Spike: Difference between revisions

{{about|the enemy|the obstacle|[[Spike Trap]]|other uses for the name|[[Spike (disambiguation)]]}}

{{species-infobox

|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Golf: Super Rush]]'' ([[List of games by date#2021|2021]])

{{quote|Spike 'em, er...Spike!|Bowser Jr.|Mario Party 9}}

'''Spikes''' are [[Koopa (species)|Koopa]] enemies that throw [[Spike Ball|spiked ball]]s or [[Spike Bar|bar]]s from within their mouths. They were designed by [[Hiroyuki Kimura]] at [[Nintendo]],<ref>http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/mario25th/vol3_page1.jsp</ref> and they first appeared in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. Spikes have black [[Buzzy Beetle]]-like shells on their backs that are too small for them to enter. Up until ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', they also commonly had alternately colored bellies indicated by the ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' design to be the front of the shell. Whilst they primarily appear in antagonistic roles, they have also rarely appeared as background or playable characters.

Spikes first appeared in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' as enemies. They are found in one [[Water Land]] stage and many [[Ice Land]] stages, and they attack by pulling spiked balls out of their stomachs and throwing them at [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] while wandering around. They can also fall off the edge like green [[Koopa Troopa]]s. A single stomp defeats them. Despite their appearance, Spikes can be stomped even when they are holding their spiked balls above their heads. Their sprites are shown to not have hair while they are shown with blue hair in their ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' artwork. Spikes can also be defeated by [[fireball]]s and [[hammer]]s. The Water Land [[Kings|King]] also resembles a Spike while transformed in the NES version, though he is intended to be a {{wp|Kappa (folklore)|kappa}}.

Although no regular Spikes appear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', a type of Spike called [[Snow Spike]] appears in [[World 5-1 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 5-1]]. Instead of throwing spiked balls, Snow Spikes throw [[snowball]]s that progressively get bigger.

[[File:Spike NSMBW Artwork.png|thumb|Artwork of a Spike from ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'']]

Normal Spikes reappear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', along with [[Stone Spike]]s, a blue variety that uses spiked balls made of stone thrown directly downwards from the ledges on which they stand. This game marks the first appearance of their modern design, which would go on to be re-used in future games. Spikes can be defeated by a simple jump to the head, however, unlike in ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', if the Spike is holding a spiked ball it will damage the player. They can also be defeated by [[fireball]]s, [[barrel]]s, being frozen via the [[Ice Flower]] or the [[Penguin Suit]] power-ups, and sliding into them as Penguin Mario. In this game, Spikes stay at one spot instead of walking around, although they can turn directions. The green variation appears only in [[World 2-2 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 2-2]]. Unlike regular spiked balls which destroys blocks, the Spike's spiked balls cannot break blocks.

Spikes and [[Stone Spike]]s appear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'', and ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe]]'', where they act the same way they did in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''. In [[Spike's Spouting Sands]], Spikes are mounted on [[Flying ? Block]]s, which allows them to be defeated by hitting the blocks. Spikes jump whenever a "bah" is heard in the music.

[[File:Spike Artwork - Super Mario 3D World.png|thumb|Artwork of Spike holding a [[Spike Bar]] from ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'']]

Spikes make their first appearance in a 3D ''Mario'' platformer game in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''. Here, they appear in a few levels, such as [[Spike's Lost City]] and [[Hands-On Hall]], and throw [[Spike Bar]]s instead of spiked balls.  

Spikes appear as enemies in version 2.0 of ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]''. In the ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' styles, the Spikes' spiked balls fly horizontally after being thrown like in ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', though they start being affected by gravity once they touch the ground; while in the ''[[Super Mario World]]'', ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' and ''Super Mario 3D World'' styles, they only roll along the ground. The spiked balls can also be [[Spin Jump]]ed on and, in the latter two styles, act as weight on [[Seesaw]]s. In snow-themed levels, Spikes throw [[snowball]]s instead (similar to [[Snow Spike]]s), which can be jumped on, picked up, and thrown. Large Spikes can also be made by enlarging Spikes with [[Super Mushroom]]s.

