Luigi
Name (full): Luigi Mario
Gender: Male
First appearance: Mario Bros. (1983)
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Species: Human
Profession: Plumber, Adventurer
Living state: Alive
Likes: His brother Mario, Princess Daisy, Ghost hunting
Dislikes: Ghosts, Being overshadowed
Dreams about: Becoming a hero in his own right
Fears: Ghosts, Heights, Being left behind
Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by prominent game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the slightly younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Nintendo's mascot Mario. Luigi first appeared in the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros. as the character controlled by the second player, and has been featured in many games throughout the Mario franchise, frequently as a playable character.
Character Overview
Luigi is characterized as the taller, younger brother of Mario, with a personality that is meant to compliment Mario's. He is generally portrayed as timid and reluctant to get involved in adventures, but he ultimately rises to the occasion when needed. His appearance is similar to Mario's, but he is noticeably taller and thinner, and he wears a green shirt and cap instead of Mario's red.
Notable Appearances
- Mario Bros. (1983): Luigi's debut appearance, where he was introduced as the second player character.
- Super Mario Bros. (1985): Luigi appears as an alternate playable character to Mario in single-player mode, and as the second player's character in the multiplayer mode.
- Luigi's Mansion (2001): Luigi's first starring role, where he must explore a haunted mansion to rescue Mario.
- Super Smash Bros. series: Luigi appears as a playable fighter in all installments of this crossover fighting game series.
- Mario Kart series: Luigi is a staple character in the Mario Kart racing games.
Character Development
Over the years, Luigi has evolved from a palette swap of Mario to a distinct character with his own personality traits and abilities. In many games, Luigi is shown to have a higher jump than Mario but less traction, making him more challenging to control. His timid nature has been emphasized in later games, particularly in the Luigi's Mansion series, where his fear of ghosts is a central theme.
Reception and Cultural Impact
Luigi has become a beloved character in his own right, with a dedicated fanbase. His popularity led to Nintendo declaring 2013 the "Year of Luigi," celebrating the 30th anniversary of his first appearance with multiple game releases starring the character. Luigi has also been the subject of various internet memes, particularly the "Death Stare" from Mario Kart 8.
Related Articles
- Mario - Luigi's older brother and Nintendo's mascot
- Princess Daisy - Luigi's love interest in many games
- Luigi's Mansion - The game series where Luigi takes the starring role
- Year of Luigi - Nintendo's year-long celebration of Luigi in 2013