Item of the Week #4

Dark Seraphim · 12-12-2009, 07:20 PM

Tanooki Suit

First Appearance: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES, 1988)
Latest Appearance: Same

The Tanooki Suit, as well as the Power Leaf its based off of, is one of my favorite power-ups in the Mario franchise! Simply enough, the Tanooki Suit is an upgrade from the Raccoon Leaf previously found in the game, it offers all the same powers as the Raccoon Leaf, but with an extra twist and a new look!

Like the Power Leaf, Tanooki Mario is given the ability to fly by running at high speeds and jumping, wagging (or spinning) his tail to elevate. This is Mario's only way of flying in Super Mario Bros. 3 and its a very useful way to get around, sometimes being able to skip huge chunks of a level just by flying over it, or finding special hidden secrets that would normally be impossible to get. In addition to flight, Tanooki Mario is also able to press down+B to become a heavy statue (based on the Ksh1tigarbha, I had to censor the word because the forum reads there being a naughty word in the middle), which not only gives Mario the chance to hide and confuse enemies who will simply walk passed him, but if timed right, can actually be used over normally unkillable enemies (like Thwomps) and land on them, killing them.

FUN FACT: The Power Wing, another of the Power Leaf's upgrades, can actually be used in conjunction with the Tanooki Suit, giving you access to both extra powers at once!

Sadly, after Super Mario Bros. 3 the Tanooki Suit is never heard of again, except for direct remakes of SMB3 on the Gameboy and Virtual Console. However, in more recent games the concept of the Tanooki can still be seen occasionally. In Super Mario Sunshine there is a race of creatures named the Tanooki that make a small appearance in the game, and in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga there are the Tanoombas, a race of Tanooki-Goomba hybrids. However a direct reappearance of the Tanooki Suit has yet to be seen, but here's hoping eventually Mario will take up the ringtail again!

ONE MORE FUN FACT: in Sonic 2, the character of Miles "Tails" Prowler was originally going to be a Tanuki, however, afraid of a direct accusation of stealing Nintendo's Tanooki Mario, they changed the character from a Tanuki to a Kitsune (Fox)!

Item of the Week #1: Hammer
Item of the week #2: Boo Mushroom
Item of the Week #3: Metal Cap

Metal Mario · 12-12-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Seraphim

In Super Mario Sunshine there is a race of creatures named the Tanooki that make a small appearance in the game

I don't remember those guys. Can you be more specific?

Dark Seraphim · 12-12-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Mario

I don't remember those guys. Can you be more specific?

Quote:

The Tanooki are a race of rather plump raccoon-like creatures, found primarily on Isle Delfino. During the events of Super Mario Sunshine, the Blue Coin Shop is run by two Tanooki, one older and one younger. Additionally, a Tanooki owns a small rowboat shack in Noki Bay. The boats can be rented for a price of 90,000 coins. However, Mario is allowed to use them for free.

PK FIRE! · 12-12-2009, 07:52 PM

A fun little powerup if there ever was one. I didn't use it much though likely because they were hard to come by.

- You stupid dog.

Dark Seraphim · 12-12-2009, 07:59 PM

^

True, I didn't even realize you could Thwomp Stomp with it as it only seems to appear like . . . 2-3 times as an item and it shows up only once in a level I think. Still a lot of fun, I always remember how weird Mario looked when he breathed in that thing on the map

Metal Mario · 12-12-2009, 08:09 PM

^^Ooooooooohhh yeah, the Blue Coin guy!

Dark Seraphim · 12-12-2009, 08:16 PM

Just in case people don't remember the Tanoombas either.

(best picture I could find

)

Quote:

Tanoombas are Tanooki-like Goombas found in both the Mushroom Kingdom and the Beanbean Kingdom. They resemble regular Goombas, except the Tanoomba has raccoon ears, a raccoon tail, and a leaf on its forehead. Tanoombas have powerful mimicry abilities and are able to transform into different objects and different creatures. However, Tanoombas can always be given away by the raccoon-like features or leaves that appear on their transformations.

