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Geno

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Not to be confused with Gene.
Geno
Artwork of Geno for the Nintendo Switch version of  Super Mario RPG
Artwork from Super Mario RPG
Full name ♡ ♪ ! ?
Species Star
First appearance Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
Latest appearance Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch) (2023)
“I serve… a higher authority…”
Geno, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Geno (real name: ♡♪!? or ♡ ♪ ! ? in the remake) is a warrior from the Star Road and one of Mario's partners in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and its remake. He is sent by "a higher authority" to restore peace to Mario's world by inhabiting a wooden doll. During the events of Super Mario RPG, he teams up with Mario's team, which consists of Mario, Mallow, Princess Peach, and Bowser, and helps them out on their quest to defeat Smithy. In battle, he has high attack, but lower defense.

Geno was designed by Yuka Miyamoto and Hideo Minaba, with Kazuyuki Kurashima having provided concept work.[1][2] Prior to the release of Super Mario RPG, Nintendo Power wrote that Geno was described by Square as "Pinocchio".[3]

History

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

When the Smithy Gang launch their attack on Mario's world, Exor crashes into Bowser's Keep and occupies it. As Exor fell from the sky, he shattered the Star Road, and as a result, seven Star Pieces are scattered throughout the world, and wishes are unable to be granted. Because of this, Geno is sent to retrieve the Star Pieces and restore the power of wishes to the world.

The Geno doll in the Rose Town Inn

Some time later, Rose Town is besieged by the Smithy Gang. Bowyer is launching arrows into the town and paralyzing people. Many people in Rose Town fear leaving their homes out of potentially being paralyzed by one of Bowyer's arrows.

During this time of crisis, Mario and Mallow arrive in Rose Town. The pair enters the Town Inn, and while inside, Mario sees a young boy named Gaz playing with his dolls of Mario, Peach, and Bowser. Gaz's mom asks Mario to play with her son, which he agrees to. Mario pretends to be Bowser, and Gaz pretends to be his favorite of the dolls, Geno. Gaz ends up playing too rough however, and activates Geno's "Super Star Shot". Instead of hitting the Bowser doll, the blast accidentally hits Mario, knocking him out.

That night, a single star being enters the Inn. Seeing the four dolls on the floor, the star decides to inhabit the Geno doll. Now possessing the doll, the star has problems with walking, and slams into the wall before leaving the inn. Later, Geno admits he chose that particular doll because it appeared to be the strongest of the four.

The next morning, Gaz tells his mom that he saw the living Geno walk into the Forest Maze. His mom does not believe this, while Mario goes and enters the woods to find the animated doll. Geno enters the forest to challenge Bowyer, and retrieve the Star Piece that Bowyer's minions had found. Mario and Mallow decide to help Geno, and together, the three defeat Bowyer and acquire the Star Piece.

Geno explaining to Mario that they must retrieve the Star Pieces in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Geno explaining the situation to Mario and Mallow

After defeating Bowyer, Geno reveals to the heroes that he is a warrior from Star Road and that he has assumed the form of the Geno doll to fight the Smithy Gang. Additionally, he states that wishes can never come true again until all the Star Pieces are recovered. He also reveals his real name, ♡ ♪ ! ?. However, this is impossible to pronounce, so the star warrior assumes the name of the doll: Geno. After explaining everything, Geno decides to join forces with Mario and Mallow to find the remaining Star Pieces.

Eventually, Mario, Mallow, Geno, Bowser, and Peach collect the remaining Star Pieces and defeat Smithy. With Smithy destroyed, Geno decides to leave the doll's wooden body, returning to the form of a star and bringing the Star Pieces to Star Road. Repairing the celestial road, the power of wishes return to the world. The lifeless Geno doll can be seen sitting behind Mario and company on Vista Hill while they witness Exor disintegrate.

Geno also has a clone version of himself that Belome can create during his fight in his temple at Land's End named "Geno Clone".

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

The Geno cameo in Superstar Saga

Geno's doll form makes a cameo in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. He appears as the mechanical host of the Star 'Stache Smash arcade game in Little Fungitown, explaining the rules of the minigame. The end credits state that Geno is an intellectual property of Square Enix: "Regardless of the above-mentioned, the copyright of Character "Geno", reserved by SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD." However, he does not return in the remake, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, where text bubbles replace his role.

Super Smash Bros. series

Director of the Super Smash Bros. series Masahiro Sakurai has stated that Geno was considered for an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but was not followed up on for unexplained reasons.[4]

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

Splash screen introduction for the Geno Mii Gunner costume in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, as seen in a December 2015 livestream.
Geno announcement for Super Smash Bros. in the Smash Bros. video presentation

Though not available as a fighter, a costume based on Geno was released as DLC for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Although the hat can be worn by any Mii Fighters, the costume is exclusive to Mii Gunners, with the Geno Beam arm cannon mounted on the right hand. The DLC was released during December 2015, alongside the Chocobo hat, Cloud Strife, and the Midgar stage. This is fitting as the character of Cloud is owned by Square Enix, who also developed Super Mario RPG, and owns the rights to Geno.

