Snapjaw
- This article is about the crocodilian enemy that first appeared in the Donkey Kong Jr. game. For the piranha-like enemy of the same name, see Snapjaw (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest). For the crocodilian enemy from Yoshi's Island DS, see Snap Jaw.
| Snapjaw | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A Snapjaw as seen in artwork for Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) | |||
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Jr. (1982) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024) | ||
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Snapjaws[1] are enemies which appear in the Donkey Kong and Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. They are mechanical creatures that resemble a cross between an alligator and a living bear trap. They attack with gnashing teeth and are able to travel along vines.
History
Donkey Kong series
Donkey Kong Jr.
Snapjaws first appear in the game Donkey Kong Jr. Here, they are used by Mario in an attempt to defeat Donkey Kong Jr. Like the ape, Snapjaws can climb vines. Whereas blue Snapjaws simply fall off a vine when they reach the end of it, the red variety thrown by Mario can continually climb up and down vines and move on platforms. Snapjaws can only be defeated by dropping fruit on top of them. In this game, they appear as fanged monsters with a chain behind them, similar to Chain Chomps.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
In the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong, Snapjaws appear in Stage 2-4 in the Forest and three stages of the Jungle. They act much as they do in their previous appearance, and Snapjaws thrown by Donkey Kong act like the blue ones of Donkey Kong Jr.; however, as color is unused to differentiate between enemy types, these Snapjaws have spiked bodies and shorter snouts. Snapjaws can be defeated with fruit or a hammer. They are said to have become Donkey Kong's companion and betrayed Mario.[2]
Captain N: The Game Master
Snapjaws appear in the episode titled "Queen of the Apes" of Captain N: The Game Master. Like many entities in the series, they are very off-model, being depicted as piranhas with large underbites (incidentally similar to the creature of the same name from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest).
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Snapjaws reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong. They appear in Donkey Kong Jungle, and have spikes instead of chains. They act similarly to normal red Snapjaws, but move at a less rapid speed when going down a vine, and can change direction in the middle of a vine. The ones that appear in the fifth stage have a red and green coloration, whereas Donkey Kong tosses Snapjaws with a blue and purple palette in the DK stage. These Snapjaws do not fall off their vine; rather, they will climb up a vine approximately twice, at which point they will vanish. Unlike in the Game Boy Donkey Kong, Snapjaws can be defeated with fruit, but not a hammer.
The Nintendo Switch version gives Snapjaws a new design that makes the teeth on the respective upper and lower jaws the same color as said jaws, as well as making them flatter to give them more of a toy-like appearance than the games that came before it. However, their design remains largely faithful to both the original game's sequel and its DSi counterpart.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Snapjaws reappear in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis floor Jungle Hijinks, having a slightly updated appearance. During levels, they eat leafy vines as they move through them, and if a Mini Mario touches one, the Mini Mario will be defeated. During the boss battle against Donkey Kong, three of them repeatedly travel down and up ropes, and fruit can once again defeat them.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
Snapjaws reappear in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! floor Jungle Rumble. They serve a similar capacity in the boss battle against Donkey Kong, except they spawn from the top of the ropes over time.
WarioWare: Move It!
A Snapjaw appears in the WarioWare: Move It! microgame Donkey Kong Jr., where it is seen giving chase. Donkey Kong Jr. should climb up the vines and reach the platform without getting caught by the Snapjaw, because otherwise, it will instantly defeat him, resulting in a loss.
Other appearances
A Snapjaw is depicted as the SHOW option's cursor in the Game Boy Camera accessory.
Profiles and statistics
Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten
Gallery
Donkey Kong Jr.
Mario with a Snapjaw in Donkey Kong Jr.
Concept artwork of Snapjaws in Captain N: The Game Master
A manga scene featuring Snapjaws, from Super Mario Encyclopedia: Complete Edition
Artwork from Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
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Additional names
Internal names
| Game | File | Name | Meaning
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis | data/data/anims/alligator_anim.bin | alligator | - |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) | Model/Snapjaw.bfres.zs | Snapjaw | - |
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | スナップジョー[3] / スナップジョウ[2] Sunappujō |
Snapjaw | |
| かみつきワニ[4] Kamitsuki Wani |
Snapping Crocodile | ||
| Chinese (simplified) | 猛游食人鱼[13] Měngyóu Shírényú |
Literally "Fiercely Swimming Piranha" | |
| French | Mâchoire[5][6] | Jawbone | |
| Mâchoire d'Acier[5] | Steel Jawbone | ||
| German | Beißer[5] | Biter | |
| Krokodil[7] | Crocodile | ||
| Italian | Mandibola Mangiagorilla[8] | Gorilla-eater Jaw | |
| Mordimordi[5] | Bitebite | ||
| Tagliola[9][10] | Beartrap | ||
| Minicoccodrillo[11][12] | Minicrocodile | ||
| Spanish | Mandibula[5] | Mandible |
References
- ^ Donkey Kong Jr. NES English instruction booklet. Page 5.
- ^ a b Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDaijiten - ^ Japanese arcade instruction card, Famicom manual, and FDS manual for Donkey Kong Jr.
- ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Shogakukan book
- ^ a b c d e Donkey Kong Junior Atari computer version manual (International)
- ^ French ColecoVision manual
- ^ German ColecoVision manual
- ^ Donkey Kong Jr. (NES), back of the Italian box
- ^ Donkey Kong Jr. Italian booklet
- ^ Donkey Kong II Italian booklet
- ^ Donkey Kong Jr. (3DS - Virtual Console) Italian e-manual. Page 8.
- ^ Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online - Sali e scendi con liane e catene e destreggiati fra le varie insidie, schivando disgustose bestiole come minicoccodrilli e volatili per arrivare alle chiavi che aprono la gabbia in cui è rinchiuso Donkey Kong.
- ^ GAME&WATCH. ique.com. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
| Donkey Kong Jr. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong Jr. • Donkey Kong • Mario | |
| Enemies | Bird • Drop* • Egg • Nitpicker • Snapjaw • Spark | |
| Items | Fruit • Key | |
| Objects | Chain • Jump Board • Pole | |
| Rounds | Vine Scene • Jump Board Scene • Mario's Hideout • Chain Scene | |
| Other | Gallery • Media • Pre-release and unused content • Staff | |
| Donkey Kong | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong • Mario • Pauline |
| Levels | 25m • 50m • 75m • 100m |
| Items and objects | Bolt • Conveyor Belt • Hammer • Ladder • Lift • Parasol, Hat & Bag |
| Enemies and obstacles | Barrel • Cement tub • Fire • Fireball • Jack • Oil drum |
| Other | 25m Theme • Gallery • Media • Opening • Staff |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Mario • Pauline • Donkey Kong • Toads |
| Minis | Mini Mario • Mini Toad • Mini Peach • Mini Donkey Kong |
| Floors | Mini Mayhem • Sandstone Stroll • Magnet Mania • Jungle Rumble • Rooftop • Basement |
| Items and objects | Blue Spring • Box Spring • Cannon • Clock • Coin (large) • Color Switch • Conveyor Belt • Door • Girder • Hammer • Key • Key Door • Ladder • M-Token • Magnet • Mini Mario Card • Pink Block • Pokey Block • Pop-up Gate • Rotate Pipe • Shy Guy Block • Spike • Spin-bar magnet • Warp Pipe • Yellow Spring |
| Enemies | Monkey robots (Capture Kong · Circus Kong) • Bird • Piranha Plant (fire) • Pokey • Polterguy • Snapjaw • Snifit • Spear Guy • Thwomp |
| Miscellaneous | Media • Staff • Super Mini Mario World |
