Tweester
- Not to be confused with Tweeter.
Template:Species-infobox Tweesters are Tornado-like enemies found in the Mario franchise that try to touch the player, sending them into the air in an attempt to redirect their movements and hinder their progression. In all of the games (with the exception of the Super Mario Galaxy Tweesters with debris), they cannot harm the player directly and can only attempt to force them into a more dangerous situation. They are usually found in desert levels.
History
Paper Mario
Tweesters debut in Paper Mario, where they forcefully blow Mario one screen to the north and one screen to the east in Dry Dry Desert if he comes into contact with them. It is typically a poor choice to touch them, as the player can easily get lost within the vast sands. However, one particular Tweester (in an area with blue cacti) can be used to throw Mario next to an elevated Badge on top of a high rock which cannot be reached by any other means.
Mario Party series
Like several other minor enemies, Tweesters were featured as Capsules in the Mario Party series. In Mario Party 5, a Tweester Capsule can be used to send the Star to a new location. It has the same effect as the Lucky Lamp in Mario Party 3 and is also similar to the Chomp Call in Mario Party 4. A Tweester also creates the tornado from the minigame Twist 'n' Out.
In Mario Party 6 and Mario Party 7, players can obtain a Tweester Orb that can be placed on the board as a roadblock. If other players pass through its space, a Tweester appears and moves the player to a random space on the board. It is also possible that the Bloway Candy in Mario Party 8 is inspired by Tweesters, as players who use it become a tornado and forcibly throw any other players they come into contact with back to the Start Space. This function is also somewhat similar to the Klepto Orb from Mario Party 6.
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, a Tweester attacks the SS Brass, making it spin out of control. This Tweester appears on an island and is not situated in the desert as most are.
Super Mario Galaxy
Tweesters' first appearance in the Super Mario series is in Super Mario Galaxy; however, instead of having menacing faces, they only have white eyeballs that follow Mario around. These Tweesters can also be helpful at times, being used to traverse obstacles. Touching one will also cause them to spin around. If the player then spins using the Wii Remote, the Tweester will make Mario or Luigi go flying into the air and spin their arms around very quickly like a helicopter. Some Tweesters have debris spinning around them, which hurt Mario or Luigi if they make contact with it. Similar, but larger tornadoes without eyes known as Galactic Tornadoes also appear in this game. These tornadoes appear in the Dusty Dune Galaxy and also make a small appearance in Bowser's Galaxy Reactor. Tweesters do not appear in the sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and are replaced by Galactic Tornadoes.
Virtual Boy Wario Land
Tornado creatures that resemble Tweesters appear in Stage 7 of Virtual Boy Wario Land. Wario is able to ride on top of these Tornado creatures, so he can safely cross fields of harmful Plant Chompers. Tornadoes can be seen spawning from the sky, taking shape once they hit the ground. If Wario tries to jump on a Tornado creature before it has fully formed, he will be briefly lifted into the air. Wario is also able to lead a Tornado creature to defeat the Big Blob that guards one of the doors in Stage 7.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | つむじくん Tsumuji-kun 砂風くん (Super Mario Galaxy) Suna Fū-kun |
From tsumujikaze (つむじかぜ), the word for whirlwind, and the Japanese honorific "-kun". Sand Wind-kun |
| German | Tornadino |
Derived from "tornado" |
