Birdo: Difference between revisions

From the Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Added.)
(Undo revision 800457 by NARCE (Talk) not really necessary)
Line 330: Line 330:
==Image Gallery==
==Image Gallery==
{{morepic|Birdo}}
{{morepic|Birdo}}
==Reception==
Birdo has received somewhat positive reception since first appearing in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. Birdo has appeared several times in promotional items, including figurines, plush toys, and other collectibles such as a chess set. figurine or as a part of a set of figurines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Furuta Choco Party Super Mario Puzzle Figure Birdo |url=http://www.hottestnewtoys.com/toy/furuta-choco-party-super-mario-puzzle-figure-birdo/ |publisher=Hottest New Toys |accessdate=2009-11-20 |date=2009-11-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Super Mario Collector's Edition Chess Set Has Nintendo Fans Pawned |url=http://inventorspot.com/articles/super_mario_collectors_edition_chess_set_has_nintendo_fans_pawne_31363 |publisher=Inventor Spot |accessdate=2009-10-16}}</ref> [[1UP.com]] editor Jeremy Parish described her as a favourite amongst fans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solid Gold: The Best of the NES from 1UP.com |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3144816 |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |accessdate=2010-04-13 |date=2006-10-26}}</ref> IGN editor Lucas Thomas called Birdo "nearly as recognized" as the character's common partner [[Yoshi]] in ''Mario'' spin-offs such as the ''[[Mario Kart]]'' and [[Sports games in the Mario series|''Mario'' sports]] games featuring the character.<ref>{{cite web |title=Super Mario Bros. 2 Review |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/801/801793p1.html |publisher=IGN |accessdate=2009-10-16 |date=2001-07-05}}</ref> In the book "Life on the screen: identity in the age of the Internet", author Sherry Tuckle uses the pattern Birdo uses in boss battles as an example of something that, while complex, sustains the sense of a reassuring, rule-based world.<ref>{{cite book |title=Life on the screen: identity in the age of the Internet |last=Tuckle |first=Sherry |year=1997 |page=67 |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref> In Prima's Official Strategy Guide for ''Super Mario Advance'', author Bryan Stratton describes Birdo as the hardest-working boss in video games due to her appearing more than a dozen times as a boss in ''Super Mario Bros. 2''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Super Mario Advance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide |last=Stratton |first=Bryan |year=2001 |page=9 |pages= |url= |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref>
Birdo has received praise from [[transsexual]]s due to being a transgender, including video game designer [[Jennifer Reitz]]. It is speculated by editor [[Chris Kohler]] that the gender issue was [[retcon]]ned to make her female, while Reitz suggests that she received a sex change operation.<ref name="transgendered"/><ref name="wired">{{cite web |title=Captain Rainbow: Birdo’s Gender Crisis |url=http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/08/captain-rainb-1/ |publisher=Wired |accessdate=2009-10-16 |date=2008-08-28}}</ref> In the book "Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time", the authors describe Birdo as the most notable character in ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' due to being the first transsexual character in video games.<ref>{{cite book |title=Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time |last=Loguidice |first=Bill |coauthors=Matt Barton |year=2009 |page=280 |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref> [[Morgan Webb]] of [[X-Play]] created a video titled "Birdo WTF", commenting that everyone initially thought of Birdo as a "cute little dinosaur". She also describes her as a very feminine male character if she really is a transsexual, commenting that whether she is the first transsexual video game character or not has yet to be determined.<ref>{{cite web |title=Birdo WTF?! Videos - G4tv |url=http://g4tv.com/videos/18996/Birdo-WTF |publisher=[[G4TV]] |accessdate=2010-04-13 |date=2007-11-13}}</ref> Birdo tied for eighth place on the top 10 best female video game characters by members of the [[Official Nintendo Magazine]]'s forum, which the ONM staff considered whether she could be included due to her gender confusion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nintendo Features: Leading Ladies |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=11431 |publisher=[[Official Nintendo Magazine]] |accessdate=2009-09-12 |date=2009-09-12}}</ref> In an article on MTV multiplayer discussing the best birds in video games, Birdo tied for second place with the chickens from ''[[Chicken Run]]''. Tofuburger of the web site [[I Can Haz Cheezburger]] listed her as his favourite bird, calling Birdo the first transgendered video game character and humorously praising her for her fearlessness about doing whatever she wants, such as wearing whatever colour of pink she wants and shooting eggs out of her mouth.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Best Video Game Bird In History Is... - MTV Multiplayer |url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/04/30/the-best-video-game-bird-in-video-games-is |publisher=MTV |accessdate=2010-04-13 |date=2008-04-30}}</ref> [[IGN]] editor John Tanaka found Birdo to be one of the more enjoyable guest characters in ''[[Captain Rainbow]]'', associating his enjoyment with developer [[Skip Ltd.|Skip]]'s plot, which involves [[crossdressing]] and [[toilet humour]].<ref name="ign"/>
Despite the positive reception, there has been some negative reception, mostly having to do with Birdo's appearance and gender confusion. The character was ranked number one on the top seven "That's a Dude?!" video game characters list on [[GamesRadar]], stating that the revelation is just as shocking now as it was when she first appeared in the ''Mario'' series.<ref>{{cite web |title= The Top 7... "That’s a Dude!?" game characters |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-top-7-that-s-a-dude-game-characters/a-20080825125523210002 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |accessdate=2009-10-16 |date=2008-08-25}}</ref> Birdo was also listed amongst the "freaks" section on GamesRadar's list of gaming's most "anti-babes" who describes her "burst fire hose"-like mouth as terrifying.<ref name="gamesradar">{{cite web |title=Gaming's most repellent anti-babes |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-repellent-anti-babes/a-2008071012115421032 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |accessdate=2009-10-16}}</ref> Birdo was ranked the sixth worst character in the ''Mario'' series by [[GameDaily]], owing to the ability to shoot eggs, which they describe as disgusting.<ref name="gamedaily">{{cite web |title=The Top 10 Worst Mario Characters |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/the-top-ten-worst-mario-characters/110/?cp=9&page=4 |publisher=[[GameDaily]] |accessdate=2009-10-16 |date=2007-11-30}}</ref> Birdo ranked second on [[Spike TV]]'s most disturbing video game bosses list, commenting that the character resembles a toy that a mother would place in a child's crib, yet would readily remove when she discovered her gender.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Top 10 Most Disturbing Video Game Bosses |url=http://www.spike.com/blog/10-most-disturbing/84677 |publisher=[[Spike TV]] |accessdate=2009-10-16 |date=2009-08-05}}</ref> Birdo was ranked the ninth ugliest female video game character by [[ScrewAttack]], who described him as resembling a "retarded anteater".<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Ugly Chicks in Games |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/top-10-screwattack/54700 |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |accessdate=2009-10-16 |date=2009-08-21}}</ref> [[MTV]] Multiplayer editor Jason Cipriano questioned why Birdo and fellow ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' enemy Shy Guy have been included in so many spin-off titles in the ''Mario'' series, commenting that they both "kinda suck", but enemies such as [[Wart (Nintendo)|Wart]] and [[Mouser (Nintendo)|Mouser]] were not.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Inexplicable Wackiness of Super Mario 2 |url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2007/07/02/the-inexplicable-wackiness-of-super-mario-2 |publisher=MTV |accessdate=2010-04-13 |date=2007-07-02}}</ref>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==

