THE MARIO SERIES CHARACTER GUIDE
- Compiled by the Space Pope (spacepope4u@gmail.com) -
- version 2.3 -
(last updated March, 11 2007)
***** ***** IMPORTANT NOTE!!! ***** *****
Okay. The Mario Series Character Guide is finally back in the business
of being regularly updated. I will be working my way through the last
year and a half's worth of Mario and Mario-related titles, adding all
appropriate characters. Continue to read this guide on GameFAQS and
also posted on my personal site at the following URL:
http://spacepope4u.tripod.com/mario_characters.txt
However, I am also informing you that I'm now keeping a Mario blog,
Coin Heaven, in order to post breaking Mario news and elaborate on
matters that aren't pertinent to this guide. For those interested, please
check out my blog and help make it popular.
http://spacepope4u.blogspot.com/
Now enjoy the guide and scan for updates by CTRL+Fing [new].
==T A B L E==O F==C O N T E N T S=======================================
- What the Hell? (an introduction)
- What's New [updates]
- What I Need (and lingering questions) [questions]
- Legal Stuff [legal]
- The Big List [biglist]
- Mario Game Masterlist [gamelist]
- Frequently Asked Questions [faq]
- Miscellaneous Lists [misc]
- Who Did This? [author]
- Works Cited (and recommended reading) [cited]
- Special Thanks [thanks]
- Game Over
Find new or updated entries quickly by searching [new].
==W H A T==T H E==H E L L ?==(an introduction)==========================
Hi. This FAQ is an extensive guide to the characters of Nintendo's
Mario games - all of the games, from the early days in the arcade to
whatever sport Nintendo has Mario and his friends playing today. This
guide also includes the series that have sprung up around other Mario
characters - namely Yoshi, Donkey Kong and Wario.
Why?
Why not? A lot of downtime, that's why.
Plus the fact that a whole slew of characters now populate the Mario
universe, and I thought some other fans would appreciate the
characters being catalogued in a single, quick-to-load and easy-to-read
text document.
And also because Nintendo and its affiliated developers have an
tendency to populate new titles with "clone" characters - the likes of
Waluigi and Toadette - at the expense of classic ones like Birdo or
even Donkey Kong. I'd thought Mario fans might appreciate one more
site commemorating bygone Mario characters.
This whole thing is pretty straightforward, but before we start, a few
notes:
(1) Character profiles differentiate between starring roles and mere
appearances. A starring role means that characters was (a) playable or
(b) a boss. I had previously counted "damsel" appearances as starring
roles, but I changed this when I realized that damsels don't usually do
all that much. Also, I'm not detailing every appearance in a character's
career. Instead, I focus on what I deem interesting. For the sake of
being succinct, I lump especially minor characters in the profiles of
major characters with whom they're associated. And I regard the
appearance of the various WarioWare characters who have their own
mini-game set as a sort of boss, thus their appearances being "starring
roles" instead of just appearances.
(2) I do not believe that the creators of the Mario games planned for
the various plotlines to stitch themselves into a neat, ordered universe
with conscious continuity. Honestly, I think anyone who does think
this is being naďve. These are just games, and forcing strict continuity
rules on their plots would hinder their evolution, especially after
twentysome years. Nonetheless, I honestly believe that it's the ill-
fitting patchwork of contradicting storylines that makes the Marioverse
interesting. There's a reason some characters get pushed to the
forefront and others get bumped into obscurity, and I'd like to explore
that.
(3) Here, storylines are discussed in depth. This is your spoiler
warning. But come on - do you really need a spoiler warning for a
Mario game? I'll spoil it for you here: Mario wins, Bowser loses.
(4) To differentiate between the Japanese and American versions on
Super Mario Bros. 2, I refer to the Japanese one as The Lost Levels
and the American one as Super Mario Bros. 2.
(5) Because storylines get unreasonably complicated otherwise, the
following characters each get their own separate bios: Mario, Baby
Mario, Dr. Mario, Metal Mario, Shadow Mario, Luigi, Baby Luigi,
Peach, Nurse Peach, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Cranky Kong,
Bowser, Giga Bowser, Baby Bowser, Bowser Jr., Koopa Kid,
Cackletta and Bowletta. Not to say that everything works out neatly
this way. But it's easier for me to give these characters separate bios.
