First Appearance: Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Every Rareware Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong Country introduced new playable characters to the series. Donkey Kong 64 ultimately saw the return of Donkey Kong as the protagonist along with Diddy Kong and three new faces. Of these three new faces, the wacky and bizarre orangutang Lanky Kong was one. The reason Lanky Kong makes our list of strange Nintendo characters is because he is fundamentally, completely and entirely awkward compared to every other character in the game. For one, Lanky walks on his hands ONLY should the player choose, something that is probably more of a tribute to Kazooie than anything. But, Lanky Kong also makes the strangest sounds in the game, sounding like he has some sort of mental problems. His arms also have the strange ability to stretch...quite odd for a monkey. I think anyone who has played this game would agree Lanky Kong is a very awkward and strange character.
Number 9: Photo-man
First Appearance: Earthbound/MOTHER 2 (SNES)
Now I haven't ACTUALLY played Earthbound, but one of the other members of our team has, and he insisted we put this character on the list. From what I understand, Photo-man is some random old guy who comes up to Ness and his other friends (who are all around the age of ten, mind you) and takes random pictures of them, asking them to say the word "pickle" when they do it...now THAT is extremely creepy. It sounds like Photo-man is quite the child pedophile...he probably goes to lunch with Waluigi on his off hours. Now I don't have much else to say about this character, but anyone who takes pictures of small children for fun definitely deserves to be on this list.
Number 8: Thanatos
First Appearance: Kid Icarus (NES)
Number 7: Blanca
First Appearance: Animal Crossing (GCN)
Animal Crossing is a game in which you play as a human who moves to a town of animals and has to make a living by interacting with their neighbors. On occasion, you may run into this very strange cat. Blanca seems to be pretty nice, but she has one problem...she has no face. Yet, somehow, she is still able to see you and speak to you. She asks you to draw her a face since she has no face, creating all sorts of strange outcomes. Some of the more dirty gamers may have a little TOO much fun with Blanca's face...which just makes her even more strange. Once again, very strange idea to add a character with no face into a children's game...it is like Slenderman's personal cat.
Number 6: Tott
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (GCN)
I didn't actually know what this character's name was until I had to look it up for this article, as I always just remembered him as the "dancing guy" from Wind Waker. Like my nickname says, Tott is a dancer from Wind Waker, and he teaches you the Song of Passing. The strange part is he is dancing in front of a tombstone on a random island... What is he doing there? What is his purpose? I guess he is supposed to be a tribute to the dancing scarecrow from Majora's Mask...but he is just a very strange character, looking somewhat like a ginger Elvis Presley.
Number 5: Mr. Mime
First Appearance: Pokemon Red & Pokemon Blue (GB)
Pokemon is a series about a bunch of superpowered animals that can be caught and forced into tiny balls in order to train and battle. Of these animals, one of them stands out as the most awkward and strangest looking of them all: Mr. Mime. Look at that thing...does it look like any other Pokemon? Clowns and mimes are creepy enough, but this one you expect me to carry around with me and train. Imagine having your own personal mime, except it knows how to say one word: it's own name. Very strange...very strange...
Number 4: Toilet-Hand (Official Name Unknown)
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
This character/thing doesn't actually have an official name, so we have dubbed him Toilet-Hand. Toilet-Hand first appears in Majora's Mask in the inn, where you can give him toilet paper in exchange for a Piece of Heart. He makes his return in Skyward Sword where you can hand him a love letter from a character named Cawlin, and if you do, it says it will lovingly stroke Cawlin while he sleeps...that is completely and utterly strange. First of all, this thing is a hand...we don't even know if it belongs or is attached to anything, only that it lives inside of toilets. Second, it just said it is going to "stroke" another character while they sleep?? What?? This is weird and would make any gamer feel a little uncomfortable...
Number 3: ShopKeeper
First Appearance: Star Fox Adventures (GCN)
ShopKeeper is exactly what his name implies: a shop keeper. ShopKeeper is the main merchant of Dinosaur Planet (later named Sauria) in Star Fox Adventures. ShopKeeper is strange for quite a few reasons. First of all, he has no legs and simply floats...very different from the other members of his tribe. Second, you can always hear him muttering things to himself as you browse his wares...Then, if you try to barter for his wares and you suggest a low price too many times, he goes completely beserk and yells at you to get out of his store. I remember nearly crapping myself the first time this happened to me. This merchant is absolutely creepy and strange in every way.
Number 2: Happy Mask Salesman
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Happy Mask Salesman was a minor character in Ocarina of Time, but became a major character in the sequel, Majora's Mask. Happy Mask Salesman first comes to you after Link has turned into a Deku Shrub and asks you to retrieve the Majora's Mask from the Skull Kid who stole it from him and in return, he will help you return to your human form. He eventually teaches you the Song of Healing, which is quite a creepy song in itself, and then when you tell him you didn't actually retrieve the mask...he goes absolutely insane. His face probably had the most animations of any character on the N64 system, going through probably 18 emotions in a span of 10 seconds. And look at his normal face...he seems so...happy. Why is he happy? Always happy? There is a scary secret to Happy Mask Salesman that never comes out...but we know it's there...waiting for the right moment...
Number 1: Tingle
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
Finally we arrive at our #1 strangest character in Nintendo and it should not be a surprise at all. Tingle has appeared in quite a few Zelda games since his debut in Majora's Mask, all of which he is a strange character. Let's begin with his debut. In Majora's Mask, Tingle is some old man with a giant nose who floats around in a balloon, claiming to be a fairy and drawing you maps for money. He always yes out "Tingle-Tingle-Kooloo-Limpah," his very strange motto. He appears in other Zelda games, but his next major appearance is in Wind Waker. This is likely a different incarnation of Tingle, but in this game, Tingle seems more like a creepy short guy and has his own island full of other Tingles in different coloured suits. He still believes he is a fairy and still writes maps, but now he seems like the head of a slave trader organization full of Tingles. A modern-day Peter Pan, except having already grown up, Tingle takes the #1 spot as strangest Nintendo character to date.
Honorable Mentions:
Birdo- Super Mario Bros. 2
Mimi- Super Paper Mario
Mr. Saturn- Earthbound/MOTHER 2
Ooco- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Selections By:
Giuliano V.
Matteo C.
Gino C.
Article By:
Giuliano V.
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