Mario Kart Tour Concludes The Mario Mobile Trilogy Of The 2010s

Mario Kart Tour is finally here and available for iOS and Android devices [8]! Before its release, I could tell that there has been quite a lot of hype for it and even I was looking forward to it, planning to download it onto my phone and try it out [19] [20] [21] [22]. A Mario Kart title outside of Nintendo consoles worked for the arcades four times, right [16]? Quite surprisingly, the number of downloads for the app during its release date has beaten the record that Pokémon GO held since 2016 [2] [3] [12]. Wow! Having app being downloaded over ten million times within one day is one colossal whopper of achievement after so much hype and I guess it could make up for why some folks have spotted a few flaws of Dr. Mario World, including a few Nintendo nerds and mobile gamers [15]. Now that I have downloaded it on my iPhone and ensured that my data will be saved by linking it to my Nintendo account, I shall analyse the next sensation in Mario Kart history with you all while some of you may be thinking of an HD remake of Super Mario Kart at some point in the 2020s [8] [18].

The title screen. [8]

I found the controls in simple mode to be alright [8]. The acceleration happens automatically, which I guess makes the gameplay more appealing to casual mobile gamers. How I could just tap above to hurl an item forwards and below to toss it backwards was very easy to remember. One thing that was enabled at the start of the game is the drifting that results in a turbo, otherwise known as “manual drift”, making the gameplay more practical for mobile devices [8]. When I had it off later, I realized I could receive a turbo from drifting by moving my fingertip further to the left or right and nearer the bottom of the screen, which is another sign of the controls being practical for mobile devices. For the best boost at the starting line, I always hold my finger tap on the screen when the countdown reaches number two [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]. I suppose I do not need to be concerned about the app’s controls anymore, as long as some alternations are still around for other players [8]. If only the option to go to the settings during the gameplay would pause it, so no unintentional slip up will occur during some alternations.

I started my game with the Simple control method. [8]

A pretty nice demonstration on how to control the kart and such. [8]

Now, what do I also mean by “some alternations” when it comes to Mario Kart Tour’s controls, besides enabling manual drift? To test another way of steering the kart, I have decided to turn off the smart steering and manual drift and turn on gyro handling, which is tilting the device to steer the kart. I found the feeling of tilting my iPhone to be okay, but I discovered that I could still steer with my thumb or finger on the screen. Quite ironically, as someone who has been so used to the motion controls of a Wii remote inserted into a Wii Wheel since 2008 [9], I preferred to just use a fingertip to steer in Mario Kart Tour. I will admit that I did struggle with the smart steering off and the manual drift on as the steering was often out of my grasp, but I at least saw some mighty ultra mini-turbos in action. Apart from changing the method of steering, I would honestly recommend leaving “Auto-item” off, so that the items can be used when necessary. If you want manual drifting, I would recommend enabling smart steering too or at least steering at the right time. 

You can turn any control method on or off, which can increase the app’s accessibility for players who prefer a different kind of control method. [8]

Oh. One more thing about the controls. There is also an icon at the bottom of the screen you can tap to change the camera’s view to the front of the racer. It is not really necessary to me unfortunately, unless you want your racer to take a kart selfie. [8]

Let us discuss the roster too, my dear fellow Mario Kart lovers. As someone who wrote about her history and thought about her finally being a racer, I knew the beautiful and further empowered Pauline would be an unlockable driver in the app [21] [22] [23] [24]! But sadly, we do not get to choose our favourite racers, karts and gliders at the start. Luckily for me, the first character I got to receive was Toadette and once I completed the tutorial, I got to play as my homegirl, Princess Peach. As my data progress, I was more than happy to play as Mario in his new musician outfit that reminds me of his New Donk City musician suit from Super Mario Odyssey [10]. If you want a few more characters, you will have to just keep following the standards of a certain reward system involving earning enough grand stars. Yes, I will admit that it is slightly disappointing and the roster is not as big and ambitious as the one in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe [6]. Ultimately, at least we get to see two new rival racers in action, who are Pauline and Peachette. Just look at the regular Koopa Troopa’s piercing eyes.

