Kamek

Kamek in action.
Kamek
Species	Magikoopa
Debut	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Kamek is a powerful Magikoopa who is most well-known for having taken care of Bowser during his childhood. However, Kamek's appearances in the "modern" games are more minor and infrequent.

Background

Prequel Games

Kamek was Bowser's caretaker during the latter's youth. Kamek was quite protective of Bowser and was determined to raise Bowser to lead the Koopa Kingdom to glory. But one night, Kamek had a vision which told him that two babies born that night would bring disaster to the Koopa family. So he decided to kidnap the twin babies before they were born, while the stork was still delivering them. Laying in wait above Yoshi's Island, Kamek snatched the stork and baby then returned to the castle. Kamek then found that he only had one baby, Luigi, and had dropped the other, Mario.

Kamek went through great lengths to find Baby Mario in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, especially after he found out that a tribe of Yoshis had found the baby and were searching for Luigi. Kamek did not attack directly but through underlings- he sent out his Toadies to capture Baby Mario. And he also appeared in every fortress and castle, where he used his magic to grow normal enemies into giant-sized bosses to fight Yoshi. At one point, Kamek instead used his magic to shrink Yoshi down so Prince Froggy could eat him.

As the Yoshis drew closer, Kamek started attacking them himself- in the fifth world's extra level, "Kamek's Revenge", as well as in Bowser's Castle. And after Baby Bowser was beaten by Yoshi, Kamek used his magic to turn Baby Bowser into a giant as his last-ditch effort to save the Koopa family. But Baby Bowser was defeated and restored to his old size, and Kamek fled towards the moon with Baby Bowser. In Yoshi's Island DS, the "past" Kamek played a minor role, first appearing to yell at his future self as he abducts Baby Bowser and later appeared escorting Baby Bowser home in the game's ending, but accidentally dropped the young prince into the raft of Baby Wario.

Kamek reappeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time during the past timeline. He was on hand to aid Baby Bowser in a variety of functions, such as evading the Shroobs and stealing Yoshi Cookies for the prince. He ran into the future Mario, Luigi, and their baby counterparts (whom he recognized immediately). At first, Kamek tried arranging obstacles to impede the progress of the foursome. He created four copies of himself to battle, but he was defeated anyways. He reappears at the end of the game, escorting Baby Bowser back to his castle.

Modern Age

Kamek was still serving Bowser in his adulthood. In Tetris Attack, Bowser had Kamek cause evil spells that would flood the world and turn Yoshi's friends against him. Kamek was the third boss of the Cave of Wickedness (and last boss in Normal Mode). After scolding Yoshi for breaking his spell on Yoshi's friends, Kamek and his Toadies battled Yoshi, but they were defeated.

Apparently, Kamek had some good in him and did not approve of Bowser's evil ways, leading them to a falling-out. Kamek next appeared in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga as a white-robed hypnotist working in Little Fungitown, where the locals called him "Psycho Kamek". When Luigi came to Kamek scared stiff, Kamek didn't recognize Luigi and offered to help him become brave like Mario. So Kamek used his magic to hypnotise Luigi into thinking he was Mario, and later Kamek even tried hypnotising himself into being a better hypnotist.

Kamek also showed up in Mario Party 5, Mario Party 6 and Mario Party Advance with his old blue robe. In the first two Kamek was an event character who would shuffle the players' capsules around or changing around people's character spaces. In Mario Party Advance, Kamek appears in the hidden Pyramid area as the Game Mage. If the player beats Kamek at the card game Pair 'Em Up, Kamek gives them the game and recalls that he once gave it to Bowser as well, and at the same time described his falling-out with Bowser. But the credits showed that Kamek eventually forgave Bowser and rejoined him.

Kamek appeared in Super Princess Peach as boss of the seventh world, where he held Luigi captive just like old times. He turned himself into a giant in an attempt to stop Princess Peach, but Peach was able to defeat him. Then in Yoshi's Island DS, Kamek and Bowser somehow travelled back in time to the time when Bowser was Baby Bowser. They were searching for the seven fallen stars which apparently had attached themselves to recently-born infants. So Kamek sent his Toadies out to capture every baby in the world (even Baby Bowser). However, once again they were defied by the same tribe of Yoshis and Baby Mario. Kamek tried enlarging the adult Bowser to giant size so he could stop the Yoshis, but Bowser was still defeated.

Other Possible Appearances

A Magikoopa appears as a boss in Yoshi's Safari. Though his appearance is generally like most Magikoopas, he does display the ability to change his size into a giant, similar to his boss fight in Super Princess Peach.

It is sometimes that Kamek is the unnamed Magikoopa appearing in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, especially due to a quote from Mallow's Psycopath move in which Kamek says "That's... my child," believed to be in reference to Bowser. However, the phrase could also apply to any of the creatures that the Magikoopa summons during his battle with Mario. Also, this Magikoopa has a different name in the Japanese version, where he is called Kamezaado.

Trivia

• His Japanese name is Kamekku, which is the same as the Japanese name for Magikoopa. This causes more confusion with the character, similar to what has happened with characters like Toad, Yoshi or Birdo, who all look identical to generic members of their respective races and also are named after their races.
• Unused text in Super Paper Mario lists Kamek's Apprentice as an enemy, though no sprite has been found for the enemy.
• In the Baby Park racetrack of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! a house called "Kamek's Magic Show", complete with a picture of Kamek, is seen in the background; the Baby Park track is filled with references to Yoshi's Island.
• In Tetris Attack, Kamek replaces Sanatos from the original Panel De Pon.
• In Mario Party Advance a group of Toadies form a rap band called the Kamek Krew as an homage to their old leader.
• Kamek has appeared as a recurring villain in the comics featured in the German edition of Club Nintendo, often appearing to pester Mario and Yoshi with his Toadies.