Joystiq [Nintendo]

Spiny

First appearance: Super Mario Bros.

Relatives and variants: Spiny Egg, Lakitu

Special characteristics: refuses to be jumped on, turns into valuable silver coins with a P-switch

Spiny is invariably associated with its overlord, Lakitu. Beginning in egg form as it plummets from Lakitu's cloud, Spiny hatches upon hitting the ground like a young chick free from the nest for the first time. It sprouts fresh spikes on its back and ventures forth to stick them into Italian flesh by any means possible. Spiny is not the most intelligent of Mario's foes, though--given an unobstructed path it will make like a lemming and walk over the nearest cliff. But rather than let it go to waste, why not set it on fire for a little extra change?

23/07/08