Character Sheet: Fursuit Mario (New Series)

FURSUIT MARIO

Settle in, folks, we've got a lot of revisions to get through for this one. The "New" series featured most of the series favorites, almost all of which have been included here already and most of them brought at least something new to the table. In fact, we only have four new characters to include this time. They are:

1. Mario (Revision 4)
2. Luigi (Revision 3)
3. Koopa Troopa (Revision 3)
3e. Dry Bones (Revision 2)
4. Goomba (Revision 3)
5. Piranha Plant (Revision 3)
6. Boo (Revision 3)
8. Princess Peach (Revision 2)
9. Toad (Revision 2)
10. Yoshi (Revision 2)
11. Bowser (Revision 2)
13. Lakitu & Spinies (Revision 2)
14. Hammer Bro (Revision 2)
15. Chargin' Chuck (Revision 2)
16. Kamek (Name change, Revision 2)
20. The Koopalings (Revision 1)
22. Boom Boom (Revision 1)
25. Rosalina & Luma (Revision 1)
27. Bowser Jr. (Revision 1)
30. Blooper (Revision 1)
31. Monty Mole (Revision 1)
33. Petey Piranha (Revision 1)
11e. Dry Bowser
22e. Pom Pom
39. Fursuit Mario
40. Sprixie Princess

Fursuits, or animal-based powerups have been a thing in the Super Mario Bros. series ever since Super Mario Bros. 3, specifically featuring Raccoon Mario, Tanooki Mario, and Frog Mario. Later versions also included the Bunny Ears from Super Mario Land 2, Penguin Mario from Super Mario Bros. Wii, Bee Mario from Super Mario Galaxy, the return of Raccoon and Tanooki Mario in New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario 3D Land (with a Fox variant for Luigi), Flying Squirrel Mario in New Super Mario Bros. U, and a Cat Form for all player characters in Super Mario 3D World.

While some forms, like the Frog, Penguin, or Bee suits, had their own special purposes, almost all of the others functioned on the same basic principal: they had a tail that they could flick enemies with and they could fly. There were a few variations (such as Tanooki Mario's ability to turn into a statue), but for the most part many of these were more or less the same. With their heavy prevalence in the New series of games, I felt it the most appropriate time to separate them fully from Mario into their own character. My base concept for it is that the first four color swaps feature Tanooki Mario, Raccoon Mario, Squirrel Mario, and Cat Mario; with either a single color swap for each, single color swaps but of different characters (such as Fox Luigi and Cat Peach), or Frog, Penguin, Bee, and Bunny represented. As those last four vary heavily from the main fursuits, I'm leaning least toward that last one. Either way, here we go!

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Tail Flip
This is the most common move shared between the main fursuits, so of course it had to be represented.

Side B: Claw
This one represents Cat Mario most of all and is reminiscent of Diddy Kong's current Side B. Fursuit Mario will launch himself forward, latching onto either an opponent or a wall and not letting go. If attached to an opponent, Mario will slash at their face, but if attached to a wall, he can climb up or down it.

Up B: Fly
Again a common feature among all of these. Admittedly, Tanooki and Raccoon's version is more of a constant up-drift, while the Squirrel and Cat version is more of a glide, I image the move would work more like the Tanooki/Raccoon version, carrying the character up into the air.

Down B: Statue
After floating into the air a bit, Fursuit Mario can transform himself into a statue and drop like a rock onto an enemy's head, similiar to Kirby's Down B.

Final Smash: P-Wing
This one is based on the P-Wing and other, um, sympathy items the game provides you with after failing one too many times. Depending on the fursuit Mario is wearing, the suit will transform into its super form and P-Wings will sprout out of his back, making him invincible and allowing him to fly around the stage attacking people. I imagine it would look similar to Sonic's final smash.

Taunt: Maybe turning into a statue really quick, flipping his tail around, making his animal noise similar to how they meow in 3D World.

Entrance: Mario catches a leaf/acorn/bell and transforms into his fursuit.

Thanks for reading! Next up, we cover the surprise inclusion this time around, Sprixie Princess!