Valentina : l'usurpatrice du royaume des nuages

Valentina: Usurper of the Cloud Kingdom

1221 mots | Temps de lecture : 6 minute(s)

Valentina is one of the most flamboyant bosses in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the cult role-playing game released on Super Nintendo in 1996 (Japan) and resurrected on Nintendo Switch in 2023. Her name remains identical in both French and English: Valentina.

Behind her grand lady appearance hides a scrupulous usurper who has taken over an entire floating kingdom. Accompanied by her faithful bird Dodo and equipped with the largest arsenal of spells in the game, she offers one of the most memorable battles of the adventure, before experiencing a truly comical romantic fate.

Summary

Who is Valentina?

Valentina is an antagonist exclusive to Super Mario RPG, the very first role-playing game in the series, developed by Square and published by Nintendo. She is encountered in the second half of the adventure, at the top of the cloud world.

Her appearance openly parodies beauty standards: pink skin, large and tall head, iridescent cream dress, red heels, and turquoise eyeshadow. The finishing touch? A small parrot permanently perched on her head and a martini glass in hand during combat. Her entire look exudes arrogance and vanity.

Unlike most villains in the Mario universe, Valentina is neither a monster nor a minion of Bowser. She is a calculating schemer, driven by a single obsession: to reign. This personality makes her a unique villain, closer to a comedy of manners than a classic boogeyman.

The Cloud Kingdom Coup

The action takes place in Nimbus Land, a city built on a huge cloud where the Nimbus people live. Normally, this celestial kingdom is governed by King and Queen Nimbus, the parents of Prince Mallow.

Taking advantage of the long disappearance of Prince Mallow — who left on an adventure with Mario — Valentina orchestrates a veritable coup d'état. She has the king and queen imprisoned and takes the reins of the kingdom in their place.

Her plan relies on an audacious imposture: she presents her bird Dodo, disguised, as if he were Prince Mallow returned, to deceive the inhabitants and legitimize her power. It is this deception that puts Mario and his companions on her trail, determined to return the throne to the royal family.

Dodo, the Accomplice Bird

It's impossible to talk about Valentina without mentioning Dodo, her large henchman bird. This bird is not just a pet: he is an active accomplice in the usurpation, even going so far as to impersonate Prince Mallow.

In combat, Dodo has a surprise in store. The duel doesn't start as a classic group confrontation: the bird swoops down on the team and carries away the character in the center into the air, forcing a brief one-on-one fight to neutralize Dodo.

  • Dodo is particularly vulnerable to fire, making him an ideal target for the most powerful fiery attacks.
  • Once the bird is dealt with, the battle shifts to Valentina herself, the real danger of the encounter.
  • Dodo remains faithful to the end and accompanies his mistress even after defeat, including in the game's final scene.

The Largest Arsenal of Spells in the Game

What makes Valentina formidable is above all her mastery of magic. With her 2000 health points, she is not the most resilient boss, but she compensates with an extraordinary offensive palette.

Valentina can cast nine different spells, which is the largest number of spells of all bosses in the game. No other opponent in Super Mario RPG boasts such a varied magical repertoire, from light beams to icy breaths, petal showers, and crystals.

This diversity makes the combat unpredictable: she alternates elements to catch the team off guard. The winning strategy is to strike fast and hard, relying on offense rather than defense, as her true threat is offensive and not defensive. Removing Dodo and then concentrating damage on Valentina remains the safest method to take her down.

Booster and the Wedding Gag

Valentina's fate concludes on one of the game's most comical notes. Once defeated, the usurper is not eliminated: she disappears from the scene only to reappear at the climax.

In the ending sequence, Valentina finds herself promised in marriage to Booster, the eccentric master of the tower of the same name, another colorful character from Super Mario RPG. The ceremony is even officiated by the faithful Dodo, transformed for the occasion into an impromptu celebrant.

But the gag doesn't stop there: at the crucial moment, Booster flees in the middle of the ceremony, seized with panic. We then see Valentina chasing after him, carried by Dodo, in a finale as absurd as it is delightful. This twist seals Valentina's reputation as one of the most endearing and humorous villains in the entire Mario universe.

Valentina at a Glance

French Name Valentina
English Name Valentina
First Appearance Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996, Japan)
Remake Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch, 2023)
Role Boss, usurper of Nimbus Land
Health Points 2000 HP
Spells 9 (the most in the game)
Minion Dodo, the accomplice bird

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FAQ

  • In which game does Valentina appear?
    Valentina is a boss in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, released on Super Nintendo in 1996 in Japan, then re-released in a remake on Nintendo Switch in 2023.
  • Which kingdom does Valentina seek to control?
    She takes over Nimbus Land, the floating city of the Nimbus people, after imprisoning the king and queen.
  • Who is Dodo?
    Dodo is the large bird who serves Valentina. He helps her in her usurpation by impersonating Prince Mallow and assists her during combat.
  • How many spells can Valentina cast?
    She can use nine different spells, making her the boss with the largest magic repertoire in all of Super Mario RPG.
  • What happens to Valentina at the end of the game?
    In the final scene, she is about to marry Booster, but he flees during the ceremony and she chases after him.
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