On a similar note, I refer to the pink, pretty princess as Peach
throughout this guide, even when discussing the games she technically
appeared in as Princess Toadstool. The only exception is in her profile,
specifically where I discuss how her name changed in the U.S.
(6) Please excuse redundancy. I try to avoid whenever I can, but since
I wanted each bio to more-or-less be able to stand on its own, some
plot threads get repeated. Thus, if you read the entire guide, you'll hear
about how Kamek tried to kidnap both baby Mario Bros. about seven
times - and now eight, counting here. Whoops.
(7) Unless otherwise noted, I've gotten all my Japanese names for
Mario characters from the good people at the Mushroom Kingdom
website. Thanks, fellas.
(8) A note about the Donkey Kong Country games: If I had made this
guide a few years ago, I totally would have included Donkey Kong,
D.K. Jr., Pauline, Stanley and then stopped. However, due to the
schism between Nintendo and Rare and - judging by Diddy's
appearances in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Kart: Double
Dash!! - the gradual introduction of the Donky Kong Country
characters into the Marioverse, I think they belong here after all.
Characters introduced in Wario and Yoshi's series made it in, so I
think it's only fair that the Donkey Kong Country characters be
included as well, even if their games exist on the fringes of the
Marioverse.
(9) Dates provided refer to American releases of games, except when
said games were released only in Japan.
(10) Because the games clearly follow each other in a certain order,
I'm considering the events of WarioWare: Twisted to occur before
those of WarioWare: Touched, even though Nintendo biffed it and
released the latter before the former in the United States.
And finally, (11) you might have noticed that I've so far, I've omitted
profiles for certain staple characters like Goomba. At this point, I'm
not compiling profiles for generic baddies. But Goombario, because
he's a playable character, does get a profile. Characters like Koopa
Troopa or Boo are included because, despite being generic characters,
they're playable in games like Mario Kart or Mario Tennis. (It's
entirely likely that I will one day reverse this decision, so please stop
emailing me about it.)
==W H A T ' S==N E W ?============================================
[update]
Version 2.17 (PUT DATE HERE): New profiles for Wario-Man,
Vanessa, Art and Decko, Garbage Boy, the Pizza Dinosaur goons,
Mama T., Papa T., Jamie T., James T., Scratchy the Fro Bug, Sugar,
Count Down, Paul, Noki Elder, Bobo, the Yum Yums, Sal Out, Luna,
the Pork Loins, Sammy Rai, Bridget the Baker, Ashley, Red, Pyoro,
the Diamond Troll, Space Monster Gabriel, Sugar, the Guru of the
Sewer, Rocky the Reporter, Mike, Hen, Onnanoko, Oyazi, Akuman,
De Buu, Dorago, Meidou, Goura, and Shiisa.
Updates to Wario, Mona, Jimmy T., Kat and Ana, Tiny Kong, the
Koopa Bros, Reznor, Ken the Reporter, Dr. Crygor, Gelato Joe,
Dribble and Spitz.
Minor tidbits added to E. Gadd, Bowyer, Exor, Sluggy the Unshaven,
Yoshi, Katsini.
To help organize some of the longer articles, I've also added
subheadings to the profiles for Peach, Luigi, Yoshi and Wario, Bowser
and Donkey Kong.
I've also started posting links to images for some of the more obscure
characters in the Marioverse. So far, these include Aqualea, Biff Atlas,
Boom Boom, Booster, Boshi, Chauncey, Dangerous Duck, Frogfucius,
Hammerbot, Hiyoihoi, Keyzer, King Totomesu, Scienstein, Spearhead,
Spike, Syrup, Tatanga, Tumble, Valentina and Wanda. All appear at
the wonderful Gamehiker image gallery. Enjoy! There's more to
come.
==W H A T==I==N E E D=(and some lingering questions)====================
[questions]
Clearly, the list is not complete. If you think something is glaringly
missing, please do write me at this following address:
spacepope4u@gmail.com. Tell me what I left out, what I got
wrong or what I could do better. I love being corrected, honestly.
