Though Luigi is often considered the perennial “Player Two,” his unique personality compared to his straight-man brother Mario has garnered a huge fanbase. TheLuigi’s Mansionseries brought Luigi into his own as a cowardly hero who can overcome any shortcomings for the sake of his friends, and Nintendo marked 2013 as theYear of Luigito celebrate his importance. Another series that gives Luigi more character isPaper Mario, but a particularly interesting take comes inPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Luigi appears in everyPaper Mariodating back to the N64 original - which will soon be available through theNintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. His role fluctuates between basic cameos or being a major part of the narrative; helping Mario along on his quest or serving as a playable character in his own right. However,The Thousand-Year Doorteases a Luigi-driven adventure divorced from busting ghosts that may be fun to revisit, especially given the series' propensity to experiment with new ideas.
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Luigi’s Place in Paper Mario History
Most of Paper Luigi’s “cameo” appearances were in games that led to many fans falling off of the series:Sticker Star, the crossoverMario & Luigi: Paper Jam, andColor Splash. Across these games his biggest role was inColor Splash, driving Mario to Bowser’s Castle at the end. He received larger but still not fully integral roles in the originalPaper Mario, when Mario could visit their home to read his diary; andThe Origami King, in which he appears across different areas collecting keys that he believes may open Peach’s Castle (only for them to open critical paths for Mario instead). He also returns to play the part of Mario’s go-kart chauffeur in this latestPaper Marioadventure.
Super Paper Mariois arguably when Luigi shined brightest. There are four playable characters in the 2D/3D-flipping platformer; Mario, Luigi,Princess Peach, and Bowser; but Luigi gets a bigger part than most. Early on in the game he is captured by antagonist Count Bleck and brainwashed, becoming the villainous henchmen Mr. L. Even after getting rescued by the party, Luigi’s form is still co-opted by the true final boss Dimentio. As a playable character, Luigi’s abilities are analogous to his appearances in otherSuper Mariogames, having a higher jump than anyone else on the team.
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The Thousand-Year Door From Luigi’s Perspective Could be Huge
Though Luigi isn’t playable inThe Thousand-Year Door, his part is just as fun to observe. Every time Mario returns to the hub area in Rogueport, Luigi is there with a changing set of companions that suggests he’s going on an adventure of his own. Over time players hear the story of Luigi journeying through the “Waffle Kingdom” to collect seven pieces of the Marvelous Compass and rescue Princess Eclair. It’s a blunt riff on over-the-top RPG tropes - like Mario having to collect seven Crystal Stars to rescue Peach in the very same game.
What takes this gag to another level is players can later buy a five-volume set of books in theSuper Luigiseries that chronicle this journey in a more dramatic tone, often downplaying the buffoonery that Luigi’s partners like Blooey the lava-cooked Blooper and Torque the go-kart mechanic Spike Top describe. A fullSuper Luigigame inthe style ofThe Thousand-Year Doorwould be fun to see, whether it takes the book series at its word to create a more dramatic RPG or plays into Luigi’s typical bumbling hijinks.
Not only would this idea give Luigi another chance to shine outside theLuigi’s Mansionseries, which is going strong afterNext Level Games’Luigi’s Mansion 3, it would also provide a good excuse to create a traditional turn-based RPG spin-off. ThePaper Marioseries continues iterating upon unique mechanics likeThe Origami King’s puzzle battles, and series producer Kensuke Tanabe has talked about mandates for not straying as far from traditionalSuper Mariosettings and characters. Maybe setting Luigi up as a frontman withThe Thousand-Year Door’s story as a nostalgic starting point could be enough of a shake-up to justify returning to the classic formula that fans love.
