10 Awesome Super Mario Fan Theories You Had No Idea Existed

9. Luigi Has PTSD

luigi's mansion dark moon
Nintendo

Everyone€™s favourite Italian plumber, Luigi is often disregarded by Nintendo, dismissed as a secondary character in a series primarily dedicated to his older brother. He€™s like the CM Punk to Mario€™s John Cena, unrecognised despite his overwhelming popularity, given a few of his own projects but relatively ignored in comparison with the franchise star.

Like many, I find Luigi the more accessible of the Mario brothers; he€™s long been defined as a scaredy-cat, but that fact simply makes him more relatable. Sure, he doesn€™t willingly throw himself into dangerous situations (like his fool brother), but he has heart, and he€™ll always find a way to overcome whatever obstacles are placed before him, just at his own pace.

With that said, did you know that there may actually be an explanation for Luigi€™s incapacitating trepidation? He's always been more physically capable than Mario; he€™s taller, and he can jump far higher, but something€™s always held him back. Well, according to one particular theory, Luigi might actually suffer from PTSD, otherwise known as 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.

You see, in Yoshi's Island, Baby Luigi is kidnapped and imprisoned for the duration of the game, leaving Mario to rescue him. While Baby Mario is off having adventures, Baby Luigi is left inside a tiny cell, at the hands of Kamek, the evil Magikoopa. While Luigi is eventually rescued, the damage may have already been done, leaving him an anxious wreck for the remainder of his adult life, forced to constantly relive the experiences that would define him for years to come.

Contributor
Contributor

Formerly an assistant editor, Richard's interests include detective fiction and Japanese horror movies.