Spear Guy: Difference between revisions

{{distinguish|[[Giant spear man]]}}

|latest_appearance=[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'']] ([[Nintendo Switch]]) ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])

|variants=[[Chuck Guy]]<br>[[Dancing Spear Guy]]<br>[[Hook Guy]]<br>[[Paper Spear Guy]]

|comparable=[[Sairesu]]<br>[[Skellobit]]

'''Spear Guys'''<ref name=guide>Miller, Kent, and Terry Munson. ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' Player's Guide. [[Media:SMW2 Guide 128.jpg|Page 128]].</ref> are tribal [[Shy Guy]]s found in the jungles of various games. Spear Guys are identical to typical Shy Guys, though they wield a spear and shield, and usually wear grass skirts and have painted marks on their masks. Their designs take after stock depictions of sub-Saharan African warriors in Western media, particularly the {{wp|Maasai people}} in eastern Africa and the {{wp|Zulu people}} in southern Africa. Similar enemies include [[Chuck Guy]]s and their [[Elite Chuck Guy|Elite]] counterparts from ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' and [[Hook Guy]]s from ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]''.

===''Yoshi's Island'' series===

Spear Guys make their debut in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' and return in its [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|Game Boy Advance version]]. as enemies of several levels, mainly jungle levels. They can only be defeated by being hit with an egg or eaten with [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]]'s tongue from behind because their shields will block attacks from the front. Spear Guys sometimes have long spears that can make an obstacle for Yoshi to jump over or avoid, as touching any part of the spear can cause Baby Mario to fall off of him and get kidnapped.

Without [[Spike Shield]], Mario cannot [[Jump]] on these Spear Guys when they hold their spear vertically, or use his [[Hammer]] while their spear faces him. They sometimes switch the position of their spear, indicating which attack they will do next and forcing Mario to change his battle strategy.

Spear Guys along with Shy Guys, [[Stilt Guy]]s, and [[Fly Guy]]s were [[list of Super Paper Mario pre-release and unused content|originally]] going to appear in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', but were taken out for unknown reasons.

Spear Guys make a short appearance in the [[minigame|mini-game]] [[Paddle Battle]] from the original ''[[Mario Party]]'', which attack the characters with their spears if the character(s) on one side get too close to a Spear Guy. The Spear Guys make the single character lose three coins to the other team of three, and make the team lose one coin each to the single character.

 

In ''[[Mario Party 2]]'', the mask of a Spear Guy appears near the start of [[Pirate Land]].

In ''[[Mario Party Advance]]'', the [[Spear Thicket]] contains a Spear Guy warrior that wants to challenge anyone with a mustache to a duel. When first approached, he comments on whether or not the current character has a mustache. If they do not (either [[Princess Peach]] or [[Yoshi]]), he says that he wants a fight, but that their lack of a mustache makes them an unworthy opponent. If they do (either [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]]), he challenges them to a duel, saying that if he wins, he will be just as brave. He also says that if they win the duel, they can keep the minigame ([[Tank-Down]]). After winning the duel, he is impressed by their skill and sticks to his promise, giving them the game. He then compliments them before asking them to come back for a rematch. The ending credits state that, to this day, Spear Guy lurks in the thicket, waiting for someone else with a mustache to pass by.

[[File:Spear Guy Orb.jpg|thumb|Spear Guy in ''Mario Party 7'' is a part of the Spear Guy Orb item]]

A Spear Guy functions as the shop owner in [[DK's Treetop Temple]] from ''[[Mario Party 8]]''. He sells the player [[Candy (Mario Party 8)|Candy]]. A certain [[Event Space|Green Space]] also causes a Spear Guy (also referred to as Pike Guy)<ref>Black, Fletcher. ''Mario Party 8'' PRIMA Official Game Guide. Page 22.</ref> to appear and take away one of the player's Candies, but give them [[coin]]s in return.

