Issue 45: Revenge of the Sidekicks

Our videogame worlds would be pretty lonely without sidekicks. Back in the early to mid-’80s, sidekicks in console games were minor if even present. Games were too simple to accommodate more than a hero figure for you to play as and an objective to reach, with grunts along the way to squash. Then console RPGs came along, and game cartridges and CD ROMs with enough space to not only provide more beautiful worlds and complex gameplay, but also extra characters who provided more personality and at times humanity to the game worlds you traversed. Sidekicks and NPCs alike are essential in making a world seem more realistic and engrossing. And with a company with as many storied franchises as Nintendo’s, sidekicks are now common and, often, familiar faces that make a sequel in a long-running series that much more welcoming.

Yet could you imagine a glass ceiling like that? Not just a couple games or few years, but decades of playing second banana to the younger, cuter, more athletic and popular main hero? That’s gotta hurt. Especially if you then get shoehorned into a lame game like Luigi’s Mansion (which yeah, I know, a few of you out there liked). That’s why we’re putting the spotlight on a few of our favorite sidekicks this week– lovable and annoying alike.

Enjoy,
Noah

Issue 45: Revenge of the Sidekicks

Time To Shine by James Stank
Luigi got his own game. Maybe it’s time for these overlooked heroes to get their own games.

Tidman’s Take: The Dress of DOOM by Matthew Tidman
One Toad’s terrified tale of entrapement in Peach’s petticoats.

Nester64x: The Best Sidekick by Nester64x
He may be somewhat of a Hozer from time-to-time, but everyone needs a sidekick like HowardNTR.

Dissecting A Frog by Smith Stuart
While Slippy has occasioned much ire for a variety of reasons, maybe he doesn’t deserve such a bad rap.

Hot Air: COMPed by Aaron Roberts
Mona’s worker’s comp claim against WarioWare, Inc.

Luigi: The Other Side by Aaron Roberts
The eternal understudy sits down for an exclusive interview with us to share the tale of his latest adventure.

Additional features in this issue…

Monday

• Nightly News Roundup by Andrew Hsieh
  

Tuesday

• Nightly News Roundup by Aaron Roberts

Wednesday

• Dojo-Show-Go! Episode 138 by M. Noah Ward
• Nightly News Roundup by Matthew Tidman
  

Thursday

• Nightly News Roundup by Andy Hoover
  

Friday

• Nightly News Roundup by James Stank
  

Coming Up Next Week…

Issue 46: Lord of the ‘Wares
We take a look at the best and worst of what Nintendo’s downloadable services have to offer.