I actually first heard this view on Chris Suellentrop and JJ Sutherland's excellent podcast, "Shall We Play A Game." I really thought they both went too far in saying they wouldn't let their kids play Super Mario Run because of the gender politics.
But here's what Chris says in his Op-Ed piece:
More at the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/opinion/super-mario-runs-not-so-super-gender-politics.html?_r=0
But here's what Chris says in his Op-Ed piece:
Unfortunately, despite Nintendos history and reputation, Super Mario Run is not a family-friendly game or at least not one my wife and I will be letting our 6-year-old daughter play. The game is rife with stale, retrograde gender stereotypes elements that were perhaps expected in 1985, when the first Super Mario Bros. was released in the United States, but that today are just embarrassing.
Super Mario Run begins, as does almost every Super Mario title, with Princess Peach becoming a hostage who must be rescued by Mario. Just before her ritual kidnapping, Peach invites Mario to her castle and pledges to bake him a cake. Upon her rescue, she kisses Mario. The game also includes a second female character, Toadette, whose job is to wave a flag before and after a race, like a character from Grease.
More at the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/opinion/super-mario-runs-not-so-super-gender-politics.html?_r=0