Theoretically, the rarity of getting a new driver depends on the characer’s icon. The chances of getting Peachette, Pauline, Metal, Mario, Musician Mario and Dry Bowser are rather minimal since the background of their icons are pink. [8]

I quite like how one rewarding system is presented with a pipe that can blast the result of winning a race into the night sky like a firework, which was where I got my first and second playable characters from [8]. Another type of in-game currency besides the traditional coins is rubies and amounts of them are used for accessing the pipe to unlock a new character, kart or glider. For a brief moment, I saw a gold pipe that rarely appears to give you a bigger or rarer reward. Sometimes the results of launching the reward from the pipe will result in a glider you already have, but it will at least raise its skill meter. As I mentioned earlier, another rewarding system requires getting enough grand stars for earning tour gifts that contain rewards, such as a new racer and a few more rubies, as well as new cups. At least I can believe that these reward systems can at least further motivate plenty of players into trying to unlock all of the cups after succeeding in the Mario Cup in order to unlock as many unlockables as they can [8].

Cause player, it’s a firework! Come and let your reward burst! [8]

Look how pretty the rubies are! [8]

Aside from how you can also buy a racer, kart or glider at the shop with the coins, there are also star tickets, item box tickets and driver points up tickets [8]. Now, what are they for exactly? Well, the item box ticket lets you use an item when you have not hit an item box, but they are only three of them you can use at first. The star tickets are used for when you just want to unlock a new cup already and are struggling to get enough points for the last grand star on a course. Lastly, the driver points up tickets are used to increase the amount of a character’s raise base points after accessing the roster of drivers. I think these tickets may increase some player’s temptation to give in to some mild microtransaction mania, which I will briefly discuss later on, but at least they give the app more of its own recognition and can still be possibly earned by earning enough grand stars for a tour gift. As for the usual coins, I would keep on playing until I get enough for a glider or character I want, including the Peach Parasol [5] [6] [8].

Mario Circuit for the old schoolers! For the new schoolers, the item box ticket can be used just by tapping the icon at the top of the screen. [8]

A star ticket I got from a tour gift. [8]

What is quite interesting is that starters can only access the Mario Cup and certain amounts of grand stars that are earned for racing can unlock the other cups [8]. This order of unlocking may seem too linear, but it can still motivate the player into racing to unlock more characters and such. I am not too keen on how the same course needs to be raced on again when a new cup is unlocked sometimes as it may decrease the satisfaction for those who just wanna discover every single one of them [8]. Despite this, some of the same courses are available to be raced on quite differently. The “R” next to the course’s name stands for “reversed”, meaning that the racers race within the opposite direction, which is like as if the developers gained inspiration from noticing child versions of me and my sister purposely driving backwards in Mario Kart DS for a laugh [7]. The “T” means that the course will have additional ramps and other obstacles. It seems quite weird that each course is done in only two laps instead of the usual three, but I guess it can enhance the appeal of the more casual Mario Kart racers [8]. 

I like how a course can be raced in reverse or with a few alternative ramps and such. [8]

Challenges are a gamer’s best frenemy. Similar to the challenges in Mario Kart DS [7], Mario Kart Tour provides a task after three races in each cup. They are pretty simple, but can still provide a decent challenge for the younger and more casual players. It was quite satisfying to knock down some goombas in the Goomba Takedown challenge [8]. Another aspect that follows today’s mobile gaming trends is the daily challenges list, which rewards the player with a grand star when a challenge is done successfully. I can say that it can be quite satisfying after you complete them. One last list of challenges is a set of tour challenges, standard challenges and gold challenges that are only available with a gold pass [8]. Not only do they offer small rewards for doing them, but also reward you with badges you can brag about. I can remember doing those kinds of challenges to earn small rewards, such as collecting a certain amount of collectables back when I played Sonic Dash [13]. Setting up a list of challenges for a mobile gamer is quite a trend, but it at least gives Mario Kart Tour its own character within the Mario Kart franchise.

A set of daily challenges in the app. [8]

My first achievement within the set of standard challenge was using at least one item ticket. I was also rewarded with a ruby for that. [8]

I would say that the most challenging aspect of the app is getting the best high score possible to gain more grand stars. It would be recommended that you select the character, kart and glider you own that are considered to be the highest scoring for the bonus points. Points are scored by:

•       Doing turbos
•       Hitting opponents with items
•       Collecting coins
•       Finishing a lap in first, second or third place
•       Gliding in the air with a glider
•       Doing a trick after leaping from a ramp

Considering how I mentioned that it is disappointing and seems too randomized that you can only play with a kart and glider you both earn from the pipe or tour gift, I am afraid to state that if you wish for a higher chance to earn more grand stars by improving your high score, you will need to select the one that would score the highest bonus points and the biggest combo bonus. I can state that scoring the highest score to get the most stars possible just like in the Angry Birds games also expands on the app’s individuality within the Mario Kart series [1]. 

