Topic: New Super Mario Bros. U: Damsel in Distress

I think luigi should e the damsl in the dress, evry1 lrrady knows his a grl

I'd rather them change the main antagonist than the damsel really. Bowser's great and all, but 22 straight years of fighting him later, a change would be nice.

I know the story is the last thing anyone should be concerned with in a Mario game...but would it kill Nintendo to shake up the plots from time to time?

I'm not expecting a bad, fan-fic-esque narrative, but something that motivates Mario other than cake. Heck, Mario Galaxy showed that Miyamoto and Koizumi could tug at the heart-strings when they wanted to.

If its the last thing then why should they do it? I liked the story element in SMG but Miyamoto feels the story is not important in these games. So he calls it. I can't argue with him seeing its the best selling games.

Better not be Koopalings again. Do the unique bosses like the one on DS. The Pokey, the giant goomba, Petey Piranha.

Here's a wild idea - drop the 80's sexism and don't have a damsel in distress...

lol, yeah right. Like Nintendo would be that progressive.

Super Princess Peach says "hi" (honestly haven't played the game myself though, lol)

I just wish they'd switch things up from Bowser every now and again. Tatanga & Wario were nice changes of pace in their respective games, and I'd love to see one (or both) make a return to being Mario villains (heck, I'd take Tatanga anywhere as long as Nintendo would bring him back. He's just as important as Daisy, and been in more core Mario platformers than her, yet she's everywhere, and he's nowhere).

I'd like a Mario game were Kamek is the main villain. But anything other than Bowser and Bowser JR would do me fine. I know Mario isn't about the story at all, but some variety, even only for aesthetics, would be good.

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Making a game starring Princess Peach doesn't exactly excuse the fact that, aside from those in Fire Emblem and Samus, Nintendo's leading ladies are demure hyper-feminised rewards for finishing the game.

Uhm... Nintendo made Metroid in the 80's. You know that person you were playing as the whole time that you thought was a robot? (Not you personally.) Well, it turns out to be a hot chick in a bikini! (If you had an imagination, considering the graphic capabilities...) That was progressive!

Anyway, I'd like to see Donkey Kong be a villain again. I know he's a villain in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games, but I'd like to see him as a bad guy in a Super Mario 64 style game.

I quite clearly was talking about ''80s style sexism there, not sexism made in the 80's. Just because a game started life back in the 80's doesn't mean it's acceptable to continue to reinforce the same social values now.

Mewing damsels in distress and strip show rewards for playing a game well are an embarrassing side of a company that likes to pretend it's innovative and progressive.

Okay. How is it sexist that a Princess gets kidnapped by a giant monster?

Well peach WAS the hero in super princess peach and that didn't sell that well sadly, I think that is a huge hint to Nintendo that we want her to be the damsel in distress

Yeah, I'd like a roll reversal. I wannabe Bowser defeating all the good guys like Mario n co and by the end of the game u have it away with peach. lol

Okay. How is it sexist that a Princess gets kidnapped by a giant monster?

Defenceless woman in giant frilly dress and squeaky-cute voice needs to get saved by a heroic male character?

I REALLY need to spell this out?

I think that is a huge hint to Nintendo that we want her to be the damsel in distress

This statement is offensive on just about every level imaginable. Chauvinism isn't something to take pride in.

I've always felt that Peach's role as the "damsel in distress" has been a bit of tongue and cheek on Nintendo's part. Especially in recent years. Nintendo themselves have poked fun at her constantly getting kidnapped in such games as "Paper Mario". I don't think it's meant to be taken seriously.

RE: sexism

Nearly every human being with whom I have shared a love of Mario games over the years has been female; I've yet to have a male friend with a passion for the series, yet I've shared it with many a lady. Personal anecdotes aside, I'm sure statistics would back me up that there have been few gaming series in the history of the medium with as balanced a fanbase as Mario.

And Mario isn't your usual macho protagonist. If you pay attention to his characterization, you'll notice that he has long been portrayed (in body shape, movement) as more of a cartoonish toddler than an adult, particularly once they introduced his new 3D model in Mario 64. The captured princess deal is kitsch that everyone appreciates because it's so harmless; we're all in on the joke that his "quest" is just a ruse for hopping around and yelling like a crazy child across a few colorful worlds. There's really nothing to be upset about here.

I think it's your point of view that is messed up, not Nintendo's story for the Mario games.

Not all women, or people, are able to defend themselves. There's nothing sexist about being defenseless.
Giant frilly dress? At least it's not revealing, right? It's sexist that a girl wears a dress? You are seriously just looking for things here.
Squeaky cute voice, so what? Is she supposed to sound like a 60 year old smoker? She's a cartoon princess. Lighten up.
The hero doesn't necessarily have to be a male. The hero just happens to be a male.

Think about the children. As they are still in their very young years, they grasp the concept of gender from their environment. Theoretically speaking, the Mario games are reinforcing the roles of gender to the younger demographic. How it affects the child, however, is not known as far as I'm concerned. Mario is a light-hearted franchise that's just supposed to be fun, but maybe the gender differences between the hero and helpless could be affecting a child implicitly at a deep cognitive level.

In other news, genuine female heroes is almost rare in the games industry. If I ever make a game, I'd love to incorporate a female protagonist.

And a girl isn't the only one who's been kidnaped in Nintendos history, we've had Mario and DK get kidnaped
Samus has to save Adam in the next Metroid game it's portraying the stereotype that guys have an ideal fantasy to get rescued by a hot girl in a zero suit