Chuckster
| Chuckster | |
|---|---|
| |
| First appearance | Super Mario Sunshine (2002) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020) |
| Variant of | Pianta |
- “Howdy! I'm a chuckster! You'd better be careful when speaking to powerful Piantas. Some'll chuck you straight up, but most chuck you backward. When it comes to tossing folk, I'm... Well, I'm a chuckster!”
- —Chuckster, Super Mario Sunshine
Chucksters are a variant of Piantas in Super Mario Sunshine. They are capable of throwing Mario a good distance behind them or above them. This is especially helpful for speedy nearby navigation. Talking to a Pianta is often what reveals them as a chuckster, as they throw Mario immediately afterward.
This ability appears to be developed and practiced, as is the case with two particular Piantas in Ricco Harbor. As the player unlocks and plays through more episodes, they become more skilled at tossing Mario, to the point where they are both able to do so with good results.
A particular chuckster is found on the roof of one of the buildings in Delfino Plaza. If he is spoken to and given a coin, he hurls Mario behind him, into the building in which the Shine Sprite is held. If thrown off-target, Mario may miss the building and must speak to the chuckster again for another attempt.
The angle at which Mario speaks to a chuckster is a major factor for where he will wind up afterward. This concept is the focus of the episode Secret of the Village Underside in Pianta Village, which features a variety of chucksters. Some must be spoken to at a specific angle to either move on to the next or collect items.
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, chucksters are found exclusively throughout Starshine Beach Galaxy during the level Climbing the Cloudy Tower. Mario does not need to initiate dialogue with them to be thrown, simply coming into contact with the Pianta from the front will have them throw Mario into the air.
In Mario Party 8, if the player lands on an Event Space in Goomba's Booty Boardwalk in front of a yellow Pianta, the Pianta tosses them a short distance in a manner similar to that of a chuckster's.
Gallery
The bonus area of Pianta Village, centered around the concept of chucksters.
Quotes
- "I'm a chuckster!"
- "Don't hold back! Grrrarrgaah!"
- "I may be little, but I never give up!"
- "Higher! Higher!"
- "Howdy! Throw me a coin, and I'll throw you for a loop!"
- "Yeeaaah! And awaaaaay you go!"
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ごっちゃん[?] Gocchan |
Contraction of「ごっちゃ」(goccha, a term for "disorderly" or "messy") and「ちゃん」(-chan, an honorific) | |
| Italian | Lanciagente[?] | People-tosser; possibly a play on "salvagente" (lifesaver) which literally means "people-saver" |