Nintendo also released a QR code for those who wish to have the exact Mii used in the costume's advertising.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

List of Mii Fighter Outfits
Geno Mii costume in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Geno appears as a spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He is also a selectable icon for use in the online modes. In his spirit battle, he is represented by Sheik armed with a Super Scope, and is joined by Mario, Peach, Bowser, and a gray Kirby, who represents Mallow. These five fighters represent the main cast of Super Mario RPG. His Mii Gunner costume from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U returns as DLC, and was released in December 2020, alongside a series of Final Fantasy-themed costumes, in parallel with Challenger Pack 8 which introduced Sephiroth.

Super Mario-kun

Geno appears as a centric character in volume 50 and 51 of the Super Mario-kun manga. Geno is actually absent for the majority of the volumes, having been forced by Princess Peach to switch places with him and leaving him at her castle to take her place in the form of a disguise. It isn't until the battle against Smithy that he shows up again in the story.

Tetris 99

Tetris 99 features an event with Super Mario RPG from November 9th, 11 PM PT to November 13th, 10:59 PM PT to promote the upcoming release of Super Mario RPG. The event includes a new theme for the game which changes the music to themes from Super Mario RPG. It also features frog coins replacing the normal KO indicator and the tetriminos having stars emblazoned on them. Geno appears alongside Mario, Princess Peach, Bowser, and Mallow in the background.

Description

Two sprites of Geno's star form
Geno's star form.

Geno acts as a sage-like figure to Mario and his allies. Consequently, Geno offers the heroes advice about matters the others may not understand. For instance, after Mario and his allies liberate Bowser's Keep, Bowser decides to quit the team and return to the castle. However, Geno points out that until Smithy and his factory are destroyed, Bowser's Keep is still at risk. Thus Bowser decides to continue the fight.

Geno has a variety of attacks which use a mix of physical and energy projectiles. His regular attack involves shooting physical projectiles from his arms. His special attacks typically involve powerful energy blasts. Additionally, Geno is the fastest of Mario's allies.

Personality

Geno's personality is strongly based on his confidence and attitude. Geno has more of a defiant, heroic attitude. His eagerness to confront the villain may be due to his status as an authority figure from Star Road. He also tends to show more enthusiasm than any other party member.

Geno comes off as very powerful from his first appearance as a doll when Gaz attacks using Geno and accidentally hits Mario and knocks him out. However, when Geno tries to fight Bowyer, upon striking Bowyer says, "Strong you are, but stronger am I!" He also has access to the most powerful attack in the game, Geno Whirl, which deals 9,999 points of damage if timed right.

Although powerful, Geno is quite amiable, quick to make friends with Mario and Mallow. He has a strong sense of duty and responsibility, and his role on Star Road may be analogous to Mario's role in the Mushroom Kingdom. He even worries over the "ownership" of his physical form, and promises to return the body to the home from whence it came.

Battle

Geno is a very potent offensive character overall, having the highest speed of any party member (30), comparable attack stats to Bowser, and high magic attack stats and potent special moves primarily revolving around single and multiple enemy attacks. His one support move, Geno Boost, bolsters attack (and defense if timed properly) stats even further. When equipped with the Feather or Troopa Medal, Geno is the only character capable of defeating a Shy Ranger (provided Mario does not have the Super Suit + Attack Scarf combination). However, his HP growth begins to stall after level 20 and his special equipment is subpar at best, with his ultimate weapon, the Star Gun, not being as powerful as that of others, such as Mario's Lazy Shell, while his ultimate armor, the Star Cape is the second worst in the game, making him relatively weaker in both attack and defense power later in the game despite his high base stats. Still, Geno Boost and Geno Flash, one of the strongest special moves in the game that strikes all enemies, make Geno useful to have on any team.

Special moves

  • Geno Beam - Charging up his energy, Geno shoots a deadly energy beam at one enemy. Holding Y Button until three stars appears deals more damage.
  • Geno Boost - Using magic, Geno boosts an ally's attack. After all the arrows disappear, pressing Y Button boosts the ally's defense as well.
  • Geno Whirl - Geno throws a disk of light at one enemy. If timed correctly, the attack does 9,999 damage. This does not work for boss characters (except Exor and Speardovich copies).
  • Geno Blast - Geno summons light energy from the sky, damaging all enemies. Holding Y Button until three stars appears deals more damage.
  • Geno Flash - Geno transforms into a large cannon, then shoots a large ball of energy, damaging all enemies. Holding Y Button until three stars appears deals more damage.

