Pokey (projectile)

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This article is about the Pokey projectile. For the Lakitu projectile also referred to as "Needlenose", see Spiny Egg § Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.
Pokey
Sprite of a green Needlenose in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Sprite of a yellow Needlenose in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
First appearance Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
Latest appearance Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (spirit cameo) (2018)
Variant of Spiked Fun Guy (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)
Variants
Relatives
Comparable

The projectile variety of Pokeys,[1][2] initially referred to as Needlenoses[3] or Needles,[3] is a type of small round enemy first appearing in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. These Pokeys are yellow or green cacti shaped like spiky balls with smiling faces, commonly thrown by certain enemies to attack a Yoshi.

History[edit]

Yoshi's Island series[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

A Needlenose bouncing on a Pokey.

Both the green and yellow variations of Needlenoses debut in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and reappear in its reissue as common enemies. Yellow Needlenoses are spat out by Blow Hards and Wild Ptooie Piranhas in a Yoshi's direction. When they hit a surface or a Yoshi, they pop and disappear.

Green Needlenoses are often seen bouncing on top of Pokey cacti, dropped by Baron von Zeppelins, or thrown by Seedy Sallies. They are also spat out by Sanbo Flowers if a Yoshi has fewer than six eggs, with the unique property of briefly bouncing upon contact with the ground before falling off the screen as opposed to outright popping.

Needlenoses damage a Yoshi on contact. However, they can be defeated by eating and spitting them at other enemies, turning them into eggs, or throwing an egg at them.

Yoshi's Island DS[edit]

Pokeys in the game Yoshi's Island DS.

Both varieties of Pokeys reappear in Yoshi's Island DS under their current name, reprising their role from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. While Blow Hards, Wild Ptooie Piranhas, and Baron von Zeppelins return, Pokey cacti are absent. Yellow Pokeys are also used by Priscilla the Peckish to attack.

Yoshi's New Island[edit]

A green Pokey from Yoshi's New IslandA yellow Pokey from Yoshi's New Island

Pokeys reappear in Yoshi's New Island with the same purpose from previous games. Wild Ptooie Piranhas do not appear here, but green Pokeys are still found with Pokey cacti and Baron von Zeppelins.

Sanbo Flowers appear only during Kamek's battle in Slime Drop Drama, and they spit out yellow Pokeys instead of green ones as in previous games.

Yoshi Touch & Go[edit]

Needlenose from Yoshi Touch & Go

In Yoshi Touch & Go, Needlenoses appear as projectiles tossed out by Ukikis. Needlenoses can be destroyed by throwing eggs at them.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

A yellow Pokey appears in the artwork used for Ukiki's spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Profiles[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island[edit]

  • Player's Guide: Nothing puts a smile on Needle's face like a chance to puncture Yoshi's party.[3]

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

  • Shogakukan guide: ちいさくてもサボテン。ふむとイタいにあうぞ!風船ふうせんにぶらがっててきたり、はちっててくることもある。[4] (A rather small cactus. You'll be sorry if you step on it! It sometimes hangs from a balloon or rides in a pot.)

Gallery[edit]

Additional names[edit]

Internal names[edit]

Game File Name Meaning

Yoshi's New Island content0.game/romfs/houdaisanbo_ball.bch.z houdaisanbo_ball Blow Hard Ball

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese サンボ[4][5]
Sanbo
Pokey; seen as a counterpart to Spiked Fun Guy

References[edit]

  1. ^ Williams, Drew. Yoshi's Island DS Player's Guide. Pages 34, 59, 76, 93, 94, 124, 127, 138.
  2. ^ Black, Fletcher. Yoshi's Island DS PRIMA Official Game Guide. Pages 136, 224, 227, 286, 299.
  3. ^ a b c Miller, Kent, and Terry Munson. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Player's Guide. Page 127.
  4. ^ a b 「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), page 16.
  5. ^ 「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 61.