Joystiq [Nintendo]

Spike

We're not sure about you, but the notion of a fish-turtle hybrid continuously regurgitating spiked balls two-thirds the size of his entire body always seemed to shatter the suspension of disbelief for us (yes, every other creature of the Mushroom Kingdom exemplifies absolute verisimilitude except Spike). In other words, what the hell is this thing and why doesn't it show up anywhere but near water in Super Mario Bros. 3? Are the terrible lacerations this little guy self-inflicts in his throat each time he hacks up a hulking medieval torture tool worth the single attempt to harm Mario? Smells a lot like sadism.

04/08/08