Eggplants

[wanderingshadow]

Is it just me, or does Nintendo R&D1 seem to have an obsession with Eggplants? Consider the following:

• Kid Icarus - One of the most prominent enemies is the Eggplant Wizard.
  
• Ice Climber - You're climbing to the top of the mountain to rescue vegetables, most notably eggplants.
  
• Wrecking Crew - The most memorable enemy is Eggplant Man.
  

Is there some sort of significance behind eggplants or did they just decide they liked them?

[Fryguy64]

I'm not entirely sure, but I suspect they may be like a "comedy" vegetable in Japan. Anyone able to confirm?

[TV Eye]

I'm also concerned with the obsession with mushrooms...also turnips seem prominent

[Spud]

I don't know but I have a theory

Because the eggplant is a member of the nightshade family, it's related to the potato and tomato. Though commonly thought of as a vegetable, eggplant is actually a fruit... specifically a berry.

If all you're familiar with are the large globe eggplants and perhaps the slimmer Asian varieties, you'll be amazed at the variety of eggplants in the world. From small round green ones to long white banana-shaped ones, eggplants come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. (If you'd like to see a nice display, go to link.)

Eggplants become bitter with age and are very perishable. They should be stored in a cool, dry place and used within a day or two of purchase. If longer storage is necessary, place the eggplant in the refrigerator vegetable drawer for up to 5 days. When young, the skin of most eggplants is deliciously edible; older eggplants should be peeled. Since the flesh discolors rapidly, an eggplant should be cut just before using. Bitter, overripe fruit can benefit by the ancient method of salting both halves and weighting them for 20 minutes before rinsing; the salt helps eliminate some of the acrid taste. Eggplant can be prepared in a variety of ways including baking, broiling and frying. It does, however, have spongelike capacity to soak up oil so it should be well coated with a batter or crumb mixture to inhibit fat absorption.

The long, thin eggplants in this week’s pick-up are Japanese eggplants. They’re smaller than Western eggplants, skin is more delicate and the seeds aren't bitter, so you don't need to peel or salt them. They can be boiled, grilled, steamed, simmered, fried, pickled, and more.

Nutritionally, eggplants aren't very exciting. They have trace amounts of iron and vitamin C and some fiber. But, as you'll see below, they're a great foil for some marvelous side dishes.

source: www.evergreenseeds.com/

They're apparently very tasty and you can make jokes about them.

From small round green ones to long white banana-shaped ones, eggplants come in many sizes, shapes, and colors

Yes I know that was a long way to go for a todd-worthy joke

[mrmolecule]

Don't forget Kid Eggplant in ChibiRobo.

[Fryguy64]

Just Wrecking Crew's Eggplant Man, really. Doesn't really count.

[Dasher Misire]

Perhaps it's an inside joke by the team?

Conker's BFD has an inside joke about Pepsi Max, anyway...

[Deleted]

From small round green ones to long white banana-shaped ones

This must be their favorite eggplant! ;D

[Arcadenik]

I like eggplants. I had them for dinner last night.

[Hiker of Games]

When I was a young man, I made this site.

gamehiker.com/eggfiles/

[Wildcat]

This is completely unrelated, but my joy can not be contained.

Masa - Thank you for the FE art. I've been looking forever for some of the FE7 cast without any backgrounds, and you've gone and done it. Thanks so much. ^_^

Eggplant discussion may now resume.

I hated Eggplant Wizard in KI: OM&M. Man...I need to get back into that game. It's good fun, but tough.

[xman1]

haden't noticed that. I thought Eggplant Wizard = Man

[wanderingshadow]

masamune said:

When I was a young man, I made this site.

gamehiker.com/eggfiles/

It's very good, thank you! One question though: What game is the Eggplant Monster from?

[Hiker of Games]

One of the Island Adventure games. I just never got around to finishing that page proper like.

[wanderingshadow]

masamune said:

One of the Island Adventure games. I just never got around to finishing that page proper like.

I just looked into it. The game was Adventure Island IV. Also, I noticed that Eggplants damage Master Higgins in the Adventure Island series. Since Adventure Island is a Hudson Soft game, we can rule out it being an inside joke, I think.

Edit: I found a new one. One of the enemies in Kid Niki is an eggplant with feet.