The classic games will rise again...
"I was-a half of the most recognizable family in the business, back when that meant something. Our enemies knocked us from the top of the mountain and never looked back. We had come to terms with the fact that our time had past. But then they did something nobody had expected. They made things personal. They killed my brother."
—Luigi
Originally released on Newgrounds in 2006, Jacob Drake's Nintendo Old School Revolution
is a six-minute long flash animation and war movie parody that stars everyone's favorite second player, Luigi, and a wide array of different characters from various video games. The premise of the short answers one simple question: what would the Console Wars be like if it were portrayed as an ''actual war"?
The story is as follows: Mario, the iconic video game mascot that we all know and love, is dead; Nintendo's greatest enemies have disposed of him in order to take control and rise to the top of the video game empire. But now, his younger brother is taking a stand to avenge his brother's death and return Nintendo to its former glory, and the only way to do so is to rally up his fellow allies, and former enemies, and take down the dreaded forces in a deadly battle to the death.
Nintendo Old School Revolution provides examples of:
- Anti-Climax: We never actually get to see the big battle, as it cuts away right before it happens. The most we get is a few audible gunshots.
- Big Bad: Master Chief acts as the leader of the alliance between Xbox and PlayStation, and is thoroughly responsible for killing Mario. His true identity is revealed to be Bill Gates.
- Break Them by Talking: Master Chief tries doing this to Luigi, telling him that Nintendo's old school games will fall into obscurity, and that newer, more violent games will reign supreme.
- Camera Abuse: When Luigi blasts Bill Gates into the air, the latter flies right into the camera, abruptly cutting the screen to black.
- Character Tics: Bill Gates' glasses constantly get crooked, prompting him to push them back into place every so often.
- Death of a Child: Pit, Ness, and the Ice Climbers are all killed in battle.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The entire short is pretty much just one big visual representation of the Console Wars.
- Dramatic Unmask: At the end, Master Chief removes his helmet to reveal that he's... Bill Gates.
- "Everybody Dies" Ending: It's implied that everyone on both sides is killed in the final battle. The only remaining survivors left are Luigi and Master Chief.
- Face–Heel Turn: Mega Man was originally on Nintendo's side, but he eventually betrayed them and pledged new allegiance to the other side.
- Fireball Eyeballs: Small flames ignite within Luigi's eyes as he prepares to finish Gates off with a fire flower.
- It Always Rains at Funerals: The short opens with Peach and Junior at Mario's grave during a dark and depressing rainstorm.
- Legacy Character: In Hyrule Castle, Link speaks directly to a stained glass portrait of a previous Link, asking him what he would do in the current situation.
- Massive Multiplayer Crossover: A huge ensemble of characters from a slew of popular games are brought together to partake in an all-out war.
- Off Screen Moment Of Awesome: The huge battle between Luigi's army and Master Chief's army happens entirely off screen. We only get to see the aftermath.
- Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: Luigi delivers one to Bill Gates before blasting him with a fire flower.Luigi: There's-a something you should know, Mr. Gates.Bill Gates: And what's that?Luigi: That this is still our world, and in the end, no amount of money can stop... a revolution.
- Rape, Pillage, and Burn: Master Chief and his forces invade a village of Toads, burning the place to the ground and gunning down any Toad that tries to escape.
- Rivals Team Up: Bowser, Wario, and Waluigi end up joining Luigi's army. Luigi also recruits Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, whom he refers to as former rivals.
- Shout-Out: Luigi giving a Rousing Speech to his army while riding Yoshi and sporting blue face paint is an obvious nod to Braveheart.
- Suddenly Speaking: Link, who's usually portrayed as a Silent Protagonist, actually speaks here.
- Take That!: Towards the XBox and PlayStation. Luigi calls them both out for favoring dark, gritty violence, blood, and sex over quality gameplay. Master Chief seems to be proud of this, claiming that violence and sex are what make the most money nowadays.
- You Killed My Father:
- Luigi ultimately wants to avenge his brother's death, and strives to protect his legacy, the Mario family name, and the future of Nintendo.
- Mario's son, Junior (who is essentially just Baby Mario) wants to avenge his father by fighting alongside his uncle. However, Luigi tells him to stay behind so that Peach wouldn't have to worry about losing any more family members.