However, please do not write me to tell me that I left out your
favorite character unless it's an especially obscure one that has
somehow gone under my radar. Chances are, I've thought of this
character but just haven't gotten around to posting a profile for
them.
That said, I have a few random, unanswered Mario questions:
In Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins, who is the guy who
operates the underground casino where Mario exchanges coins for
lives?
Does anybody know the names of the remaining bosses from the
first Wario Land game? Or Super Mario Land 2, for that matter?
[new]
The credits for WarioWare: Twisted! mention characters named
"Ocktar" and "Pip Squeak." Does anybody know who these
characters are? And who is the "Fligby" mentioned in the credits
for WarioWare: Touched!?
==L E G A L==S T U F F==================================================
[legal]
The boilerplate: All trademarks and copyrights contained in this
document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright
holders.
Meaning...
Mario and every other character mentioned in this guide are
trademarked by Nintendo, 1983 to present. In many cases, the
characters may be partially owned by one or more of the many
developers who have contributed to these games. These companies
include Square-Enix, Camelot, HAL, Alpha Dream and others. This
guide is copyrighted (c) to me and is my intellectual property, save
the comments that I have attributed to other people. This guide may
not be posted anywhere without my permission. If I find it
somewhere I haven't permitted it to be, I'll ask you to remove it. But
I'm not all that stingy about where it goes, so if you'd like to post it
somewhere, go ahead and write me at the this email address:
spacepope4u@gmail.com
Honestly, I'd love for this to be distributed widely. I made it to be
read. But please, ask permission.
==T H E==B I G==L I S T================================================
[biglist]
All the Mario characters I've catalogued so far, listed alphabetically.
- 5-Volt
- 9-Volt
- 18-Volt
- Aerodent
- Akiki
- Akuman
- Alex
- Anti Guy
- The Ancient Ones
- Appleby
- Aqualea
- Arich
- The Armored Harriers
- Art and Decko
- Ashley
- The Axem Rangers
- Azalea
- Baby Bowser
- Baby Luigi
- Baby Mario
- Baby Yoshi
- Bandit
- Bandy Andy
- Barbos
- Belcha
- Belome
- Biff Atlas
- The Big Bob-Omb
- The Big Boo
- Big Bully
- Big Lantern Ghost
- The Bigger Boo
- Biokinton
- Birdo
- Blablanadon
- Bleak
- Bloat
- Blooey
- Bobbery
- Bobo
- Boddle
- Bogmire
- Bombette
- Boneheads
- Bonetail
- Boo
- Boolossus
- Boom-Boom
- Boomer
- Booster
- Bootler
- Boshi
- Bow
- Bowletta
- Bowser Koopa Jr.
- Bowser Koopa
- Bowyer
- Bridget the Baker
- Brighton
- The Brothers Bear
- Bruce
- Bubbles
- Bub-Ulber
- Bundt
- Burt the Bashful
- Bumpty
- Buzzar
