Nitpicker: Difference between revisions

|latest_appearance=''[[WarioWare Gold]]'' ([[List of games by date#2018|2018]])

|variants=[[Bird (Donkey Kong series)|Bird (''Donkey Kong'' series)]]<br>[[Bird (toy)]]<br>[[Hawks]]<br>[[Kaibādo]]

'''Nitpickers''' are flying avian enemies that make their debut in the ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' arcade game. Ever since their original appearance, Nitpickers and their successors remained largely unchanged in behavior.

In ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'', a flock of Nitpickers<ref>''Donkey Kong Jr.'' NES instruction booklet, page 5.</ref><ref>Instruction manual for Atari 8-bit port</ref><ref>Instruction manual for Atari 7800 port</ref> (also known as '''Stookybirds''')<ref>Instruction manuals for ColecoVision, Intellivision, and Coleco Adam ports</ref> is released by [[Mario]] to impede [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] from progressing in the [[Jump Board Scene]]. The birds are depicted yellow, having a distinct magenta coloration on their wings and beaks; likewise, they are slender and bear an unflinching attitude. They proceed in flying in a straight line after being sent by Mario, traveling along a wide platform. They then descend into the small opening in the platform, continuing their flight thereafter in the opposite direction, under the platform. Occasionally, Nitpickers drop [[egg]]s when turning the other direction. The eggs, as well as the birds themselves, are harmful to Donkey Kong Jr. and can drain one of his lives upon coming into contact. On the other hand, Nitpickers can be defeated by having [[fruit]] dropped on them.

In ''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]'' for the [[Game Boy]], Nitpickers are succeeded by several birds that retain and mix their behaviors. In order of appearance, these consist of [[Hawks]], [[Kaibādo]], and the ostensibly returning [[Bird (Donkey Kong series)|Bird]]s. They spawn from nests that are mostly placed high above the ground, subsequently performing three flights across the room. The end of one flight is marked by their encounter with one of the room's margins, after which they descend a little and change direction. They occasionally drop lethal eggs on [[Mario]], provided the protagonist walks underneath it.

Nitpickers are featured as minor impediments in the episode "The Lost City of Kongoland" of ''[[Captain N: The Game Master]]'', where they resemble vultures. They are depicted with long tubular beaks, tapering heads, and bulging eyes, as well as straight and focused looks. In the show, Nitpickers are summoned after [[Simon Belmont]] blows into a flute from [[Dr. Light|Dr. Wright]] while he and the rest of the N Team are cruising down a river in Kongoland. Their beaks are said to be poisonous, and Kevin warns his crew to take cover. The birds immediately show and try to raid the team's vessel, but as they swoop down, Princess Lana draws a bazooka and counter-attacks them with large cork projectiles.

While the [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series]] does not feature the original Nitpickers, it does feature a [[Bird (toy)|toy-based variation]].

===''WarioWare Gold''===

In ''[[WarioWare Gold]]'', one Nitpicker has to be avoided by Donkey Kong Jr. as he climbs two ropes in the second difficulty of the [[Donkey Kong Jr. (microgame)|Donkey Kong Jr.]] microgame. It flies on a straight line from left to right, across the ropes.

==Profiles==

'''<big>ニットピッカー</big><br>

'''{{hover|種族|しゅぞく}}'''　フライ族<br>

'''{{hover|性格|せいかく}}'''　無責任<br>

'''{{hover|登場|とうじょう}}ゲーム'''　JR.<br>

'''<big>タマゴを捨てる変な鳥</big><br>

マリオの命令でジュニアを攻撃する鳥のモンスター。自分のタマゴを武器にするという、とんでもないヤツだ。動きが遅いので、タマゴを落とす場所さえ、覚えればこわくない。<ref name=Daijiten>Shogakukan. 1994.「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten''), [https://i.imgur.com/dNS2985.jpeg page 143].</ref>

 

''Tribe: Fly clan''<br>

''Disposition: Irresponsible''<br>

''Game appearances: Jr.''<br>

'''''<big>Strange bird discarding its eggs</big><br>

Nitpicker Perfect.png|''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]''

|Jap=ニットピッカー<ref name=Daijiten/><br>''Nittopikkā''<br>鳥<ref>''Game & Watch Donkey Kong Jr.'' Japanese instruction.</ref><br>''Tori''

|JapM=Nitpicker<br><br>Bird (Game & Watch and ''Famicom Remix'')

|Fre=Casse-pied<ref name=int>''Donkey Kong Junior'' Atari computer version manual (International)</ref><br>Bec d'acier<ref>French ColecoVision manual</ref>

|FreM=Slang meaning annoying pest or pain in the neck<br>Steel beak

|Ger=Nittpicker<ref name=int/><br>Spukvogel<ref>German ColecoVision manual</ref>

|GerM=Nitpicker<br>Spookbird

|Ita=Pestifero<ref name=int/><br>Volatile (''NES Remix'')

|ItaM=Pestiferous<br>Bird, it's a word mostly used for unspecified flying creatures