Sympathy for Bowser Jr.

**Valigarmander** · 11-19-2009, 06:16 PM

1UP's Retro Gaming Blog : Sympathy for Bowser Jr.

Quote:

In the hearts of retro gamers, there is a chamber dedicated exclusively to the Koopa Kids. We adore those outrageous little turtle tykes for a number of reasons. We associate them with Super Mario Bros. 3, arguably the most important game of our childhood. We remember the elation we felt when we conquered each new attack pattern the Kids threw at us. And it was just kind of fun to hang out with “bad” kids who couldn't frame us for broken windows and empty cigarette cartons.

After getting up in Mario's face in Yoshi's Safari for the SNES, the Koopa Kids took a long hiatus. Chances are they were shipped off to boarding school, since they got grabby over famous monuments in Mario is Missing. But since nobody had the stomach for Mario is Missing, the Kids faded into the pages of Mario lore for years on end.

Bowser did his own dirty work for a while, but at some point he evidently engaged in dirty work of another kind. When Mario fans picked up 2002's Super Mario Sunshine, they didn't expect to be confronted by a beady-eyed newcomer to Bowser's brood. Nor did they really know how to react when the little turtle claimed Princess Peach was his mother.

So Bowser Jr. had a pretty jarring introduction, and Mario fans still don't feel at ease with the squirt. We wonder why Bowser had to go and propagate a new minion when he already had seven perfectly bad kids taking up space.

The Bowser Jr. hate that began in 2002 is finally settling down thanks to the Koopa Kids' ample screentime in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. And now that Bowser's littlest Koopaling isn't obscured behind a barrage of rotten tomatoes, it's easier to find his likable traits.

Bowser Jr. is, for instance, pretty close to his pop. Big Daddy never seemed all that close to the other Koopalings: he never interacted with them much beyond orders to turn kings into funny animals. As a result, we never learned much about their personalities, except maybe what we garnered from DiC's Super Mario Bros. 3 cartoon (which the Surgeon General warns against learning anything from).

But Bowser Jr. is often at the right hand of Bowser's schemes, even when they inevitably go poorly. He bought Bowser's story about Peach being his mother not because he believed the baffling claim, but because he didn't want to dampen his papa's enthusiasm for the hunt. In fact, Bowser Jr. wants to be just like his bad ol' dad even though he has yet to cut his first set of teeth. His favorite piece of clothing (okay, his only piece of clothing) is a bandanna scribbled with a preschool-grade drawing of a snarling mouth bearing sharp fangs. Just as a kitten will hiss and puff up its fur to warn away bullies, Bowser Jr. pulls up the threatening disguise when he needs to look fierce—say, when he's guarding his dad against nosy plumbers.

On the other hand, the close interaction between Bowser and his son may well indicate that Bowser has chosen a favorite amongst his children. Bowser's blatant favoritism probably hasn't helped endear gamers to Bowser Jr., but that's Bowser's shortcoming. The kid's all right.

Shigeru Miyamoto has no real plans to develop the Mario storyline beyond cake and Princesses, but the part of me that still wants to write bad fanfics to amuse her classmates can't help but wonder about Bowser's aforementioned favoritism. Maybe Bowser is close to his youngest son because the little guy is a tiny clone of his father. New Super Mario Bros. Wii really emphasizes how different the original Koopalings look next to their patriarch. I suspect Bowser's mailman has something to answer for. To say nothing of the milkman, the electrician, the UPS guy, the door-to-door vacuum mushroom salesman...

lol

Luigiman7 · 11-19-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

but the part of me that still wants to write bad fanfics to amuse her classmates can't help but wonder about Bowser's aforementioned favoritism

lol

Antisocial · 11-19-2009, 06:33 PM

And the search for the mother continues...

**X-3** · 11-19-2009, 07:18 PM

Bowser, upon becoming king, was forced to marry someone he did not care for. In fact, he loved a commoner. Kooplings are born one by one. His unhappiness leads to him attacking the Mushroom Kingdom. Later, the mother dies, and Bowser soon after learns the commoner he loved has died, but not before giving birth to his son: Bowser Jr.

or, there's my lame theory about child actors, but the first one is dramatic.

JaredThaJa888 · 11-19-2009, 09:20 PM

I think the Idea of a conflict between the Koopalings and Bowser Jr/s implied favorite status could make a cool plot point for an RPG.

