Nintendo Character Profile | Toad

Toad
Do NOT mock his head!

Profile by Adam Riley [ jesusraz :: Senior Editor ]

Introduction
It is generally not easy for the little guy in gaming, and Toad is no exception. This particular member of the Mushroom Kingdom can become quite frustrated with the fact that he is never as useful as he tries to be, or at least does not receive the recognition he believes he so rightly deserves. Also there is the sad truth that outsiders constantly mistake the many millions of other Toads for himself. Such is the life of an almost identical-looking race…

Statistics

Age: Toad has been around since Super Mario Bros 2 on the crusty old Nintendo Entertainment System, and by that count he has been on the gaming scene since the mid 1980s when he was already mature (ish). It would appear that the average age of a Toad is far longer than that of their human counterparts…

Species: Mushroom or 'Toad' to those in the know.

Location: The Mushroom Kingdom, serving Princess Toadstool (part Mushroom herself, in fact, as revealed in Super Mario RPG!).

Birth: Toad lives in a village surrounded by many other 'Toads', but where are his parents? The poor little blighter appears to have a large family, but no specific Mother or Father. If we merely utter the phrase 'inter-breeding', it could result in a lawsuit…oh bugger, whoops!

Main Features: Short, very short, but he more than makes up for this with his speedy feet and light nature. There is some dispute, however, about the feature above his brow – is it an extension of his head, or merely a mushroom-styled hat? But be tactful if you ever ask…or else it could result in the same sort of situation as seeing a heavier than normal woman and saying 'Congratulations on your pregnancy!'…

Clothing: Toad sports a light-blue waist-coat the majority of the time…except he chooses to wear nothing at all underneath it! Such a brave little fella…That or he is very arrogant and thinks he has a pleasing physique! Also there is the matter of those brown shoes of his – how on Earth can he run so fast whilst wearing what look like wooden clogs?! Perhaps inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom are not as susceptible to pain as us humans…Then there is the matter of his head, again, or is that a hat? Hmm…Perhaps he was born near Chernobyl…

Concept
Aides, servants, loyal subjects, protectors – all royalty has them and Princess Toadstool (or Peach as she now prefers to be called) is no different. Toad is one of the most faithful of these subjects, although he does, begrudgingly, have to call on Mario to help out nearly every single time…especially when he has been caught whilst on a rescue mission and has had to be saved himself, as has happened on many occasions.

Appearances
Toad is definitely a staple Nintendo character, popping up in almost every Mario title that is out on the market, as well as various other games, such as:

• Super Mario Bros series (NES, SNES, N64, GC)
  
• Super Mario Land series (GB)
  
• Super Mario RPG - Paper Mario 2 (SNES, N64, GBA, GC)
  
• Mario Party series (N64, GC)
  
• Game & Watch Gallery series (GBC, GBA)
  
• Mario Tennis (N64, GBC)
  
• Mario Golf (N64, GBC, GC, GBA)
  
• Super Mario Kart - Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (SNES, N64, GBA, GC)

Best Appearance
Super Mario Kart – he was probably the best character for the uninitiated, with zippy acceleration and superb handling. Veterans may not have liked him for Time Trialling, but for the simple purpose of beating the Grand Prix modes, he was amazing!

Do Not Mention...
Mario. Yes, Mario! That stinking plumber, stealing the attention of the woman he secretly loves…

In closing...
He might be small, he might be annoying, but never underestimate a Nintendo character, especially this little loyal Toad. You never know, he might just reveal what is under that mushroom of his if you push him too far…