Kirby’s Octopus Friend’s Speculative Lesbian Girlfriend (Also an Octopus)
A brief diversion in to Kirby fanlore and one of the most niche ships in video games.
The Kirby Paradox
There’s an American company also known for sucking, but that’s just a coincidence.
Is the Deku Tree All That Great or Is It Just Big?
A linguistic investigation into the name of Hyrule’s no. 1 talking tree.
Meet the Most Obscure Monster in Chrono Trigger
No, it’s not the Naga-ette, though I did learn something salacious about her as well.
Why Does Luigi Fight Ghosts With a Vacuum Cleaner?
And before you say Ghostbusters, wonder maybe you should wonder where Ghostbusters got the idea.
The Halloween Surprise Hiding in Super Mario World
What else do fall colors, jack-o’-lanterns and mass-manufactured masks add up to?
Metroid, Justin Bailey and the Need for Meaning in a Chaotic Universe
The urban legends were wrong, but they speak to a human tendency to assume things happen for a reason.
Why Do Orcs Look Like Pigs? But Only Sometimes?
How fantasy’s go-to mooks went from ghouls to swine to green-skinned dreamboats.
The Elementals of Secret of Mana Are Quintessential
And lore-wise, Legend of Mana tweaked the eight-spirit system to perfection.
Sylph, Undine, Gnome, Salamander and the Swiss Doctor Who Invented Them
Paracelsus changed the world of medicine but also, indirectly, most fantasy RPGs.
You Can Now Support Thrilling Tales on Patreon and Kofi
Sorry, but I will not be accepting payment in Zenny, Bells or Gil.
Translating the Long-Lost Sequel to Super Mario Bros. 2
An interview with the collaborators who made BS Super Mario USA playable in English.
What’s the Correct Way to Pronounce Mario’s Name?
Whether you say Mah-rio, May-rio or Merry-o, you’re probably doing it wrong.
Mario 101: Part Eight
I gave a 1-up to my Super Mario history series to talk Foreman Spike, Madame Broode, the Mushroom King and field horsehair plants.
Is There a Disney Reference Hiding in Golden Axe?
Chronos “Evil” Lait is a character in the upcoming animated adaptation.
Waluigi’s Wikipedia Weirdness
Is Maple from Mario Golf Peach’s secret cousin or does the internet just need to invest in critical reading skills?
Why Do Video Games Associate Mice With Bombs?
From Mouser to Mappy Land, Japan seems to think mice should go kaboom.
Ganon’s Mysterious Origins (Revisited)
Kamen Rider might help explain where the Zelda big bad gets his name.
The Mysterious Connection Between Lufia and Lunar
Two RPGs focus on mysterious girls with blue hair and a divine connection.
The Dream Machine Hiding in Super Mario Bros. 2
It’s alluded to in the game’s manual, but you have to look to Doki Doki Panic to understand what it is.