Profiles and statistics

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

  • Instruction booklet description:
    • English:
      A new hero who totes a mean gun and wears a stylin' cape! This is one doll you don't wanna mess with![5]
    • Japanese:
      流れ星を追いかけて、ガンさばきも鮮やかにさっそうと現れたニューヒーロー。[6]
      (Translation: Chasing the shooting stars, a new hero makes an appearance with brilliant gunmanship.)
  • Player's Guide: After taking a quick glance at all the troublemakers patrolling Mario's world, this stranger from a strange place decides to lay low until he can get some help. Using his supernatural powers, he transforms himself into the humblest of household items: a doll. But baddies know that fighting Geno isn't child's play![7]
    • Who's Who: The blue battler cleverly disguised himself as a doll, but in reality he's a visitor from on high. When someone makes a wish upon a star, piece[sic] of the Star Road falls to earth. But Smithy's headlong plunge through the skies has shattered the Star Road, scattering its seven pieces to the winds. No wish will come true ever again unless the missing pieces can be recovered. Mario and Mallow have found only one so far. With Geno joining their bold little band, they'll have to find the six lost pieces. For the time being, Mario would be satified[sic] if they could find more recruits as their quest continues.[8]

Initial stats

  • Level - 6
  • HP - 45
  • Speed - 30
  • Attack - 60
  • Defense - 23
  • Magic Attack - 25
  • Magic Defense - 17
  • Experience Level - 234 (254 after defeating Bowyer)
  • Special Attacks -
    • Geno Beam -
      • FP Required - 3
      • Magic Power - 40
      • Description - Geno shoots an energy beam at one enemy. Hold Y until three stars appear.

Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)

  • Website description:
    • English (American):
      A powerful protector of Star Road taking the form of a humble doll. Geno puppeteers his own style of moves, like Geno Beam and Geno Boost.[9]
    • English (British):
      Confident, stoic and wise, he has been sent by a higher authority to restore peace to the world.[10]
    • Japanese:
      散らばったスターピースを集めるため、はるか高い空からやってきた天空の使者。人形の体を借りて、マリオといっしょに冒険の旅に出ます。[11]
      (Translation: The skies' emissary who came from above to collect the scattered Star Pieces. Borrowing a doll's body, he sets off on an adventurous journey together with Mario.)
    • Spanish:
      Seguro de sí mismo, estoico y muy sabio. Lo ha enviado cierta gran autoridad para devolverle la paz al mundo.[12]
      (Translation: Self-confident, stoic and very wise. He has been sent by a certain great authority to restore peace to the world.)
  • Character Highlight (November 9, 2023 article on nintendo.com):
    • English (American):
      A guardian of Star Road sworn to protect the world’s wishes with his advanced firepower. He’s also a doll (kinda).[13][14]
    • French (Canada):
      Un gardien de la Route des Étoiles qui a juré de protéger les vœux du monde avec sa puissance de feu supérieure. Il est aussi une sorte de poupée.[15]
    • Portuguese (Brazil):
      Guardião da Star Road que jurou proteger os desejos do mundo com seu poder de fogo avançado. Ele também é (meio que) um boneco.[16]
    • Spanish (Latin America):
      Un guardián de la Vía Estelar que a jurado proteger los deseos del mundo con sus poderes de fuego. Además es un muñeco (o algo así).[17]

Scrapbook entries

The Second Star Piece

We recovered a Star Piece from the formidable Bowyer. I hate to leave Gaz behind, but I'll need this body so my allies and I can find the Star Pieces. With five left, there's a long way to go. Geno's icon from Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch) Geno[18]

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit

Spirit
#104 Geno
Geno from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Series/game Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Type Primary
Slots 3
Class Legend
Strength / effect(s) Attack
How to obtain World of Light (Light Realm); Summoned with a Drake Redcrest, Super Star, and neutral-type core and two attack-type cores
Spirit battle Opponent(s) Sheik, Mario, Bowser, Kirby, Peach
Conditions
  • Defeat the main fighter to win
  • Timed battle
  • The enemy's FS Meter charges quickly
Stage Mario Galaxy (Battlefield)
Song Rainbow Road Medley

Appearances

Title Description Release date System/format
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Playable character after being found in Forest Maze 1996 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Cameo 2003 Game Boy Advance
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Downloadable Mii Fighter costume 2015 Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Downloadable Mii Fighter costume 2015 Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Spirit 2018 Nintendo Switch
Downloadable Mii Fighter costume 2020
Tetris 99 Cameo 2023 (36th Maximus Cup) Nintendo Switch
Super Mario RPG Playable character after being found in Forest Maze 2023 Nintendo Switch

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Geno.