- Cackletta
- Candy Kong
- Carlton
- Catbat
- Charlie
- Charlieton
- Chauncey
- Chestnut King
- Chet Rippo
- Chief Chilly
- Chuck Quizmo
- Chuckleroot
- Chuckolator
- Chunky Kong
- Clapper
- Clawgrip
- Cleftor
- Cloaker and Domino
- Clockwork Soldiers
- Cloudjin
- Cloud N. Candy
- Cork and Cask
- Cortez
- Count Down
- Cractus
- Cranberry
- Cranky Kong
- Crepe
- Croco
- Crump
- Crystal King
- Cuckoo Condor
- Culex
- Czar Dragon
- Daisy
- Dancing Whirlindas
- Dangerous Duck
- Darkly
- Dazzle
- De Buu
- Dedar
- The Diamond Troll
- Diddy Kong
- Dixie Kong
- Dodo
- Doll Man
- Dolphin
- Don
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Don Pianta (and other Piantas)
- Francesca and Franky
- Tony and Vinny
- Doopliss
- Dorago
- Dorrie
- Dour
- Dragohoho
- Dragonzamasu
- Dribble and Spitz
- Dr. Crygor
- Dr. Mario
- Dr. Payne
- Dr. Topper
- Dr. Wario
- Dupree
- Dumb Drum
- Dyna (and her family)
- Mite
- Ma'Mole
- Pa'Mole
- Eclair
- E. Gadd
- Ella
- Ellie
- Enguarde
- Eve
- Expresso
- Exor
- Fat Mouth
- Fava
- Fawful
- Fishmael
- Flapper
- Flavio
- FLUDD
- Flurrie
- Fly Guy
- Fret
- Frogfucius
- Fryguy
- Funky Kong
- Galrog
- Game Guy
- Garbage Boy
- Gargantua Blargg
- Garro
- General Guy
- General White
- Geno
- Giant Snake
- Giga Bowser
- Glimmer
- Gloomtail
- Goldbob (and his family)
- Sylvia
- Bub
- Golden Diva
- Goomba King
- Goombario (and his family)
- Goompa
- Goombaria
- Goompapa
- Goomama
- Gooma
- Goombella
- Goombob and Goombetty
- Goomfrey
- Gooper Blooper
- Goura
- Gourmet Guy
- Grace
- Grate Guy
- Grifty
- Grodus
- Grubba
- The Guru of the Sewer
- Gus
- Hamma Jamma
- Hammerbot
- The Hammer Bros.
- Hammerhead Bros.
- Harhall
- Harley Quin
- Harry Hare
- Harry (1)
- Harry (2)
- Hawkmouth
- Hayzee
- Heavy Zed
- Helio
- Hen
- Henry and Orville
- Hermie III
- Herringway
- Hiyoihoi
- Hizza
- Hoggle
- Hoohooros
- Hookbill the Koopa
- Hooktail
- Hoot
- Huff N. Puff
- Il Piantissimo
- Imajin (and his family)
- Lina
- Mama
- Papa
- Inviso
- Ishnail
- Jagger
- Jamano
- Jarvis
- Jellybob
- Jellyfish Sisters
- Jerry
- Jimmy T. (and his family)
- Mama T. and Papa T.
- Jamie T.
- James T.
- Jinx
- Joe
- Jojora
- Jolene
- Jonathan Jones
- Jr. Troopa
- Kamek
- Kammy Koopa
- KAOS
- Kat and Ana (and their pets)
- Shadow
- Shuriken
- Numchuck
- Kate
- Katsini
- Ken
- Kent C. Koopa
- Keyzer
- Kezune
- Kid
- Kiddy Kong
- King and Queen Nimbus
- King Boo
- King K
- King Kalamari
- King Totomesu
- King Zing Sting
- Kleevar
- Klepto
- Klubba
- K. Lumsy
- Knife Guy
- Kolorado
- Koopa Bros.
- The Koopalings
- Larry Koopa
- Morton Koopa
- Wendy O. Koopa
- Iggy Koopa
- Roy Koopa
- Lemmy Koopa
- Ludwig von Koopa
- Koopa Kid
- Koopa Koot
- Koopa the Quick
- Koopa Troopa
- Kooper
- Koopie Koo
- The Koopinator
- Koopley
- Koops
- K. Rool
- Kroop
- Krow
- Kudgel
- Krunch