Revision as of 23:27, July 14, 2010

Template:Articleabout

“Clearly this is a test for me. Yes, the powers-that-be want me to go out on my own. Once I overcome many hardships, I shall be one step closer to superstardom!”
Birdo, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Template:Character-infobox Birdo (Japanese: キャサリン Kyasarin) is a recurring character in the Mario series. In fact, there have been multiple characters known as "Birdo," similar to the multiple Yoshis that have appeared throughout history. The concept of a Birdo character was not solidified until the same pink Birdo began appearing in various spin-off titles. The central Birdo character (that appears in the Mario Kart series, the Mario Party series and the various sports titles) wears a red bow and a diamond ring. She also has some sort of relationship with Yoshi, as they are the automatic partners in various competitions. She is a good friend of Daisy, Toadette, and Petey Piranha. Other Birdo characters have resided in Subcon, in Nimbus Land, and other locales.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros. 2

File:Birdo.PNG
Birdo's debut appearance.

The first appearance of Birdo was in Super Mario Bros. 2, where Birdo would appear as a mini-boss character of various levels, serving the evil Wart, as he enslaved all of the creatures of Subcon. Birdo, depending on the form, spat eggs, fireballs, or a combination of both at the player. Birdo's standard pink form fired eggs, a red color swap shot both eggs and fireballs, and a green Birdo sent only fire after the characters. In the event of a green Birdo, the player had to find a Mushroom Block to toss at Birdo. Rarely, a Birdo would appear as a common enemy, instead of a boss. These Birdos are, in a way, invincible, as after the player defeats one of these Birdos, they come right back. The credits of Super Mario Bros. 2 label Birdo as Ostro, and vice versa, a different enemy that has nothing to do with Birdo. However, this was fixed in the remake,Super Mario Advance. To defeat Birdo in Super Mario Bros. 2, one has to jump on Birdo's eggs and throw them at back at the pink creature.


