She was basically a memory. For decades, if you asked a casual fan about the lady in the red dress from the original 18-bit Donkey Kong, they’d probably call her Peach by mistake. She was the "Lady," the damsel, the pixelated scream for help. Then came 2017. When Nintendo dropped the first trailers for Super Mario Odyssey, Pauline didn't just return; she completely hijacked the conversation. She wasn't a captive anymore. She was the Mayor of New Donk City, a jazz singer, and arguably the most grounded character in a game where you play as a sentient hat.
It’s a weird pivot when you think about it. Mario has spent thirty years perfecting the "Save the Princess" loop. But in the Metro Kingdom, the vibe is different. You aren't there to rescue Pauline. Honestly, she’s busier than you are. She’s managing a metropolitan infrastructure while planning a massive festival. Seeing her standing tall—literally, she’s much taller than Mario—next to realistic human NPCs was a jarring, brilliant design choice by Nintendo. It bridged the gap between the 1981 arcade cabinets and the modern Switch era in a way that felt earned, not forced.
The Evolution from Damsel to Mayor
Let’s be real: Pauline was the original Mario girl. Before Princess Peach (or Toadstool) ever set foot in a castle, Pauline was being lugged up girders by a giant ape. But after the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series on the Game Boy and DS, she sort of faded into the background of "spin-off" territory.
When director Kenta Motokura decided to bring her into the "Odyssey" fold, the team had a specific goal. They wanted New Donk City to feel like a celebration of Nintendo’s lineage. Making her the mayor was a stroke of genius. It gave her agency. Instead of waiting for a plumber to jump over barrels, she’s the one hiring him to fix the city’s power grid. It’s a total power move.
The physical design reflects this. She still wears red, a nod to her 1981 debut, but it’s a sharp, professional pantsuit or an elegant gown, depending on the occasion. She carries a shadow of the past—if you look at her hat, it's a direct reference to her classic look—but her presence in Super Mario Odyssey is entirely about the present. She represents the "New" in New Donk City.
Jump Up, Super Star! and the Power of Music
You can't talk about Pauline without talking about the music. "Jump Up, Super Star!" isn't just a catchy theme; it was a massive marketing pillar for the game. It was the first time a Mario game featured a vocal track with actual lyrics. Performed by Kate Higgins, the song acts as a love letter to the franchise.
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- It’s a swing/jazz fusion that fits the 1930s-inspired aesthetic of the Metro Kingdom.
- The lyrics reference "spinning your cap" and "doing the odyssey," merging gameplay mechanics with the narrative.
- It serves as the climax for the New Donk City festival, which is widely considered one of the best "nostalgia trips" in gaming history.
During that festival sequence, the game switches to a 2D 8-bit style on the walls of the buildings. You’re playing through a reimagining of the original Donkey Kong levels while Pauline sings above you. It’s meta. It’s emotional. It’s a rare moment where Nintendo allows itself to be overtly sentimental about its own history.
The Weird Logistics of New Donk City
Have you ever looked closely at the people in New Donk City? They look like actual humans. Mario, meanwhile, looks like a cartoon mushroom-man. Pauline sits somewhere in the middle. She has the proportions of the "real" humans but the stylized face of a Mario character. This creates a fascinating visual hierarchy.
There’s a specific quest where you have to find four musicians to join Pauline’s band. It feels like a side-hustle, but it’s actually the emotional core of that world. You're building something. When you finally collect the drummer, the bassist, the trumpeter, and the guitarist, the city shifts from a grey, rainy industrial zone to a neon-soaked party.
Interestingly, if you talk to Pauline after the main story, she gives you a quiz. She asks questions about her favorite things and her history. It’s a small detail, but it’s how the developers humanized her. She likes hats (obviously). She values her citizens. She’s not just an NPC; she’s a leader with a personality.
Why She Didn't Go to the Moon
One of the big questions fans had was why Pauline didn't join the final chase to the Moon. In the endgame of Super Mario Odyssey, Pauline stays behind. Some saw this as a missed opportunity for a "team-up," but it actually fits her character arc perfectly. Peach is the wanderer, the one trying to find herself outside the confines of the Mushroom Kingdom. Pauline has already found her place. She has a city to run. She’s an adult with a job.
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The Semantic Impact on the Mario Universe
Pauline’s success in Odyssey led to a massive resurgence. She’s now a staple in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Tennis Aces, and Mario Golf: Super Rush. She’s no longer the "other" girl; she’s a core member of the ensemble.
This shift is important for the brand's longevity. By diversifying the roles of female characters—Peach as the explorer, Daisy as the tomboy/athlete, and Pauline as the professional/performer—Nintendo moved away from the monolithic "damsel" trope. It makes the world feel bigger.
The fans noticed. The "Mayor Pauline" fan art and cosplay exploded after the game's release. People connected with her because she felt like a self-made woman in a world of royalty and magic. She doesn't have fire-flower powers or a floating umbrella. She has a microphone and a vote of confidence from her constituents.
Secrets and Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed
If you’re hunting for every bit of lore, the Metro Kingdom is a goldmine. The street names are all references to Donkey Kong characters. You’ve got Excitebike Way, but you also have names like "Diddy's Boulevard."
- The Donkey Kong Connection: The girders in the festival are the exact shade of purple-pink from the 1981 arcade game.
- The Dress: In the concept art, Pauline had several different outfits planned, including a more traditional "royal" look, but the team settled on the red suit to keep her grounded in the "city" vibe.
- The Quiz: If you answer her questions correctly, you get a Power Moon. It’s one of the few moons in the game earned through "getting to know" a character rather than platforming.
Looking Ahead: Will She Return in a Sequel?
Rumors about a Super Mario Odyssey 2 have been circulating since 2020. While nothing is confirmed for the "Switch 2" or whatever the next console is called, it’s almost a guarantee that Pauline will be there. The "New Donk City" style of gameplay—the "sandbox" exploration—was too successful to abandon.
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There’s even speculation that Pauline could become a playable character in a mainline platformer. Imagine a game where you swap between Mario’s jumping and Pauline’s... well, whatever her "power" would be. Maybe something sound-based? Or maybe she uses her influence to manipulate the environment.
Regardless of what’s next, her role in the first Odyssey remains a masterclass in character rehabilitation. Nintendo took a character who was a literal footnote and turned her into a cultural icon of the 2010s.
How to Master the Pauline Content in Odyssey
If you're revisiting the game or playing for the first time, don't just rush through the Metro Kingdom. To truly experience the "Pauline era" of Mario, you should:
- Complete the Power Plant Quest: This is the prerequisite for the festival and gives you the best interaction with her as a leader.
- Listen to the Radio: After the festival, you can find radios around the city playing the instrumental version of her song.
- Check the Boutique: The outfits Mario can buy in New Donk City often mirror the formal aesthetic Pauline has established for her city.
- Take the Quiz: Find her standing near the City Hall after the main story is finished to test your knowledge of her lore.
The impact of Pauline is a reminder that no character is ever truly "gone" in gaming. With the right writing and a killer theme song, even a 40-year-old damsel can become the most popular mayor in the world.
To get the most out of your time in New Donk City, start by focusing on the "A Night with the Mayor" questline immediately after the Mechawiggler boss fight. This unlocks the city's full potential and allows you to access the hidden areas where most of the Pauline-centric lore is tucked away in NPC dialogue and environmental storytelling. Do not skip the 2D segments during the festival—they are the only time the game explicitly connects the modern Mayor Pauline to her 1981 origins through direct gameplay.