- Lady Lima
- Lakilester
- Lakilulu
- Lakitu
- Lanky Kong
- Lava Piranha
- Lee and Chan
- Lily
- Lizardon
- Luigi
- Lump
- Lumpy
- Luna
- Lunge Fish
- Lydia
- Mable
- Mack
- Madame Clairvoya
- Mallow
- Manglylox
- Marching Milde
- Mario
- Master Crash
- Master Necky
- McGoomba
- Megasmilax
- Meidou
- Melody Pianissima
- Merlon (and his family)
- Merluvlee
- Merlon
- Merlee
- Merle
- Merlar
- Metal Mario
- Mike
- Millennium Star
- MIPS
- Miss Petunia
- Miss Warp
- Mom Piranha
- Mona (and her menagerie)
- No. 1
- No. 2
- No. 3
- 4.1 and 4.2
- Monsieur Boo
- Monstar
- Monty Mole
- Mouser
- Moustafa
- Mr. and Mrs. Mario
- Mr. Luggs
- Ms. Mowz
- Mushroom Kings
- Nana
- Naval Piranha
- Neil
- Neville
- Nina
- Noki Elder
- Nurse Peach
- Octo
- Onnanoko
- Oosansho
- Orbulon
- Oyazi
- Pak E. Derm
- Pa-Patch
- Paragoom
- Parakarry
- Paratroopa
- Parrator
- Parry
- Paul
- Pauline
- Paw
- Peach
- Peasley
- Peeka and Lahla
- Pennington
- Petey Piranha
- Petunia
- Pine
- Pizza Joe
- The Pizza Dinosaur goons
- Plum
- Podley
- Popple
- Poochy
- The Pork Loins
- Posie
- Prince Froggy
- Professor Frankly
- Punchinello
- Punio (and other Punies)
- Puniper
- Puni Elder
- Petuni
- Pungent
- Pungry
- Putts
- Pyoro
- Queen B
- Queen Bean
- Rambi
- Raphael the Raven
- Rattly
- Rawk Hawk
- Razor
- Really Gnawty
- Red
- Reznor
- Rip Cheato
- Robirdo
- Roger the Potted Ghost
- Rocky the Reporter
- Rosie
- Rowf
- Rudy
- Sal Out
- Salvo the Slime
- Sam Spook
- Sammy Rai
- Sarissa
- Scienstein
- Scratchy the Fro Bug
- Screamy
- Sergeant Flutter
- Shadow Mario
- The Shadow Queen
- The Shadow Sirens
- Vivian
- Beldam
- Marilyn
- Shaggy
- Shellshocker
- Sherry
- Shimi
- Shiisa
- Shivers
- Shokora
- Shoot
- Shy Guy
- Silky
- Sir Weston
- Slim Bankshot
- Sluggy the Unshaven
- Smithy (and his factory staff)
- The Clerk
- The Manager
- The Director
- The Factory Chief
- Smorg
- Snifits Three
- Sonny
- Space Monster Gabriel
- Spangle
- Spearhead
- Spike
- Spoiled Rotten
- Spooky
- Squawks
- Squirt
- Squitter
- Stanley the Bugman
- The Star Spirits
- Eldstar
- Mamar
- Skolar
- Muskular
- Misstar
- Klevar
- Kalmar
- Stewart
- The Stork
- Subcon
- Sue Pea
- Sugar
- The Sun
- Sugar
- Sushie
- Svën
- Swanky Kong
- Syrup
- Tad Rock
- Tap-Tap the Red Nose
- Tatanga
- TEC
- Thak
- The Three Musty Fears
- Thwomp
- Tiny
- Tiny Kong
- Toad (and miscellaneous Toads)
- The Chancellor of the Mushroom Kingdom
- Chanterelle
- Felissa T.
- Fice T.
- Gaz
- Ghost T.
- Grandma
- Heff T.
- Herb T.
- Hinopio
- Jolene
- The Master
- Minh T.
- Miss T.
- Montermama
- Mr. E (1)
- Mr. E (2)
- Mrs. Shroomlock
- Mushbert
- Muss T.
- Pine T.
- Plenn T.
- Prince Mush
- Raz and Raini
- Russ T.
- Shroomlock
- Starshade Bros.
- Tayce T.
- Toadia
- Toadofsky
- Toodles
- Thriff T.
- The Travelling Sisters Three
- Vanna T.
- Zess T.
