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Chao & Goku
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Chao & Goku are characters that first make their debut in the Japanese gameYūyūki, itself based on the 1592 Chinese novelJourney to the West.Chao is a Chinese human girl original toYūyūki, replacingYu Long from the source book; she makes a guest appearance in theKirby series by debuting in the Japanese version ofKirby's Dream Land 2 and all versions ofKirby's Dream Land 3. She is seen in the latter game withGoku, an anthropomorphic monkey based on theJourney to the West characterSun Wukong (known as Son Goku in Japanese translations).
Chao's hair is black and held in pigtails. She wears a redChangshan with white linings and black shoes as Goku does after being befriended. In Chao'sZenpen artwork forYūyūki, she wears whiteku and socks; inKouhen artwork, she appears to be older, slimmer, and wears no pants or socks. Chao's sprites in theKirby series are modeled after her appearance inZenpen, and Goku appears as he does at the beginning of the game after being found by Chao. In theKirby's Dream Land 3 manga, Chao's pants are red.
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby's Dream Land 2[edit]
Chao only appears in the Japanese version ofKirby's Dream Land 2, where she is trapped in abag, andKirby can free her by popping the bag if he has the sameAnimal Friend by his side already, though usuallyGooey appears instead. Finding Chao is required for100% completion of the game.
100% completion of the game unlocks theSound Test, where Chao appears in the background playing the piano. This entire easter egg is an elaborate reference to the plot of the first half (i.e.,Zenpen) ofYūyūki, in which Chao and Goku become separated shortly after their meeting in the first chapter, and Goku seeks to reunite with Chao with the help of his nominal spiritual teacher Sanzō as well as Sanzō's other disciples Hakkai and Gojō. Thus, rescuing Chao and completing the game allows Kirby and theAnimal Friends to find her in the lounge pictured in the Sound Test, just as Sanzō and the animal disciples (Gojō, Gokū, and Hakkai) find her in the exact same lounge inYūyūki after completing most of the game's first half.
TheGirl blob takes Chao's role in the western versions of the game.
Kirby's Dream Land 3[edit]
InKirby's Dream Land 3, Chao returns, retaining her design fromKirby's Dream Land 2. She appears inGrass Land - Stage 4, where she and Goku get separated. After their reunion, Chao gives Kirby aHeart Star as thanks. LikeDonbe & Hikari, she and Goku retain their classic 8-bit look.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, Chao and Goku appear as a spirit.
Trivia[edit]
- According to a transcript of a Q&A session during a 2021 shareholder meeting,Yūyūki is Shinya Takahashi's favorite game, as it was the first title he "was involved with".[1] Takahashi has served as a General Producer onKirby games sinceKirby's Epic Yarn as the Nintendo executive (currently senior managing executive officer) in charge of first-party software.
Gallery[edit]
Chao playing the piano in the Japanese version of theSound Test inKirby's Dream Land 2
Chao looking amazed by Kirby's victory on the Japanese version of theBoss Endurance inKirby's Dream Land 2
Chao seeing the player after collecting all 84Small Stars in the Japanese version of theBONUS mode inKirby's Dream Land 2
Sprite of Chao from Grass Land's stage select
Chao as she appears inYūyūki (Zenpen).
Chao as she appears inYūyūki (Kouhen)
Chao playing the piano in Chapter 5 ofYūyūki, in a lounge identical to that pictured in the Sound Test inKirby's Dream Land 2
Names in other languages[edit]
Chao[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ちゃお chao | Chao |
| German | Chao | - |
Goku[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ごくう gokū | Goku |
| German | Goku | - |
References
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