Polterguy
| Polterguy | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of a blue Polterguy from Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) | |
| First appearance | Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004) |
| Latest appearance | Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024) |
| Portrayed by | Nate Bihldorff (2024) |
| Variant of | Boo Guy |
Polterguys[1] (also known as Phantom Guys)[2][3] are toylike Boo Guys that appear only in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Their usual name is a portmanteau of "poltergeist", referring to their spectral appearance, and "Shy Guy", which they are based on.
History[edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]
Polterguys, referred to as "Boos",[4] first appear as enemies in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and are found in Spooky House. Like other enemies in the game, if Mario comes in contact with them in their standard form, he loses a life. Polterguys cannot be defeated; instead, when Mario presses a Color Switch of the same color as a Polterguy, it turns into a harmless block that Mario can stand on. However, Polterguys in this form will revert to their standard form if Mario presses a Color Switch of a different color than the Polterguy.
Polterguys also appear in Spooky House's boss stage, Level 4-DK. These Polterguys now have flame-like auras similar to Pyro Guys, though this is only a visual effect, and the usual animation plays if Mario loses a life by coming in contact with them. As they float around in a set pattern, Donkey Kong hits one of three Color Switches, transforming the Polterguy of that color into a regular Shy Guy, which Mario can pick up and throw at Donkey Kong to damage him. If Mario is still holding the Shy Guy when Donkey Kong hits the switch of its color, it will not turn into a flaming Polterguy in his hands.
Polterguys reprise their role in the game's Nintendo Switch remake of the same name, though they are also slightly redesigned to be toy-like, with a wind-up key on their back similar to their appearance in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[edit]
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Polterguys are known as Phantom Guys and appear in Spooky Attic. They mostly retain their appearance and movement patterns from the last game, serving as enemies that can be turned into platforms for Minis to walk on. In the Construction Zone, Phantom Guys can be used in the Spooky Attic construction kit and Special Kit 3.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![edit]
Polterguys appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, where they now have active wind-up keys on their backs like their walking counterparts. They are also less transparent and have a spectral, vaguely fiery aura that resembles their boss stage appearance from the first game. In addition, they remain in the same spot rather than move in a given pattern, though they still turn to face any Minis present. They are first encountered in Room 4-5.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![edit]
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, blue Polterguys appear as enemies in Area 4-DK. When Donkey Kong summons a Polterguy from a Shy Guy portrait, it simply falls down until it hits ground or girders, then disappears. A Mini Mario breaks if it touches a Polterguy.
Gallery[edit]
Polterguys in the end screen for Twilight House from Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Ending credits artwork of a red Polterguy from Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
A red Polterguy in Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
A yellow Polterguy in Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
A blue Polterguy in Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
A red Polterguy as a block in Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
A yellow Polterguy as a block in Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
A blue Polterguy as a block in Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
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Additional names[edit]
Internal names[edit]
| Game | File | Name | Meaning
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis | data/data/anims/polterguy_anim.bin | polterguy | Polterguy |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) | Model/ShyGuyGhost_Shared.bfres.zs | ShyGuyGhost | Ghost Shy Guy |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ゆーれいヘイホー[5][6] Yūrei Heihō ファイヤーゆーれいヘイホー[7] Faiyā Yūrei Heihō |
Same as Boo Guy Fire Boo Guy (4-DK) |
|
| Italian | Tipo Spettro[?] | Spectre Guy; shared with Ghost Guy | |
| Spanish | Personaje de color[8] FantasGuy[9] |
Colored character (4-DK) PhantomGuy |
References[edit]
- ^ "Polterguy – Mini Mario will burn if he is touched by a Polterguy! Step on a color switch to turn all the Polterguys of that color into blocks. Polterguy cannot be hurt by the hammer." - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! help menu, tab 7: "Enemies" (American English version)
- ^ "22. Phantom Guys" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis help
- ^ "Phantom Guy – Mini Marios will burn if they touch a Phantom Guy! Step on a coloured switch to turn all the Phantom Guys of that colour into blocks. Phantom Guys cannot be hurt by hammers." - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! help menu, tab 7: "Enemies" (British English version)
- ^ July 2004. Nintendo Power Volume 181. Page 88, 89.
- ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Shogakukan book
- ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 Shogakukan book
- ^ Scan of 「マリオvs.ドンキ—コングかんぺきガイドブック」 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong Kanpeki Guidebook)
- ^ Official Mario vs. Donkey Kong website (Guías Nintendo)
- ^ "22. FantasGuys" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis help
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Mario • Pauline • Donkey Kong • Toads |
| Minis | Mini Mario • Mini Toad • Mini Peach • Mini Donkey Kong |
| Floors | Mini Mayhem • Sandstone Stroll • Magnet Mania • Jungle Rumble • Rooftop • Basement |
| Items and objects | Blue Spring • Box Spring • Cannon • Clock • Coin (large) • Color Switch • Conveyor Belt • Door • Girder • Hammer • Key • Key Door • Ladder • M-Token • Magnet • Mini Mario Card • Pink Block • Pokey Block • Pop-up Gate • Rotate Pipe • Shy Guy Block • Spike • Spin-bar magnet • Warp Pipe • Yellow Spring |
| Enemies | Monkey robots (Capture Kong · Circus Kong) • Bird • Piranha Plant (fire) • Pokey • Polterguy • Snapjaw • Snifit • Spear Guy • Thwomp |
| Miscellaneous | Media • Staff • Super Mini Mario World |
