Proto Piranha
- "Gatekeeper" redirects here. For the variant of Pi'illos, see Deco Pi'illo. For the NPC from Wario: Master of Disguise, see Royal gatekeeper.
| Proto Piranha | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A Proto Piranha in Super Mario Sunshine | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Sunshine (2002) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020) | ||
| Variant of | Goop Piranha Plant | ||
| |||
Proto Piranhas, originally known as Gatekeepers[1][2] and also known as Proto Piranha Plants,[3] are large Piranha Plants made entirely of goop.
History[edit]
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
Proto Piranhas first appear as recurring bosses in the early parts of Super Mario Sunshine. In this game, Proto Piranhas are all connected to solid, undulating, smoking masses of goop referred to as Generators,[4] which cannot be cleaned normally. Additionally, some Generators spread goop to the surrounding area, preventing it from being cleaned permanently until the Proto Piranha is defeated; however, despite their name, not all Generators do this. Initially, Proto Piranhas hide within the Generator, emerging only when the Generator is sprayed with water. Once a Proto Piranha has emerged, it sways back and forth while opening and closing its mouth. To defeat it, Mario must use FLUDD to spray water into its open mouth a certain number of times. If Mario sprays one while its mouth is closed, it merely shrugs the attack off. If not dealt damage for long enough, it retreats back into its Generator. In all the Proto Piranhas' appearances, structures are submerged in the goop beneath them, and the Proto Piranhas must be defeated to release them.
There are five fights against Proto Piranhas in the game. The fights vary in terms of the Proto Piranha's color (which changes to match the surrounding goop), the number of sprays necessary to defeat the Proto Piranha, and additional behaviors.
- One appears at the very beginning at the Delfino Airstrip, creating a sinkhole in the runway. It and its goop are a colorful mixture of pink, yellow, orange, and white. It takes three sprays to defeat. Its only way of harming Mario is if he walks directly into it or the goop surrounding it, as it has no attacks and goop does not create Goobles during Delfino Airstrip Dilemma. Once defeated, it releases the player's first Shine Sprite.
- Another appears in Bianco Square in Delfino Plaza, submerging the Grand Pianta Statue. This one is brown and white. It also takes three sprays to defeat, but it is more dangerous due to its goop creating Goobles. When the Proto Piranha is defeated, the Grand Pianta Statue emerges with Shadow Mario standing on it, leading to the game's first Shadow Mario chase.
- Another brown-and-white one appears in Bianco Hills during the first episode, Road to the Big Windmill, submerging the hill before the bridge to the road surrounding the Big Windmill. Before it emerges, its Generator repeatedly spurts Piranhabons down the countryside path. It also takes three sprays to defeat, and it releases a Shine Sprite once beaten. As this is the only Proto Piranha to be fought in a replayable episode, this is the only Proto Piranha that can be fought again after it is defeated.
- Once the player has three Shine Sprites, a black Proto Piranha appears in Delfino Plaza and submerges the boathouse. Uniquely, its Generator can be seen extending through the dock down into the sand underneath the water. Its Generator leaks goop outward, covering areas Mario has cleaned with goop again. After three sprays, it acts as if it has been beaten before suddenly springing back up and requiring three additional sprays to defeat. Once it is beaten, the boathouse emerges from the ground with a Rainbow M leading to Ricco Harbor painted on its side.
- Once the player has five Shine Sprites, another black Proto Piranha appears in Delfino Plaza, submerging the lighthouse on the beach. Like with the previous black Proto Piranha, this fight has a functioning Generator and requires two sets of three sprays. However, when this Proto Piranha feigns defeat after being sprayed for the third time, it shoots out Goobles in all directions as it reemerges. Once it is beaten, the lighthouse emerges from the ground with a Rainbow M leading to Gelato Beach painted on it.
Mario Golf series[edit]
In the Mario Golf series, the name "Proto Piranha" appears on the leaderboards in the Blooper Star Open, Peach's Star Invitational, and Bowser Star Championship tournaments in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, while in Mario Golf: Advance Tour, Proto Piranhas appear in the Mushroom Course along with many regular Piranha Plants, although outside the course itself.
Mario Power Tennis[edit]
In Mario Power Tennis, Petey Piranha's Defensive Power Shot, Piranha Swingback, involves him creating a Proto Piranha to hit an unreachable tennis ball for him.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Proto Piranhas are mentioned briefly by Viridi during Palutena's Guidance dialogue for Piranha Plant.
Gallery[edit]
Render of an orange-pink Proto Piranha
A Proto Piranha at the Delfino Airstrip
A Proto Piranha in Bianco Square
A Proto Piranha at Bianco Hills
A Proto Piranha at the boathouse
A Proto Piranha at the lighthouse
A Proto Piranha in Mario Power Tennis
A Proto Piranha as depicted in Super Mario-kun
Additional names[edit]
Internal names[edit]
| Game | File | Name | Meaning
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Sunshine | gatekeeper/gene_pakkun_model1[5] | Gatekeeper / Gene Pakkun | Gatekeeper / Generator Piranha |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドロドロパックン[?] Dorodoro Pakkun |
Goop Piranha | |
| ドロパックン[?] Doro Pakkun |
Mud Piranha | Mario Power Tennis | |
| Dutch | Proto Piranha[?] | - | |
| French | Tiranha[?] | - | |
| Plante Piranha Polluée[6] | Polluted Piranha Plant | ||
| German | Schleim-Piranha[?] | Slime Piranha | |
| Italian | Fangopiranha[?] | Mudpiranha | |
| Pianta Piranha di fiume[6] | River Piranha Plant | translation error | |
| Russian | протопиранья[?] protopiran'ya |
Protopiranha | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Piraña sucia[?] | Filthy piranha | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Piraña Lodo[?] | Mud Piranha |
References[edit]
- ^ Loe, Casey (August 12, 2002). Super Mario Sunshine Perfect Guide. Versus Books. ISBN 1-931886-09-1. Page 14.
- ^ Bogenn, Tim, and Doug Walsh (2002). Super Mario Sunshine Official Strategy Guide. Bradygames. ISBN 0-7440-0180-3. Page 19.
- ^ Super Mario 3D All-Stars Bingo (PDF). Play Nintendo. Retrieved October 27, 2020. (Archived November 5, 2020, 02:38:20 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Hodgson, David S J, et al. (September 3, 2002). Super Mario Sunshine Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-3961-1. Page 11.
- ^ Super Mario Sunshine, internal filename root/data/scene/airport0.szs/scene/gatekeeper/gene_pakkun_model1.bmd
- ^ a b July 4, 2018. Super Mario Encyclopedia. Soleil Productions (French). ISBN 2302070046. Page 100.
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