Character Sheet: Ukiki (Yoshi Main Series)

UKIKI

Today, let's get started on the Mario spinoff series/prequel and all the characters that appeared there. As before with the Donkey Kong series, this will result in a split roster, but for now, let's just cover them all together.

1. Yoshi (Revision)
2. Bowser (Revision)
3. Kamek (Revision)
4. Koopa Troopa (Revision)
5. Shy Guy (Revision)
6. Goomba (Revision)
7. Piranha Plant (Revision)
8. Boo (Revision)
9. Blooper (Revision)
10. Lakitu and Spinies (Revision)
11. Monty Mole (Revision)
12. Yarn Yoshi
13. Baby Mario
14. Baby Bowser
15. Bandit
16. Ukiki
17. Chain Chomp

Ukikis are a bit of an interesting story here. So, the enemy first appeared in the game Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island under the name Grinders. Then, a monkey named Ukiki appeared in Super Mario 64, famous for hanging around Tall, Tall Mountain and stealing your hat. Then when the Grinders reappeared in Yoshi's Island DS, their name had been changed to Ukiki and have been referred to as such ever since. I don't know if Ukiki of 64 fame was always supposed to be a Grinder, or if that was more of a retroactive change, but either way, they have enough presence across the Mario and Yoshi series to warrant inclusion.

In most Yoshi games, the Ukikis or Grinders will bounce in place waiting for you to approach before running away. They also hang from vines and drop bombs on you, and frequently eat watermelon to spit seeds at you. In Crafted World, they also gain a larger cousin called Uckykongs. In Super Mario 64, Ukiki will also steal your stuff and leap high into the air to avoid you. Yeah, I can make something out of this.

Here's what we've got so far:

Standard B: Thief
Ukiki will reach out and steal a cosmetic item from an opponent. This will not impact gameplay, though it will make them more susceptible to damage. For instance, he can take Mario's hat or Samus's helmet. Things like that.

Side B: Watermelon Seeds
Ukiki will dig into some watermelon, chewing it up before spitting the seeds out at his opponents like projectiles.

Up B: Monkey Jump
Ukiki will jump ridiculously high into the air, the way he does when Mario tries to capture him in Super Mario 64.

Down B: Bomb Drop
For this move, Ukiki will leap into the air and cling to a vine, dropping a bomb behind him the way he does in the Yoshi's Island games. A needlenose might also work.

Final Smash: The Chimp
This one is more based on a similar character appearing in the Mario games, the Chimp from Super Mario Galaxy. A number of Ukikis will fill the trees behind the stage while the Chimp hops onto the stage, doing a backflip and clapping to produce a number of stars that will then bombard the stage. I know it's a little off, but this was the only move I was struggling with.

Entrance: Just bouncing in place the way he normally does.

Taunt: His iconic screech from 64, sitting and eating a watermelon, so on.

Thanks for reading! Next up, we'll cover the Chain Chomp!