenes.
You can throw in a copy of Mopy Dick with every game of Tetris and it would essentially be the same thing.
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