Metal Mario · 12-12-2009, 08:25 PM

Also, in Animal Crossing, Tom Nook's name is a play on the word "tanooki". This probably has less to do with Mario, however, than the fact that Tom is a raccoon.

Dark Seraphim · 12-12-2009, 08:29 PM

Oh!

YET ANOTHER FUN FACT: If Mario beats an Airship in this form, the Mushroom King will say, "Thank you, kind Raccoon. Please tell me your name."

The Mushroom King also has alternate text if you're wearing the Hammer Bros. suit as well.

Metal Mario · 12-12-2009, 09:29 PM

^And Frog Suit.

PK FIRE! · 12-12-2009, 11:24 PM

Really what are those alternates?

- You stupid dog.

Metal Mario · 12-13-2009, 12:40 AM

They go something like this:

If you finish an Airship with the Frog Suit, the king says, "My word, you've been transformed! Shall I change you back with this magic wand?"

With the Tanooki Suit, he says, "Thank you, kind raccoon! Please, tell me your name!"

And with the Hammer Brother Suit, he says, "Hey, can I borrow your clothes? No dice? What a drag!"

PK FIRE! · 12-13-2009, 01:57 AM

Heh nice, thanks for digging those two up metal Mario.

- You stupid dog.

Metal Mario · 12-13-2009, 02:07 AM

It's what I do.

Dark Seraphim · 12-13-2009, 04:11 AM

I am curious. Did anyone else know you could Thwomp Stomp using the Tanooki Suit? I honestly ever even considered turning into a statue in mid-air, and you did come across the suit so infrequently, like only in Worlds 5 and 6, that I never had it long enough to think about it.

**Valigarmander** · 12-13-2009, 04:26 AM

I knew about it. It's one of the more useful abilities of the Tanooki Suit.

Just be careful not to accidentally use it over a pit. What a way to waste a good powerup.

Luigiman7 · 12-13-2009, 11:03 AM

Hammer Bros. Suit > Tanooki Suit

Tanooki Suit was fun, but the transformation thing wasn't all too useful.

Metal Mario · 12-13-2009, 04:11 PM

^^I knew too, but that's only because I know absolutely everything about the Mario universe.

**Valigarmander** · 12-13-2009, 04:12 PM

^ HOW MANY PIXELS ARE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MARIO'S SHOE?

Metal Mario · 12-13-2009, 04:21 PM

You mean Mario stepped on Tippi?!?!

12-13-2009, 04:26 AM	#16
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,222 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	I knew about it. It's one of the more useful abilities of the Tanooki Suit. Just be careful not to accidentally use it over a pit. What a way to waste a good powerup. __________________

12-13-2009, 11:03 AM	#17
Luigiman7 ~)´◡｀(~ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: representin da bronx yo Gender: Posts: 17,304 Thanks: 1,099 Thanked 992 Times in 698 Posts Blog Entries: 8	Hammer Bros. Suit > Tanooki Suit Tanooki Suit was fun, but the transformation thing wasn't all too useful. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

12-13-2009, 04:12 PM	#19
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,222 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	^ HOW MANY PIXELS ARE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MARIO'S SHOE? __________________