In the game Super Mario Advance, a remake of Super Mario Bros. 2, there was also a robotic Birdo boss named Robirdo, who took over a second Mouser's position as the boss of World 3. Super Mario Advance is also notable for being one of the last games to give Birdo understandable voice acting, as further games would simply allow her to emit honking noises. In this game, Birdo spoke clear sentences such as, "This is as far as you go!" and "Hello there!".

Wario's Woods

Birdo was the heroine in the game: Wario's Woods, a puzzle game released for the NES. The woodland monsters were attacking the Mushroom Kingdom, and Birdo, along with Wanda and Toad, went up against Wario. Although Birdo is not playable, she aids Toad by giving bombs to Wanda, who then passes them to Toad. If the player took too long to complete a level, Wario would grab Birdo. She will also shout instructions and encouragement to Toad from the corner. The instruction manual for this game calls Birdo Catherine, which is the character's original Japanese name.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Template:Llquote Template:Smrpgenemy Another Birdo appeared as a boss in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Birdo was first seen as an egg named Shelly who was found in Nimbus Castle (while the stronghold was under the control of the usurper queen Valentina). The egg was cared for by Shy Away, who intended to use the newborn Birdo as a weapon. When Shy Away saw Mario, he quickly abandoned his post and fled, leaving Shelly exposed. Mario could then speak to the Birdo inside Shelly, who would request for Mario to play with her. If Mario complied, a battle between his party and Shelly would begin.

Although Shelly would never attack or perform any malicious moves toward Mario and friends, the group (through attacking) could gradually split the egg open to reveal Birdo. She would cheerfully introduce herself and start attacking. After suffering more attacks from Mario and company, Birdo would also raise her attacking methods, beginning to shoot out the explosive Eggberts rather than normal eggs.

Defending on a turn in which Birdo shot out Eggberts would actually fling the explosive eggs back into Birdo's nest, where they could then be attacked so that they would explode and deal massive damage to Birdo herself. Despite the pain and anger she showed ambiguous signs of going through, Birdo eventually gave up mid-battle (though she actually suffered normal defeat and Mario's party earned battle spoils such as Experience Points as normally) due to the fact that she found Mario and his friends too cute to destroy. After defeating her she gives the key to Mario, Birdo remains within shelly and Mario gets to the back door of Nimbus Castle.

Mario Tennis series

Birdo playing tennis.

Birdo's sports debut was in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64. She appeared next to Yoshi, and the two are seen to be very affectionate. In this game, Birdo competed as a Speed player, and was one of the new girls. In the intro of Mario Tennis, Birdo is seen entering the court after Paratroopa, and she faces off against Peach in the tournament. Later, she is seen with Paratroopa and Yoshi, when Bowser interrupts the fun. Her own court (slow but bouncy) can be unlocked when the player wins the Star Cup with Birdo in doubles. Also, when the player chose Daisy in the double tournament mode, Birdo would be her default partner. This was the first game to ever give Birdo understandable voice acting; she is portrayed by Jen Taylor.

Later, Birdo missed the chance to appear in Mario Power Tennis for the Nintendo GameCube, but she made her return as a non-playable character in the GBA version of Mario Power Tennis. She was seen in the background of the game when Tina and Max got off the plane to get to the Mushroom Kingdom tennis court. Also, she appears during the celebrations when Bowser wanted Peach to kiss him and instead he almost gets kissed by Birdo.

Mario Golf series

Birdo appears as a playable character in the game Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. In this game, she appears from the start. Her medium size made her a balanced character. When playing as Birdo and getting a nice shot, her swing consists of a rainbow. This is actually very similar to the Yoshi golf swing, and this game was the first game in which Birdo used a rainbow ability.

Super Smash Bros. series

Super Smash Bros. Melee

In Super Smash Bros. Melee Birdo re-appeared as a two-dimensional Super Mario All-Stars sprite on the Super Mario Bros. 2-based stage. Sometimes, Birdo will come out from the side of the stage and shoot eggs, hurting any player who comes in contact with them. Like in Super Mario Bros. 2, these eggs could be jumped upon and picked up by the playable characters. Birdo can easily be destroyed by a strong attack, however. She also appears as one of the two trophies that must be collected in order to unlock the Mushroom Kingdom II stage (the other trophy is a Pidgit).

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In the sequel: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, one of the names that can appear whenever players press the random button when they're naming their custom stage is BIRDO. Also, a pink Birdo appears as a trophy. Unlike in Melee, however, this trophy is not two-dimensional. It can be unlocked when the player clears All-Star on Hard difficulty.

Mario Kart series

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Birdo's first foray into kart racing was in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as Yoshi's default partner. When the player has unlocked the second wallpaper, Birdo is teamed up with Peach. Birdo's special item is the Birdo Egg, which differs from Yoshi's attack in that it has pink spots instead of green; it is also different from Birdo's original pure white eggs.

