My first Super Mario Game was on a Wii that I shared with my siblings. We would play as Mario, Blue Toad, and my favorite, Luigi. But when we defeated the last boss battle, I was surprised that the cutscene showed Luigi descending in a hot-air balloon, offering Mario and Peach a ride, and being left behind. I remember thinking, “What happened? This trip wasn't a one-man show, so why was Luigi being punished?”

 For those that do not know, Mario is the hero of the Nintendo franchise while Luigi is the cowardly understudy that is overlooked and underappreciated: usually being used, abused, and left behind, while Mario gets all the credit for the heroics. 

Others agree that Luigi is more relatable as seen in a Los Angeles Times article where they interviewed the vice president of player experience at Nintendo, Trinen. He claimed that Luigi appeals to the typical Nintendo audience, but then further stated that “he tends to resonate with females… I think it's just the fact that he's such a lovable character.” His ability to connect to the player directly is just a stronger part of his character and frankly, one Mario can't seem to replicate.

An argument against Luigi’s superiority is Mario's bravery and iconism, because no matter how you look at it, Mario bravely entering a new environment to rescue a princess is the norm when Nintendo is mentioned. Especially since the titles of their most profitable games are Super MARIO Brothers.

That being said, Mario isn't popular in the games he headlines. But why is he so detested in character selection? One of the main reasons he is avoided is his personality, as his “bravery” comes from the player, and the rest comes from self-centered behavior seen in games like Mario tennis where if you win as Luigi; Mario comes over, shakes his hand, and grinds his shoe into Luigi's foot, spoiling his moment of glory and confusing him as his idol does this with a smile.

Finally, Luigi trump's Mario in independence and character development. This is referenced in the New York Times, stating that “Luigi has more personality; he’s a nervous worrier and an underdog in the shadow of his famous sibling.” This is directly referencing Luigi's cowardly behavior, emphasizing that he has grown from his brother's personality and has outwardly shown cowardice which highlights his moments of bravery. Engadget has also reviewed his new style of fighting. They detail how Luigi has made his ranged attacks stand out from his brother, as contact isn't the only way to beat the villains. 

So the next time you play a game, try to notice the side characters, they sacrifice more than you think!