In ''[[Super Mario Momotarō]]'', a Spike is the last creature to join [[Mario]] on his mission to rescue [[Princess Peach]]. The Spike hopes to get his revenge against [[Bowser]] for destroying his home world. During the final battle he helps by knocking [[Ludwig von Koopa]] out with an exploding spike ball. After the final battle, he joins Mario in returning the treasure Bowser had stolen to their rightful owners. He is most likely based off of the monkey from the [[wikipedia:Momotarō|Momotarō]].

Spikes, known here as '''Mace Penguins'''<ref>The ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' Player's Guide. [[Media:SMW2 Guide 127.jpg|Page 127]].</ref>, appear in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''. They only appear in [[BLIZZARD!!!]], as well as [[Endless World of Yoshis]] in the [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|remake]].

Spikes reappear in ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' in the level [[Jungle Hut]] on Page 4. They regurgitate spiked balls and roll them down hills. The [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]]s may eat them, but the Green Yoshi likes them best. Additionally, the boss [[Don Bongo]] bears some resemblance to one. Here, they are known as '''Gabons''' (a direct translation from Japanese, possibly due to the name being taken by [[Spike (Yoshi's Story)|another enemy]], and also possibly, due to the jungle setting, a reference to [[wikipedia:Gabon|the country of the same name]]).

A giant Spike appears as a boss in ''[[Mario Party 9]]''. It is the mid boss of the [[Magma Mine]] board, while the stage boss is [[Chain Chomp]]. The minigame it is fought in is [[Spike Strike]]. During the minigame, the Spike attacks the players by spitting spiked balls onto the paths leading to them. The players must attack it by quickly choosing a hammer to smack the spiked balls back at him.

Spike appears in ''[[Mario Party 10]]'' as a new unlockable playable character. This is the first appearance of Spike as a playable character in the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'']] franchise, and also the first game where Spike is not allied with the [[Koopa Troop]]. Spike is unlocked by purchasing "Hidden Character 2" in [[Toad's Room]] for 600 Mario Party Points, while [[Toadette]] is Hidden Character 1. Its voice in this game is the same as in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''. Spike is also the only playable character in ''Mario Party 10'' to not appear as a playable character in ''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]''.

Generic Spikes make their ''Paper Mario'' debut in ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]''. They only appear within the levels of [[World 2 (Paper Mario: Sticker Star)|World 2]]. They also have a lot of [[Heart Point|HP]] and they have the same HP yellow [[Pokey]]s and [[Snifit]]s have. Spikes also fight in groups of two later and are aided by [[Paragoomba]]s, [[Koopa Paratroopa|Paratroopa]]s, [[Swoop]]s and [[Hammer Bro]]s. Spikes will chase Mario and throw their [[Spiked Ball|spike ball]]s instead of tossing them slightly and letting it roll. In battle, Spikes can hold a spike ball over their heads, making jump attacks ineffective until they throw the ball on their next turn. Spikes can also [[Ground Pound]] Mario but if the attack misses, it will bounce to the left. When defeated they occasionally drop a [[Sticker (Paper Mario: Sticker Star)|Spike Ball sticker]]. [[Snow Spike]]s from ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' also appear in this game and sometimes drop a [[Sticker (Paper Mario: Sticker Star)|Snowball sticker]]. If a Spiked ball is touched outside battle from a Spike, Mario loses 2 [[Heart Point]]s.

Spikes return in ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'' with the same appearance and behavior from the previous game. However, they do not hold the [[Spiked Ball]]s during the entire battle this time around, but only when they attack. Also, the design of the spiked balls has changed, since the spikes were brown in ''Paper Mario: Sticker Star'' and are now white. Spikes appear in [[Kiwano Temple]], [[The Golden Coliseum]], and [[Sunset Express]]. Two Spikes assist [[Ludwig von Koopa]] in battle, and their Spiked Balls must be hit back at them as [[Raccoon Mario]] to defeat them. One appears as a member of the [[Shady Sledge Bro]]'s gang in [[Dark Bloo Inn]], and one also appears as an NPC on the Sunset Express. A Spike is the first-round opponent in [[Roshambo Temple#Roshambo Temple #4|Roshambo Temple #4]].

Spikes return in ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]''. Regular Spikes appear in the game as supporting characters, while origami Spikes and a Paper Macho Spike appear as enemies. One particular Spike who is a part of the [[Canned-Food Par-tay Trio]] briefly accompanies Mario on [[Autumn Mountain]] to get to a canned food party hosted by a [[Sombrero Guy]]. In battle, this Spike attacks enemies with Up-Chuck, where he throws a Spike Ball at enemies in a line dealing 25 damage. However, he may drop his Spike Ball upon holding it up, resulting in the attack failing.

