Captain Toad

"Ready for adventure!"

- Captain Toad

Captain Toad (also known as Toad Brigade Captain) is a character who first appears in Super Mario Galaxy. He is a red Toad who is dressed with a backpack and a headlamp. In Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad wears an explorer's outfit and a red necktie. The Prima guide for Super Mario Galaxy considers him the same character as Toad, and shows artwork of him with a blue vest, like Toad.

Super Mario Galaxy
Captain Toad appears as the self-proclaimed captain of the Toad Brigade. In the game, he appears to be one of the few Toads that had escaped the destruction of Mushroom Kingdom, along with his fellow Toad Brigade members and Luigi. The Toads soon lost Luigi in space, and soon all of them found themselves in the Honeyhive Galaxy. Mario eventually finds the Toads and rescues them.

As a thanks, Captain Toad and his brigade attempts to help Mario on his quest by going adventuring alongside him. Sometimes, Captain Toad even finds a Power Star for Mario (though these stars are sometimes obvious to find for the players). Captain Toad's headlamp can also be used to defeat Boos by shining his headlamp at them. In order to follow the hero, Captain Toad uses a special spaceship called the Starshroom to provide him and his brigade with transportation while traveling through the galaxies. Generally, Captain Toad appears to want to help Mario, but is sometimes cowardly and lazy throughout the adventure. Despite his cowardliness, Captain Toad is portrayed as being extremely loyal throughout the game (as even described by his official biography), and tries his best to help Mario to save Princess Peach from Bowser without giving any signs of giving up.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Captain Toad makes an appearance once again as the Toad Brigade Captain (even naming himself as he has a special item that the other members of the Toad Brigade do not have - a headlamp). He is first met by Mario in the mission, "Digga-Leg's Planet" where he warns Mario about the "scary monster", Digga-Leg. He is found nearby from his Starshroom. Additionally, Captain Toad's Starshroom, at this point, has a Checkpoint Flag on the underside of the spaceship that Mario can use to save his progress before facing Digga-Leg. After getting the Power Star, Captain Toad and the other members of the Toad Brigade decide to assist Mario (like the first game), and they use their Starshroom to follow Starship Mario around the galaxies. It is revealed that in this game, Captain Toad and the other members of the Toad Brigade had asked the Lumas to help them build the Starshroom in order to save Princess Peach. However, after finding Mario and deciding that he would do the job better, the Toad Brigade follow and help Mario on his quest to rescue the princess instead. In the ending of the game, he and his brigade accompany Mario back to their planet to celebrate his victory over a shrunken Bowser.

Very much like in the first game, Captain Toad is again loyal to his friends, but extremely cowardly. He can also be seen daydreaming in various areas about resting up instead of adventuring. However, Captain Toad does occasionally get to being successful as he sometimes finds a few Power Stars for Mario (though he often needs to find Captain Toad in the level in order to obtain the Power Star). One prime example of Captain Toad's generosity for a free star is in the Slimy Spring Galaxy where Captain Toad manages to snatch the star from the end of the level before Mario arrives. However, after obtaining the Power Star, Captain Toad accidentally falls inside a chest that locked him inside. After Mario opens up the chest, Captain Toad pops out and gives him the star (though not before asking Mario to not tell the other Toad Brigade members of this event). There is also a mission which involves Captain Toad that is called "Search for the Toad Brigade Captain". This mission has Mario look for Captain Toad who is lost somewhere in the Fluffy Bluff Galaxy.

Super Mario 3D World
Captain Toad is seen in a series of courses throughout Super Mario 3D World known as The Adventures of Captain Toad. These courses are comprised of a puzzle-based stage, where the goal is to obtain all 5 Green Stars using Captain Toad, who is the only playable character. This is also the first time he is playable in the series. Asides from walking, he is not able to perform any special moves, such as Jump, Roll, etc. Instead, the player must rely on the different elements and obstacles within the course to progress, such as timed platforms which propel Captain Toad into the air instead of jumping. His headlamp is also capable of stunning ghost like enemies, such as Boos. The player uses the Wii U GamePad to move Captain Toad around the stage. He starts off in his Super form, and will shrink if he is damaged (his cap and spots will also switch colors).

Captain Toad also makes an appearance in some of the normal courses of the game. In some instances, he will be in danger. If the player rescues him, Captain Toad will award a Green Star. He also appears as the conductor of the Golden Express train of World 5. In Tricky Trapeze Theater of the same world, he is seen in a hidden area after a trapeze and a Clear Pipe by a Roulette Block. His last appearance is at the end of Champion's Road, as he can be seen cheering in the crowd.

Personality
Despite being the leader of the Toad Brigade organization in both Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, Captain Toad is extremely cowardly. His cowardice often leads to his poor reputation among his fellow Toad Brigade members (who often talk negatively about the Captain behind his back). He also tends to be accident-prone and often lands himself into danger. Captain Toad is also seen to be lazy as he can be seen daydreaming about relaxing in various galaxies.

Regardless of his negative traits, Captain Toad is highly resourceful. He is seen to be a highly experienced mechanic as he was able to repair the Starshroom that he and the other Toad Brigade members used every time it broke. He also rewards Mario or Luigi with coins to replenish health and even Power-Ups. Captain Toad does occasionally find Power Stars himself; however, he is always ready to give it to either Mario or Luigi in an attempt to help the hero in his adventures.

Captain Toad is described to being the "fearless" hunter of Green Stars within Super Mario 3D World and proves this title by being on a constant hunt for the exclusive stars despite lacking the ability to jump (as a result of his heavy backpack.) Regardless, he maintains his gracious character from Super Mario Galaxy and constantly rewards Mario, Luigi, Toad, Peach, and Rosalina with Green Stars or even coins and Power-Ups when encountered.

Going along with the common frightful characteristic of the Toads, Captain Toad is no exception as he can be seen to be panicking in a comical sense from various enemies throughout most of the main game courses (often requiring one of the other playable characters to save him).