Birdo's unlockable kart is called the Turbo Birdo, which features average speed and acceleration, while also having above average weight. Her emblem appears throughout the Dry Dry Desert course, and the staff ghost uses Birdo and Yoshi in the Turbo Yoshi. Yoshi and Birdo are also the staff ghost of Yoshi Circuit, using the Turbo Yoshi kart.

On two courses, there are signs posted that read "Ribbon". In much smaller letters in the center, it reads "Birdo watching". They feature a picture of Birdo posing. The signs can be found in Mushroom City and Yoshi Circuit.

Mario Kart DS

Birdo did not appear in Mario Kart DS, but she was pictured in a poster in the Yoshi Circuit course, which was being re-used from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Mario Kart Wii

Birdo later appeared in Mario Kart Wii as a medium-sized unlockable character. Birdo has a equal balance of weight, top speed, and acceleration. However when she goes off-road, she loses a moderate amount of speed. She is unlockable when the player defeats 250 other players in online racing, or when the player does Time Trials on 16 different courses. Birdo shares the medium-sized group of karts and bikes, but all in her own favorite colors. Birdo's egg emblem appears throughout the Dry Dry Ruins course, similar to how it appeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'s Dry Dry Desert.

Birdo received a small weight and off-road boost, while her best bonus is the mini-turbo stat; Birdo's mini-turbo is tied with Diddy Kong's, while being inferior to that of Koopa Troopa, Dry Bones, Wario, and Dry Bowser. Interestingly enough, Birdo is the only playable female character to not receive a speed bonus.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Template:Spoiler Template:MLinfobox In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Birdo helped the heroes by disguising herself as Princess Peach when Cackletta and Fawful visited the Mushroom Kingdom. When Cackletta attempted to steal the princess' voice, she got Birdo's instead; then, when the Beanish witch tried to use the "pure" voice to awaken the Beanstar, it went berserk. All of this is not revealed until later in the game, when Toadsworth (who originally came up with the plan) and Peach explained the situation to the Mario Bros. As they spoke, Birdo appeared and started wildly chasing one of Lady Lima's assistants, after winking at them flirtatiously.

Birdo speaking of her love for Popple.
Birdo expressing her love for Popple.

Some time later, Birdo replaces Bowser as Popple's "Rookie" out of her mad love for the Beanish crook. Oddly, she is now an enemy of the Mario Bros. even though she had been a helper before in the game. Birdo was a powerful opponent, as one of her attacks involves sucking in Mario or Luigi. If Birdo is successful in this, it will not only hurt the unfortunate Mario Brother she sucked up, but will also restore her own HP. The only way to dodge this attack is to hit Birdo with a hammer. She can also throw flaming eggs in a wild, sporadic and put Popple in protective but deadly egg shields. The main difference between Birdo's and Popple's first Rookie's attack patterns, however, is that it won't counterattack the Mario Brothers if they attacked Popple first, making her easier to kill them both. Birdo, however, becomes stronger as she turns red and says "You may have defeated my darling, but that's as far as you go!" (a reference to Birdo's line in Super Mario Advance).

After Popple and Birdo failed in their attempt to destroy the Mario Brothers, Popple blamed it all on Birdo and even went as far as to fire his latest apprentice. Birdo (who was noticeably less obedient than Popple's original Rookie) responded by furiously knocking him away through a wall and ending their relationship (which was unrequited by Popple anyway). She then gave a short speech about her new dedication to strive towards super-stardom, expressed her anger at Mario and Luigi, and ran away. Although Cackletta stole Birdo's voice, she is able to speak when Mario and Luigi battle Popple and her. This appears to be an error in the game, but Birdo may have got her voice back after Cackletta used it on the Beanstar. Template:Endspoiler

Mario Baseball series

Birdo executing her Cannon Swing (special move).

In Mario Superstar Baseball, Birdo made her first appearance on the baseball field, she is a balance character specializing in batting, but lacking in all other areas. Her special pitch/hit is the Weird Ball, when the player has purchased the weird ball in the store from the Challenge Mode, Birdo is able to use her special move. She was found on Yoshi's team as a unlockable Sub-Captain, and could also be chosen as a captain in Exhibition Mode. Her alternate names are: Birdo Models, Birdo Beauties and Birdo Bows. Birdo shared good chemistry with Yoshi, Shy Guy and Petey Piranha; Also she doesn't share a bad chemistry with the rest of the characters.

