#shroobs

Wow Anon, you were right! REALLY right, I don't wanna toot my own horn but these are probably the best SMW Sprites I've done ever or at least posted here which does make sense! I've been practicing them more recently to redo some of the older ones

war criminals

The long and short of it is, we have no idea where the thing came from. So anyway, here's my idea. We can probably safely say that it was written by somebody, since that's what anybody to ever comment on its origins assumes, even those we aren't given reason to suspect might be wrong (like Merlumina and Garson), and thus it probably isn't a primordial artifact of doom from the dawn of time or anything like that. I do have one sort of personal headcanon/pet theory on it, though. First, we have to turn to the Light Prognosticus, and how it was made. Shamans across the Paper Mario series (and beyond it, as with Madame Clairvoya) demonstrate the ability to look into the future, using/calling on the power of the Stars to do so.

Stars are also heavily linked in concept across the entire Mario series to the notion of fate. Rosalina, for example, talks about how the will to be reunited with one you love is a force more powerful than fate, beyond the whims of the Stars. This is most likely why they can be read and used in order to look into the future. The Light Prognosticus is said to have been written by Merlumina and Merloo, who similarly had the ability to look into the future. And, given that there's a star right on the cover of it, it stands to reason that this is most likely how the Light Prognosticus was written as well.

So then we have to get into what kind of fate exactly the Stars are responsible for. The universe is born time and time again, and each cycle is very similar to the last, but we are told that it never unfolds in quite the same way. Fate is spoken of rather insistently as a thing that can be broken, can be defied, that it is our will and our care, for ourselves and for each other, that can do so. Fortunetellers and seers give advice, not on what the cosmos has already written you shall do, but on what you should do, what you can do, what can bring about the sort of future you desire.

Similarly, there is a distinction that Merlon makes between the Light and Dark Prognosticus. He says, the Light Prognosticus was written in response to the Dark one, created to counteract it, and as such isn't "truly prophetic". Now, it was explicitly made with future vision, and is very much a prophecy even down to its name, so it's safe to assume that he means something different here. What I think he refers to is what I will term the comparative "force" of the two prophecies.

The Light Prognosticus emphasizes choice at any place it can, champions possibility within the constraints of fate, it is a document written with the hope that the Dark Prognosticus's fated outcome could be overturned. Its words ring across the story with a word the Dark Prognosticus fails to utter - "if". The LP acknowledges with humility that its predictions are merely one possibility, but that it is the path with the best chance to overcome the Dark Prognosticus.

The Dark Prognosticus, by contrast, admits no such thing. As far as the prophecy of destruction is concerned, its word is absolute, inerrant. And it backs this up! In more than 3000 years of its history, this little black book has brought ruin to nations in wars fought over its possession, all with information it predicted from the beginning. Until the very end, its every word comes to pass, and it's only at the events of its final page that the Purity Heart's power contradicts and defeats it. The Light Prognosticus had to work within its gaps. On nearly every event that will happen, the two books are essentially in agreement. The Light Prognosticus operates by describing the path of the heroes and the Pure Hearts, the power of love that they believed could overcome the prophecy directly, outside of what the Dark Prognosticus's words specify.

Now I'll circle back the Stars, and that which they exist in opposition to. The nature of the Stars, seen as a constant across the Mario series, is to give, to sacrifice. They are the granters of wishes, the progenitors of life, the essence from which the cosmos itself is woven. The Power of the Stars is no less than the lifeblood of the universe itself, and the Stars give themselves up to these causes knowing this. This is reflected in the kind of fate they are linked to. The space of potential, the navigation of the endless futures that there might be. But what, then, is their antithesis? We see it in the Ztars.

Where the Stars radiate light and hope, the Ztars are bitter icons of darkness and regret. Where the Stars so universally lend their power, the Dark Star spends the entirety of its game feverishly hunting down the power that was taken from it, insisting not only on making itself whole, but consuming all the world in darkness. And that is, I think, what darkness is in Mario's context. Selfishness at the expense of another. The Shroobs, whose corruption of Peach's Castle includes Ztar-like imagery, and who act in a similar way to the Ztars as dark mirrors of the Mario world we know, are exemplars of this selfishness, living parasitically off of the destruction and consumption of anything else, draining the life from worlds after they have made their own a husk.

