I think its got merit. Do you recall Steve Bannon when he was just starting out and I quote : "In describing gamers, Bannon said, These guys, these rootless white males, had monster power. ... It was the pre-reddit. It's the same guys on (one of a trio of online message boards owned by IGE) Thottbot who were [later] on reddit" and other online message boards where the alt-right flourished, Bannon said"
this was him talking about World of Warcraft....
thats what made it so great, it poked at every trope it could within its boundaries, which with nintendo was insane.
the great mighty poo! and that sunflower with the bouncies. 12 year old me was astounded even back then nintendo let them get away with it. Even the multiplayer modes where you are nazi teddy bears was insane for its time.