Taizo Hori: the protagonist of the classic arcade game known as "Dig Dug". He his an arcade legends and along with the Mr.Driller series starring his son, he has been on a multitude of platforms most of which have been Nintendo branded.
Armed with a pump this white clade driller digs into the earth to rid it of the monsters that dwell there.Whom of which include:
Pookas
Taking a quote from "Pac Man World 2"
"Pookas are the underground version of a pigeon: they bounce around bumping into each other and objects in the environment. Pookas never stray far from their burrows (hole in the ground) and they often fall prey to the Pooka Plants. Be careful not to touch them or come to close!
Fygars
Taken from the Pac-man wikia
"In
Dig Dug, Fygar appears as one of the enemies. Fygar shoots fire from his mouth at the player, one shot has the ability to kill the player. Before shooting fire, a Fygar will briefly flash, giving the player a moment's notice to act.
Like the Pooka, Fygar's have the ability to phase through solid dirt. However, they generally prefer to take the paths of least resistance and use tunnels whenever possible, as travel by phasing is markedly slower."
Powers of the Pumper
Now you may be asking "How does are white suited hero vanquish his foes" and to answer your question I give you this
Spoiler
A bit graphic in hindsight, but yes our boy Hori inflates his foes with his trusty pump. Bombarding the enemies with puffs of air until they inevitably explode from the pressure.
Appearance in Smash
Spoiler
Specials
Spoiler
Normals
Spoiler
Neutral:Drill jab
Taizo stabs forward with his drill multiple times finishing with a sweep upward.
Percentage(s) : 1-2%
(Namco X Capcom)
Forward smash:After Shock
A drill spark run along the ground before Taizo, as he jams his drill into the ground. This move has quick start up but heavy ending lag. The range is similar to Megaman's neutral, and is most effective the closer the sparks are to Taizo. This move has great knockback based on the spark's proximity to Taizo, it has the ability to kill at around 75% if the opponent is struck with the sparks at a range close to Taizo, 90% if the opponent is hit in the middle of the spark's journey, and 110% if the opponent is hit as the attack ends.
Percentage(s): 16%, 10%, 7%
(Namco X Capcom)
Down Smash: Drill Peg
A peg appears and Taizo jam his drill down into the ground causing drill sparks to spread from his sides along the ground.Which will cause a pitfall effect at random intervals, if it hits a recovering opponent, the attack will spike. Starting lag to this move is high, there is no ending lag however. The range of this move is lower than the F smash, due to the sparks not traveling very far away from Taizo before dissipating. So essentially this move is like Charizard's down smash, but just a tad more powerful.
Percentage(s): 18%
(Dig Dug 2)
Up Smash: 100M Break
A 100M block from the game Mr.Driller appears above Taizo and her drills through it, the rubble and the drill counting for multiple hits on the opponent. Overall the hit box and how it works is very similar to Mewtwo's up smash, as such it too hits about 1-6 times the first hit being 1% and the last being 10%.The "CLEAR" sound effect occurs when the smash is completed. Small characters can fail to be hit by this, however the last hit has great knockback and will kill at 110%
Percentage(s): 1-10%
(Mr.Driller)
Dash Attack: Jack hammer Slide
Taizo jumps onto his drill and skates along the ground towards the opponent. This move is similar to Link's down air, it's just weaker and repeats for a long period of time causing ending lag. This move however can not kill.
Percentage(s): 10%
(Mr.Driller)
Forward Tilt
Taizo wifs his drill as it jam the ground causing the spark to arc upwards. Causing scaled knock back. Moderate start up to this attack, does cause knock back.
Percentage(s): 12%
(Namco X Capcom)
Up Tilt
Taizo whips his drill upward slowly in a crescent moon motion stopping at the start of the arc to pump his drill causing a compressed air burst to occur, and again at the height of the arc to repeat the motion. This attack has high starting lag but will kill if the second blast connects with an opponent at high percents, roughly 151%.
Percentage(s): 5%(first burst) 10% (second burst)
(Mr. Driller/ Namco X Capcom)
Down Tilt
Taizo will swing his drill around himself, hitting everything around him moderately, there is no lag on this move and it will cause knock back.
