Chargin' Chuck
Chargin' Chucks (sometimes referred to as Koopa Football Players) are a type of Koopa who wear American football gear. They have a variety of attacks and sports based weaponry, such as damaging baseballs and footballs.
Chargin's Chucks first appeared in Super Mario World as common enemies, who were quite durable against damage. Chargin' Chucks could attack in a variety of ways, including throwing baseballs, kicking footballs and flinging rocks with a shovel. They can also break through rotating blocks and grab blocks. Other types have more bizarre attack patterns, such as splitting into three and charging forward and summoning or alerting other nearby enemies, such as Super Koopas and Rip Van Fish, using a whistle; one type of Chargin' Chuck also has the habit of jumping in place and clapping. Aside from the whistling Chargin' Chucks, all Chargin' Chucks, once jumped on, will revert to simply trying to tackle the player. They were often placed at the end of a level, defending the Giant Gate. It takes three jumps on Chargin Chuck's head to defeat him. Fire Mario's fireballs can defeat a Chargin' Chuck with five hits, and they can also be defeated by one cape swing by Cape Mario.
In the Mario Mania Player's Guide, the different types of Chargin' Chucks were each given individual names:
- Clappin' Chucks: By jumping and clapping over their heads, these tacklers attempt to take down heroes on the high road.
- Splittin' Chucks: As if one football freak isn't enough, these creatures split into triplets and charge when you draw near.
- Passin' Chucks: By tossing out a barrage of killer footballs, these kooky quarterbacks have no need for a defensive line.
- Lookout Chucks: Keeping an eye open for Dinosaur Land trespassers, the Lookout Chucks will charge as soon as they see you.
- Confused Chucks: While they continue to wear football gear, these wacky characters have switched sports and toss baseballs.
- Diggin' Chucks: Some Chargin' Chucks in the Dinosaur Land underground dig up rocks and toss them at passing plumbers.
Chargin' Chucks also appeared in the Super Mario World animated series, where they were referred to as Koopa Football Players. Due to the fact that the Koopa Football Players appeared throughout several episodes of Super Mario World, they appeared to have replaced Goombas and Koopa Troopas, who made relatively few appearances on the show, as Bowser's main shock troops.
In the Super Mario Adventures comic, several Chargin' Chucks, along with several Thwomps, are summoned by Wendy O. Koopa to attack Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, Toad and Friendly Floyd during the battle in the Koopaling's Tower.
In Yoshi's Safari, a Chargin' Chuck, who would attack Mario and Yoshi by throwing bombs while jumping from side-to-side, appears as the boss of Float Castle II. The rushing Chargin' Chucks and the clapping variety also appear in the e-Reader accessible level "Vegetable Volley" in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3.
