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1[[quoteright:306:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/teh_yarr_oof_lugi_263.png]]
2->'''Pit''': Look! It's Luigi!\
3'''Viridi''': Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.\
4'''Pit''': Aw, don't say that. After all, he even had his own year.\
5'''Viridi''': [[LampshadeHanging I don't remember that.]]
6-->-- ''Palutena's Guidance'' conversation in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU''
7
8For decades, while his older brother has acted as one of the most iconic and well-known characters in the history of video games, the ''other'' [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros super plumber brother]] has never been more than the "King of Second Bananas." Not to say Luigi's ever been outright ignored, but {{divergent character evolution}} didn't do The Man in Green any favors. By the 2010s, he'd become the eternal kid brother forever stuck in his brother's shadow and, in [[SpinOff spinoffs]], the target of endless mockery and ridicule from [=NPCs=]. Heck, in the ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' series, Bowser can't even remember Luigi's ''existence'' most of the time. So maybe he deserves a moment to feel like he's number one...
9
10''The Year of Luigi'' was a year-long Creator/{{Nintendo}} advertising campaign revolving around the aforementioned character, celebrating [[MilestoneCelebration the 30th anniversary of his first appearance]] in ''VideoGame/MarioBros''. The celebration began on March 19, 2013 and officially concluded on March 18, 2014, though products related to the event continued to release until July. During this celebration, four major Luigi-centric games were released, alongside various other pieces of content and merchandise.
11
12----
13!! ''The Year of Luigi'' included:
14!!!Games (in order of release)
15* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon''
16* ''VideoGame/NewSuperLuigiU''
17* ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam''
18* ''[[VideoGame/MarioBros Luigi Bros.]]'' (within ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' and its Switch port.)[[note]]A Luigi-centric version of ''Mario Bros.'' The original game was also released on the Wii U's UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole earlier in the year.[[/note]]
19* ''[[VideoGame/DrMario Dr. Luigi]]''
20* ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Super Luigi Bros.]]'' (within ''[[VideoGame/NESRemix NES Remix 2]]'')[[note]]A Luigi-centric version of ''Super Mario Bros.'' [[/note]]
21
22!!!Merchandise
23* Depending on the region, Club Nintendo[[note]]Nintendo's then-customer rewards program[[/note]] offered:
24** ''The Year of Luigi Sound Selection'', a CD consisting of 30 songs from various games starring the character.
25** A chance to win 1 of 980 Luigi pins if one purchased the original DLC release of ''New Super Luigi U'' within a month of launch.
26** A ''Year of Luigi'' coin with a small green bag.
27** A ''Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon'' diorama.
28** A ''Year of Luigi'' poster as part of a three-poster set as an optional Platinum reward for Club Nintendo members who ranked the status by July 2013.
29* A Luigi-themed [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS Nintendo 3DS XL]] with ''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team'' pre-installed
30* A Luigi Toys/{{Nendoroid}}
31
32!!!Other
33* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wplnqlqUD4 Finding Luigi - Legend of Parkour]]'': A {{mockumentary}} about Luigi's Main/LeParkour career.
34* Various drawing competitions and dedicated communities on Website/{{Miiverse}}.
35
36----
37!! This marketing campaign provides examples of:
38* AbandonedMascot: Subverted. Mario was only briefly retired as a major mascot for the company, and mostly on social media; he was still utilized in advertising for titles that featured him prominently.
39* ADayInTheLimelight: Or rather, a year in the limelight. Instead of focusing on Mario, Bowser, or other popular Nintendo characters, this campaign made almost everything about Luigi. Of course, it didn't last.
40* TheCameo: Every stage in ''New Super Luigi U'' features Luigi sightings, and numerous courses and challenges in ''Super Mario 3D World'', ''VideoGame/CaptainToadTreasureTracker'', and ''NES Remix 2'' feature a hidden Luigi sprite.
41* OldSaveBonus: ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' lets you play an altered version of the original ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' (entitled ''Luigi Bros.''). This is [[UnlockableContent unlocked immediately]] if you have ''New Super Luigi U'' save data on your system, but requires beating the game if you don't. This doesn't apply to the Switch port, as having a ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU Deluxe'' save file on your Switch will not unlock the ''Luigi Bros.'' minigame right away.
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