Polterguy

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Polterguy
A Polterguy from Mario vs. Donkey Kong on Nintendo Switch.
Artwork of a Polterguy from Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
First appearance Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004)
Latest appearance Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024)
Variant of Boo Guy

Polterguys[1] (also known as Phantom Guys)[2][3] are toylike Boo Guys that appear only in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Their usual name is a portmanteau of "poltergeist", referring to their spectral appearance, and "Shy Guy", which they are based on.

History[edit]

Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]

Polterguy
The Spooky House boss fight in Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Polterguys are visible in both forms here.
Both forms of Polterguy in Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Polterguys first appear as enemies in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and are found in Spooky House. Like other enemies in the game, if Mario comes in contact with them in their standard form, he loses a life. Polterguys cannot be defeated; instead, when Mario presses a Color Switch of the same color as a Polterguy, it turns into a harmless block that Mario can stand on. However, Polterguys in this form will revert to their standard form if Mario presses a Color Switch of a different color than the Polterguy.

Polterguys also appear in Spooky House's boss stage, Level 4-DK. These Polterguys now have flame-like auras similar to Pyro Guys, though this is only a visual effect, and the usual animation plays if Mario loses a life by coming in contact with them. As they float around in a set pattern, Donkey Kong hits one of three Color Switches, transforming the Polterguy of that color into a regular Shy Guy, which Mario can pick up and throw at Donkey Kong to damage him.

Polterguys reprise their role in the game's Nintendo Switch remake of the same name.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[edit]

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Polterguys are known as Phantom Guys and appear in Spooky Attic. They mostly retain their appearance and movement patterns from the last game, serving as enemies that can be turned into platforms for Minis to walk on. In the Construction Zone, Phantom Guys can be used in the Spooky Attic construction kit and Special Kit 3.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![edit]

Polterguys appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, where they now have active wind-up keys on their backs like their walking counterparts. They are also less transparent and have a spectral, vaguely fiery aura that resembles their boss stage appearance from the first game. In addition, they remain in the same spot rather than move in a given pattern, though they still turn to face any Minis present. They are first encountered in Room 4-5.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![edit]

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, blue Polterguys appear as enemies in Area 4-DK. When Donkey Kong summons a Polterguy from a Shy Guy portrait, it simply falls down until it hits ground or girders, then disappears. A Mini Mario breaks if it touches a Polterguy.

Gallery[edit]

Additional names[edit]

Internal names[edit]

Game File Name Meaning

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis data/data/anims/polterguy_anim.bin polterguy Polterguy
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) Model/ShyGuyGhost_Shared.bfres.zs ShyGuyGhost Ghost Shy Guy

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ゆーれいヘイホー[4][5]
Yūrei Heihō
ファイヤーゆーれいヘイホー[6]
Faiyā Yūrei Heihō

Same as Boo Guy

Fire Boo Guy (4-DK)

Italian Tipo Spettro
Spectre Guy; shared with Ghost Guy
Spanish Personaje de color[7]
FantasGuy[8]
Colored character (4-DK)
PhantomGuy

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Polterguy – Mini Mario will burn if he is touched by a Polterguy! Step on a color switch to turn all the Polterguys of that color into blocks. Polterguy cannot be hurt by the hammer." - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! help menu, tab 7: "Enemies" (American English version)
  2. ^ "22. Phantom Guys" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis help
  3. ^ "Phantom Guy – Mini Marios will burn if they touch a Phantom Guy! Step on a coloured switch to turn all the Phantom Guys of that colour into blocks. Phantom Guys cannot be hurt by hammers." - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! help menu, tab 7: "Enemies" (British English version)
  4. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Shogakukan book
  5. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 Shogakukan book
  6. ^ Scan of 「マリオvs.ドンキ—コングかんぺきガイドブック」 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong Kanpeki Guidebook)
  7. ^ Official Mario vs. Donkey Kong website (Guías Nintendo)
  8. ^ "22. FantasGuys" - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis help