Lurchin
It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: add 4koma Gag Battle information
- This article is about a species in the Donkey Kong franchise. For an enemy in the Wario franchise, see Lurchin (Wario: Master of Disguise).
| Lurchin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork of a Lurchin from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! | |||
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (1996) | ||
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA) (2005) | ||
| |||
Lurchins are sea urchin-like enemies in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and Donkey Kong Land III. They mostly appear in underwater settings, but have sometimes also appeared in riverside and boardwalk areas. Lurchins have two yellow-spiked, green outer shells, on the top and bottom respectively, and a thin, squishy pink segment that connects both shells. Lurchin's face is on the squishy segment, and they have large eyes with bulging, red veins. In both games, Enguarde fights a large Lurchin boss known as Barbos.
History
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Lurchins do not attack Dixie or Kiddy Kong directly, but rather remain either stationary or move up and down in a set path while opening and closing their shell. Some Lurchins move more quickly than others. Touching a Lurchin hurts the Kong due to the Lurchin's spiky shell. A Lurchin can be defeated from Enguarde's sword stab, like with various other enemies; however, Lurchins are unique in that Enguarde can only damage them while their squishy portion is exposed, because touching Lurchin's spiky shell hurts Enguarde, like with the Kongs.
Lurchins first appear in Tidal Trouble, exclusively within a Bonus Level. They make their second appearance in Bazza's Blockade, also exclusively within a Bonus Level. Lurchins make their third overall appearance, as well as first appearance in an actual level, in Fish Food Frenzy. Following this, Lurchins also appear in Floodlit Fish, Pot Hole Panic, the boss level Barbos's Barrier, and lastly Poisonous Pipeline. Unlike the other levels, Lurchins play a unique role in Fish Food Frenzy, where they can be eaten by Nibbla, along with Kocos. However, eating a Lurchin worsens Nibbla's mood, contrary to Kocos, which keep Nibbla at ease. However, Nibbla has to eat one Lurchin in particular to reveal the path to a Bonus Barrel. The only other time a Lurchin is seen is in Dixie Kong's Photo Album, as a photograph within the "Aquatic Attackers" enemy class.
In the Game Boy Advance version, Lurchins appear in several Pacifica levels, including Dingy Drain-Pipe, Stormy Seas, Sunken Spruce, and Ripcurl Reef. The Lurchins in Ripcurl Reef have a yellow shell, purple spikes and a green center, but are no different otherwise.
Donkey Kong Land III
In Donkey Kong Land III, Lurchins retain their behavior from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. Lurchins act differently in Barbos' boss stage, Barbos Bastion, where when Barbos directs a few Lurchins after Enguarde, one of the Lurchins moves slowly before stopping and opening its shell. When the Lurchin is exposed, Enguarde has to stab it to launch it back into Barbos. The Lurchin can even bounce off the walls in the process.
Lurchins appear in eight levels: Seabed Shanty, their first level appearance; Coral Quarrel; Jetty Jitters; Riverbank Riot; Surface Tension; Deep Reef Grief; Ugly Ducting; and Haunted Hollows.
Gallery
Sprite from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Sprite from Donkey Kong Land III
Sprite from Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong
Sprite from Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)
Sprite of the golden variant from Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)
An unused color variant of Lurchin in Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA), later replaced by the golden variant
A Lurchin alongside a Nibbla and Koco in 4koma Gag Battle
_GBA_Sprite.png){kind=icon}
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | リラーチ[?] Rirāchi |
Relurch |
