Drake Inferno

Even if it's not anymore, you totally could still talk about it having been the case! That feels like a noteworthy bit of history to preserve/fun thing to talk about in that context.

It’s a fun reframing, but also essentially untrue of the game. The mansion was specifically a trap by King Boo to lure them, ghosts threaten Luigi before he has any defense, and he already knows they’ve captured Mario before fighting back. Even most portrait ghosts are pretty malicious/hostile.

Yeah, even for it being an in-universe replica of the track, that was a strange call.

Let's say regenerate?

A panel from ATOMIC ROBO AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. Robo, accidentally establishing himself as the Old West hero Ironhide, telling an off-panel Holliday to, "Go limp," because Robo's Plan A for getting people out of trouble is to scoop them up and hurl them out of danger.

A panel from ATOMIC ROBO AND THE AGENTS OF C.H.A.N.G.E. wherein Alan crashes into the room where Emma Armstrong is being held prisoner. She is screaming, "AHH!" due to the violent surprise of Alan's arrival despite delivering his friendly introduction/traditional battlecry, "Hi, I'm Alan!"

Shamelessly promoting two of my favorite running gags that are so stupid they hardly count as gags but that won't stop me from using them at every opportunity

I think there's quite a bit to connect who he is between the two. Buzz Buzz wasn't a threat to Future Giygas's existence or rule. Killing him was pure spite. The Giygas we hear through Monotoli is familiar. He is petty, angry, hateful, and seeks power, but he only ever finds it in self-destruction.

It's not directly addressed in those words, true. But it is emphasized in the Tenda Tea scene that Giygas is growing ever more terrified of Ness, and what's left of him in the end can only really wail in agony and repeat his name. But also telling is that one thing he can say is "...Friends...".

The ardent militarism of Giygas's people contextualizes his refusal to form or accept attachment or weakness perfectly.

Magicant's ties to the Power of the Earth, and that power ultimately being what unites all things, adds so much to Mother 1, the finale of EB, AND the latter half of Mother 3.

Aside from a few theories being wrong (George Stole PSI, Flint is Abusive, Giygas Fetus Theory, Time Loop Theory)... I think the closest I have to a hot take is that the lore/story of the games is NOT a distraction from the vibe or experience, but a core part of it. Also Mother 1 had the best music.

Well, for the most part, it's not between games. Bad Future!Giygas commands Starman Jr., and the Giygas we fight gives coherent orders until ~Deep Darkness. Giygas is stable most of the game. But it is his devotion to his own hatred and fear, his refusal to love or to be loved, that destroys him.

Green, green. Oops. I'm still new at this.