Skeeter
- This article is about the enemies first appearing in Super Mario 64. For the similar enemy of the same name from New Super Mario Bros., see Skeeter (New Super Mario Bros.).
| Skeeter | |||
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 Artwork of a Skeeter from Super Mario Galaxy 2 | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020) | ||
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Skeeters[1] are giant water strider enemies that are introduced in Super Mario 64. They appear in a few of the 3D Super Mario games. Like real water striders, they usually skim on the surface of water. Their name comes from "water skeeter," one of many alternate names for water striders.
Skeeters have had distinct designs throughout all four of their Super Mario series appearances, though their abilities have remained largely the same. In addition to skating on water, they can also walk on land, though they move a bit slower.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
In Super Mario 64, Skeeters appear frequently in Wet-Dry World, where one is seen on the entrance painting. They are found floating aimlessly on the water, and they appear as big cyan-colored pond skaters with yellow suction cup-like webbed feet and vermillion-colored antennae on their backs, with bulgy eyes. They can be defeated by most methods of attack, and they release three coins upon defeat. They can be lowered onto platforms, where they will slowly skitter about and home in on Mario if they see him, acting just like a Scuttle Bug. If hit, Mario will lose two health wedges.
In Super Mario 64 DS, Skeeters are now blue, and their yellow webbed feet are slightly larger and also cover their ankles; the antennae on their heads are red instead of vermillion, and they have black eyes that are now positioned flat on their faces, instead of bulging out. Skeeters now also appear in Dire, Dire Docks, where five of them can be found. Their other attributes remain unchanged from the original.
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
Skeeters reappear in Super Mario Sunshine, where they are referred to as Pondskaters[2] or Blue Spiders.[3][4] They are found exclusively in the lake of Bianco Hills. When they are jumped on, Mario propels upward to a height rivaling the Rocket Nozzle. Pondskaters stop moving temporarily if sprayed with FLUDD. Pondskaters can be defeated only by a Yoshi, by either eating them or spraying juice at them to turn them into platforms, which will remove the Pondskaters after the platform disappears.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
Skeeters in Super Mario Galaxy 2 were given an overhauled appearance consisting of flat purple bodies without antennae. They are enemies first encountered in the Cosmic Cove Galaxy. They always home in on Mario or Luigi, and they can be stomped for a coin or hit with a spin to release three Star Bits. They also appear in Starshine Beach Galaxy and Throwback Galaxy.
Mario Party 3[edit]
In Mario Party 3, an immobile static Skeeter is in the background of Woody Woods, and a large mechanical Skeeter is one of the vehicles in Ridiculous Relay.
Gallery[edit]
Super Mario 64
Super Mario Sunshine
A Pondskater in Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario 64 DS
A Skeeter seen in Super Mario 64 DS
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | メンボ[5] Menbo |
Clipping of「 |
|
| French | Aquaraignée[?] | Combination of "aqua" and araignée ("spider") | |
| German | Wasserläufer[6] | Water Strider | |
| Italian | Idroragno[?] | Hydrospider | |
| I Pattinatori[7] | The Skaters, probably a translation mistake | Super Mario Sunshine | |
| Korean | 소금쟁이[?] Sogeumjaeng'i |
Water strider | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Acuaraña[?] | Portmanteau of acua ("aqua") and araña ("spider") |
References[edit]
- ^ Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 11.
- ^ Hodgson, David S J, Bryan Stratton, and Stephen Stratton (September 3, 2002). Super Mario Sunshine Prima Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. ISBN 0-7615-3961-1. Page 18.
- ^ Loe, Casey (August 12, 2002). Super Mario Sunshine Perfect Guide. Versus Books. ISBN 1-931886-09-1. Page 33.
- ^ Bogenn, Tim, and Doug Walsh (2002). Super Mario Sunshine Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames. ISBN 0-7440-0180-3. Page 5.
- ^ スーパーマリオ64完全クリアガイド (Super Mario 64 Kanzen Clear Guide). KADOKAWA(メディアファクトリー) (Japanese). ISBN 4889914110. Page 13. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Kraft, John D., Thomas Görg, and Marko Hein, editors (1997). Der offizielle Nintendo 64 Spieleberater "Super Mario 64". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 9.
- ^ Super Mario Sunshine Prima's Official Strategy Guide. You Too Videogames srl (Italian). ISBN 8890092211. Page 18. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