A whole new course! In a mobile game that is new! I’ve gained a neat combo! Flying solo! Keep at it and you’ll progress in the game really soon. [8]

My record has been beaten, which means I earn another grand star. [8]

Levelling up seems rather common in mobile apps these days, like daily login bonuses. I can as someone who still loves playing Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp [4]. The player level will increase from every victory and decrease from every defeat, which reminds me of those race points from the days of racing against players from around the world on Mario Kart Wii through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection [9]. For every kart and glider available, I am fascinated at how they level up after you raced with them. And yes, when a character you already have celebrates his or her victorious position, he or she can have their EXP level risen. And as I mentioned earlier, their skill meters and point meters can also be increased. Even though I think Mario Kart Tour does have its ways of standing out from the Mario Kart series, I think it relies a little too much on today’s appeal of mobile games, including daily challenges and login bonuses, which is why I and some other Nintendo nerds may consider it to technically be a spin-off of the Mario Kart series rather than one of the main installments. The same statement could go for the Arcade GP series [16].

Leveling up is pretty peachy! [8]

I was able to unlock 150cc as I reached Player Level 2. I honestly don’t think the idea of making the EXP decrease if the player does poorly is a good idea as it can lead to some discouragement. However, as long as an empty bar does not make the level go down, I would not consider it to be a big deal. [8]

What else expands on Mario Kart Tour’s individuality? Well, the ability to hold three use items at a time when you choose a certain character for a certain course after smashing an item box is amazing [8]. The item frenzy that occurs when breaking an item box results in three of the same items in a row sure is crazy [8]. Aside from the slightly methods of receiving items, we still cannot forget that the app has received criticism for how its microtransactions seem a bit too money-hungry for the tastes of us Mario Kart racers, including £19.99 for a chance to race with Mario in his usual plumber attire and £4.99 a month for a gold pass [8] [17]. Luckily for me, I just spend some rubies I earned on a pipe launch to unexpectedly get him. I shall not spend a penny on any microtransactions as I simply wish to analyse it and at least get some enjoyment from it without a gold pass, even though I can understand that Nintendo has to earn money from the game at some point. As usual, I am up for playing a new installment for discovering its exclusive aspects.

The item frenzy that occurred during the tutorial. [8]

They got to have…money. [8]

Besides Peachette and Pauline’s capabilities of racing and courses being alternated sometimes, what about multiplayer? Well, a message that appears when I tap the multiplayer icon in the menu states that it will be available in a future update. That, my dear Mario Kart racers is another reason the app has received some criticism [17]. However, it seems that I currently get to race against the recorded data of other Mario Kart Tour racers from Japan and the West when I choose a course [8]. I can tell by the usernames on the list of racers before the race starts. Additionally, once I unlocked the Koopa Cup, I noticed that I could see if I could get a higher ranking than a bunch of other players in the weekly ranking. I can say there is at least some competition between plenty of other Mario Kart Tour players who have it on their mobile devices to some degree so far. After all, the app cannot be played offline, so we’d better stay connected [8]! Seriously, what is the point of racing if there will be nobody to race against?

Let us hope the developers will keep their pinky promise for a multiplayer mode for playing the app with your friends locally. There is a friends list after all. [8]

Not to pat myself on the back, but I already am quite proud of myself for being in first place. [8]

Overall, this is a sign of Nintendo’s thing for designing applications for third-party mobile devices is further increasing its aspirations. With the record for “The Most Downloaded Mobile Game” beaten and plenty of faithfulness to what makes Mario Kart a hit in this decade [2] [12], I am sincerely enjoying the app, despite how it appears to be watered down compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its criticism for its microtransactions and such. Analysing it reminds me of how I analysed Pokémon GO at university [3]. In a future update for Mario Kart Tour, I would like bikes and ATVs to be available for racing in. Mario Kart Tour may not be as hugely aspiring as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe [6], but in my opinion, it is worth trying out as either a Nintendo nerd, a mobile gamer or both at least once for its vibes from both ends of the spectrum. Moreover, as you reflect on the appeal of Super Mario Run and decency of Dr. Mario World, you could say that Mario Kart Tour has concluded a trilogy of Mario mobile apps in the second half of the 2010s [8] [11] [15] [17]. Anyone up for an HD remake of Super Mario Kart someday [18]?