Fans often jump the gun at hating anything new, Waluigi is another example I never jumped on either bandwagon, but I did want the Koopalings back, however I also understood a single offspring is easier to write stories around, especially as more sophisticated gamers want more variety form the Bosses the fight.

Dizzy · 11-19-2009, 09:37 PM

Sorta on topic: The one thing I don't like about NSMBWii is that it blows my theory that Bowser Jr. = Ludwig out of the water.

Dark Seraphim · 11-19-2009, 09:38 PM

OK . . . here's a theory.

Bowser Jr. is actually the remains of a failed magic to turn Bowser into the ultimate god of strength. Bowser has access to all these powerful magics, and one day decided to sue one to attain ultimate power, to bring out and enhance all the greatest aspects of his being into an ultimate beast of destruction. What we got was:

GIGA BOWSER

Face it, Giga Bowser was the ultimate Bowser, inhumanly strong, having no lingering emotions of weakness or attachment to Peach, he was a near unstoppable force of apocalypse that caused the world to weep in despair.

All the crappy parts of Bowser that got left behind? Bowser Jr. He's meek, cowardly, has all the comedically lame bravado but none of the force to back it up. He's got all the attitude but none of the strength, magic, or drive to take over/destroy the world. And He's even more pathetically obsessed about Peach then Bowser is it seems.

OK . . . I'm probabaly wrong, but Bowser Jr. and Giga Bowser sure seem like complete polar opposites, and they both premiered on the same system . . .

PK FIRE! · 11-19-2009, 09:47 PM

Nice idea but given that Bowser Jr. brought has father back to life in NSMBDS and from what I heard even gave him some impressive magical buffs for the final fight I'd say that he's more magicaly apt then anything else. So he could have been an attempt to make a clone of Bowser by magical means, however for what ever reason the clone ended up less of a battle ready tank and more of a squishy wisard.

- You stupid dog.

JaredThaJa888 · 11-19-2009, 09:56 PM

The Koopalings resemble Bowser less, but that is more realistic cause kids don't usually look like exact clones of their parents.

SO Bowser Jr being some kind of Clone does make sense to me.

Gabriel · 11-19-2009, 10:04 PM

I sometimes tend to think the worst of Nintendo: My theory is that Junior was introduced as Bowser's little sidekick while the original seven fading into nothingness...And it didn't work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkZero

Sorta on topic: The one thing I don't like about NSMBWii is that it blows my theory that Bowser Jr. = Ludwig out of the water.

Meh, I never really believed that one anyway.

Oh, and another note, I'd say Junior is just as resilient as his father. Just look at how many times you fought him in NSMB! Little twerp never gives up...just like his old man.

JaredThaJa888 · 11-19-2009, 10:21 PM

What does he mean by Ludwig out of the Water?

Gabriel · 11-19-2009, 10:28 PM

No no, he means his theory was blasted out of the water. Not Ludwig. Just worded weird, is all.

**X-3** · 11-19-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredThaJa888

I think the Idea of a conflict between the Koopalings and Bowser Jr/s implied favorite status could make a cool plot point for an RPG.

Oh, man, I can just see a RPG like this:

*funeral scene*
*everyone is standing around a large coffin respectfully, except for Luigi who is crying hysterically*
Peach: It's so sad.
Toadsworth: Indeed. I never imagined that Bowser, King of Koopas would be done in by choking on a chicken bone.
Ludwig: I hardly knew him. I will make my rule worthy of the Koopa Dynasty!
Iggy: Hey, who said YOU'D be king!?
Ludwig: Well, I am the oldest.
Roy: I thought I was.
Larry: No, silly, that's why you were in charge of the 5th castle.
Bowser Jr.: I was his favorite! I should be king!
Wendy: Dream on, kid!
blahblahblahblah
Toadsworth: Milady, there seems to be an internal conflict within the Koopa Family.
Peach: I have a bad feeling about this...
Lemmy: Hey, Kamek! Who do you think should be king!?
Kammy: I'm Kammy! Kamek is on vacation.
Morton: He didn't ask for your life story! Just answer the question!
blahblahblahblah
*later, at the Mario Bros. House*
Luigi: Ah...things sure are peac-
Jr: Hey, Mario Fools!
Luigi: ...sometimes I wish I could forget the son of our former nemesis is staying at our place...
Jr.: We're out of Mushroom Flakes! Get some more NOW!
Luigi: But...I just bought some! How much do you eat!? And where did the kitchenware go!?
Jr: Hey, when my cereal isn't on the table, I eat what I can!
Luigi: ...do you plan on leaving anything soon? You've been here a month now...
Jr: I'll leave as soon as my foolish siblings realize that I, Bowser Jr. am the only one fit to be king!

