The Emasculation of Mario?

[Justin.Strange]

When did Mario become a hypersaccharine exercise in cuteness? The older games teetered between surreal and psychedelic, whereas '[Super Mario] Galaxy' comes off like a sugar-dipped Care Bear. Let's compare:

• Classic Mario!
• Sounded like a gruff pro wrestler.
• '[Super Mario] World' was eerily alive yet appreciably silent.
• Turned into a take-no-names, badass hammer-flinging turtle.
• Stomped enemies in a giant wind-up shoe.

• Modern Mario!
• Sounds like a shrieking castrato.
• '[Super Mario] Galaxy' is obnoxiously alive and squeaky.
• Turns into a fuzzy-wuzzy, adorable bumblebee.
• Feeds candy-like star bits to cuddly baby stars.

Source. EGM. December 2007. Issue 224. Page 85.

I think that pretty sums up my grievances with the modern Mario games.

[Brewtown Andy]

Too bad Galaxy's a fucking awesome game.

[JoeE]

Yeah, agreed. Even in those late 80s/early 90s Mario cartoons, Mario at least had a voice that sounded like a plumber.

[mike black]

I'd wager Mario's even more surreal now than it was in the 90's.

Go plug your SNES back in and shut up.

[Matt Jay]

If you've ever played Mario to make yourself feel manly, you're doing it wrong.

[Dark Sasha]

Well he still gets pussy, so does it really matter?

[ramtower]

Peach AND Daisy. And that Daisy's a wild one.

[Matt Jay]

Peach AND Daisy. And that Daisy's a wild one.

I'd feel bad for Luigi if he wasn't gay.

[Bill Nolan]

Mario is the dude from Donkey Kong, right? Never followed him much after that... I was a Sega fan...

[jamestolliver]

Mario is the dude from Donkey Kong, right? Never followed him much after that... I was a Sega fan...

Smokey, my friend, you are entering a world of pain.