In the sequel, Mario Super Sluggers, Birdo took up her role as a Team Captain (of the Birdo Bows), but still did not have her own stadium. She continued to be good at pitching and fielding, and her powers include Suction Ball, Cannon Swing & Suction Catch. Birdo has good chemistry with Daisy, Yoshi, Petey Piranha, Shy Guy and Toadette and bad chemistry with Tiny Kong, Peach, and Baby Peach.

Mario Party series

Birdo's emblem for the Mario Party installments.

In Mario Party 7, Birdo is a secret guest of Toadsworth, who resides on the Duty Free Shop. She was one of the two new characters, the other being Dry Bones, they join-up to go on a luxury cruise around the world. This is the first time in the Mario Party series with Birdo as a playable character; she is unlocked with 1,000 mileage points on the Duty Free Shop. In this Mario Party installment, Birdo's emblem is her red bow, and her default partner is Yoshi in the "Team Mode" (their team orb being the Egg Orb).

Most recently MC Ballyhoo and Big Top, has invited Birdo and her friends to the Star Carnival on Mario Party 8. In this game she appeared as playable character from the start and her automatic partner is Yoshi, their team name is the "Egg Explosion". When Birdo emerges victorious from the Star Battle, she is crowned the Superstar and wins a year's worth of candy.

She also appeared as playable character in the arcade game: Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher which is exclusive in Japan.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3

Birdo is an unlockable character in Mario Hoops 3-on-3, playing alongside characters from the Final Fantasy series, she is unlockable when the player has finished the Hard Mushroom Cup. Here she is an all-around type and her Special Shot is the Egg Shot, she begins by spinning around twice, later Birdo catches the ball in her snout, jumps, and spits it out toward the basket as an Egg. To perform it, the player must tap out a triangle twice. Once again, Birdo still didn't have her own stadium.

Itadaki Street DS

She is also playable in the Japanese game Itadaki Street DS, a cross-over with Dragon-Quest. To unlock Birdo, the player needs to defeat her in Luigi's Stage Level 1. Birdo's head and clothings are collectables that can be equipped on customizable characters.

Mario & Sonic series

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

File:BirdoIncomplete.jpg
Birdo's incomplete model.

Birdo, along with Donkey Kong and many others, were originally going to appear as playable characters in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games [1], but were scrapped from the final product for unknown reasons.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

Although Birdo is not a playable character in the Olympic Winter Games, she appears as a non-playable character and tells the player that she has been watching them in certain events. It's possible for the player's Mii to wear a Birdo costume, once Birdo is found in an event her character suit is available in the shop for 100 points. She also has a sticker available for use on the player's equipment.

In the Adventure Tour mode on the DS, she is seen in Cubyrinth. Yoshi has lost his skidding table and luckily, Birdo has found the item. When the player goes to her she says she has found a skidding table, Yoshi tells her that the table belongs to him, but she says otherwise. Birdo claims that the skidding table is for an elite athlete, so if Yoshi could prove himself, she would give him the item. She challenges him to a Ski Cross Race. Once defeated, she gives up the skidding table and stays in Cubyrinth, available for rematches.

Captain Rainbow

The Cute House as seen from outside, Nick standing in front of the door.
The Cute Home as seen from outside.

In the game Captain Rainbow, Birdo is a damsel-in-distress. She lives on Mimin Island, in the so-called Cute Home. It is located on a remote place of the island. The Cute Home represents Birdo's personality and her likings: the interior consists of mostly pink and red equipment decorated with many heart and ribbon emblems.

In the game, Birdo is imprisoned for using the female bathroom, as the robot jailer does not believe her when she insists she is a girl. She gets quite upset about this, and asks Nick to go to her Cute Home and find something that will prove she is not lying. Nick finds a mysterious object under Birdo's pillow, and while it is never revealed exactly what the object is, it serves its purpose and Birdo is released.

Birdo develops a crush on Nick, and calls him her "boyfriend". Nick accompanies her in her walks near her Cute Home, and she helps him carry a fallen Star to the altar on the top of Mimin Island. If Nick lets Birdo's wish be granted, she flies into the sky with the Star and disappears.

Personality and Traits

Birdo displays great determination and confidence in all aspects of her life. In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Birdo revealed her goal of becoming a Superstar. Birdo has tackled a wide variety of sports and was the first known Birdo to emerge in the public spotlight in Mario Tennis.

Birdo perceives herself to be very beautiful and feminine. Birdo often strikes eccentric poses to show off her appearance. Also, she is portrayed to be very friendly, and enjoys being with the whole Mario crew. She also exudes charm and elegance. Additionally, Birdo always wears a massive diamond ring on her finger. In Mario Party 7 and Mario Party 8, when Birdo gets a Star, she shows off this ring during one of her poses.