Names in other languages

Geno

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ジーノ[?]
Jīno
Geno
Chinese (simplified) 吉诺[?]
Jínuò
Geno
Chinese (traditional) 吉諾[19]
Jínuò
Geno
Dutch Geno[?] -
French Geno[?] -
German Geno[?] -
Italian Geno[?] -
Korean 지노[?]
Jino
Geno
Portuguese Geno[?] -
Russian Джино[?]
Dzhino
Geno
Spanish Geno[?] -

♡ ♪ ! ?

Geno's real name is different in the Japanese version of Super Mario RPG, using a one-time set of unpronounceable symbols derived from a fictional star language.[20]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese Geno's real name in the Japanese version of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[20] -
Chinese Geno's real name in the Japanese version of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[?] -
Dutch ♡ ♪ ! ?[?] -
French ♡ ♪ ! ?[?] -
German ♡ ♪ ! ?[?] -
Italian ♡ ♪ ! ?[?] -
Korean Geno's real name in the Japanese version of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[?] -
Spanish ♡ ♪ ! ?[?] -

Trivia

  • Not much is known about the original personage of "Geno" that the doll represents, but it's implied that he is not a living person in Mario's world like Gaz's other dolls, since the Rose Town innkeeper believes the possessed doll is only a person in a costume.
  • The sprites of Geno's star form when possessing the Geno doll and those seen at the end of the game are vastly different, the former being a small, white, almost realistic star while the latter was a yellow, more traditional Super Mario star surrounded by yellow dots. Similarly, the sprites of the Geno doll when playing with Gaz and the one sitting pose of it seen at the end of the game are proportionally inaccurate to each other. These discrepancies are fixed in the Nintendo Switch remake.
  • When Geno uses a Special Move in the SNES version, a symbol of a star is superimposed over his body. While the other characters' symbols are the four main playing card symbols, Geno's is the Joker's star.

References

  1. ^ @kurashimakaz on Twitter's bio. "Geno's finish design is by someone else."
  2. ^ @kurashimakaz on Twitter. "The final design is by @yukasaba san & Minaba san"
  3. ^ "The difference in the Super Mario RPG is that the clog warrior now takes the time to stop for a chat with Princess Toadstool or Toad the Mushroom Retainer, or visit a village full of Yoshies or nine other major characters including (according to Square) Pinocchio." - Nintendo Power Volume 77, page 28
  4. ^ "To tell the truth, it’s because I wanted Geno to be a playable character. He has a gun for a hand, and I think he fits in really well with Smash. During Brawl, I thought it would be great if I could add him, but in the end it didn’t become a reality." - Nintendo Dream Volume 264, translated by Source Gaming
  5. ^ Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars English instruction booklet. Page 38.
  6. ^ 「スーパーマリオRPG 取扱説明書」 (Super Mario RPG Toriatsukai Setsumeisho). Page 38.
  7. ^ Pelland, Scott, and Kent Miller. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Player's Guide. Page 12.
  8. ^ Pelland, Scott, and Kent Miller. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Player's Guide. Page 35.
  9. ^ Official United States website of Super Mario RPG for the Nintendo Switch
  10. ^ Official United Kingdom game page
  11. ^ Official Japanese website of Super Mario RPG for the Nintendo Switch. nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved September 14, 2023. (Archived September 14, 2023, 15:21:59 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  12. ^ Official Spain game page
  13. ^ November 9, 2023. Super Mario RPG comes out next week! Until then, let’s meet the characters. nintendo.com (USA). Retrieved November 26, 2023. (Archived November 12, 2023, 13:44:38 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  14. ^ November 9, 2023. Super Mario RPG comes out next week! Until then, let’s meet the characters. nintendo.com (Canada, English). Retrieved November 26, 2023. (Archived November 12, 2023, 20:00:02 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  15. ^ November 9, 2023. Super Mario RPG sort la semaine prochaine! Avant cela, découvrons les personnages. nintendo.com (Canada, French). Retrieved November 26, 2023. (Archived November 25, 2023, 23:16:22 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  16. ^ November 9, 2023. Super Mario RPG será lançado na próxima semana! Até lá, vamos conhecer os personagens. nintendo.com (Brazil). Retrieved November 26, 2023. (Archived November 25, 2023, 23:21:55 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  17. ^ November 9, 2023. ¡El juego Super Mario RPG será lanzado la próxima semana! Pero mientras tanto, conozcamos a los personajes. nintendo.com (Mexico). Retrieved November 26, 2023. (Archived November 13, 2023, 04:09:18 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  18. ^ Good Vibes Gaming (November 2, 2023). We Got a Demo of Super Mario RPG Remake - Here's What We Thought. YouTube. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  19. ^ 《超級瑪利歐RPG》的最新資訊公開! | TOPICS | 任天堂(香港)有限公司網站 Nintendo. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  20. ^ a b How Does Geno Introduce Himself in Super Mario RPG? - Legends of Localization. Retrieved January 2, 2016