12-12-2009, 07:20 PM	#1
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Item of the Week #4 Tanooki Suit First Appearance: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES, 1988) Latest Appearance: Same The Tanooki Suit, as well as the Power Leaf its based off of, is one of my favorite power-ups in the Mario franchise! Simply enough, the Tanooki Suit is an upgrade from the Raccoon Leaf previously found in the game, it offers all the same powers as the Raccoon Leaf, but with an extra twist and a new look! Like the Power Leaf, Tanooki Mario is given the ability to fly by running at high speeds and jumping, wagging (or spinning) his tail to elevate. This is Mario's only way of flying in Super Mario Bros. 3 and its a very useful way to get around, sometimes being able to skip huge chunks of a level just by flying over it, or finding special hidden secrets that would normally be impossible to get. In addition to flight, Tanooki Mario is also able to press down+B to become a heavy statue (based on the Ksh1tigarbha, I had to censor the word because the forum reads there being a naughty word in the middle), which not only gives Mario the chance to hide and confuse enemies who will simply walk passed him, but if timed right, can actually be used over normally unkillable enemies (like Thwomps) and land on them, killing them. FUN FACT: The Power Wing, another of the Power Leaf's upgrades, can actually be used in conjunction with the Tanooki Suit, giving you access to both extra powers at once! Sadly, after Super Mario Bros. 3 the Tanooki Suit is never heard of again, except for direct remakes of SMB3 on the Gameboy and Virtual Console. However, in more recent games the concept of the Tanooki can still be seen occasionally. In Super Mario Sunshine there is a race of creatures named the Tanooki that make a small appearance in the game, and in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga there are the Tanoombas, a race of Tanooki-Goomba hybrids. However a direct reappearance of the Tanooki Suit has yet to be seen, but here's hoping eventually Mario will take up the ringtail again! ONE MORE FUN FACT: in Sonic 2, the character of Miles "Tails" Prowler was originally going to be a Tanuki, however, afraid of a direct accusation of stealing Nintendo's Tanooki Mario, they changed the character from a Tanuki to a Kitsune (Fox)! Item of the Week #1: Hammer Item of the week #2: Boo Mushroom Item of the Week #3: Metal Cap Last edited by Dark Seraphim; 12-12-2009 at 07:30 PM.

12-12-2009, 07:52 PM	#4
PK FIRE! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: On the run. Gender: Posts: 9,544 Thanks: 175 Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts	A fun little powerup if there ever was one. I didn't use it much though likely because they were hard to come by. - You stupid dog.

12-12-2009, 07:59 PM	#5
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	^ True, I didn't even realize you could Thwomp Stomp with it as it only seems to appear like . . . 2-3 times as an item and it shows up only once in a level I think. Still a lot of fun, I always remember how weird Mario looked when he breathed in that thing on the map

12-12-2009, 08:09 PM	#6
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	^^Ooooooooohhh yeah, the Blue Coin guy!

12-12-2009, 08:25 PM	#8
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	Also, in Animal Crossing, Tom Nook's name is a play on the word "tanooki". This probably has less to do with Mario, however, than the fact that Tom is a raccoon.

12-12-2009, 08:29 PM	#9
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Oh! YET ANOTHER FUN FACT: If Mario beats an Airship in this form, the Mushroom King will say, "Thank you, kind Raccoon. Please tell me your name." The Mushroom King also has alternate text if you're wearing the Hammer Bros. suit as well.

12-12-2009, 09:29 PM	#10
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	^And Frog Suit.

12-12-2009, 11:24 PM	#11
PK FIRE! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: On the run. Gender: Posts: 9,544 Thanks: 175 Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts	Really what are those alternates? - You stupid dog.

12-13-2009, 12:40 AM	#12
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	They go something like this: If you finish an Airship with the Frog Suit, the king says, "My word, you've been transformed! Shall I change you back with this magic wand?" With the Tanooki Suit, he says, "Thank you, kind raccoon! Please, tell me your name!" And with the Hammer Brother Suit, he says, "Hey, can I borrow your clothes? No dice? What a drag!"

12-13-2009, 01:57 AM	#13
PK FIRE! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: On the run. Gender: Posts: 9,544 Thanks: 175 Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts	Heh nice, thanks for digging those two up metal Mario. - You stupid dog.

12-13-2009, 02:07 AM	#14
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	It's what I do.

12-13-2009, 04:11 AM	#15
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	I am curious. Did anyone else know you could Thwomp Stomp using the Tanooki Suit? I honestly ever even considered turning into a statue in mid-air, and you did come across the suit so infrequently, like only in Worlds 5 and 6, that I never had it long enough to think about it.

12-13-2009, 04:11 PM	#18
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	^^I knew too, but that's only because I know absolutely everything about the Mario universe.

12-13-2009, 04:21 PM	#20
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	You mean Mario stepped on Tippi?!?!