And to think, it all starts so innocently. Mario receives a letter from Princess Peach inviting him to the town of Rogueport for a treasure hunt. The name of this destination is a mild red flag, perhaps, but there's little else to suggest you're not in for another family-friendly adventure. Then you arrive in Rogueport and one of the first NPCs reminds you that death comes for us all. If you prefer a more visual reminder, might we point you towards the gallows in the main square?
Rogueport is a seedy backwater, home to Bob-omb thugs and Goombas on the lam. Even the Piantas, who seemed so innocent in Super Mario Sunshine, are running an organised crime outfit, their Goodfellas-parodying dialogue managing to make Mario look like a sensitive portrayal of Italians. And the town is a statement of intent in more ways than one, making it clear that Intelligent Systems has no interest in taking us on yet another tour of the Mushroom Kingdom.
