If The Super Mario Bros. Movie nailed one thing, it's fanservice. Not even the Mario games themselves have united the Super Mario Bros. universe like this film has, and it's undoubtedly to the movie's benefit. The presentation on display conveys the heart and soul of the Mario franchise to its fans, and by many accounts they are pleased. Already looking to break records for animated movie debuts, Nintendo and Illumination's attempt at returning the famous plumber to the big screen has been a massive success.
There's so much love pouring out of The Super Mario Bros. Movie that it was even able to spare some for other Nintendo franchises. Room is limited due to how much screen space and audio is reserved for bringing the Mushroom Kingdom to life, but a couple classic properties got some noticeable props. Punch-Out!! has a couple scenes dedicated to it, and early on Mario is shown playing an NES. The specific game chosen for that session is rather notable for old-school Nintendo fans, as it's one in especially dire need of love.
Kid Icarus Is The Last Game People Expected In The Mario Movie
To the surprise of many, Mario is shown playing a slightly modified version of the 1986 Kid Icarus. Its presence makes some sense, as Kid Icarus is a first-party Nintendo 2D mascot platformer in a world where the actual Super Mario Bros. game franchise wouldn't exist. Still, one might expect Mario to be playing something better known like The Legend of Zelda or Metroid. Kid Icarus, as a franchise, is nowhere near as famous as many of Nintendo's IP’s, and it's a shock to see it tied into one of The Super Mario Bros. Movie's more emotional scenes.
The Kid Icarus series consists of three games, as well as a small handful of animated shorts. The first two entries are 2D platformers known for their punishing difficulty, while the third is Kid Icarus: Uprising, a 2012 3DS exclusive directed by Masahiro Sakurai. Although it is positioned as a sequel to the past titles, it is a reimagining of the Kid Icarus universe, and also a combination of rail-shooter, third-person shooter, and hack-and-slash gameplay with a loot component. Considering the gap between these entries, many cite the protagonist Pit's appearance in Sakurai’s other game Super Smash Bros. Brawl as the only reason Uprising was able to happen.
The Kid Icarus Franchise Needs Help To Restore Its Wings
Now that Masahiro Sakurai is semi-retired and the 3DS is fully retired, Kid Icarus once again sits at an impasse. Uprising is considered the best game in the franchise and one of the best titles on the 3DS, but its intense gameplay combined with an awkward control scheme means that its own hardware is holding it back. Meanwhile, the original Kid Icarus is available on Nintendo Switch Online, but it pales next to Nintendo's other classics, including Super Mario Bros. itself. There's a lot of value left in this unique franchise, but it needs help to show it.
Having Kid Icarus and its iconic "I'm Finished!" game over message appear front and center in The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels like Pit’s appearance in Brawl all over again. If this can drum up interest in Kid Icarus, then its existing fans and the games' inherent qualities should carry it the rest of the way. At the very least, Kid Icarus: Uprising needs to be ported to a modern platform, and the franchise can work on expanding its exaggerated mythological setting from there. Too much potential is still untapped in Kid Icarus and some other older Nintendo franchises, and hopefully the shout-outs that The Super Mario Bros. Movie gave can help them get back on their feet.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie currently available in theaters.