Sometimes video games have characters that appear to do nothing until the very end. Super Mario Bros 2 had such as a character. The Character was Hawkmouth. Hawkmouth does not even appear to be an enemy until the very end. Anyway, lets learn about this strange character.


Super Mario Bros 2 was originally Doki Doki Panic a Japanese Nintendo Game. However, Nintendo converted Doki Panic into Super Mario Bros 2. The family characters where replaced by Mario and his friends. A lot of the bosses and enemies carried over to Super Mario Bros 2. Hawkmouth was one of those that only appeared in Super Mario Bros 2.

In Doki Panic the masks where originally Japanese clown masks. For unknown reasons the masks where replaced with Hawkmouth. In Super Mario Bros 2 after a player defeats the stage's boss or picks up the crystal Hawkmouth will open is face. The player needs to climb into Hawkmouth's mouth to go to the next stage.

Originally, Hawkmouth serves as just a gate the player needs to go through to advance to the next stage or world. But in the last stage of the game Hawkmouth comes to life. Therefore, it is revealed it is a guardian of Wart's Room. The character will chase the player around trying to swarm them. The player must hit Hawkmouth with three mushroom blocks to stun it. Once stunned Hawkmouth will transport the player to Wart's room for the final showdown.

While Hawkmouth acts like a guardian. It is unclear if he has been spying on the players letting them pass the entire time, if Wart ordered him to attack at the last second, or maybe Wart caused him to come to life right before the final showdown. Nintendo has not confirmed which one it is. On the other hand, it is more likely Wart either ordered him to attack at the last minute or brought him to life.

Appearance- Hawkmouth is based off a real life Hawk or Falcon's head. He has a reddish orange beak that can open very wide to transport the player. His eyes are typical bird eyes. He feathers on his face are black.

Personality- He does not speak so not much is known about his personality. On the other hand, given how aggressively he chases and tries to swarm the player. It could be suggested he has a violent aggressive personality. However, he could just be serving as a guardian to Wart in this role. He obviously serves Wart and tries to stop the players from entering Wart's Room. Thus, he is loyal to Wart.

Abilities- Hawkmouth does not do much throughout the game. He serves as the transport hub between the stages and worlds. He will only let the players pass if they pick up a crystal. In the last stage he comes to life to attack the players. Despite just being a mask he is quick.

Attacks- At first he does not attack he lets the players pass. But once he comes to life he becomes aggressive. He will chase the players down in a fast way. He will also try to swarm the players. It should be noted even though he is just a mask he can dive at the players like a real life raptor can.

Weaknesses- Crystal balls activate him to let the player pass. When he comes to life the player must hit him with mushroom blocks. The Blocks stun him and then he will allow the player to pass. However, the blocks only stun him for a short time. If the player does nothing he will resume the chase until hit again.

Relationships

Friends

Wart- Wart likely created him to serve as a barrier and guardian. He serves Wart with loyalty.

8-Bits- He is friends with Wart's army the 8 bits as they are comrades.

Bosses- He is friends with the bosses.

Enemies

Mario- He does not like Mario because he is on a quest to defeat Wart.

Luigi- He does not like Luigi because Luigi is helping Mario

Peach and Toad- See Mario and Luigi Above.


Hawkmouth was likely created by wart to serve as a barrier to the other areas of Subcon. The player cannot advance unless they have the crystal that activates Hawkmouth. Thus, Hawkmouth is the only way Mario and his friends can advance. Second, he serves as a last minute Guardian to his master which is Wart.

In my opinion, Nintendo created Hawkmouth as kind of a plot twist. When I first played Super Mario Bros 2 I did not even think of him as an enemy. Instead I thought he was just a way to transport the heroes to the next zone. It was not until the end that I realized he was an enemy.

Also the character could have been created to trick players. Like I said when I first made it to Wart's Castle. I picked up the crystal expecting to go to Wart's Room. Only for the head to come alive. It was like a plot twist and a cheap shot at the same time.

It should be noted like Mouser, Tryclyde, and Clawgrip Hawkmouth does not appear in another Mario game. He is not seen nor does he make a cameo appearance. Most of the enemies from Super Mario Bros 2 became part of Bowser's minions.

Thus it is speculated that like the characters I mentioned above after Wart's defeat they vanished. This would explain why they are not seen again in Mario Games. Another theory is that after Wart's defeat Hawkmouth stayed the same with his head open all the time. That is also possible since in that case there would be no need for the Subcon residents to get him to open up, and with Wart Gone he would not be taking orders.

Regardless, of which theory is correct he appears to be a one and done type character. He is not even referenced in other games. Every video game franchise has a one and done type character. Anyway, this completes the biography.