Percentage(s) 9%
Up-air
Taizo spawns and drills through a small colored block, this move has a range similar to Rosalina's up air. This move also has high K.O. potential.
Percentage(s) 9%
(Mr.Driller)
N-air
Taizo drills downward, which well force the opponent down to the ground. The opponent suffers scaled knock back, but like most neutrals in the air, it will not kill.
Percentage(s) 5%-8%
(Mr.Driller)
F-air
Taizo Drills the air before him causing the air to pop.
It can kill at higher percents, 150% range.
Percentage(s)10%
(Mr.Driller)
B-air
Taizo performs the same maneuver as his F-air only backwards.
It can kill at higher percents,150% range.
Percentage(s)10%
(Mr.Driler)
D-air
Tazio takes a horizontal stance and performs a powerful Drill pulse downward. This attack will always cause a meteor smash.
Percentage(s)12%
(Dig Dug)
Grabs
All grabs are done with the air pumps hose, which can be used as a tether for recovery purposes.
Pummel
The enemy is drawn in by the pump and they are jabbed with the drill.
Percentage(s) 2%
Forward Throw
The enemy is drawn in and launched by a drill jab. A weak throw, does not have the power to kill.
Percentage(s) 8%
Back Throw
The enemy is drawn in and wiffed along the ground by the drill.
Percentage(s) 8%
Up Throw
Taizo draws the enemy in and then pops them up into the air with his drill.
Percentage(s)5%
Down Throw
The enemy is drawn in and drilled into the ground launching them. This Taizo most reliable killing throw, and will kill around 120%
Percentage(s) 10%
Reference: (Mr.Driller)
Get Ups/Edge Recovery
Spoiler
Edge Attack
Taizo gets up thrusts his drill forward
Percentage(s) 8%
Floor Attack (front)
Taizo gets up thrusts his drill downard
Percentage(s) 5%
Floor Attack (back)
Taizo gets up thrusts his drill backward
Percentage(s) 8%
Floor Attack (Trip)
Taizo gets up thrusts his drill backward
Percentage(s) 8%
Taunts
Up
The digging faces of the Pooka and the Fygar spin around him. This taunt kills opponents in the 400%-600% range.
Side
Taizo eats and eggplant and "2000" appears above his head
Down
The death animation from Dig Dug
Physics
Spoiler
In the game "Mr. Driller G" Taizo has the stats of his walking speed being slow and his air consumption rate is fast. However, he can make blocks disappear much faster, making his descent speed quicker as well. Adapting this into smash I would assume that he would be:
1: Similar to Mario in size
2: A walking/running speed that is slightly slower than Mario's or similar to Wario's perhaps
3: Be of Wario's weight
4: He would be a fast faller which would make since as how his place of power is on the ground
5: He would probably have a very low jump or at least one like Little Mac's
Final Smash
Spoiler
(idea 1)
Fault Line Sinker (Dig Dug 2)
Tazio Shocks the stage with his drill, a dotted line appears for the player to control, the object is to ensnare as many enemies as possible within the dotted line. After a small amount of time has passed Taizo will shake the stage causing all on it and those caught by the fault line to be launched
(idea 2)
Family Drilling (Mr. Driller)
Taizo jumps off screen and summons a downfall of colored blocks that trap each player on stage. Then Susumu and Ataru appear on the left and right of the screen while Taizo appears up top. They all then drill incredibly fast toward the entrapped players, knocking them out of the stage on contact. each player can break out of their colored block prison with several neutral hits.
Kirby Hat
Taizo's Helmet
(possible)Victory/Loss Animation(s) Entry(s)
Entry
Taizo digs up from the bottom of the stage as his stepping jingle plays
Victories
- Taizo and his son appear on either side of him as they all give a thumbs up to the player
- Taizo quickly pops two 8-bit Pookas and thumbs up the player
- Taizo eats an eggplants and thinks about it thoughtfully and then gives a thumbs up to the player
-Taizo chases angrily after a undergrounder, trips and falls
- (after beating Pac-man) he says "Alright you promised me dinner!" then gives a thumbs up to the player
- Kneels down and pets Poochi
-A Fygar appears and breathes fire, afterwards Taizo pops him and and has a look of victory on his face
Loss
Taizo looks smugly at the camera as he claps