“Captain Toad” breaks the sexist mold with the game’s two leads, Toadette and Toad, taking turns saving one another.
Nintendo is making amends for the millions of Mario players who grew up with the helpless-princess-in-a-tower-who-needs-saving trope. Their just-released “Captain Toad” Wii U game is breaking the sexist mold with the game’s two leads, Toadette and Toad, taking turns saving one another.
“She has her eyes on the treasure, too! And she'll carry a big chunk of the adventure on her capable shoulders,” says the Captain Toad website of its Toadette character.
This is huge for parents who want their children to grow up with a sense of gender equality. Moreover, the game places importance on the characters’ wits and critical thinking, rather than physical strength or superpowers. Nintendo players seem to be responding well to the gaming company’s progressive strides—players gave “Captain Toad” a score of 91/100, placing it in the Top Ten best-liked Wii U games of the year.