Nitpicker

Hostile Species
Full Name	Unknown
Alias	No information
Origin	Ice Climber
Homeworld	The wildlife
Abilities	Flight Maneuverability Methodology Strategy Speed
Members	N/A
Hobby	Flying around. Roaming around mountains. Attempting to assault the Ice Climbers. Attempting to assault those who oppose them.
Goals	Assault the Ice Climbers (dependent, ongoing).
Crimes	Mass ambush Assault Treason Endangerment
Type of Hostile Species	Enigmatic Hostile Species

Nitpickers are major antagonists of Nintendo's platform video game series, Ice Climber. Nitpickers are the only enemies capable of flight to attempt to assault the Ice Climbers rather than fleeing from them (like the Condor), other than the Bee. These species are typically hovering back and forth around the mountains.

Overview

In Ice Climber, Nitpickers are bright pink penguin-looking birds who fly around each mountain and cause the Ice Climbers to lose a life if colliding with them under all circumstances. In order to defeat them, either Popo or Nana must attack them by slamming them down with their mallet or jumping onto them and knocking them out with their mallet in mid-air. The latter method must be performed precisely and carefully, as it depends on how close the Ice Climbers are near the Nitpicker's proximity and it is best to touch them with their hammer in order to knock them out while jumping. Additionally, falling towards it instead of jumping onto it will not fend it off, instead costing a life.

The speed and maneuverability of the Nitpickers dramatically increase upon progression of each mountain. Defeating a Nitpicker is worth 800 points.

The Nitpicker is one of the three enemies from Ice Climber to not make other official appearances, along with the Bee and Butterfly. However, Nitpickers make a cameo appearance in the Donkey Kong Jr. title, where Nitpickers are encountered as antagonists as well, serving the same role from Ice Climber.

Gallery

Popo scaling a mountain while being ambushed by a Nitpicker and a Topi.

Ditto.

Ditto.

Popo scaling a mountain while being ambushed by a Nitpicker, who is flying around the top, and a Topi from the bottom.

A pair of Nitpickers at the results screen, worth 800 points for defeating them.

The Ice Climbers scaling a mountain while being ambushed by a Nitpicker and a pair of Topis.

Ditto, but closer to the summit of the mountain.

The Nitpicker's NES Sprite.

Popo attacking a Nitpicker while scaling a mountain.

On a promotional title artwork of Ice Climber.

Trivia

• Nitpickers are the only enemies in the game capable of flight to attempt to assault the Ice Climbers rather than fleeing from them (like the Condor), other than the Bee.
• Nitpickers are one of the four flying enemies in Ice Climber. The rest are considered: the Condor, the Butterfly and the Bee.
• The Nitpicker is one of the three enemies from Ice Climber to not make other official appearances nor even return in the Super Smash Bros. series, along with the Bee and Butterfly.
  • However, Nitpickers make a cameo appearance in the Donkey Kong Jr. title, although their design heavily differs from their original incarnation in Ice Climber.