Nintendo’s Weirdest Mario Character Was Introduced 25 Years Ago in an Unexpected Way

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Over time, Mario has become almost synonymous with Nintendo, often standing out among other notable characters like Kirby and Link. While Mario is typically thought of as Nintendo’s primary mascot, his various game franchises have also introduced a plethora of new, sometimes eccentric characters. In fact, each new installment in series ranging from Mario Party to Mario Kart usually introduces a few fresh faces. This expansive Mario universe has even given birth to one of Nintendo’s most unusual characters.

25 years back, on August 28th, the game “Mario Tennis” was released in North America for Nintendo 64 players. This sports title served as a sequel to “Mario Golf,” offering fans another exciting game featuring their favorite characters. Notably, it also introduced the peculiar and enigmatic character Waluigi to the gaming world.

Mario Tennis Was the First Appearance of Waluigi

Originally, Wario emerged as Mario’s nemesis, characterized by his greed and propensity for stealing Mario’s coins and castles. Similarly, it was assumed that Waluigi would serve the same role relative to Luigi. However, contrary to expectations, Waluigi’s origin story is more intriguing. In the game “Mario Tennis,” doubles matches are featured, with Wario lacking a partner. Consequently, Waluigi was created to fill this void.

Similar to Wario being Mario’s adversary and darker version, Waluigi serves as Luigi’s rival and a somewhat sinister counterpart. First appearing in the N64’s Mario Tennis, he was initially presented as Wario’s sidekick, mimicking the friendship between Mario and Luigi. Despite initial speculation that they might be brothers like their more virtuous counterparts, their relationship remains ambiguous. Early Nintendo sources suggested they were brothers, but now, they are often referred to as friends or companions. Regardless, Waluigi made his debut 25 years ago, and he has been a topic of fan discussion ever since.

Waluigi Has Become a Super Mario Staple

Ever since making his debut in Mario Tennis, Waluigi has found himself a key character in various spin-off series, such as Mario Party Jamboree and Mario Golf: Super Rush. It’s tough to envision these games without him as an available character. However, when it comes to the mainline Mario games, his presence is somewhat complex. Though Luigi has numerous solo games, Waluigi hasn’t shared center stage with his rival in any of them yet.

To date, Wario has made only one notable appearance, which was as an unlockable costume in the game “Super Mario Maker”. His absence from other games is something his passionate followers find problematic. Compared to recent mainline games, Wario hasn’t been seen much, but he has led his own spin-off series. In contrast, Waluigi is still eagerly awaited by fans as a potential character in future Super Mario titles.

Though Waluigi doesn’t feature prominently in the main Mario series, he’s become a regular character in spin-off games. He’s made an appearance in more than 50 titles since his introduction, with a fresh role almost annually since the year 2000. Initially just Wario’s tennis partner, Waluigi has grown to be a fan favorite in games like “Mario Party.” His popularity extends beyond traditional gaming, with numerous memes celebrating him, which has earned him an almost legendary status among fans, despite his somewhat questionable background origins.

Little Is Still Known About Waluigi After 25 Years

Due to the fact that Waluigi hasn’t been featured prominently in the main Super Mario games or starred in his own spinoffs, his backstory is rather minimal. He often comes across as a sort of antagonist reminiscent of silent film villains, with his mustache twirls and mischievous acts. However, beyond these characteristics and his in-game actions, there isn’t much known about him to this point.

Waluigi doesn’t have a definitive origin or personal history, as he’s primarily featured in spin-off games that involve sports, board games, or racing. So far, these game formats haven’t provided an in-game context for developing his background. Initially introduced as Wario’s tennis partner, Waluigi has been relatively mysterious since then, with limited information about him revealed.

Perhaps someday, Luigi might have his own spin-off series akin to the fast-paced WarioWare games. However, as of now, he continues to be one of Nintendo’s most enigmatic characters, shrouded in mystery. Despite being a constant presence, his role within the Mushroom Kingdom is not thoroughly explored through official stories.

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2025-08-28 22:40