After much anticipation, I finally got to see the new Mario movie. Twice. And I must say, I don't see what's everyone's problem with this movie, because I found it just as delightful as the first one. Sure, it may not be a perfect adaptation of the Galaxy games - not that I expected it to be in the first place -, but for what it's worth, I think they did a good job capturing the sense of cosmic wonder that carried those titles.

Now, I've had my own share of grievances over the years regarding the malleability of the Mario canon (such as the Koopalings retcon), so I completely understand why some of the liberties they took could rub some the wrong way. But for the most part, I think they made it work. I mean, people have always been theorizing about a possible connection between Peach and Rosalina, long before we even knew that it was indeed intended for the two of them to be related in the earlier drafts of the first game (to tell you the truth, the first time I saw a picture of Rosalina in a magazine, I thought she was just Peach in a new dress). So really, I'm not surprised they decided to integrate the idea in the movies' continuity. Besides, I love when they explore Rosalina's more vulnerable side. I know people like to perceive her as this immaculate goddess, but as far as I'm concerned, I think they managed to strike a pretty lovely balance. I mean, in the same vein as Sparks of Hope, it's made pretty clear that Junior only managed to best her because he got the chance to exploit her motherly side. And even then, she still played an instrumental role in her own rescue…

But enough about her. There are other aspects I wanted to talk about. First, I'd like to highlight once again what a visual marvel the film is. It's always a delight to see this universe come alive on the big screen, and I love all the funny and clever ways they found to reinterpret the Mario world, like turning the Gateway Galaxy into a bustling spaceport, the underground casino, or Bowser Jr. using Super Mario Maker as a security system. The film is once again a love letter to the franchise, and all those little Easter eggs make for a delicious experience. Also, I really, really liked the accent on arts and crafts in some sequences, such as Bowser's bedtime story and the credits. As the film that introduced Yoshi, it was such a charming nod to Crafted World. Speaking of that bedtime story though, it goes without saying but Bowser and his son really stole the show. Once again, as a Bowser fan, I couldn't be happier. They were so adorably evil together. And the magic brush made for really fun battle choreographies(1). Also, Bowser dual-wielding axes made for a very sexy spectacle…

All in all, I had a pretty great times. Was it perfect ? Not by any means. The pacing, for one, could have used a little polish. Especially since I don't think anybody would have a problem had the movie be ten or twenty minutes longer. But I still think that its positive aspects far outweigh the negative ones : a simple yet heartfelt story, stellar visuals, delightful characters (Yoshi was as adorable as ever, and Luigi getting more screen time was much appreciated), an exquisite score, plenty of action, a lot of amusing moments and cameos (I don't care what the detractors say, Fox' inclusion was one of the most exciting parts of the movie in my eyes)… The only thing I'll never forgive them for is the decision to cut Bowser's new song. Not only because it's a really fun song, but also because it would have been a hilarious tradition to have the Koopa King sing in each movie. But apart from that, all the ingredients for an amazing time were gathered.

Now the question is, what do they have in store for the next installment (because it's pretty obvious that we are getting another movie after this one) ? With Daisy appearing in the post-credits scene, I've seen many people theorize that the next film will involve Tatanga as a new villain and that he'll be recontextualized as the evil force that was after Peach and Rosalina's cosmic power. And honestly, that seems to fit pretty well. If I allowed myself to be a little bolder, I'd add that it would be awesome if he were to show up with an army of Shroobs, but I'd rather temper my expectations. XD Still, here is a half-serious theory if Tatanga is indeed the big bad of the next movie : halfway through the film, he will use his alien technology to make evil clones of the brothers, and that's how we'll get Wario and Waluigi…

and it was fun

but

I have a strange theory, hear me out.

And Spoilers warning

Why not using the Shroob or especially Tatanga? It would've been perfect to use him to then get to Daisy

I feel like as a long term fans I ask too much but finally we barely see space and Galaxy

Shroob tech and room design is just so pretty to me I love it!!!

How does it feel to be taller than all of your Shroobs subjects ?