Name: Itsunomanika Heihō
Debut: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
An unlocalized name, for such a lovable little guy? That just won't do! "Itsunomanika Heihō" translates to "Unnoticed Shy Guy", so I think it's obvious. We shall call this fellow Sly Guy!
It really would be pretty sly of Baby Mario to disguise himself as a Shy Guy, allowing Yoshi to mosey through Shy Guy strongholds without rousing any suspicion. It seems like something that would happen in a movie. Well, it doesn't happen in a movie, and it doesn't happen in a game, either! This is a regular old Shy Guy on Yoshi's back. It isn't Yoshi's friend, and... to be honest? I don't think it's actually all that sly. I'm sorry. I just thought "Sly Guy" was a good name!
Now, THIS guy, this is the guy who is sly, to I. A Bandit who saw his fellows fail time and time again with their direct approach to burglary, and who knew there had to be a better way. And he was right! He grabbed some random Shy Guy off the street, maybe buttered him up with an impressively firm handshake, and they simply waited, concealed behind a tree.
When Yoshi passes by, he is swindled. He is accosted. He becomes the latest hapless victim of The Ol' Switcheroo, as the Bandit has replaced Baby Mario with the Shy Guy! See what I meant? The Shy Guy is basically just a prop here. He isn't very sly. I'm sure he has plenty of great qualities, it's fine if slyness is not among them.
The Switcheroo seen here is very impressive! We don't see it happen- since the tree obscures the player's view- but Yoshi certainly does. He's watching where he's going. He should have noticed the shady fellow lying in wait directly ahead. But oh well! These things happen. He was probably preoccupied thinking about something funny. Maybe he was thinking about anteaters, and how nothing's stopping us from calling their predators "anteatereaters". Heehee!
For all its spectacle, Sly Guy's Old-Fashioned Switcheroo Detergent and Conditioner Blend is over with pretty quickly. You notice you don't have Baby Mario anymore, you get him back! But it's such a simple thing that it really stays in my mind, as perhaps one of the most iconic parts of the game! Now, would I love to play a version of Yoshi's Island where Baby Mario is replaced by a Shy Guy the whole time...? No, not really. I can play as Shy Guy in other things. And I'm not one of those Baby Mario haters. I'm fine! I'm good! Thank you for your concern!
On the topic of ill-fated green Shy Guys who ride things, look at the early Shy Guy model from Mario Kart DS. Wonderful! You could easily make a craft of this using some construction paper and a toilet paper roll!
