Spindel
Spindel
Model from Super Mario 64 DS
First appearance Super Mario 64 (1996)
Latest appearance Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020)
Variant of Grindel
Relatives

A Spindel[1] is a type of Grindel that appears in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. It is a cylindrical creature made of stone that continuously rolls over the same stretch of territory. Its name comes from "spindle," which is the part of a spinning wheel that holds the yarn that is being spun. A Spindel also resembles a giant cylinder with a thread of yarn spun around it but with a face. A lone Spindel appears exclusively in the pyramid of Shifting Sand Land, where it can be found rolling back and forth in one section of the pyramid. There is a safe spot where Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario can hide to avoid being squished, though if one of them does get squished, he loses three wedges from his Power Meter.

A Spindel appears in volume 16 of the Super Mario-kun manga. It tries squashing Mario and the Bob-omb Buddy accompanying him, but it fails and crashes.

Enemies with similar functions to Spindels, called Rhomps, appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Gallery

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ドングル[?]
Donguru
Portmanteau of「ドン」(don, onomatopoeia for colliding) and「グルグル」(guru-guru, onomatopoeia for spinning); also follows the format of「ドンカク」(Donkaku, "Grindel")
German Walzen-Walter[2] From walzen ("to roll") and the male given name "Walter"
Italian Spindel[3] -

References

  1. ^ Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 12.
  2. ^ Kraft, John D., Thomas Görg, and Marko Hein, editors (1997). Der offizielle Nintendo 64 Spieleberater "Super Mario 64". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 9.
  3. ^ 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 978-8893674362. Page 86.