One of gaming's most enduring icons has come under fire (and ridicule) via a new web game from PETA - the People for the Ethnical Treatment of Animals.
Mario Kills Tanooki is a response to the organisation's belief that Nintendo has trivialised Mario's wearing of a Tanooki suit in Super Mario Bros 3 (and more recently, Super Mario 3D Land), and that it proves the plumber is "sending the message its okay to wear fur."
To highlight the plight of real-life Tanuki being skinned alive for their fur,you can play a web-game as a de-skinned Tanuki hopping across familiar pipes as you endlessly chase a flying and blood-covered Mario.
Super Tanooki Skin 2D is a fun diversion for a morning. All you need is a single digit and use of a keyboard space bar to play. Jumps are floaty, and visually its kind of decent. Our score: 6/10.
The site also offers a vegan-friendly title with Super Tofu Boy.