A Shy Guy (ヘイホー,Heihō?) is a recurring enemy seen in many Mario games, beginning with the American version of Super Mario Bros. 2, but not reappearing until Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. There are several different variations of the Shy Guy that are found in an assortment of Mario games. There are various subspecies of Shy Guys as well.
A regular Shy Guy wears a red robe, brown belt and white mask. Shy Guys can wear different robes. In video games, their robes indicate the Shy Guys' different behaviors.
Behavior
Their robe color indicates their behavior in video games. The colors are seen in Super Mario Advance, which red Shy Guys walk off the ledge but turn around when they touch an obstacle and blue Shy Guys turn around when they are close to the ledge or obstacle.
Despite the regular Shy Guys' basic movement in the game. The Shy Guy's subspecies (i.e. Snifit and Bandit Guy) have different behaviors.
Shy Guy is a playable character. In challenge mode, if the player chooses Yoshi's team, he will get a team of Shy Guys.
Mario Tennis
In Mario Tennis, Shy Guy is an unlockable character who can be unlocked by beating the final cup - Star Cup. Shy Guy is wearing the normal red outfit it usually wears and has a red racket with a picture of the Shy Guy's mask on it. His special ability is "Tricky."
In Mario Strikers Charged, Shy Guy is a playable sidekick. He brings a balanced approach to game, with average skills in all areas. If he gets the space, he can hitch-a-ride on a Bullet Bill and create a great scoring chance.
Mario Super Sluggers
Shy Guy is on Yoshi's team. Five colors (red, blue, yellow, green, and gray) are available.
In Mario Kart DS, in DS Download, the player who chooses "Join Game" is always a Shy Guy.
Mario Kart Wii
In Mario Kart Wii, Shy Guys are seen in the Retro Course, Shy Guy Beach on pirate ships, which fire cannonballs that explode, often flipping a player's kart over. They also appear on the sides of various other tracks as well.
Shy Guy is a playable character in Mario Kart 7. This marks the first time that Shy Guy is playable without having to go into DS Download Play. He also has a course named after him, Shy Guy Bazaar.
Mario Kart 8
The different types of Shy Guys from Mario Kart 8.
Shy Guy reappears as a playable character in Mario Kart 8. Shy Guys also make an appearance in the course, Shy Guy Falls. They later have their colors made available as DLC.
Shy Guys and their many subspecies have been appearing Mario Party games as early as the original Mario Party, mainly appearing in mini-games and on board maps. In Mario Party 4, however, Shy Guy was temporarily upgraded to host alongside Koopa, Boo, Toad, and Goomba and hosted his own board.
Boards
Shy Guy's Jungle Jam - Shy Guy hosted his first-ever board map in Mario Party 4. In this jungle-themed board map, various Shy Guys are scattered around the board and own the various shops and events. There are two different shrines on the board that contain stone statues of Shy Guys. If a player lands on the happening space in front of the shrine, they will be asked to offer a gift to it. At the top of the board, there is a giant rock engraved like a Shy Guy.
Shy Guy's Perplex Express - Shy Guy owns his own board map once again in Mario Party 8. On this board, Shy Guy owns a train that contains various different train cars. On this train, different Shy Guys can be seen working on conductors and chefs.
Shy Guy's Shuffle City - This a board map in Mario Party: Island Tour. Players need to move with their cards, but beware if the Bowser Card! Every 3 turns, Bowser will do bad things to the player with the Bowser Card. At the end, some Shy Guys will appear. Then the Shy Guy gives the player some cards and needs the player to pick a champion card.
Mini-game appearances
Bumper Balls - A lone Shy Guy appears in the Mario Party 2 version of the game inside of a frozen volcano, but does not affect gameplay.
Shy Guy Says - Shy Guy appears as the host of this mini-game that acts similar to the childhood game "Simon Says". Shy Guy will hold up a different color flag that has either the letter "A" or "B" on it. The characters must press the corresponding buttons, or Shy Guy will eliminate them.
Bus Buffers - At the start of the mini-game, a Shy Guy knocks down the bucket of slime that makes the buses dirty. Also, various Shy Guys can be seen cleaning the buses during the mini-game.
Chomp Romp - A lone Shy Guy can be found swinging on a swing in the park. If the player's Chain Chomp crashes into the swing, Shy Guy will rotate faster for a brief moment.
Curvy Curbs - Various Shy Guys can be seen waving at the characters from the edge of the tracks.
Dinger Derby - Various Shy Guys can be seen in the crowd, along with Koopas and Goombas. A player can hit one of the Shy Guys with a ball.
