Rosalina (character)

Rosalina
Mario character
Rosalina, as she appeared in Super Mario Galaxy
First appearance	Super Mario Galaxy
Last appearance	Mario Kart 7
Created by	Shigeru Miyamoto
Voiced by	Mercedes Rose (2007-2010) Kerri Kane (2011)
Information
Nickname(s)	Rosetta (Japan) Princess Rosalina Estela (Spain) Harmonie (France) Rosalinda (Russia)
Species	Human
Gender	Female
Family	Princess Peach (hinted)

Rosalina (known as Rosetta (ロゼッタ, Rozetta) in Japan, also sometimes known as Princess Rosalina) is a recurrent character in the Mario series developed by Nintendo. She has appeared in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 as an ally to Mario who is non-playable. Currently a staple character in the Mario Kart series, she has appeared in the last two games, namely Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7, always as an unlockable character. She remains to be only major main female character in the Mario series apart from Princess Peach and Princess Daisy, although the latter has only appeared once in a mainstream Mario series game, Super Mario Land. Her latest appearance is in Mario Kart 7. In the mainstream games, she is a powerful figure as it is her role to watch over the Lumas in the Comet Observatory.

Character development

In an interview, Shigeru Miyamoto stated that he had planned the usual kidnapping of Princess Peach, but also "had another cast of characters, a princess from outer space and her family of talking stars, who had a deeper, sadder story that was revealed through elegant picture-book scenes throughout the game." This storybook was known in-game as Rosalina's Storybook, which told Rosalina's backstory and was written by Yoshiaki Koizumi late at night so that no-one will find out about it, saying that "for a long time, it really felt like telling a story in a Mario game was something that wasn't allowed" in an interview. During an interview with Koizumi on the development of Super Mario Galaxy, he explained that Rosalina was originally meant to be related with Peach, although that was changed during development of the game. Despite this, however, it is hinted slightly that she is the daughter of Peach.

Appearances

Main series

In Super Mario Galaxy, Rosalina is a major non-player character is resides in the Comet Observatory, the game's hub world. She is the adoptive mother of the Lumas, a fictional species in the game, and also watcher of the cosmos. Her spaceship, the Comet Observatory, was attacked by Bowser at the beginning of the game, and asks Mario for help. In return, her Comet Observatory turns into a comet and drives Mario to the centre of the universe, where Bowser keeps the kidnapped Princess Peach. After the game is beaten, a black hole appears, sucking the Lumas inside, and she says how there is a "cycle", and it repeats every time. Afterwards, Rosalina is gone and Mario, as well as Bowser and Peach, wake up back in the Mushroom Kingdom again. Additionally, at the final ending, she will say 'Thank You' and walk away as the screen fades. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Rosalina can be unlocked as the final character to board Starship Mario after the player completes all the levels, however, a cutscene of her and the Lumas can be seen if the player defeats Bowser and saves the princess, and is also present as a shadowy form named the "Cosmic Witch" (also known as the Cosmic Spirit), which helps the player in hard levels.

Other games

Rosalina appears in Mario Kart Wii as a playable character, however is the hardest to unlock unless the player has a Super Mario Galaxy save file. She is ranked large-class, with excellent top speed compensating poor acceleration off-roading and her signature vehicle is the Dragonetti. Additionally, Rosalina is the only character in-game where another character accompanies the character's kart, in this case a yellow Luma. Rosalina is playable in Mario Kart 7, where she is a medium-large "Cruiser"-type character. She also had her own course in the game, named Rosalina's Ice World. Joystiq said that it was nice to see that another "Nintendo character join the obscenely large roster of folks showing their faces in the game."

Reception

Rosalina has received very positive reviews, and is significantly praised by critics. Rosalina was number thirty-seven on IGN's list of Top 100 Nintendo Characters . Destructoid reviewed Rosalina very positively, saying that she is a "celestial stunner", and gave her an "A+" on their Gamer's Red Carpet. Kotaku called her an "attractive Peach replacement" in their Super Mario Galaxy impressions. Joystiq claimed that Super Mario Galaxy was the first Mario game to have an engaging story, and cited Rosalina as an example, saying that her story was "tragic". GameSetWatch stated how Super Mario Galaxy's most surprising moment did not involve new gaming mechanics, a plot twist, but rather the character Rosalina and her storybook, which they described as a "shocker".