It's almost a universal rule in video games that whatever character players take control of, they will be put up against a rival. Someone who is like the hero in many possible ways but having more differences then similarities, especially when they do villainous things. That much is especially true with Nintendo's creation of Wario, who was created as a greedy, ugly, and unhygienic doppelganger of Mario ever since Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins was released for the Game Boy. But sometimes, when Wario isn't plotting evil schemes against the world-renowned plumber, he's out stealing riches to hoard for himself. It's in these ventures where Wario finds himself a rival of his own, a rather underutilized woman in the history of Mario games. So when there's booty to be pillaged, this pirate had plenty in supply for the taking, as we set sail looking into Captain Syrup from the Wario games.
Captain Syrup, (who's rumored to carry the first name Maple) is more or less the first official villainess in all Mario games long before the Shadow Queen and Cackletta. Unlike Wario, who hunts and steals gold all by himself, Syrup has an entire army at her disposal being the captain of the "Brown Sugar Pirates" and/or the "Black Sugar Gang" aboard the S.S. Tea Cup. (And later The Sweet Stuff.) When Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 debuted on Game Boy, Syrup had already amassed an entire collection of coins and treasures at her base on Kitchen Island, including a giant statue of Princess Peach inside her castle that she had held for ransom from the Mushroom Kingdom. When Wario heard of her large fortune, he looked to avenge his earlier loss to Mario by stealing Syrup's treasure for his own. Naturally, Syrup would not go down without a fight, sending her pirate crew and monsters up against him.
At the apex of their first encounter, Syrup summoned her personal genie Denpū to fend him off. But Wario defeated him, forcing Syrup to blow up her castle and escape with the vow of revenge. Syrup made her comeback in Wario Land 2 by not only raiding Wario's castle and stealing his treasures, but flooding his home with water and throwing in a giant alarm clock that would keep Wario from sleeping. (Or throwing him out and taking the castle for herself, if Wario doesn't wake up from the alarm clock.) Syrup clearly had a knack for revenge this time around, to the point where Wario would have to go up against her and her gang several times in different ways. But never giving up his greed, Wario once again defeats Syrup and he never heard from her again in a long while.
After many years in exile, Syrup made a return in rather grand fashion with Wario Land: Shake It! for the Wii. This time, Syrup surprisingly aides Wario by sending him an ancient globe that serves as a gateway to the Shake Dimension, and sells him maps and supplies along the way. She even refers to Wario as "handsome" in their first exchange in years. Whether that is to be taken seriously or not is not fully explored, but she might be the only woman in Wario's life to do so. (Unless you count Mona.) But in the end, when Wario defeats the Shake King and claims his treasure "The Bottomless Coin Sack," Syrup steals the sack for herself in a deal she made with the Merfle tribe, much to Wario's anger. So perhaps she got her revenge after all, if not just wanting more treasure for herself. Either way, it's safe to say that Syrup's greed rivals that even of Wario himself.
Even with only three major game appearances, Syrup has maintained a memorable name for herself in her pirating escapades and pose a challenge to players wanting to step in Wario's shoes. Although it's doubtful she will make appearances in other games like Mario Kart or Mario Party in the same fashion most major Mario characters have. Furthermore there aren't any immediate news of new Wario treasure hunting games for the current generation of Nintendo consoles, and even then there's no indication that Syrup will be in them if there is one announced. But if Syrup ever sails the seas again, players will be sure to look forward to seeing this video game babe try and topple Wario again.
This is Greg P., examining video game babes for you and me.
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