Fish Upon A Star - A Shy Guy can be seen flying around in a blimp while the players are battling on the floating island. The logo on the blimp depicts the Shy Guy's face.
Moped Mayhem - A Shy Guy can be seen racing on a moped along with the other racers.
Shy Guy Showdown - Shy Guy becomes the host of this mini-game, where he is wearing an old western outfit. In this mini-game, two characters will face-off against each other and must pay attention to the sign that Shy Guy is holding. The sign that he holds up will contain a button that the player must press quickly in order to shoot ink at their opponent. However, Shy Guy will hold up a fake sign to deceive the players.
Flagging Rights - A Pirate Guy, accompanied by two other Shy Guys appear in this mini-game. The Pirate Guy has two flags. You have to follow which one he holds ups. If you fail to do this, by simply not doing it, or doing the wrong flag, a Shy Guy will untie your plank and you will fall. This mini-game is similar to Shy Guy Says. And it's named after a game called "Bragging Rights.
Mario Party 9
This is one of Shy Guy's most significant roles due to the fact he has become a playable character after beating the story mode once. In story mode he plays for Bowser so if he wins he will return the mini stars collected to Bowser resulting in the player going through the party board again.
Shy Guys appear in Paper Mario during Chapter 4: Trials in the Toy Box. They are seen causing a ruckus in Toad Town, stealing various townsfolk's items. After going to East Toad Town, Mario enters a house and must use Bow to hide himself to see Shy Guy jump through the wall. After the Shy Guy has gone, Mario must do the same by jumping through the wall.
After jumping through the wall, Mario comes in contact with a springboard and a Toy Box. Once Mario jumps on the springboard, he is transported into the Toy Box. This starts the fourth chapter in the game.
Sub-species
There are many sub-species of Shy Guys found in the Toy Box.
Shy Guys would consistently appear in the audience watching Mario and co. fight enemies and cheer for them, giving them star power. At least one Shy Guy will usually leap up on the stage and run towards the right or left side of it to drop a bucket on either Mario or the enemies.
Super Paper Mario
Shy Guys reprise their role as audience members whenever Mario, Peach, Bowser or Luigi perform a Stylish Move after jumping on an enemy. Shy Guys were also planned to be enemies in the game but were scrapped for unknown reasons. Fly Guys and Stilt Guys were also planned but were scrapped.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Shy Guys return in Paper Mario: Sticker Star as common enemies. Regular Shy Guys are found in Bowser's Snow Fort where most can be fought and one is running the mine cart ride. Versions of Shy Guys known as Sombrero Guys also appear in levels of World 2. They have a habit of jumping into a fight alongside another enemy. Two other Shy Guys appear in World 3 are Clip Guys and Paint Guys only in battle with other enemies. After they are successful in their respective attacks, they throw away their items and become regular Shy Guys. Spear Guys appear in World 5 and throw or stab Mario with their spears.
Paper Mario: Color Splash
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, Shy Guys are common enemies. A subspecies called Slurp Guys also appear and attack Mario by sucking out his paint reserves; these ones sucked the color out of Prism Island as well. There is also a variation of Slurp Guys called a Shunned Guy.
Shy Guys appear once again in Paper Mario: The Origami King. Regular Shy Guys and Sniffits only appear as NPCs. They don't cause harm to Mario and often help him. However, the Folded Soldier versions of Shy Guys and Sniffits are enemies and will attack Mario. Paper Machos based on Shy Guys also appear, and King Olly disguises himself as a yellow Shy Guy.
Shy Guys reappear as obtainable Ranged troopers. Their Special Skill remains the same. There are four differently colored Shy Guys: red (has more Power), blue (has better Speed), yellow (weak to Goombas), and pink (weak to Koopa Troopas).
It is currently unknown what a Shy Guy's face looks like under his mask, but Luigi is the only known character who has seen a Shy Guy's face (from Mario Power Tennis).
Shy Guy is one of the handful of characters who stayed in the Mario series from Super Mario Bros. 2.
Shy Guys come in many colors similar to Yoshis, but their common coloration is red.
Shy Guys mark their first appearance as a driver in Mario Kart DS. They also reappeared as drivers in Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Breezy Tunnel • Fire Vellumental Cave • Scorching Sandpaper Desert • Scorching Sandpaper East • Scorching Sandpaper Far East • Scorching Sandpaper Far West • Scorching Sandpaper Minor • Scorching Sandpaper West • Shroom City • Sweetpaper Valley • Temple of Shrooms •
• ⋆-Enemy, boss, or stat exclusive to the main game. • ⋆⋆-Enemy, boss, or stat exclusive to Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser. • ⋆⋆⋆-Enemy variants differ in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions.
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