Rumor Number 2

Uncover the truth behind the 'L is Real 2401' rumor in Super Mario 64! Learn about Luigi's supposed unlockable status and the evidence found.

Alright, let's talk about one of the most enduring myths in Super Mario 64: the 'L is Real 2401' rumor. It's the idea that Luigi, Mario's green-clad brother, could actually be unlocked as a playable character in the game. You'll see this legend pop up in a lot of different places, but the most famous version of Luigi from this rumor is often called Classified Luigi, especially from the Super Mario 64: CLASSIFIED video. So, what's the story? Well, back in the day, there was a rumor that Super Mario 64 was originally planned as a two-player game. The idea was that Luigi was cut because the Nintendo 64 just couldn't handle it at the time, leaving Mario as the sole playable character. Where did this rumor even start? A lot of people point to a statue in the courtyard of Peach's Castle. There's this big Star statue, and under it, there's an inscription. Some players swore that the top line read, 'L is Real 2401.' The theory was that '2401' might be the number of coins you needed to collect to unlock Luigi. Pretty wild, right? Nintendo themselves eventually said it was just a joke, that the inscription meant nothing. But then, years later, during a big data leak from Nintendo, unused assets for Luigi were found in the Super Mario 64 files. It's kind of spooky how that lined up, almost 24 years and 1 month after the game's release! It's worth noting a few other things about this myth: * You can actually find a similar sign in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. In that game, you can interact with it, and it says something about a 'Giant dead Dodongo.' * There were also rumors about unlocking Waluigi after Super Mario 64 DS came out, but they weren't nearly as popular as the Luigi one. * Believe it or not, IGN even offered a $100 reward for anyone who could prove Luigi was in the game. Spoiler: nobody could back then! 'L is Real 2401' is definitely one of the most famous video game myths out there, and it's inspired a bunch of cool fan content, like Classified Luigi and other 'Horrorbrew' versions.