Spear Guy makes short appearances in ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]''. Here, for his [[Power Shot (Mario Tennis series)|offensive]] and [[Power Shot (Mario Tennis series)|defensive]] power shots, [[Shy Guy]] will momentarily transform into Spear Guy and use his spear to hit the ball. This was similarly inspired for [[Fly Guy]]'s [[Special Shot]] in ''[[Mario Hoops 3-on-3]]'', [[Thunder Shot]], but he merely wields a spear that turns the basketball yellow with electricity.

 

 

In ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!]]'', Spear Guys, also dubbed Shy Guys,<ref>"''Shy Guy – Shy Guys prevent Mini Mario from reaching certain areas by patrolling back and forth. Take them out with a hammer, or step on a red color switch to turn them into blocks, allowing Mini Mario to step over them.''" - ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!'' help (American English version)</ref> are red and act more like the Shy Guys of the [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis|previous game]]. They patrol their area and hold their spears upright, extending their vertical reach slightly and allowing their range to pass through semisolid [[girder]] platforms. Upon activation of a red [[Color Switch]], Spear Guys transform into stationary solid blocks. When in this state, Spear Guys can be used as a step or bridge to cross harmful areas. Spear Guys can be defeated with [[hammer]]s. They first appear in [[Room 2-7 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!)|Room 2-7]] of [[Sandstone Stroll]], but are more prevalent on the [[Jungle Rumble]] floor.

====''Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!''====

Spear Guys do not reappear in ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!]]''; however, within the Shy Guy assets is a [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!#Pre-release and unused content|leftover]] sprite of the spear from ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!''.

Spear Guys, without the tribal theme, appear in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'' in the [[Giant Bowser]] fight. They come out of a castle, either attacking [[Giant Luigi]] or handing out some meat for Giant Bowser.

====''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' / ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''====

*'''Shogakukan guide ([[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|Game Boy Advance version]]):''' 正面はたて、上はヤリで完全武装！でも、後ろに回りこめば、ペロリと食べられる。<ref name=Advance/> (''Fully armed with a shield in front and a spear on top! But if you get behind it, you can eat it with a lick.'')

*'''Shogakukan guide:''' ヤリと盾を装備したヘイホー。ヤリのために上からは踏めず、正面からの攻擊は舌もタマゴも盾で防御される。敵の背後に回りこんでから攻擊しよう。<ref name=YNI>「ヨッシー New アイランド 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (''Yoshi's New Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook''). {{media link|Yoshi New Island Shogakukan P26.jpg|Page 26}}.</ref>(''A Shy Guy equipped with both a spear and shield. Because of its spear, it cannot be stepped on from above. If you attack from the front, their shield will protect them from your tongue and eggs. Try to attack from behind the enemy's back.'')

 

 

===Names in other languages===

====Spear Guy====

|Jap=ヤリホー<ref name=Sho>「スーパーマリオヨッシーアイランド任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (''Super Mario: Yossy Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook''). [[media:Super Mario Yossy Island Shogakukan P5.jpg|Page 5]].</ref><ref name=Advance>「スーパーマリオアドバンス3任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (''Super Mario Advance 3 Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook''). [[media:Advance 3 Shogakukan P23.png|Page 23]].</ref>

|JapR=Yarihō

|JapM=Portmanteau of「槍」(''yari'', "spear") and「ヘイホー」(''Heihō'', "[[Shy Guy#Names in other languages|Shy Guy]]")

|Jap2=ヤリダンサー <small>(''Paper Mario'')</small>

|Jap2R=Yari Dansā

|Jap2M=Spear Dancer

|Jap3=カタカタヤリホー<ref>[[Media:Mvsdk book ii.jpg|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' Shogakukan book]]</ref> <small>(''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'')</small>

|Jap3R=Katakata Yarihō

|Jap3M=Mechanical Spear Guy

====Pike Guy====

|Jap=ヨコヤリホー<ref>「ヨッシーアイランドDS任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (''Yoshi's Island DS Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook''). Page 209.</ref>

[[File:CartoonSpearGuy.jpg|thumb|The grass skirt and spear-wielding Shy Guys from ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'' episode "Jungle Fever".]]