Mallow: Super Mario RPG's Cloud Prince

CharacterSuper Mario RPGNimbus Land

He believes he is a tadpole all through his childhood — he is in fact the prince of the clouds. Mario's first companion in Super Mario RPG, released in Japan on 9 March 1996, Mallow is a Nimbus raised by the frog sage Frogfucius. This portrait tells the story of how he found his true parents, King and Queen Nimbus, his role as the party's healer-mage with weather spells and the cult trio he forms with Geno.

Mallow is Mario's very first companion in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, released in Japan on 9 March 1996. A small, round, cottony creature, he believes he is a tadpole all through his childhood before discovering that he is in fact the lost prince of Nimbus Land, the city in the clouds. Emotional, quick to cry but fiercely loyal, he is the party's healer-mage thanks to his weather spells.

Long a niche figure in Europe for want of an official release before 2008, Mallow came back into the spotlight with the remake Super Mario RPG on Nintendo Switch, released on 17 November 2023. A look back at this big-hearted hero, one of the characters Mario RPG fans clamour for most.

Contents

• A tadpole who has no idea: Mallow's origins
• Meeting Mario and joining the adventure
• The lost prince of Nimbus Land
• The weather mage: Mallow in battle
• The cult trio: Mario, Mallow and Geno
• The big comeback in the Switch remake (2023)
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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A tadpole who has no idea: Mallow's origins

Mallow's story begins with a touching misunderstanding. On a stormy night, the frog sage Frogfucius finds a baby drifting down a river, near Tadpole Pond. Moved, he takes the infant in and raises him as his own grandson, convinced he is simply a rather unusual tadpole.

So Mallow grows up under the illusion of being a frog, despite a white, cottony look that fools nobody. Only over the course of the adventure does he learn the truth about his real origins. That narrative device makes him one of the rare Mario characters with a genuine coming-of-age arc: the search for his own identity.

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Meeting Mario and joining the adventure

Mario runs into Mallow in the Mushroom Kingdom, in tears: the thief Croco has just stolen a precious coin from him, a rare Frog Coin. Mario decides to help him and together they chase the crook all the way to Bandit's Way to get the treasure back.

• Mallow thus becomes the first partner Mario gains in the game, even before Geno, Bowser or Peach.
• Back at Tadpole Pond, Frogfucius reveals to him that he is not a tadpole.
• The sage urges him to set off with Mario, both to recover the seven Stars and to find out who his real parents are.

His personal motivation grafts itself naturally onto the main quest, which makes players grow all the more attached to him.

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The lost prince of Nimbus Land

Mallow's great secret comes out when the party reaches Nimbus Land, perched above the clouds, whose name echoes the Latin nimbus ("cloud"). There, every inhabitant shares Mallow's appearance: he actually belongs to the species of the Nimbus.

The truth comes out: Mallow is the son of King Nimbus and Queen Nimbus, and therefore the rightful prince of the kingdom. But the usurper Valentina has seized power and is trying to pass off the bird Dodo as the missing prince. It is the sculptor Garro who recognises the real Mallow and exposes the deception. After the defeat of Valentina, order is restored and Mallow is finally reunited with his parents.

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The weather mage: Mallow in battle

Physically frail, Mallow makes up for it with a remarkable command of magic. He is the group's official healer and spellcaster , indispensable in the tougher fights. His hallmark: all his special spells are inspired by the weather.

• Thunderbolt: his lightning-fast starting attack.
• HP Rain: a very welcome area heal.
• Thought Peek: reveals enemies' HP and weaknesses.
• Shocker and Snowy: powerful elemental attacks.
• Star Rain: his most devastating spell, learned at the highest level.

His weapons evolve just as playfully, from the frog stick to the Sonic Cymbals, his ultimate weapon.

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The cult trio: Mario, Mallow and Geno

Super Mario RPG introduced two brand-new companions exclusive to this game: Mallow and Geno. Paired with Mario, that duo forms a trio that has become a cult favourite among fans, so much so that people regularly call for them to appear in other Nintendo titles.

Developed by Square (Squaresoft) in collaboration with Nintendo, the game blended Mario's colourful universe with the RPG know-how of the studio behind Final Fantasy. Mallow was the emotional heart of the party, the perfect foil to the mysterious Geno. Today you can find Mallow as a Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

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The big comeback in the Switch remake (2023)

Long reserved for Japanese and North American players — the original never got a boxed release in Europe in 1996, arriving only in 2008 on the Virtual Console — Mallow enjoyed a second youth with the remake Super Mario RPG, released worldwide on 17 November 2023 on Nintendo Switch.

This modernised version faithfully preserves the story, the weather spells and the lost-prince arc, while adding 3D graphics, re-orchestrated music and revamped battles. For many European players it was the chance to finally discover Mallow and his story, nearly three decades after his creation.

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Quick facts

Name	Mallow
Species	Nimbus (the cloud people)
Real parents	King Nimbus and Queen Nimbus
Adoptive father	Frogfucius, the Frog Sage
Battle role	Healer-mage with weather spells
First appearance	Super Mario RPG (Japan, 9 March 1996)
Remake	Nintendo Switch, 17 November 2023

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FAQ

• Who is Mallow really in Super Mario RPG?
  Mallow is the lost prince of Nimbus Land, the city in the clouds, son of King Nimbus and Queen Nimbus. Taken in as a baby by the sage Frogfucius, he grows up believing he is a tadpole before discovering his true origins during the adventure.
• Why does Mallow cry so much?
  Mallow is the most emotional member of the party: Mario meets him in tears after the thief Croco stole a coin from him. That sensitive streak is part of his charm, even if he swears never to cry again when he joins the adventure.
• What are Mallow's powers in battle?
  Physically weak, Mallow is the party's healer and mage. All his special spells are tied to the weather: Thunderbolt, HP Rain to heal, Shocker, Snowy and his devastating Star Rain at the highest level.
• Is Mallow Mario's first companion?
  Yes. In Super Mario RPG, Mallow is the very first partner to join Mario, before Geno, Bowser and Princess Peach. His personal quest to find his parents is woven into the search for the seven Stars.
• Can you play as Mallow on Nintendo Switch?
  Yes. Mallow is playable in the Super Mario RPG remake, released on 17 November 2023 for Nintendo Switch. This modernised version faithfully keeps his story, his weather spells and his arc as prince of Nimbus Land.

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