If you’re into Mario Kart Tour, feel free to stay tuned for any future update. [8]

By the way, the graphics of Mario Kart Tour remind me of the ones in Mario Kart 7. [5] [8]

References

1. Angry Birds Wiki. (2010). Stars. Available: https://angrybirds.fandom.com/wiki/Stars. Last accessed 29th Sep 2019.
2. GoNintendoTweet. (2019). GoNintendoTweet. Available: https://twitter.com/GoNintendoTweet/status/1177276874076172289. Last accessed 27th Sept 2019.
3. Niantic. (2016). Pokémon GO. iOS. California. United States.
4. Nintendo. (2017). Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. iOS. Tokyo, Japan.
5. Nintendo. (2011). Mario Kart 7. Nintendo 3DS. Tokyo, Japan.
6. Nintendo. (2017). Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Nintendo Switch. Tokyo, Japan.
7. Nintendo. (2005). Mario Kart DS. Nintendo DS. Tokyo, Japan.
8. Nintendo. (2019). Mario Kart Tour. iOS. Tokyo, Japan.
9. Nintendo. (2008). Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
10. Nintendo. (2017). Super Mario Odyssey. Nintendo Switch. Tokyo, Japan.
11. Nintendo. (2016). Super Mario Run. iOS. Tokyo, Japan.
12. rawmeatcowboy. (2019). Mario Kart Tour hit 10.1 million global downloads on its first day, beats Pokemon GO total. Available: https://gonintendo.com/stories/345513-mario-kart-tour-hits-10-1-million-global-downloads-on-its-first-d. Last accessed 27th Sept 2019.
13. SEGA. (2013). Sonic Dash. iOS. Tokyo, Japan.
14. Sonic News Network. (2013). Sonic Dash. Available: https://sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Sonic_Dash. Last accessed 28th Sep 2019.
15. Super Mario Wiki. (2019). Dr. Mario World. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Dr._Mario_World. Last accessed 27th Sept 2019.
16. Super Mario Wiki. (2007). Mario Kart (series). Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Mario_Kart_(series)#Arcade_games. Last accessed 29th Sep 2019.
17. Super Mario Wiki. (2018). Mario Kart Tour. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Mario_Kart_Tour. Last accessed 27th Sept 2019.
18. Super Mario Wiki. (2019). Super Mario Kart. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Super_Mario_Kart. Last accessed 28th Sep 2019.
19. Williams, L. (2019). Mario Kart Tour Is Almost Ready For Racing. Available: https://laurasambitiouswriting.wordpress.com/2019/09/20/mario-kart-tour-2/. Last accessed 28th Sep 2019.
20. Williams, L. (2019). Mario Kart Tour Is Almost Ready For Racing. Available: https://laurawritesanarticle.blogspot.com/2019/09/mario-kart-tour-2.html. Last accessed 28th Sep 2019.
21. Williams, L. (2018). Mario Will Soon Park His Kart Outside Of The Nintendo Switch. Available: https://laurasambitiouswriting.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/mariokartoutsidenintendo/. Last accessed 26th Sep 2019.
22. Williams, L. (2018). Mario Will Soon Park His Kart Outside Of The Nintendo Switch. Available: https://laurawritesanarticle.blogspot.com/2018/03/mario-will-soon-park-his-kart-outside.html. Last accessed 26th Sep 2019.
23. Williams, L. (2019). The Perils And Powers Of Pauline, Mario’s Ex-Girlfriend. Available: https://laurasambitiouswriting.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/pauline-evolution/. Last accessed 26th Sep 2019.
24. Williams, L. (2019). The Perils And Powers Of Pauline, Mario’s Ex-Girlfriend. Available: https://laurawritesanarticle.blogspot.com/2019/01/pauline-evolution.html. Last accessed 26th Sep 2019.

Catherine: Full Body – Almost Fully Released

Disclaimers:

This is another article about an upcoming port of a game that contains partial nudity, erotic content and moments of horror, including a scene of blood and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

Promotional videos on Atlus’ YouTube channel were viewed for research, so this article may feature minor spoilers. Fan discretion is also advised.

