Skeleton Key
| Skeleton Key | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Super Mario Party Jamboree | |
| First appearance | Mario Party 2 (1999) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024) |
| Effect | Opens a gate |
- “I truly enjoyed the time we shared. I miss the way the inside of your pocket smells.”
- —Skeleton Key, Mario Party Superstars
The Skeleton Key is a key in the Mario Party series. It is named after an actual kind of key used on some types of locks. The Skeleton Key can unlock special doors throughout the various boards, usually for opening up secret paths or shortcuts. To use a Skeleton Key, a player must reach a door and choose to use it. Its dialogue characterizes it as enjoying its holder's company, showing relief when the user refuses to unlock a door, and feeling sorrowful when used.
Skeleton Keys are replaced by Mini Mushrooms in Mario Party 4, which allow access to new paths via tiny pipes.
History[edit]
Mario Party 2[edit]
In Mario Party 2, the Skeleton Key has a golden bow on its head and is Luigi's favorite item. It is always for sale at Item Shops. The exception to this rule are the shops in Bowser Land where Baby Bowser forces players to buy a particular item, though he can force a player to buy a Skeleton Key. The only way to discard an unwanted Skeleton Key is by using it on a door, even if the player does not wish to travel through it.
Mario Party 3[edit]
In Mario Party 3, the Skeleton Key was redesigned to have big black eyebrows instead and continues to be Luigi's favorite item. It is always for sale at Item Shops, regardless of whether or not Toad or Koopa Kid is running it. Unlike Mario Party 2, it is possible for players to "use" a Skeleton Key on their turn like a normal item, which gives them the option to throw it away.
Mario Party Superstars[edit]
In Mario Party Superstars, the Skeleton Key returns with its Mario Party 2 design. It can be discarded the same way as in that game if the player has no use for it.
Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]
In Super Mario Party Jamboree, the Skeleton Key once again returns with its Mario Party 2 design.[1] It is one of eight items that can be selected to start a game using Pro Rules, but only on Western Land and King Bowser's Keep, as they are the only boards with gates.
In Party-Planner Trek, Kamek is in possession of a Skeleton Key in King Bowser's Keep, which is given to the player to use on a gate. This particular key, however, has a request to make before it can be used: it has a dream to ride the red pipe one more time. After temporarily making the Goomba that is in front of it move, the player and the Skeleton Key go through the red pipe, fulfilling its dream and finally allowing it to be used on the gate, with it saying that it knew that they would come to the gate eventually.
Price[edit]
The following is a price list showing how much the Skeleton Key costs within the Item Shop in each game.| Game | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Party 2 | 10 Coins | 12 Coins if purchased in Bowser Land. |
| Mario Party 3 | 5 Coins | |
| Mario Party Superstars | 3 Coins | Only available in Space Land, Horror Land and Woody Woods. |
| Super Mario Party Jamboree | 3 Coins | Only available on Western Land and King Bowser's Keep in Koopa's Shops. |
Profiles[edit]
Mario Party 2[edit]
- Manual description: "Use this Item to open Locked Gates on the ADVENTURE BOARDS. This can only be used when you are in front of a Locked Gate."[2]
Mario Party 3[edit]
- Manual description: "The Skeleton Key unlocks gates to certain paths on the boards. It's a must for shortcut lovers."[3]
Mario Party Superstars / Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]
- In-game description: "Open a gate. Can only be used when you're next to a gate."
Gallery[edit]
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 3
Mario Party Superstars
Mario Party Superstars
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アカズキーちゃん[?] Akazukīchan |
Pun on「開かず」(akazu, "can't open"), "key", and「赤ずきんちゃん」(Akazukin-chan, "Little Red Riding Hood") | Mario Party 2 / Mario Party Superstars |
| キーマン[?] Kīman |
Key Man | Mario Party 3 | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 开不开钥匙[?] Kāi bù kāi yàoshi |
Can't open the key | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 開不開鑰匙[?] Kāi bù kāi yàoshi |
Can't open the key | |
| Dutch | Hoofdsleutel[?] | Means "main key" or "head key" | |
| French (NOA) | Passe-partout[4] | Skeleton Key | |
| French (NOE) | Clé squelette[5] | Skeleton Key | |
| Clé Squelette[?] | Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3 | ||
| German | Generalschlüssel[6] | Master Key | |
| Skelett-Schlüssel[?] | Literally means "Skeleton Key" | Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3 | |
| Italian | Schelechiave[?] | Skele-key | Mario Party 2 |
| Chiave[?] | Key | Mario Party Superstars | |
| Korean | 게이트 키[?] Geiteu Ki |
Gate Key | |
| Portuguese | Chave mestra[?] | Master Key | |
| Russian | Мастер-ключ[?] Master Klyuch |
Master Key | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Llave maestra[?] | Master Key | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Llave maestra[?] | Master Key | Since Mario Party Superstars |
| Llave Skeleton[?] | Skeleton Key | Mario Party 2 | |
| Llave Esqueleto[?] | Mario Party 3 |
References[edit]
- ^ Super Mario Party Jamboree boxart
- ^ 2000. Mario Party 2 Instruction Booklet (PDF). Nintendo (English) via Nintendo of Europe. Page 14. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ 2001. Mario Party 3 Instruction Booklet (PDF). Nintendo of America (English) via Internet Archive. Page 22. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Polo (November 10, 2021). JE SUIS DEVENU UN PRO SUR MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EN LIGNE ! (12:29). YouTube (French). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Guillaume & Kim (October 30, 2021). MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EPISODE 2 : STATION SPATIALE (NINTENDO SWITCH) (22:55). YouTube (French). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Domtendo (November 4, 2021). MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS 🎲 #13: Astronomische Party im Space Land (7:44). YouTube (German). Retrieved September 25, 2024.
| Mario Party 2 | |
|---|---|
| Main characters | Mario • Luigi • Princess Peach • Yoshi • Wario • Donkey Kong |
| Other characters | Bowser • Toad • Goomba • Boo • Koopa Troopa • Thwomp • Kamek • Whomp • Big Boo • Mr. I • Mushroom Genie • Steamer • Snifit Patrol • Shy Guy • Sushi • Baby Bowser • Woody • Professor Fungi • Battle T. • Totem Bros. |
| Items | Mushroom • Skeleton Key • Plunder Chest • Dueling Glove • Warp Block • Golden Mushroom • Magic Lamp • Boo Bell • Bowser Suit • Bowser Bomb |
| Spaces | Blue Space • Red Space • Item Space • Happening Space • Battle Space • Bowser Space • Star Space • Chance Time Space • Bank Space |
| Boards | Pirate Land • Western Land • Space Land • Mystery Land • Horror Land • Bowser Land • Rules Land |
| Other | Crazy Counting • Dinky Rinky • Goodness Rakes • Melon Mayhem • Nomiss • Gallery • Mario Land • Media • Minigames • Pre-release and unused content • Quotes • Sound test • Staff |
