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Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
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Wanted
Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
Blog
About
Contact
Subscribe
Wanted
Blog
About
Contact
Subscribe
Wanted
Is There a Vibrator Joke in Super Princess Peach?
Drew Mackie 4/19/26 Drew Mackie 4/19/26

Is There a Vibrator Joke in Super Princess Peach?

It wouldn’t be the only instance of Nintendo letting Mario get risque.

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Why Do We Think Mario and Luigi Are From Brooklyn?
Drew Mackie 4/16/26 Drew Mackie 4/16/26

Why Do We Think Mario and Luigi Are From Brooklyn?

Exploring the brothers’ alleged real world origins — and their inexplicable Italian accents.

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When Did Luigi Get His Own Look?
Drew Mackie 4/11/26 Drew Mackie 4/11/26

When Did Luigi Get His Own Look?

The other plumber stood in his brother’s shadow for longer than you’d think.

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Is the Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Rosalina Reveal Canon?
Drew Mackie 4/8/26 Drew Mackie 4/8/26

Is the Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Rosalina Reveal Canon?

Plus an argument why Shigeru Miyamoto does not, in fact, hate story elements.

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Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of ‘Drain Man’
Drew Mackie 3/31/26 Drew Mackie 3/31/26

Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of ‘Drain Man’

How the 1993 live-action movie connects to 1988’s Rain Man but also 1989’s The Wizard.

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What Is the Etymology of ‘Power-Up’?
Drew Mackie 3/22/26 Drew Mackie 3/22/26

What Is the Etymology of ‘Power-Up’?

And how did this term become part of the western video game lexicon?

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Who Put the ‘P’ in the Fire Flower?
Drew Mackie 3/21/26 Drew Mackie 3/21/26

Who Put the ‘P’ in the Fire Flower?

An early build of Super Mario Bros. features a certain letter that would reappear on items in later games.

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Who Put the ‘Kong’ in ‘Donkey Kong’?
Drew Mackie 3/16/26 Drew Mackie 3/16/26

Who Put the ‘Kong’ in ‘Donkey Kong’?

The competing, contradicting explanations for the strangest name in video games.

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Why Did the Super Mario Anime Make Toad Female?
Drew Mackie 2/22/26 Drew Mackie 2/22/26

Why Did the Super Mario Anime Make Toad Female?

A longstanding rumor states that the Mushroom Retainers were meant to be Peach’s handmaidens.

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Was the Legend of Zelda Actually Named After Its Heroine?
Drew Mackie 2/20/26 Drew Mackie 2/20/26

Was the Legend of Zelda Actually Named After Its Heroine?

Why the princess of Hyrule may not technically be the series’ title character.

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Is There a Sex Joke Hidden in Plain Sight in Zelda II?
Drew Mackie 1/24/26 Drew Mackie 1/24/26

Is There a Sex Joke Hidden in Plain Sight in Zelda II?

An investigation into those women who ask Link to “come inside.”

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Why Does Donkey Kong Throw Barrels?
Drew Mackie 1/20/26 Drew Mackie 1/20/26

Why Does Donkey Kong Throw Barrels?

Not all paths lead to Popeye, despite what you may be thinking.

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You Will Be Visited by Three Ghosts… of Super Mario RPG 2
Drew Mackie 12/24/25 Drew Mackie 12/24/25

You Will Be Visited by Three Ghosts… of Super Mario RPG 2

Three Kazuyuki Kurashima sketches show off weird sequels that never came to be.

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Maybe We Don’t Need to Call Birdo ‘Birdetta’
Drew Mackie 12/4/25 Drew Mackie 12/4/25

Maybe We Don’t Need to Call Birdo ‘Birdetta’

Since Super Mario Bros. 2, Birdo has come to own her original name.

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There’s Super Mario DNA in Doki Doki Panic
Drew Mackie 11/30/25 Drew Mackie 11/30/25

There’s Super Mario DNA in Doki Doki Panic

And becoming Super Mario Bros. 2 was just a return to its roots.

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Wait, Super Mario Galaxy’s Lubba Is Female?
Drew Mackie 11/16/25 Drew Mackie 11/16/25

Wait, Super Mario Galaxy’s Lubba Is Female?

And if she is, this “change” may not actually be Nintendo retconning itself.

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How Nonexistence Connects Chrono Trigger to Super Mario Bros. 2
Drew Mackie 11/9/25 Drew Mackie 11/9/25

How Nonexistence Connects Chrono Trigger to Super Mario Bros. 2

Belthasar was off by one letter; all life actually begins with mu and and ends with mu!

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The Origin of Mario’s Trademark Death Animation
Drew Mackie 10/19/25 Drew Mackie 10/19/25

The Origin of Mario’s Trademark Death Animation

Super Mario Bros. taught side-scrolling heroes how to kick the bucket… even if Mario stole those moves.

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How I Perpetuated an Internet Rumor About the Duck Hunt Dog
Drew Mackie 8/24/25 Drew Mackie 8/24/25

How I Perpetuated an Internet Rumor About the Duck Hunt Dog

No, despite what you may read online, his name is not actually Mr. Peepers.

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Hylian 101: The Secrets Hiding in the Language of Zelda
Drew Mackie 8/17/25 Drew Mackie 8/17/25

Hylian 101: The Secrets Hiding in the Language of Zelda

Is Hyrule lore so rich that it created its own linguistic traditions?

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