Kon’nichiwa, fellow gamers! This shall be my third article on the upcoming full-bodied port of Catherine due to the fact that North American, European and Australian gamers are yet to fully understand the third lover [11]. Speaking of the original Catherine for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 from 2011 and 2012, it is now available for the computers and laptops on Steam under the title, “Catherine Classic” [10] [20]. At least the fans of the original who have decided to download it onto their PCs will not have to worry about that Axis Mundi bug anymore [10], which makes me believe that the developers at Studio Zero really listen to feedback from critics and fans. The Japanese demo for Catherine: Full Body for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita has been available to try out for quite some time now [21] [34], so let us keep on waiting until the whole port is officially open for many Catherine crusaders to get a good dose of a full-bodied expansion from Studio Zero and Atlus, including a nice pair of nero glasses for seeing characters in their swimsuits as downloadable content [6] [11].

Vincent's angels. [11]

Let us start with Rin’s apartment and how one of its rooms expands on the pianist’s personality [16]. It does not seem highly organized, which is a sign of Rin having amnesia. Rin might have a childish trait by how the apartment consists of toy capsule machines and some stuffed animals. Not that there is anything wrong with a young adult owning adorable toys, right? Of course, there is a piano for Rin to practice piano playing with the phrase “My Angel” on it [16], which supports the theory of how the pink-haired newbie could be sent from above. Perhaps Rin enjoys bowling since there are also some bowling pins in the room. How the features at the new apartment represent Rin’s development so far is similar to how a few aspects of Vincent’s apartment represents his depressing state of wanting to escape someday [17]. Hopefully, there will not be any ants crawling around Rin’s apartment. There are enough of them in Vincent’s apartment to terrify Catherine already [1] [24].

Rin showing concern towards Vincent in a new apartment. [16]

Rin seems to be fairly popular at the Stray Sheep due to such talent [5]. Aside from the acclaim of the talent in piano playing, another feature that could support the “Rin is transgender/transsexual” theory is the moment after the pianist wakes up naked on the floor. The pure-hearted pianist’s body appears to lack breasts [21]. The newbie is indeed crushing on the Brookster [5]. You can tell by how Rin embraces him in one scene and offers him comfort when his face is covered in blood in another [1] [6] [11] [15] [24] [34]. Additionally, the way the cute amnesiac holds his hand in the new “Rin Savior” trailer is pretty sweet [5] [22]. One of Rin’s quotes from the official Japanese dub has been translated into, “I’ll be fine because I’ll be by your side”. However, in another revealed scene from a promotional video from Atlus’ official YouTube channel, the newbie bursts into tears and runs away after being slapped on the hand by Vincent [5]. Though Vincent’s carelessness was quite understandable due to how he feels guilty about his affair, Rin still does not seem to deserve it [5] [15]. Bless the pink-haired bundle of peacefulness, who could be seen as one of the angels of Atlus.  

On the other hand, the apparent lack of breasts could be a sign that Rin is genderless. [21]

But that does not stop Vincent’s pure-hearted neighbour from expressing compassion for him. [11] [15] [24]

Speaking of the Stray Sheep, let us look at how the developments of the staff and regulars can be expanded. I understand that Jonny Ariga is the guy who would always stay committed to one woman no matter what and has advised Vincent to end his affair for the sake of Katherine [13], but how could he be pushed into physically assaulting one of his friends [5] [6] [13]? He is supposed to be the calm one! Speaking of calm, perhaps many gamers who are big supporters of LGBT tolerance would like to see some further development of Erica, the transgender waitress with a healthy dose of likeability [12]. Along with how we shall see Eric at some point in a flashback, Erica in the present can be seen in a new outfit next to Toby [12]. Perhaps there will also be some further development of their relationship for the Catherine crusaders to witness [6]. Does anyone fancy a slice of the Stray Sheep’s finest pizza?

Erica in her new outfit, presumably on a date with Toby Nebbins. [12]

Let us not forget about the devolution of Vincent and Katherine’s relationship that is likely to be further explained in Full Body. I am suggesting that Vincent and Katherine were only good friends or crushes in their high school days since their relationship has lasted for five years in the Catherine canon [14]. I adore Katherine’s fabulous formal outfit for when she enters a helicopter in another new present-day cutscene, but I highly doubt that her lovely makeover is for an official date with the Brookster [11] [24]. Ah yes, there is also another flashback scene of when the two were about twenty-seven and their relationship seemed much more romantic [3]. I bet Vincent misses the times when his steadfast significant other wore a different pair of glasses [3] [14] [21] [34]. If so, then you can tell why it seems difficult to be prepared for marriage, according to the guy in the present. Aside from the decline of their relationship, perhaps the thirty-two-year-old Katherine ought to look back on how simpler their romance seemed five years ago towards any of the Katherine endings [3] [14] [21] [34].