Then Mario and some friends would travel the lands, making the Kooplings shut up.

Dark Seraphim · 11-19-2009, 11:37 PM

How about a role reversal between the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser?

The game would star Bowser Jr. as the "hero", the plot would be that, at least, peace reigns throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, Bowser and his 7 Koopaling kids have been put behind bars, protected by trusted heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom (like the allies of Paper Mario, even Mario RPG, etc). However one Koopa kid remains, and now Bowser Jr. must venture out on his own to save his family . . .

Heh, I can just imagine the final fight, Bowser Jr. has to fight Mario and Luigi, and after beating them Bowser will be in a cage hanging from the ceiling just like Peach usually is. Only as the Peach Fanfare starts and the bottom of the cage opens, instead of floating down magically, bowser will just fall flat on his face.

JaredThaJa888 · 11-20-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-3

Oh, man, I can just see a RPG like this:

*funeral scene*
*everyone is standing around a large coffin respectfully, except for Luigi who is crying hysterically*
Peach: It's so sad.
Toadsworth: Indeed. I never imagined that Bowser, King of Koopas would be done in by choking on a chicken bone.
Ludwig: I hardly knew him. I will make my rule worthy of the Koopa Dynasty!
Iggy: Hey, who said YOU'D be king!?
Ludwig: Well, I am the oldest.
Roy: I thought I was.
Larry: No, silly, that's why you were in charge of the 5th castle.
Bowser Jr.: I was his favorite! I should be king!
Wendy: Dream on, kid!
blahblahblahblah
Toadsworth: Milady, there seems to be an internal conflict within the Koopa Family.
Peach: I have a bad feeling about this...
Lemmy: Hey, Kamek! Who do you think should be king!?
Kammy: I'm Kammy! Kamek is on vacation.
Morton: He didn't ask for your life story! Just answer the question!
blahblahblahblah
*later, at the Mario Bros. House*
Luigi: Ah...things sure are peac-
Jr: Hey, Mario Fools!
Luigi: ...sometimes I wish I could forget the son of our former nemesis is staying at our place...
Jr.: We're out of Mushroom Flakes! Get some more NOW!
Luigi: But...I just bought some! How much do you eat!? And where did the kitchenware go!?
Jr: Hey, when my cereal isn't on the table, I eat what I can!
Luigi: ...do you plan on leaving anything soon? You've been here a month now...
Jr: I'll leave as soon as my foolish siblings realize that I, Bowser Jr. am the only one fit to be king!

Then Mario and some friends would travel the lands, making the Kooplings shut up.

Technically I meant the Koopalings together Vs Bowser Jr.

***the Octopus*** · 11-20-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredThaJa888

Fans often jump the gun at hating anything new, Waluigi is another example I never jumped on either bandwagon, but I did want the Koopalings back, however I also understood a single offspring is easier to write stories around, especially as more sophisticated gamers want more variety form the Bosses the fight.

It doesn't help that their new ideas have been particularly uninspired. "Mario has an evil twin... LUIGI SHOULD HAVE ONE"

"Sooo, um, we should reuse that Baby Bowser design. It'd be easier than using the Koopalings, anyway, because then we're not obligated to include them all."

JaredThaJa888 · 11-20-2009, 12:09 PM

Maybe but Waluigi is still awesome.

Dark Seraphim · 11-20-2009, 12:16 PM

Waluigi didn't used to be awesome though . . . but yeah he is pretty awesome now.

Glux · 11-20-2009, 02:21 PM

If Bowser Jr. is in the next Smash Bros. he would totally be my main.

11-19-2009, 06:33 PM	#3
Antisocial Janitor Join Date: May 2000 Gender: Posts: 11,178 Thanks: 12 Thanked 1,102 Times in 458 Posts	I heard she's a real dog. And the search for the mother continues...

11-19-2009, 07:18 PM	#4
X-3 No avatar, no justice, no dreams, no hope! Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,507 Thanks: 732 Thanked 1,158 Times in 751 Posts Blog Entries: 10	OH DESIRE Bowser, upon becoming king, was forced to marry someone he did not care for. In fact, he loved a commoner. Kooplings are born one by one. His unhappiness leads to him attacking the Mushroom Kingdom. Later, the mother dies, and Bowser soon after learns the commoner he loved has died, but not before giving birth to his son: Bowser Jr. or, there's my lame theory about child actors, but the first one is dramatic.