Always looking for love, Birdo has had a variety of crushes and relationships throughout her life. Birdo is very flirtatious and affectionate with others, even when she doesn't know them very well, as evidenced in Birdo's relationship with Popple in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. In the same game, Birdo expresses her high opinion of love and romance, explaining her flirtatious nature and drive to find love. The effect of these whirlwind romances on Birdo have only been hinted at in her Egg Shot move in Mario Hoops 3-on-3, which sends broken hearts flying; this is a stark contrast to Princess Peach's Heart Shot.

Gender

According to the North American instruction manual of Super Mario Bros. 2:

"Birdo thinks he is a girl and likes to be called Birdetta. He likes to wear a bow on his head and shoot eggs from his mouth."

This statement applies to all translations of the title, including the Japanese version. In Japan, Catherine is male as well, and likes to believe that he is female. Like Birdo, he likes to be called Cathy as opposed to his real name, Catherine. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Birdo's trophy description describes the character as "gender indeterminate," and uses the pronoun "it" rather than gender-specific pronouns such as "he" or "she". However, several other sources (see below) refer to her as a girl.

The confusion surrounding Birdo's gender has also been addressed in a light-hearted matter, such as when Popple pauses before settling on calling Birdo a "dame" in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. In Super Mario Advance though, the Birdos in that game had female voices, but the pitch level of the voices varied, depending on Birdo's color. The pink Birdo had the highest pitched voice, while the green Birdo had the lowest pitched voice in that game; the red Birdo's voice had a pitch level that's in between.

More recently, in the game Captain Rainbow, Birdo is heard with a deep, male voice which gets high-pitched when she gets angry or excited. Additionally, in the game's second trailer, Little Mac from Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! speaks about Birdo, calling her a "young lady," only to take a short break and ponder. His final verdict is "Depending on one's view point, she is a young lady." In the game Birdo's indeterminate gender also forms the basis for a side-quest to find proof that she is a girl. The proof is eventually found, showing that she is a girl. This ultimately means some or all of these Birdo characters identify with the female gender.

Powers and Abilities

In addition to eggs, Birdo can shoot fireballs from her snout, though this ability is only displayed in Super Mario Bros. 2 and its subsequent remakes. Birdo has also shown the ability to utilize her snout in a manner similar to a vacuum, using it to suck things closer to herself or even swallow them; Birdo displays this ability in both Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, which notably has her leeching away the health of those she sucks up, and Mario Superstar Baseball. Birdo has also shown, on occasion, to envelop people, including herself, in large eggs, in order to increase defense. She is usually classified as all-around in sports games, where she has a great deal of strength. She also has shown this strength when angered in Superstar Saga, when, after discovering that Popple did not actually love her, she knocked him right through a wall, indicating she has super-strength.

In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour hitting a nice shot while playing as she will cause a rainbow to form similar to Yoshi, but rainbow abilities have since then not been seen. Birdo also has some hints of heart based power similar to Princess Peach as shown in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour in her victory cut-scene and Mario Hoops 3-on-3 in her special shot. However, they are not as strong or as useful as Peach's hearts; which often results in comedic instances, such as when they only succeeding in charming Birdo's Golf trophy into the air for a short time until it fell down again, to her owner's great surprise.

Relationship with Yoshi

File:DinoDuo.jpg
Birdo (far right) with Yoshi in their team picture for Mario Party 7.

She has a special relationship with Yoshi, since they are often partners in sports and party games. The ring Birdo wears is suggestive, but likely unconnected. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!! the two are seen on the Turbo Yoshi, also they share a similar item. On the official site for Mario Kart: Double Dash!! the description for Catherine states "Catherine appears to be Yoshi's girlfriend... or does that mean boyfriend?!".

In Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64 they are default partners and the two are seen to be very affectionate. Also they share a Tennis Court. This court favors tall and fast players. In Mario Superstar Baseball they have a compatible relationship, she was found on Yoshi's team as a unlockable Sub-Captain, and when they are challenged, they are versed in the Yoshi Park.

Physical Description

Birdo is a member of the species of the same name. Like all Birdos, she is a dinosaur with a funnel-shaped snout and a body structure that is similar to a Yoshi, though slightly shorter and stockier and with a row of spikes on the tail, not the head.

Birdo is mostly pink, with a rounded white belly, red tail spikes and purple spots on her cheeks. She has purple eyes, each of which is framed by three long, thin eyelashes. She does not have hair, and instead wears a big red bow atop her head. On her left hand is a large diamond ring set in gold, the origins of which are unknown.

Birdo commonly wears purple eye makeup. In her team name, "Birdo Bows", from Mario Super Sluggers, she wears lipstick, which is odd because she doesn't use lipstick during the game, nor in most of her other appearances. In the Mario Football series, Birdo wears a two-piece soccer outfit composed of a jersey and shorts. In the Japanese commercial for Super Mario All-Stars, she wears a white stole, a very expensive black dress adorned with a black necklace with many pearls, and a very elegant fan[2]. Overall, however, Birdo’s looks have not changed as drastically as many other characters have through the ages.