Spikes appear in ''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'' as NPC characters in the [[Castle Club]] game mode. Their name can also appear on the tournament scoreboard. A giant Spike also appears in [[Wiggler Park]].

In ''[[Mario Golf: Super Rush]]'', Spikes first appear as NPCs in the Golf Adventure mode of the game. They are later found as obstacles in [[Spiky Palms]]. On the course, they throw Spike Balls to hurt the player.

Spikes return in ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'' acting like in ''Super Mario 3D World'', although they can throw [[Spiked Ball]]s as well, and defeating them rewards three coins instead of one. They appear in [[Windup Stairs]], [[Seesaw Sizzle]], [[Retro Ramp-Up]], and [[Trick-Track Hall]].

Spikes appear in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]'' as enemies during the second visit to [[Doop Doop Dunes]] and reside with their [[Paper Spike|paper counterparts]], [[Pokey]]s and [[Spiny|Spinies]]. One Spike is also fought alongside a Paper Spike, a [[Hammer Bro]] and a [[Paper Hammer Bro]] as one of the [[Bowser]] [[Paper Bowser|Duo's]] last lines of defense in [[Neo Bowser Castle (Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam)|Neo Bowser Castle]]. In battle, Spikes may throw small spiked balls at all three bros at once which must be jumped over. It can also throw big spiked balls at one bro which must be hammered back, although only the last one will actually damage the Spike since the rest will ricochet off the next one thrown.

Spikes appear in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', where they are enemies and recruitable allies found in ''Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser''. They are ranged troopers, and attack by throwing Spiked Balls at enemies. Their special skill, Throw the Fight, allows them to throw larger Spiked Balls at enemies, dealing more damage.

Spikes, alongside [[Stone Spike]]s, make their playable debut in a ''Mario'' sports game as selectable teammates in ''[[Mario Sports Superstars]]'', in the soccer and baseball modes of the game. They are classified as power type characters. A [[Mega Spike]] and [[Mega Stone Spike also appear as bosses in the Road to Superstar mode.

Spikes do not appear during the events of ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]'', but there are recurring background elements in [[Spooky Trails]] that allude to them, like [[Spiked Ball]]s and [[Spike Bar|spiked rollers]]. In addition, one of Luigi's Precision weapons, the Spike Strike, is based on a Spike.

===''Super Mario'' series===

====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''====

*'''Trading Card description:''' "''Save room for spike balls! Spikes have room in their stomachs for unlimited ammunition. They spew razor-tipper balls at you at any given time. You can kill them by bopping them on the head, but time your jumps carefully or you will get hit. Look out for the blue-colored Spikes—unlike their green counterparts, they spew rock spike balls, aiming downward.''"

====''Super Mario Run''====

*'''Notebook bio:''' "''This hardworking turtle has a very small shell. It spits out metal balls that it'll throw at its enemies.''"

 

==Names in other languages==

{{foreign names

|Jap=ガボン<br>''Gabon''<br>巨大ガボン<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-x10GhaL7E Giant Spike Japanese game play in ''Mario Sports Superstars''] -  ロコモコ on YouTube</ref><br>''Kyodai Gabon''

|FraM=-

|Dut=Spike

|RusR=Spayk

}}

==Trivia==

*In Japanese, the spiked balls thrown by Spikes and [[Ptooie]]s are named "''shūringan''" (シューリンガン).<ref>Shogakukan. 2015. ''Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook'', ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' section, pages 35 and 37.</ref> The name ''shūringan'' is taken from the Japanese ''rakugo'' folktale ''{{wp|Jugemu}}'', from which the Japanese names of [[Lakitu]] (''Jugemu'') and [[Spiny Egg]]s (''Paipo'') are also derived.

*In the ''[[Super Mario Bros. (film)|Super Mario Bros.]]'' movie, one of [[President Koopa]]'s cousins is named [[Spike (film character)|Spike]]. The film character bears no resemblance to the Spike species depicted in the games, however.

*Spike's ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' sprite depicts it as nearly bald, with only two pixels allocated for hair, and its ''Yoshi's Story'' appearance depicts it completely hairless.

{{MGSR}}}}