There is a reason why cat videos are so popular on the internet. Barely a day goes by without someone sharing a video of some kittens falling into a waste paper basket or a blender on my Facebook newsfeed (I may have lied about the blender). It is the same reason in part why Mario and Sonic are so popular. They are cute. You warm to them. You want to protect them. And they are one of life’s underdogs (no pun intended!). Mario, for example, is a bit un-athletic and wears overalls and had a funny accent. Sonic on the other hand has an amusing animation that sees him roll into a ball and tear along at the speed of sound, most un-hedgehog like. Both make you smile and want to look after them. It would be churlish of me to not mention the unparalleled gameplay, fabulous learning curve and exquisite level design in each that adds to the experience, but it is undoubtedly the character of the games and in particular the main participants that makes you chuckle and that, in turn, makes them fun.