Ah, the good old days. [3]

Ooh la la! [14]

And of course, what is Catherine without the titular love interest [9]? So the blonde high schooler IS Catherine and it seems like it is not the first time she and Vincent were quite smitten for each other [4]. Talk about relapsing back into old habits. It turns out that the new scene when Catherine in the present is standing next to her main target is actually set in the Stray Sheep bathroom, not a sauna [1] [4] [11]. But seriously, how did the bathroom become all wet in that new scene [1] [4]? Is it just innuendo?! Catherine will also show some homemade cupcakes and…lick some icing off of Vincent’s face [4] [7] [8] [9]. Bow chicka wow wow. But then, the Brookster will get a view of teenaged Katherine as Catherine looks at a cupcake, which makes me believe that his affection for Katherine was possibly the strongest in their high school days and Catherine’s free-spiritedness reminds him of teenaged Katherine [7]. Was Katherine really more carefree when she was younger? This would make Vincent’s unintentional motivation for his affair slightly reasonable because…you know…the good old days [7]. That moment when she unzips her corset-like shirt is sure to turn many straight male gamers [4] [6] [8].

Could the younger Catherine have briefly dated the younger Vincent at some point in the past? [4]

Flashback time!! [7]

Catherine will soon have eleven voices for the player to choose in the Japanese version of Full Body [6] [8] [11] [25]. One of the extra voices is already available in the demo while the others shall be part of downloadable content in the full port [6] [21] [34]. Perhaps plenty of Western gamers are curious about whether or not she will have ten new English voices. Since it is currently unknown that Catherine will have them for the English version [6] [8] [11], I personally think some options for them could be:

•  Kath Soucie for the “Attractive” voice [29]
•  Andrea Libman for the “Pure Girl” voice [18]
•  Kelly Sheridan for the “Eternal Maiden” voice [26]
•  Tara Strong for the “Sister-like” voice [30]
•  Lacey Chabert for the “Admiring Sister” voice [23]
•  Emma Stone for the “Selfish Sister” voice [36]
•  Kate Higgins for the “Yandere” voice [35]
•  Tabitha St. Germain for the “Tsundere” voice [19] [28]
•  Karen Strassman for the “Capricious Cat” voice [33]
•  Scarlett Johansson for the “Queen of the Night” voice [27] [31] [36]

Maybe those other voices could suit the other men’s interpretations of Catherine [8] [9]. Voice actors and actresses cannot give out spoilers after they perform their roles, so we will have to wait and see if there will be any extra Catherine voices in English or not.

Could Catherine’s ten other voices inspire other video game characters to have their voices changed by the player in the future of gaming? [21] [34]

Okay then, let us look into a little more detail of the appealing altered nightmare gameplay, as well as the Rapunzel gameplay. I have mentioned before that the gameplay will consist of useful gimmicks [11]. One of them is that the camera can now be rotated for the player to look behind the tower, which can be useful for climbing to the top more efficiently. I like how a teal light will appear when Rin plays the piano to pause a falling stage. Don’t like a puzzle segment? You can just skip it, but only in the new “Safety” mode for those who have only just become a Catherine crusader [6] [11]. I have also mentioned that there will be over five-hundred stages in Full Body. Some of the extra stages are ones for the Rapunzel minigame that will apparently be renamed “Super Rapunzel” and also be available to play in Arrange mode. And remember, Autoplay will apparently only be available in Safety and Easy mode [11]. When Full Body finally arrives on your PlayStation 4, do not die.