11-19-2009, 09:20 PM	#5
JaredThaJa888 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Racine Wisconsin Gender: Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	I think the Idea of a conflict between the Koopalings and Bowser Jr/s implied favorite status could make a cool plot point for an RPG. Fans often jump the gun at hating anything new, Waluigi is another example I never jumped on either bandwagon, but I did want the Koopalings back, however I also understood a single offspring is easier to write stories around, especially as more sophisticated gamers want more variety form the Bosses the fight.

11-19-2009, 09:37 PM	#6
Dizzy A Real Sonic Hero Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 18,215 Thanks: 1,670 Thanked 1,077 Times in 750 Posts Blog Entries: 111	Sorta on topic: The one thing I don't like about NSMBWii is that it blows my theory that Bowser Jr. = Ludwig out of the water.

11-19-2009, 09:38 PM	#7
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	OK . . . here's a theory. Bowser Jr. is actually the remains of a failed magic to turn Bowser into the ultimate god of strength. Bowser has access to all these powerful magics, and one day decided to sue one to attain ultimate power, to bring out and enhance all the greatest aspects of his being into an ultimate beast of destruction. What we got was: GIGA BOWSER Face it, Giga Bowser was the ultimate Bowser, inhumanly strong, having no lingering emotions of weakness or attachment to Peach, he was a near unstoppable force of apocalypse that caused the world to weep in despair. All the crappy parts of Bowser that got left behind? Bowser Jr. He's meek, cowardly, has all the comedically lame bravado but none of the force to back it up. He's got all the attitude but none of the strength, magic, or drive to take over/destroy the world. And He's even more pathetically obsessed about Peach then Bowser is it seems. OK . . . I'm probabaly wrong, but Bowser Jr. and Giga Bowser sure seem like complete polar opposites, and they both premiered on the same system . . .

11-19-2009, 09:47 PM	#8
PK FIRE! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: On the run. Gender: Posts: 9,544 Thanks: 175 Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts	Nice idea but given that Bowser Jr. brought has father back to life in NSMBDS and from what I heard even gave him some impressive magical buffs for the final fight I'd say that he's more magicaly apt then anything else. So he could have been an attempt to make a clone of Bowser by magical means, however for what ever reason the clone ended up less of a battle ready tank and more of a squishy wisard. - You stupid dog.

11-19-2009, 09:56 PM	#9
JaredThaJa888 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Racine Wisconsin Gender: Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	The Koopalings resemble Bowser less, but that is more realistic cause kids don't usually look like exact clones of their parents. SO Bowser Jr being some kind of Clone does make sense to me.

11-19-2009, 10:21 PM	#11
JaredThaJa888 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Racine Wisconsin Gender: Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	What does he mean by Ludwig out of the Water?

11-19-2009, 10:28 PM	#12
Gabriel Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pesterchum~ Gender: Posts: 2,316 Thanks: 111 Thanked 102 Times in 79 Posts	No no, he means his theory was blasted out of the water. Not Ludwig. Just worded weird, is all.

11-19-2009, 11:37 PM	#14
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	How about a role reversal between the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser? The game would star Bowser Jr. as the "hero", the plot would be that, at least, peace reigns throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, Bowser and his 7 Koopaling kids have been put behind bars, protected by trusted heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom (like the allies of Paper Mario, even Mario RPG, etc). However one Koopa kid remains, and now Bowser Jr. must venture out on his own to save his family . . . Heh, I can just imagine the final fight, Bowser Jr. has to fight Mario and Luigi, and after beating them Bowser will be in a cage hanging from the ceiling just like Peach usually is. Only as the Peach Fanfare starts and the bottom of the cage opens, instead of floating down magically, bowser will just fall flat on his face.

11-20-2009, 12:09 PM	#17
JaredThaJa888 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Racine Wisconsin Gender: Posts: 676 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	Maybe but Waluigi is still awesome.

11-20-2009, 12:16 PM	#18
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Waluigi didn't used to be awesome though . . . but yeah he is pretty awesome now.

11-20-2009, 02:21 PM	#19
Glux Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Home Gender: Posts: 7,042 Thanks: 612 Thanked 354 Times in 231 Posts Blog Entries: 3	If Bowser Jr. is in the next Smash Bros. he would totally be my main.