Rosalina



Rosalina (known as Rosetta (ロゼッタ, Rozetta) in Japan, also sometimes known as Princess Rosalina[1] ) is a fictional character in the Mario franchise developed by Nintendo. She has appeared in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2[2] [3] as an ally to Mario who is non-playable. 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.[4] She remains the 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. {| class="toc" id="toc"

Contents

 * 1 Character development
 * 2 Characteristics
 * 3 Appearances
 * 3.1 Main series
 * 3.2 Other games
 * 4 Reception
 * 5 References
 * 6 External links
 * }

Character development
Concept character artwork for Rosalina (left) compared to the final artwork (right)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."[5] 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.[6] During an interview with Koizumi on the development of Super Mario Galaxy, he explained that Rosalina was originally meant to be related with Peach.[citation needed]

Characteristics
Rosalina appears in Super Mario Galaxy 2 after the player completely beats the game.Rosalina has a very tall frame in comparison to other female characters within the series, being about as tall as Waluigi. As a result, she is classified as a large-class character in Mario Kart Wii. Rosalina's skin is very fair, being a pallor white, and her facial features are similar to Princess Peach's, but sharper. Her eyes are similar to Peach's as well, but are more almond-shaped and have a deep, brown shade to her lashes rather than black. Like other main human characters, Rosalina has blue eyes, though hers have a noticeably cyan hue.

Rosalina's hair is depicted as a platinum-blonde, a much lighter blond than Peach's yellow-blond. Rosalina's hair style is very similar to Peach's, as it consists of two separate flips on the sides in the same shape. Unlike Peach's hair however, Rosalina's includes one large bang (which covers her right eye completely), two long, shaped ear-tails, and two rows of flips at her shoulder. Continuing from her shoulder is a large single flip down her back. Rosalina currently appears in a pale turquoise gown; her pendant and tiara are silver star shaped accessories. Her earrings are also star shaped, but yellow in color. In Mario Kart Wii, like all other female characters, she has a special biker suit if riding on a bike.[7]

Rosalina is generally wise, kind, thoughtful and mother-like. She has an intimate knowledge of the universe and cares deeply for the Lumas. Rosalina is on good terms with Mario and Luigi; towards the end of Super Mario Galaxy, she aids them in defeating Bowser and saving Princess Peach.

Main series
Rosalina is a playable character in Mario Kart 7.In Super Mario Galaxy, Rosalina is a major non-player character who resides in the Comet Observatory, the game's hub world.[8] She is the adoptive mother of the Lumas, a fictional species in the game, and also watcher of the cosmos. In the beginning of the game, Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach by removing her castle from the ground with Peach still inside, and also attacks the Comet Observatory and steals its main source of fuel: Power Stars. Rosalina asks Mario to retrieve the lost Power Stars; in return she promises to help him save Princess Peach. Once Mario retrieves enough Power Stars, Rosalina is able to turn her Comet Observatory into a comet and drive Mario to the centre of the universe, where Bowser keeps the kidnapped Princess Peach. After Bowser is defeated by Mario, Bowser's galaxy at the centre of the universe turns into a supermassive black hole, devouring Princess Peach's castle and Rosalina's Comet Observatory. All of Rosalina's Lumas throw themselves into the black hole in order to stop it. After this, Rosalina appears to Mario, explaining to him about the cycle of life and the death and rebirth of stars; it is implicit in her explanation that the universe and all the Lumas are to be reborn. Afterwards, Rosalina is gone and Mario, as well as Bowser and Peach, wake up back in the Mushroom Kingdom again. Once 120 Power Stars in the game are collected, Rosalina delivers a thank you message to the player, promising to watch over them.[9]

In Super Mario Galaxy 2, throughout the game, a shadowy form named the "Cosmic Witch" or "Cosmic Spirit", strongly resembling Rosalina, appears to help in levels where the player has died multiple times.[10] Rosalina herself appears after Mario defeats Bowser and rescues Princess Peach in the final cutscene before the credits play. Rosalina also appears late in the game as well, telling Luma the story of the "Green Stars", which opens the Green Star missions (additional option missions in the game). Finally, after the game is beaten she appears on the game's hub and thanks Mario.[11]

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 (if the player does have a save file, she is automatically unlocked after fifty races). She is ranked large-class, with excellent top speed compensating poor acceleration and off-roading and her signature vehicle is the Dragonetti (kart) and the Twinkle Star (bike). Additionally, a yellow Luma which orbits around her vehicle when racing.[12] Rosalina is playable in Mario Kart 7, where she is an unlockable[13] medium-large "Cruiser"-type character.[14] [15] She also had her own course in the game, named Rosalina's Ice World.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16] 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."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[17]

Reception
Rosalina has received positive reviews. Rosalina was number thirty-seven on IGN's list of Top 100 Nintendo Characters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18] Destructoid reviewed Rosalina very positively, saying that she is a "celestial stunner", and gave her an "A+" on their Gamer's Red Carpet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19] Kotaku called her an "attractive Peach replacement" in their Super Mario Galaxy impressions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[20] 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".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20">[21] 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".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[22] Gamasutra said that Super Mario Galaxy, at its core, is a game about Rosalina, and that the storybook "anchors an emotional heart of the game world".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23] BuzzFeed placed Rosalina ninth in their ten best Nintendo female characters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[24] SloganYams placed Rosalina on their character wishlist for Super Smash Bros. U.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24">[25] Rosalina is 3rd on ScrewAttack's top female characters list, putting her ahead of Peach and Daisy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25">[26] They also said that she is "very smart" and "strong" on the outside, and yet sorrowful on the inside.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26">[27] They also listed her 7th on their top 10 Mario characters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27">[28] SiliconEra cited Rosalina's Story as "bittersweet".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28">[29] 1UP.com labelled Rosalina as a "celestial hottie", and one of the better Mario Kart Wii characters in an otherwise disappointing roster.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29">[30]