The music from Rin playing the piano pauses a stage and causes a teal light to appear. [11]

2019 will not only be the year of the pig. It will also be the year of a lost lamb in a suspenseful love square [8] [11] [21] [24] [34]. Will the handsome and indecisive Vincent marry the responsible office manager, succumb to the sensual temptress or honour his compassionate new neighbor [6]? It will be all in every Catherine crusader’s pair of hands. Rin, otherwise known as “Qatherine” could still be quite a memorable young person who has a lovely theme song, regardless of being transgender, cisgender or genderless [11] [15] [32]. Could Katherine loosen up in another ending that leads to Vincent fully committing to her by bringing back the positive aspects of their first years of dating [3] [14] [21] [34]? We can only make our own theories about the other new sexy events and new alternative endings for now [11]. Speaking of sexy, if you believe that there will be about ten new voice actresses for the cheerful and alluring Catherine for the Western DLC, feel free to let me know which voice actresses’ abilities will suit her in the comments. Stay golden, Catherine crusaders.

Will Vincent progress with any one of his angels…or will love be over? [11]

References

1. atlustube. (2018). 『キャサリン・フルボディ』大人の修羅場シアター#01『修羅場、極まる。』. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbjW0PtoccE. Last accessed 24th Jan 2019.
2. atlustube. (2018). 『キャサリン・フルボディ』大人の修羅場シアター#02『RIN -救世主-』. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5w3LqYfDtc. Last accessed 24th Jan 2019.
3. atlustube. (2018). 『キャサリン・フルボディ』大人の修羅場シアター#03『KATHERINE -恋人-』. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNpO3UtHofI. Last accessed 24th Jan 2019.
4. atlustube. (2018). 『キャサリン・フルボディ』大人の修羅場シアター#04『CATHERINE -浮気-』. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqAdIpskTw. Last accessed 24th Jan 2019.
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The Perils And Powers Of Pauline, Mario’s Ex-Girlfriend

Remember the pixelated damsel known as “Lady” who would cry for help after being taken to a construction site by a big crazy ape [4] [13]? Well, the lady is nowadays known as “Pauline” and she is not a damsel-in-distress anymore...or at least in this generation of Nintendo gaming [5]. After thirty-seven years of her loyalty towards the iconic plumber, Mario’s original sweetheart will finally become a fully playable character in Mario Tennis Aces [6] [18]. With some analysis, both classic Nintendo nerds and modern Nintendo nerds can see that Pauline has changed and grew as a person throughout the eras of Nintendo gaming. Let us look at each step of the lovely woman in red’s outstanding evolution.

This was Lady Pauline back in the early 80’s. [13]

And this is Lady Pauline today. [18]

As previously stated, the first damsel-in-distress in video game history would just scream for help and...dance [4]? My theory for why the first interpretation of Pauline was so helpless is because she might have had a terrible fear of heights. Her sprite consisted of ginger hair in a braid and a long purple and white dress, causing her to look nothing like her official 2D artworks that feature blonde hair and a short red dress [4] [13] [14]. At least that was no big deal since Jumpman was in unconditional love with her before he stepped into the Mushroom Kingdom as “Mario”. Quite oddly, she was also named “Louise” in the Game & Watch version of the arcade masterpiece and “Paula” in the instruction packs for the Nintendo Entertainment system version [21]. If I get kidnapped by a gorilla, I’d better do a weird dance to increase my chance of being saved.

Where it all began. [13]

Dance for help, Pauline, dance for help! [13]

Speaking of blonde hair and a red dress, Pauline was the supportive sidekick of Mario in his first ever cartoon for television, Saturday Supercade [1] [3] [7] [21] [23]. And yes, she does get captured by the young Cranky Kong in the second opening [1] [11]. Nevertheless, she and Mario would chase the big ape in order to try and catch him and take him back to a circus [3] [7] [23]. Additionally, Pauline claims that he would not hurt a fly in one of the episodes, so I guess Pauline at least saw some good intentions from him [7]. If the cartoon was an anime, I guess her hair could have been wavy and her skin could have been paler, so that she would resemble her official Japanese artwork in a classy 80’s anime style [13] [25] [26].

Pauline’s 80’s cartoon appearance in Saturday Supercade. [14]

Pauline’s blonde locks eventually turned reddish brown in Nintendo’s own adaption of a pinball machine for the Nintendo Entertainment System [21] [22] [28]. In a long pink dress, she was safe from the original Donkey Kong’s clutches. However, she was only able to run left and right at the top of the bonus stage until the pinball broke the ground below her feet [28]. I guess this Pauline was just jogging left and right for a bit of exercise and to try and battle her fear of heights. After she falls, Mario will try and catch her with a white platform, then take her to one of the exits of the stage [28]. For some reason, she was simply named “Lady” once again [22]. The appearance of her Pinball sprite sure was indeed rather similar to Princess Toadstool’s sprite from Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario. 3, which might have led nostalgic Nintendo nerds to the beginning of the comparisons between the two sweethearts of the iconic plumber [14] [15] [21] [22] [28].

