| “ | Trash is garbage, no matter how you dress it. This world is made for BEAUUUUUTY! | „ |
| ~ King Croacus IV |
King Croacus IV, usually called just King Croacus, is a minor antagonist in Super Paper Mario, serving as the main antagonist of Chapter 5. He is the current king and supreme ruler of the Floro Sapiens as well as the possessor of the sixth Pure Heart. He is also the archenemy of Flint Cragley and Marbald the Cragnon Elder.
Biography[]
Croacus is the flamboyant king of the Floro Sapiens, a race of plant-like creatures. He was he regent for King Croacus III until the young ruler wilted. Once he came of age, Croacus IV was appointed king, and was beloved for his stabilizing influence. Croacus adores beauty to the point of obsession. When the Cragnons begin polluting the water used by the Floro Sapiens, Croacus had his people kidnap and brainwash Cragnons with Flora Sprouts. They were then sent to mine in the Floro Caverns for jewels for Croacus' palace.
Mario, Peach, and Bowser encounter Croacus while searching for the Pure Hearts. Despite his lack of interest in fighting, he decides to dispose of them. He grows his main body around his head, consisting of three small heads and rose-like pedals from his normal head that protect his head from any damage. No matter what the heroes do, he cannot be harmed until he exposes his head.
Although skilled in his gimmick incorporating style, he can be defeated by jumping from his smaller heads and then jumping to his normal head when it becomes exposed, or by using Thoreau to grab a smaller head and throwing it at his normal head. After taking enough damage, he shifts into a second phase where he loses the rest of his body and floats around on his head, throwing sharp pedals at the heroes. The pedals can be dodged or destroyed and attacking Croacus' head straight on. Additionally, Thoreau can be used to grab a pedal and throw it at his normal head.
Upon defeating him, Croacus reverts to his original form and collapses before darkening to a sickly tone, which the Floro Sapiens remarking that he wilted. They also explain that Croacus was trying to save his people by mind-controlling the Cragons with Floro Sprouts for polluting the water from which they derive water to feed themselves. They explain their king had lost his mind after drinking the polluted water himself and as such they willfully agreed to help him in his measures. Upon witnessing the scene, Flint Cragley declares that he will show his tape to the Cragnons, ending the war between the two races.
If the player visits Croacus after Chapter 5, he will still lie on the same spot on the floor, supposedly dead ("wilted"). The Floro Sapien who is watching over him says that he thinks that Croacus will revitalize, which he eventually does.
After clearing the game, King Croacus is seen in healthy spirits and less insane than before. He jokingly threatens the heroes with another battle, but states that the waters have become less polluted while he was sleeping. He says that he hopes he can help the Cragnons in the future. This suggests that, as the Floro Sapiens say, he is actually benevolent and was driven insane only due to the dirty water.
Quotes[]
| “ | Ooooooo-weeee-ooooooo! Where, oh, where are my pretties?! | „ |
| “ | Pretties... Beautiful things... Ooo-wee! Bring them to me... More! More! More! | „ |
| “ | So you must be the intruders I've heard SO much about... Well, I will NOT forgive the great trashening of my beautiful kingdom. NOO-WEE-OO! ...Thus you are warned! | „ |
| “ | Ooo? What is THIS hideous, clashing thing? | „ |
| “ | I can hear it in your voice... You want it SO badly, you can barely think, mmmmm? Seems we all seek beauty... so how DARE you take a high horse over me?! | „ |
| ~ King Croacus upon revealing he has a Pure Heart, tempting the heroes with it. |
| “ | Beauuuuuu...tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiful... Even as I wilt... I am... I am... BEEEEEAUUUUUTIIIIIIIFUUUL! | „ |
| ~ King Croacus' final words before he temporarily wilts. |
| “ | Ooooo-weeeee-ooooooooo! I am BACK! How dare you dirtify our water! The nerve.... I will NOT be standing for this! You and the vile Cragnons! I shall eradicate you all at once! Brace yourselves! ...Oh, I am kidding! It looks like much of the tainted water drained as I slept! I shan't be doing anything terrible to you, so do not worry yourselves. I wish to turn the page to a new chapter for the Cragnons and Floro Sapiens. | „ |
| ~ King Croacus' dialogue in the playable epilogue after he's been revitalized and his sanity has been restored, if you choose to visit and talk to him. |
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- King Croacus on the Mario Wiki
- King Croacus on the Super Mario Wiki
- King Croacus on the Paper Mario Wiki
- King Croacus on the Nintendo Wiki
