Proto Piranha

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"Gatekeeper" redirects here. For the variant of Pi'illos, see Deco Pi'illo.
Proto Piranha
A Gatekeeper in Super Mario Sunshine.
A Gatekeeper in Super Mario Sunshine
First appearance Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
Latest appearance Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020)
Variant of Piranha Plant
Relatives

A Proto Piranha, originally known as a Gatekeeper[1][2] and also known as a Proto Piranha Plant,[3] is a large species of Piranha Plant composed entirely of goop. Proto Piranhas appear as enemies in Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Power Tennis, and Mario Golf: Advance Tour.

History

Super Mario Sunshine

In Super Mario Sunshine, Gatekeepers appear out of Generators in several areas towards the beginning of the game. To get a Gatekeeper to come out of its base, Mario has to spray it with FLUDD until it comes out. In order to defeat one, Mario must use FLUDD to shoot water into its open mouth repeatedly. If Mario sprays one while its mouth is closed, it merely shrugs the attack off. Once defeated, Gatekeepers dissolve into goop, after which their base disappears; Mario cannot wash away a goop base as he can with normal goop. Aside from periodically spawning Swoopin' Stus, a Gatekeeper does nothing to attack, and it actually retreats back into its base if Mario does not defeat it in time.

There are three types of Gatekeepers in the game:

  • Pink, yellow, orange, and white Gatekeepers are the most basic variant, needing to be sprayed three times to be defeated. Only one appears at the Delfino Airstrip at the beginning of the game.
  • The brown-and-white variants are found in Bianco Square and during the first episode of Bianco Hills, Road to the Big Windmill. Like the above variant, it requires three sprays to be defeated. The one in Bianco Square sends out Swoopin' Stus if left alone, and the one in Bianco Hills sends out Piranhabons rolling down the hill.
  • The black variants are found only in Delfino Plaza, covering the boathouse to Ricco Harbor when the player has three Shine Sprites, and the lighthouse to Gelato Beach when the player has five Shine Sprites. These require six sprays to defeat, and they send out Swoopin' Stus. The one guarding the lighthouse additionally sends out a wave of Swoopin' Stus in every direction after the third spray. Additionally, they can replenish goop sprayed away from directly around their bases. However, despite blocking access to new levels, they do not have to be fought as they vanish upon Mario obtaining a Shine Sprite.

The brown Gatekeeper in Bianco Hills is the only one that can be fought multiple times, due to it being the only one in a replayable episode, while the rest are fought in Delfino Plaza or on the Delfino Airstrip to unlock portals to other areas.

Mario Golf series

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, the name "Proto Piranha" appears on the leaderboard.

Mario Golf: Advance Tour

In Mario Golf: Advance Tour, Proto Piranhas appear in the Mushroom Course along with many regular Piranha Plants. They are found outside of the course itself.

Mario Power Tennis

In Mario Power Tennis, Petey Piranha's Defensive Power Shot, Piranha Swingback, involves him creating a Proto Piranha to hit an unreachable tennis ball for him.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Proto Piranhas are mentioned briefly by Viridi during Palutena's Guidance dialogue for Piranha Plant.

Gallery

Additional names

Internal names

Game File Name Meaning

Super Mario Sunshine gatekeeper/gene_pakkun_model1[4] Gatekeeper / Gene Pakkun Gatekeeper / Generator Piranha

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ドロドロパックン[?]
Dorodoro Pakkun
Goop Piranha
ドロパックン (Mario Power Tennis)[?]
Doro Pakkun
Mud Piranha
Dutch Proto Piranha[?] -
German Schleim-Piranha[?] Slime Piranha
Italian Fangopiranha
Pianta Piranha di fiume[6] (translation error)
Mudpiranha
River Piranha Plant
Russian протопиранья[?]
protopiran'ya
Protopiranha
Spanish (NOA) Piraña sucia[?] Filthy piranha
Spanish (NOE) Piraña Lodo[?] Mud Piranha

References

  1. ^ Loe, Casey. Super Mario Sunshine Perfect Guide. Page 14.
  2. ^ Bogenn, Tim, and Doug Walsh. Super Mario Sunshine BradyGames Official Strategy Guide. Page 19.
  3. ^ Downloadable PDF featuring bingo cards themed after Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Play Nintendo. Retrieved October 27, 2020. (Archived November 5, 2020, 02:38:20 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  4. ^ Super Mario Sunshine, internal filename root/data/scene/airport0.szs/scene/gatekeeper/gene_pakkun_model1.bmd
  5. ^ Super Mario Encyclopedia, pag. 100
  6. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Page 100.