The similarities between Lady and Princess Toadstool back in the NES days. [14] [15]

For the Game Boy port of Donkey Kong that was released back in 1994, Pauline’s sprite resembled her official artwork a lot more, especially as she cried out for help [9] [12] [14]. You can tell by the shape of her sprite, but let us leave Ed Sheeran out of this [10]. Since the Game Boy version of the timeless classic was meant to be expanded with nine other locations, Pauline’s expanded captivity might have at least provided some opportunities to see some nice sights [9] [12]. It was nice of her to give her ex a mushroom to pump up his strength back in the day. The official cover was the first time Pauline was seen wearing a short red dress AND having brunette hair [12], which showed that she was indeed a different kind of sweet and fair lady, compared to Princess Peach. 

The original Donkey Kong kidnapping a brunette Pauline. [11] [12] [14]

Pauline’s sprite in the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong from 1994. [14]

A dozen years later, Pauline returned in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, possibly just as Mario’s good friend [2] [8] [21]. She was shown to be quite business-minded in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, cutting a ribbon as a VIP and helping Mario run a theme park known as “Mini-Land” [2] [8] [20]. And yet, she was taken away by the mighty Donkey Kong a few times, just like back in the beginning [2] [8] [20]. Well, at least they did get along well in some moments, such as when Pauline accepted a Mini Donkey Kong and gave it a kiss, making Donkey Kong happy [8]. Perhaps a few gamers might have believed that Pauline was a little too forgiving towards the gorilla himself. Aside from that, go ahead and keep shipping Mario with Pauline if any of you want to.

Pauline as a special guest in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. [14]

The beginning of Tipping Stars. Just like back in the early 80’s when Cranky Kong was his grandson’s age. [11] [20] [21]

There Mario went, off the rails. It was time for a splendid surprise to raise its sails. A huge enrichment in Pauline’s character occurred in Super Mario Odyssey, the glorious masterpiece from late 2017 that brought back the sandbox-like gameplay from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy [5] [21]. She went from a simple woman to the glamorous singer and mayor of New Donk City [5] [21]. I am not sure how she got into politics, but I absolutely adore her ability to sing [5] [16] [21] [27]. I would say her official debut in the main Super Mario series as a mayor and singer was totally worth it as the times of her captivity must have made her stronger and determined to somehow reinvent herself [21]. Is any fan of the 1-up girl up for some fried mushrooms or flower stew sometime soon [21]?

The pretty politician after she moved on from her days of being a circus gorilla’s hostage. [21]

And finally, Pauline’s debut of full playability was announced in late 2018 [6]. She is set to be a playable character in Mario Tennis Aces in early 2019, along with Luma, who has been a tennis player before and Boom Boom, who is also yet to play tennis for the first time [6] [18] [19]. In all honesty, I believe that she deserves it after her big upgrade in New Donk City. Her tennis player attire sure is elegantly trendy and her emblem is pretty cute [6] [18]. I am assuming that the reason why she will be a speedy type of tennis player is because of the jogging she did in Pinball [6] [18] [28]. The opportunity to be a determined sportswoman for Pauline in any of Mario’s sports series was perhaps long overdue and it will soon be about time they let her be a competitor in a sport.

Yeah! [6]

If a character can evolve and empower oneself, by all means, go ahead and allow that enhancement to happen. Could Pauline be playable for the second time in any future Mario games? It would be great if that would be on any of the next set of agendas for Nintendo’s future. Perhaps one of them could be a whole new installment of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series that will feature her glorious title as the mayor of New Donk City with an angelic singing voice [16] [21] [28]. Another one could be making her an official racer in Mario Kart Tour, the Mario Kart installment that will park on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android [17]. She could also be a singing captive in a special 40^th anniversary celebration of the arcade game that started it all [4]. But for early 2019, let us wait for Pauline, Boom Boom and Luma to hit the tennis court and show what they are made of. Maybe there could be a year of Pauline, like how 2013 was the year of Luigi [24].

She’s been on the Switch. Her singing is bliss. Oh, tennis awaits Pauline! [21]

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