Tap-Tap

Tap-Tap
Artwork of a Tap-Tap from Yoshi Topsy-Turvy
First appearance	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
Latest appearance	Yoshi's Crafted World (2019)
Variants Super Big Tap-Tap
Notable members Tap-Tap the Golden Tap-Tap the Red Nose

Tap-Taps are small, metallic, spike-covered enemies that appear heavily in the Yoshi franchise that walk back and forth, making a distinctive clicking noise as they do. They have large noses and grins and small eyes.

History

Yoshi franchise

Yoshi's Island series

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Tap-Taps first appear in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and return in its enhanced port, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3. Tap-Taps are immune to most direct attacks; if Yoshis attempt to eat a Tap-Tap, they only push the enemy slightly with their tongue. The enemy is also resistant to Yoshi Eggs and Huffin Puffin chicks, although they will be sent rolling backwards if hit with one. To defeat a Tap-Tap, it has to collide with another enemy while rolling. Chomp Rocks, ice breath and fire breath attacks are also capable of defeating a Tap-Tap. Forcing a Tap-Tap into the lava or the water can result in it burning away or drowning. There are two color variations seen in Tap-Taps: gray ones with orange noses and purple feet, and orange ones with green noses and blue feet. Gray ones remain on their platform, while orange ones walk off the platform they are on. This difference in behavior is also seen in green and red Koopa Troopas. Sometimes, they are found hopping up and down; these variants are specified as Hopping Tap-Taps in the Player's Guide.

A Tap-Tap is encountered as a mid-boss called Tap-Tap the Red Nose. A similar enemy is later encountered in King Bowser's Castle, known as Tap-Tap the Golden.

Yoshi's Island DS

Tap-Taps additionally appear in Yoshi's Island DS, acting the same as before. An enormous, invulnerable variation (with the ability to crush land platforms) known as the Super Big Tap-Tap also appears in this game.

Yoshi's New Island

Tap-Taps also appear in Yoshi's New Island acting the same as in previous appearances, though only the orange variants appear in the game. Unused textures for the gray type can be found in the data, however. Tap-Tap the Golden also returns.

Yoshi Topsy-Turvy

Tap-Taps also appear in Yoshi Topsy-Turvy, where they first appear at the end of the fifth chapter of Tale of the Spirit of Money. Later, the third chapter of Tale of the Spirit of Power involves defeating at least eight of them. While still normally invincible, the rolling-up platforms can be used to crush them or cause them to fall into spikes. Orange ones are found during the second phase of the battle against Bowser. Whenever Bowser jumps or is hit by a bomb, he slams against the ground, causing three orange Tap-Taps to fall from above. They roll along the ground, and go in the direction that the player tilts the Game Boy Advance. They cause three points of damage to Yoshi upon contact with him.

Yoshi Touch & Go

They also appear in Yoshi Touch & Go, whose manual erroneously labels them as Spiked Fun Guys, where the orange ones walk while the gray ones hop in place. The gray ones also now have red feet instead of purple.

Yoshi's Woolly World

Two Tap-Taps surrounding Platinum Yoshi in Yoshi's Woolly World

Tap-Taps return in Yoshi's Woolly World and Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, being introduced in World 2. The orange ones' bodies now consist of a brown baseball with pointy beads functioning as spikes, while the gray ones have red feet again like in Yoshi Touch & Go. As in previous appearances, some Tap-Taps walk back and forth between two walls, while others jump up and down in place.

Yoshi's Crafted World

The regular silver Tap-Taps reappear in Yoshi's Crafted World, acting the same as previous appearances. They appear in the levels Poochy's Magma Run and Skulking Around.

Super Smash Bros. series

In Super Smash Bros Brawl, a Tap-Tap appears as a sticker. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, one appears as a spirit.

Profiles and statistics

Super Smash Bros. Brawl sticker

Image	Game	Effect
	Yoshi Touch & Go	[Body, Spin] - Attack +24

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit

Name	Image	Game	Type	Class	Effect	How to obtain	Spirit battle
							Opponents	Battle conditions	Stage	Song
Tap-Tap		Yoshi Series	Primary (1)	Novice	Shield Weight ↑	Spirit Board	Metal PAC-MAN	The enemy is metal	Yoshi's Island	Wildlands

Gallery

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  Artwork used for a Christmas-themed puzzle based on Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

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  Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

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  Yoshi's New Island (unused)

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  A Tap-Tap in the Scrapbook Theater (Yoshi's Woolly World)

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  Yoshi's Crafted World

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	カチカチくん Kachikachi-kun	From「カチカチ」(kachikachi, Japanese onomatopoeia for stones knocking together to create fire) and「くん」(kun)
Chinese	咔咔 Kākā	Onomatopoeia for cackling, although most likely transliterated from the Japanese name
Dutch	Tap-Tap	-
French (NOA)	Gros Bobo	Big Owie
French (NOE)	Bobo	Owie
German	Pseudo Stego Stego	From pseudo (fake) and Stego, the German name of Tap-Tap the Red Nose
Italian	Piombospino Buffopallo	From piombo, lead; and spina, spike. From buffo, funny; and pallo, ball.
Korean	철퇴머리 Cheoltoemeori	Macehead
Russian	Топ-топ Top-top	Onomatopoeia for stepping
Spanish	Rolando Metalón (most games)	Pun on rolling and the Spanish name. Pun on metal