Panther Caroso
| |
| Panther in Star Fox Assault. | |
| Panther Caruso | |
| Species | Panther |
| Eye color | Black |
| Voiced by | David Scully (2005) |
| Debut | Star Fox Assault |
Panther Caruso is a recurring enemy who appears in the later Star Fox games as a part of Team Star Wolf. He is a pilot who was admitted into Team Star Wolf after Pigma Dengar and Andrew Oikonny had been kicked out. Although a skilled pilot, his flirtatious personality had a tendency to annoy his wingmates.
Background
Panther first battled the Star Fox team at Sargasso after Star Fox infiltrated the space station searching for Pigma in Star Fox Assault. Panther quickly became infatuated with Krystal, whom he targeted in battle. However, as the Aparoid threat become more apparent, the Star Wolf team aided the Star Fox team on Corneria. Panther continued to fly with the team, but also continued to flirt with Krystal as the opportunity presented itself. Afterwards, Star Wolf provided Star Fox backup two different times, including the battle on the Aparoid Homeworld. After the planet exploded, the Star Wolf team was nowhere to be found.
Some time afterwards, the Cornerian military put large bounties on the heads of the Star Wolf members (Panther's was S$2000000, which was higher than Leon's but lower than Wolf's, not bad for a newbie). They began hiding out in their own base at Fichina to avoid suspicion. Panther also had a dream come true when he started dating Krystal, who had been forced to quit Star Fox after her relationship with Fox fell apart and was at the time working in the Cornerian Air Force.
In Star Fox Command, the Lylat System was being invaded by the Anglars. Star Wolf decided to attempt to destroy the Anglars themselves so that they would be seen as heroes for a change, and their bounties would be cleared. Panther and Leon soon split off from Wolf to pick up Krystal at Katina, as she was ready to join Star Wolf. However, Fox intervened and convinced Krystal to instead rejoin Star Fox. The Star Wolf members did not appear again in that storyline.
Possible Fates
Krystal stays with Panther and Star Wolf in Endings 3, 4 and 9 of "Star Fox Command" (although she eventually leaves in Ending 4). In all three of those endings the Star Wolf team are successful in their raids on Venom. They destroy the Anglar Emperor in all of these endings except for Ending 3, where he escapes into the Asteroid Belt, where Star Fox finishes him off. Fox does however promise Star Wolf that he would try to get their bounties cleared as compensation.
Other Appearances
- In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Panther appears in several hidden conversations that can be reached in the Lylat Cruise level by Star Fox characters involving both Star Fox and Star Wolf members, as part of the level shows Wolfen fighters battling with Cornerian ships in the background. Panther additionally appears as a trophy. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Panther makes the same appearance as the Lylat Cruise level is reprised with the same hidden conversations, and he also has a trophy that is available in both the 3DS and Wii U games.
Trivia
- Command description: "A member of the Star Wolf squadron and a great pilot. Though a show-off and a lady's man, he often falls completely and faithfully in love."
- In Star Fox Assault his last name was given as Caluroso. However, in Star Fox Command his last name was changed to Caruso. It remains to be seen whether this change is truly a retcon or merely a translation/spelling error.