Cameos

  • Birdo makes an appearance as spectator in the mini-game: "Megaton Punch" from Kirby Super Star.
  • She is one of the opponents to defeat in the Japanese game Yakuman DS. She can be found on the easy challenges.
  • Although Birdo is not playable in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, she makes a small cameo somewhere in the game.
  • On the Yoshi Circuit from Mario Kart DS, there are signs posted with smaller letters, it reads "Birdo".
  • "Kyasarin", which is Birdo's Japanese name; makes an appearance in the playable character list from Mario's Tennis, therefore it can be assumed that she was initially planned for playability on the game.

Other Information

Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64) Information

  • Partner: Yoshi
  • Bio: " Her speed lets her move around the court with ease. "

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Information

  • Partner: Yoshi
  • Personal Kart: Turbo Birdo
  • Special Item: Birdo Egg
  • Bio: "Birdo decked out in her favorite bow and ready to race!"
  • Bio 2: "You might be asking yourself who Birdo is. Of course, you'll be pondering this on the side of the road after Birdo's giant egg has crushed your kart."

Super Mario Advance Information

  • Bio: " Watch out for Birdo's special egg attack. The best way to deal with Birdo is to catch the eggs and toss her right back. "

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Information

  • Bio Quote: "I love to golf and now I want to play other golfers! Are you in?"
  • Range Marker: 209y.

Mario Party 7 Information

  • Partner: Yoshi
  • Bio: "Time for a new face to join this party....It's Birdo!, What a nice bow!."
  • Special Orb: Egg Orb

Mario Smash Football Information

Birdo during one of her celebrations for Mario Strikers Charged Football.
  • Aggressive choice.
  • Bio: "Birdo is always an offensive threat when in possession of the ball. If you're looking for a sidekick who can deliver some points, she is the player for you."

Mario Strikers Charged Football

  • Type: Power
  • Skillshot: Extreme Egg
  • Deke: Spins to repel opponents.
  • Bio: "This hard-hitting power player lands some of the biggest bone-rattling hits ever seen on the Strikers field. Birdo's shooting is also feared by many goalkeepers, as she can score at will. Her Extreme Egg can beat any game, resulting in quick goals."

Stats

  • Movement: 3
  • Shooting: 10
  • Passing: 3
  • Defense: 10

Mario Hoops 3-on-3 Information

  • Type: All-Around
  • Special Shot: Egg Shot
  • Letter to Tap:

Mario Superstar Baseball Information

  • Teams: Birdo Beauties, Birdo Models, Birdo Bows
  • Type: Balanced
  • Starting Team Captain: Yoshi
  • Status: Secondary Captain
  • Stats:
    • Batting: 6/10
    • Pitching: 4/10
    • Fielding: 4/10
    • Running: 4/10
  • Player Profile: "Birdo offers a little extra power, but lacks in other areas."
    • Strong Point: Batting
    • Special Talents: Suction, Body Check
    • Trajectory:
      • Field: Center
      • Height: Normal
  • Special Ball: Weird Ball
  • Default Batting Position: Right
  • Default Throwing Arm: Right
  • Sweet Spot: The Purple spot on the bat
  • Compatible Relationships: Yoshi, Shy Guy, Petey Piranha
  • Bio: "A dinosaur that spits eggs from her huge mouth. Birdo is very particular when it comes to fashion, though her reliance on the color pink is a bit limiting. Her bow and ring are her pride and joy. Birdo's mouth has massive suction that can even catch a ball by sucking it in."

Mario Party 8 Information

  • Partner: Yoshi
  • Bio: "Birdo's a favourite at parties, mostly because you can talk her into helping tidy up afterward."
  • Team Names:
    • Mario: Super Snozzios
    • Luigi: Samba Smashers
    • Yoshi: Egg Explosion
    • Peach: Pink Superpowers
    • Daisy: Gallopin' Gal-Pals
    • Toadette: Pink Powerhouse
    • Toad: Surprise Attackers
    • Wario: Rotten Eggs
    • Waluigi: Double Scammy
    • Boo: Unfair Pair
    • Dry Bones: Bone Chokers
    • Blooper: What-the-Bloop
    • Hammer Bro: Two-Timers

Mario Kart Wii Information

File:Roster birdo.PNG
Birdo's complete kart roster.
  • Class: Medium
  • Stats:
  • Acceleration: **/***
  • Top Speed: **/***
  • Off-Road: **/***
  • Bio: "Wearing a distinctive red bow, she is easy to spot on the track - but not always so easy to overtake!"
  • Actual Bonuses
    • Weight: +1
    • Off-Road: +1
    • Mini-Turbo: +2

