Waluigi

File:Waluigi.jpg

Waluigi: the Wario to Mario's Luigi.

Waluigi, often depicted as rival to Luigi and partner to Wario, was deliberately created to be a selectable character in various multiplayer games. He has appeared in several titles, although none of them are main games in the Mario series. Most of the games he has appeared in are spin-off titles, like the Mario sports games. His first appearance was in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64 as Wario's doubles partner. Later, along with Princess Daisy, he joined the Mario Party series roster in Mario Party 3 and he has been a playable character in every main entry in the series since.

Waluigi is the brains compared to Wario, and he is more hygienic, though that still doesn't say much. He was originally personified as a dark, sinister character in Mario Tennis, and a fight almost ensued with him and Luigi after Luigi refused to play a tennis match with him. His back was somewhat hunched, and the only sounds Waluigi would make were horrid moans and evil laughter. Also, when he would win, Waluigi would have purple, glowing eyes. He commits his first evil deed in Mario Party 3, when he steals the Mischief Star Stamp and challenges you to a duel for it. He also has his own board full of explosives. More recently, though, he has been portrayed as a form of comic relief, making smart-aleck comments and sometimes adult jokes.

Waluigi plays his first major role in a game plot in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, where he attempts world domination. He tries to steal the musical keys to train himself to be a better dancer, so that he can hypnotize the world with his fancy footsteps, however, he loses them. He manages to retain one, and two of the keys fall into the hands of Bowser and Wario. The three then attempt to wreak havoc on the Mushroom Kingdom's music.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, there are two Badges that Mario can wear to change his appearance. One of them is the L Emblem, which puts Mario in Luigi's clothes, and the other is the W Emblem, which puts him in Wario's clothes. When Mario wears both badges at the same time, he changes into Waluigi's clothes.

Waluigi has been playable in Mario Tennis, Mario Power Tennis, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Hoops 3-on-3, and Super Mario Strikers, as well as every Mario Party game since 3. He is also a playable character in the Mario Kart Series, appearing at the start in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and as an unlockable character in Mario Kart DS.

Waluigi has yet to star in his own game, although Waluigi fan-games have been made. It is unknown if he will appear in upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but rumors are floating around that he will be playable.

Waluigi is known to be an eccentric, yet sly and sneaky character. He seems to have connections to the Wrecking Crew games. His favorite food is the eggplant, and he would throw eggplants as well as pitches in Mario Superstar Baseball that would confuse opponents. In Wrecking Crew, eggplant men were enemies. One of his karts in Mario Kart DS was a construction crane, another reference. He also appears to have a similar nose to Foreman Spike.

With the inclusion of Baby Wario in Yoshi's Island 2, there is a possibility a baby version of Waluigi may appear.

Appearance

Waluigi has a hat and gloves with a Γ symbol. Mario's evil counterpart, Wario, wears a "W", which is also an upside-down "M". Likewise, Waluigi is noted as Luigi's evil counterpart, and this is most likely the reason that he wears a "Γ". Nintendo used the vertical mirror image of the "L".

He is the extreme form of his rival, Luigi. While Luigi is tall and skinny, Waluigi is extremely tall and very skinny.

Name

Waluigi's name has a dual-meaning in Japanese. The Japanese word "warui" (悪い, "warui"?) means "bad" or "evil" ("Warui" is also a condescending way of apologizing, as opposed to "gomennasai", or "sumimasen" which are more polite). This means that Waluigi's name is a portmanteau of "warui" and "Luigi" and essentially means "Evil Luigi". Many believe his name to be a cheap offshoot of Wario's name rather than being derived from Luigi's name.

Additionally, the name Waluigi would be pronounced in Japanese as waruiji, which rearranges the syllables of ijiwaru, the Japanese word for "mean-spirited".

Note that in Japanese, the same sound is used for L and R.

Criticism

Waluigi is disliked by some Nintendo fans due to the lack of originality behind his creation and his clunky name. He is also disliked because of his role in the Mario universe as a "filler" character – that is, a character who serves as a partner to a previously established character or as an extra player in games like the Mario Party or Mario Kart series.

Relationship to Wario

Waluigi's relationship to Wario is unclear. It appears that they might be related since they share some facial and mental characteristics, but Waluigi's Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy says that it is indeed unclear if they are brothers or not. It can be inferred that they are at least good friends.

However, according to Nintendo of Europe, Waluigi and Wario are brothers. Nintendo of Europe's "Wario's Warehouse" articles from a few years ago had Wario referred to Waluigi as "his dimwit brother." Nintendo of Europe's Mario Kart DS site has a description of the Waluigi Pinball course that refers to Waluigi as Wario's younger brother.

Nintendo of America also mentioned Waluigi and Wario's brotherhood. Nintendo of America's old Mario Tennis Page says Wario and Waluigi are indeed brothers. Also, Wario and Waluigi's team name in Mario Party 5 - the "Wicked Bros." - also implies that they are brothers, however, putting Luigi and Yoshi on a team makes the team name the "Green Bros."

Although, Nintendo adopted the use of the name "Mario" as a double for the characters' last name from the movies to make sense for why Luigi is a "Mario Brother." It is unclear if the same can be said for Wario & Waluigi, meaning they could also bear the Mario last name or even be "Wario Bros." or maybe even something else. The term "Wicked Bros." shouldn't be taken seriously at this time as their official last name, but more so as their personalities.

Mario Superstar Baseball Bio

"Luigi's eccentric rival. Waluigi is a hardworking player who has been training night and day to gain enough power to best Luigi. The eggplant that his Liar Ball delivers is said to have the power to make those who touch it lose their lunches."