Gnat Attack

Gnat Attack gameplay in Mario Paint

Gnat Attack is a minigame originating in Mario Paint, in which the player must swat different fly-like enemies using a flyswatter.

History

Mario Paint

All 15 icons

In Mario Paint, the player controls a gloved hand (similar to the one seen on the title screen) holding a flyswatter using the Super NES Mouse, which must swat flying insects on the screen, before the insect stings the player's hand in one way or another. There are three levels, each with 100 insects; after defeating them, the boss, King Watinga, appears. Completing stages causes characters to walk across the screen. At first, only Mario is seen, then a Koopa Troopa walks next to him, and finally a Goomba, a Spiny, and a Bob-omb. When the player defeats the last boss, it takes them back to level one and adds a small icon in the top left corner of the screen; there is no final level or reward, as the game will loop endlessly, getting slightly harder each time.

In the trailer for the game's Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Classics re-release, Gnat Attack is portrayed as a result of Nintendo staff members neglecting to clear up the garbage can in the breakroom, which attracted flies.

WarioWare series

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!

Gnat Attack was modified into both a microgame and a bonus minigame in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, under the names Mario Paint: Fly Swatter and plain Fly Swatter, respectively. The microgame involved shooting the flies as they flew past a fixed target, while the minigame was more faithful to Gnat Attack's gameplay.

WarioWare: D.I.Y.

In WarioWare: D.I.Y., Gnat Attack was modified into a microgame, under the name Fly Swatter.

WarioWare Gold

In WarioWare Gold, Gnat Attack was modified into a microgame, under the name Mario Paint - Flyswatter.

Super Mario Maker

Gnat Attack in Super Mario Maker

Gnat Attack makes a return in Super Mario Maker. The minigame is triggered when the player taps and kills all three flies that appear during the editing mode at one particular time. The flies appear either after waiting 15 minutes while leaving the game idle, moving a block, or shaking a Muncher several times; the second method only works at random, and the third is the fastest in terms of effectiveness. Swatting all three flies using the touchscreen will trigger the minigame. It is split into three stages, with King Watinga appearing in the third stage, like in Mario Paint; each stage is completed once all of the flies in it are swatted, like in the SNES version. Since the game now uses the stylus in place of a mouse, there is no mouse cursor and therefore no need for health; instead, each stage is given a 30-second time limit. The Builder Mario costume for Costume Mario is unlocked upon beating the third stage of this game for the first time. Upon losing any stage or winning the third, the player is given an option to restart at Level 1 or quit to the editor; the game can also be exited early by pausing and touching the can of insect repellent.

The 1.20 update for Super Mario Maker released on November 4, 2015 adds a more challenging version of Gnat Attack with a pink background. It is accessible by shaking a Muncher until King Watinga spawns, then swatting him several times. Completing this mode will unlock the Fighter Fly costume for Costume Mario.

Gnat Attack does not reappear in the Nintendo 3DS version or Super Mario Maker 2.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Artwork of the Flies & Hand Assist Trophy

Elements of the minigame appear as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, under the name Flies & Hand. The flyswatter will hurt any enemies that make contact with it trying to hit the flies.

Unused appearances

Gnat Attack in the Mario Artist: Paint Studio prototype

Gnat Attack appears in an early prototype build of Mario Artist: Paint Studio found and preserved in June 2020. It was completely removed in the final product. Like in Mario Paint, the minigame has three levels, though it also has a dedicated boss level at the end before looping endlessly. In addition, the different levels take place throughout the different rooms of a house. The levels start in a bathroom, before progressing to a bedroom, a kitchen, and ending in a living room. Additionally, the flies have a different appearance.

Enemies

Image		Name	Description
Mario Paint	Super Mario Maker
		Fly	Flies across screen; cannot harm the hand.
	N/A	Fly (big)	Can fire projectiles that harm the hand. Does not appear in Super Mario Maker.
		Fly Parent	Births Fly Children if not swatted quickly. In Super Mario Maker, they appear in the second stage.
		Fly Child	Birthed from Fly Parents and King Watinga. In Mario Paint, they serve as projectiles that harm the hand; in Super Mario Maker, they serve as additional enemies that need to be swatted.
		Fly Bomb	Homes in and explodes when they get too close to the hand. Their explosions can harm the hand. In Super Mario Maker, they appear during the third stage and deduct one second from the timer if they explode. They also appear en masse in every stage in Hard Mode.
		King Watinga	The minigame's boss. In Mario Paint, he fires projectiles at the hand and takes 20 swats to kill. In Super Mario Maker, he spawns Fly Children and vanishes until all the children are swatted.

Statistics

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Spirit #117 Flies & Hand
	Series/game	Mario Paint Series
	Type	Support
	Slots	1
	Class	Advanced
	Strength / effect(s)	Battering Items ↑
	How to obtain	Beedle's Tent; Spirit Board
Spirit battle	Opponent(s)	Giant Donkey Kong, Dark Pit ×4
	Conditions	Rule: Assist Trophy Enemies (Flies & Hand); Item: Food Survive until the timer runs out Hostile assist trophies will appear
	Stage	Living Room
	Song	Mario Paint Medley

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Note(s)	Ref.
Japanese	ゲーム Gēmu	Game
	ハエタタキ Haetataki	Flyswatter	Nintendo Music
	Fly Attack	-
French	Attaque des moucherons	Gnat Attack		[?]
Italian	Gnat Attack	-
	Splattamosca	Splat-fly	Super Mario Maker
Portuguese (European)	Ataque aos Insetos	Attack against Insects

See also

• Big Bug Bash!: A bonus game in Donkey Kong 64 that plays similarly.