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Melee

Template:SSBtrophy

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Template:SSBtrophy

Mario Super Sluggers

The team emblem and logo for the Birdo Bows in Mario Super Sluggers.
  • Team Name: Birdo Bows
    • Collectable Card Info: "This is one team where you never know who is going to be in the lineup. That's probably why it seems like the Birdo Bows are always finding new ways to win. All that confusion makes them tough to play against."
  • Stats:
    • Pitch: 4/10
    • Bat: 8/10
    • Field: 7/10
    • Run: 5/10
  • Abilities:
    • Star Swing: Cannon Swing
      • Collectable Card Info: "When Birdo unleashes a Cannon Swing, it's a good idea to yell, 'Heads up.' That's because there will be more than one object in the air after Birdo spits an egg toward the ball that has just been hit."
    • Star Pitch: Suction Ball
      • Collectable Card Info: "Is it a fastball, or is it a changeup? Birdo can deliver both with a single pitch. Just when the batter is ready to swing, the ball is sucked back toward the mound. Hitting this pitch takes amazing timing and a little luck."
    • Fielding: Suction Catch
  • Player Chemistry:
  • Bio: "A good player who has trouble hitting curves."
    • Collectable Card Info: "Always an ecletic character, Birdo boasts a surprisingly diverse group of friends. As a power hitter with great stamina, Birdo should do fine as a first-time captain, despite having trouble hitting curves."

Image Gallery

Template:Morepic

Trivia

  • In the credits of Super Mario Bros. 2, Birdo was mistakenly labeled as "Ostro", causing confusion about what her name really was.
  • In Super Paper Mario, there is a Sammer Guy named Squatting Birdo, an obvious reference to Birdo and its species. Also, like a few other Sammer Guys, Squatting Birdo recognizes its namesake as an almost deity-like creature; and its ramblings when first encountered suggest that Birdos are flightless birds rather than dinosaurs (although technically birds are modern dinosaurs). This may have been a reference to the confusion between Birdo and and the ostrich-like Ostro in Super Mario Bros. 2. Birdos did indeed fly in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, however.
  • In Mario Kart Wii, Birdo, along with the Mii, are the only characters not to be used as a staff ghost in Time Trials.

Names in Other Languages

Template:Foreignname

List of Game Appearances by Date

Title Description Release Date System/Format
Super Mario Bros. 2 Boss 1988 Famicom/NES
Super Mario All-Stars Boss 1993 Famicom/NES
Wario's Woods Non-Playable Character 1994 Super NES
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Boss 1996 Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Mario Tennis Playable Character 2000 Nintendo 64
Super Smash Bros. Melee Non-Playable Character/ Unlockable Trophy 2001 Nintendo GameCube
Super Mario Advance Boss 2001 Game Boy Advance
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Playable character 2003 Nintendo GameCube
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Playable Character 2003 Nintendo GameCube
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Ally/ Boss 2003 Game Boy Advance
Mario Power Tennis Non-Playable Character 2004 Nintendo GameCube
Mario Power Tennis Non-Playable Character 2005 Game Boy Advance
Mario Superstar Baseball Playable Character 2005 Nintendo GameCube
Yakuman DS Non-Playable Character 2005 Nintendo DS
Mario Kart DS Non-Playable Character 2005 Nintendo DS
Mario Party 7 Unlockable Playable Character 2005 Nintendo GameCube
Mario Smash Football Playable Character 2005 Nintendo GameCube
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 Unlockable Playable Character 2006 Nintendo DS
Mario Party 8 Playable Character 2007 Wii
Itadaki Street DS Playable Character 2007 Nintendo DS
Mario Strikers Charged Football Playable Character 2007 Wii
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Scrapped Character 2007 Wii
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 Non-Playable Character 2008 Triforce
Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher Playable Character 2008 Arcade
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trophy, Sticker 2008 Wii
Captain Rainbow Non-Playable Character 2008 Wii
Mario Kart Wii Unlockable Playable Character 2008 Wii
Mario Super Sluggers Unlockable (Challenge Mode Only) Playable Character 2008 Wii
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games VIP Member 2009 Wii
Nintendo DS

References


Template:MK Players

Template:Super Mario RPG Template:MG may refer to...

This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages associated with a particular title. Please follow one of the links above, or search to find the page you were looking for if it is not listed. If an internal link referred you here, you may want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page.

Template:ML:SS

Template:MT may refer to...

This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages associated with a particular title. Please follow one of the links above, or search to find the page you were looking for if it is not listed. If an internal link referred you here, you may want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page.