- Zip Toad
- Toadette
- Toadies
- Toadsworth
- Tolielip
- Tolstar
- Torque
- Torte
- Trunkle
- Tryclyde
- Tubba Blubba
- Tumble
- Tutankoopa
- Tuxie and Mama Penguin
- Twila
- Twink
- Ukiki
- Unagi
- Uncle Grimmly
- Undodog
- Valentina
- Vampire Wario
- Vanessa
- Very Gnawty
- Vincent van Gore
- The Viruses
- Waluigi
- Wanda
- Wario
- Wart
- Watinga
- Watt
- Webber
- Whacka
- Whomp
- Whomp King
- Wiggler
- Winky
- Wise Wisterwood
- Wonky
- Wrinkly Kong
- Yakkey
- Yaridovich
- Yoshi
- The Yum Yums
I know I'm behind on the Mario games of the past two years, but I am
back in the business of updating regularly and will soon be compiling
information for the following games, in order:
- Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
- Yoshi Touch & Go
- Donkey Konga 2
- Yoshi Topsy-Turvy
- Mario Superstar Baseball
- Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)
- DK: King of Swing
- Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
- Mario Party 7
- Mario Kart DS
- Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time
- Super Mario Strikers
- Dr. Mario / Puzzle League
- Mario Tennis: Power Tour
- Super Princess Peach
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
- Yoshi's Island DS
- Diddy Kong Racing DS
- Wario: Master of Disguise
- WarioWare: Smooth Moves
- Mario Party 8
(If you can think of characters I should do who aren't presently in the
to-do-soon list, please email me.)
=======================================================================
5-VOLT [new]
Occupation: Gaming mom
First appearance: WarioWare: Twisted! (2005)
Just as Mario's mommy is only glimpsed from the knees down, so too
down 9-Volt's curiously named mother appear in WarioWare:
Twisted! Aside from an order at 9-Volt's bedroom door to quit the
gaming and hit the sack, 5-Volt is depicted only one other time - in
silhouetted form at 9-Volt's door.
=======================================================================
9-VOLT [new]
Occupation: Retro gamer extraordinaire
First appearance: WarioWare, Inc. (2003)
School gets out at Diamond Elementary and 9-Volt skates home to do
what he loves best: spinning records and playing classic Nintendo
games. He pops in a cartridge into a Game Boy from the creamed
spinach-color era and goes to work. The game, a parody of the original
NES Dragon Warrior, has players using hit points for chances to play
classic Nintendo games.
9-Volt's series is actually a brilliant example of product placement;
each microgame is based on a classic Nintendo game or product, such
as the NES Balloon Fight or the Super NES F-Zero. Mario-related
games referenced in 9-Volts series include the original Super Mario
Bros., Mario Clash, the NES Dr. Mario, Mario Paint and the original
Donkey Kong.
Ken the Reporter pops up to interrupt 9-Volt's epilogue with an
important announcement: the new Game Boy Advance SP is now on
sale in stores everywhere. Our tech tyke leaves in such a rush that his
skateboard transforms into a hoverboard.
Chicken Race, an extra game players can unlock, also features 9-Volt.
Two players control either of two feet, which kick 9-Volt or Shaggy
on a skateboard. Whoever coasts the closest to the end of the cliff
without sailing over it wins.
Doubtlessly one of the more popular members of Wario's Diamond
City crew, it should have surprised no one that 9-Volt returned for
WarioWare: Twisted. In this game, he's doing his student thing at
Diamond City Elementary when his teacher introduces a new student:
the hulking 18-Volt. "No relation to naughty 9-Volt," the snarky
teacher explains. 9-Volt and 18-Volt become fast friends and spend the
afternoon playing video games at 9-Volt's house, making for a kick-
ass game set, "Spintendo Classics," in which the rotating mechanism
takes over as the primary control for great old Nintendo games.
Eventually, 9-Volt's mother, 5-Volt, orders the two to break it up. Late
at night, Mrs. 5-Volt checks in on her son, only to catch him furtively
playing his Game Boy SP under the covers. "I saw that!" she yells.
When 9-Volt and 18-Volt return in WarioWare: Twisted!, they have
newly purchased a copy of the hot new Gamecube game, 36-Volt
Man. They rush home, pop it in their system and party the night away
with 9-Volt's vast collection of Nintendo products. At this point, the
player makes their way through the "Retro Action" game set. Upon
completion, the player sees that the two have passed out. They wake
up, check out the clock and speed off for school. Late again, those no-
goodniks.
Microgames in 9-Volt's series that feature Mario characters:
WARIOWARE, INC.
- Donkey Kong (Mario leaps over a barrel.)
- Super Mario Bros. (Mario must stomp Goombas.)
- Fly Swatter (Swat minor baddies from the old Mario Paint
minigame.)
- Dr. Mario (Match pills to viruses.)
- Mario Clash (Knock out baddies with a Koopa shell, Virtual Boy-
style!)
WARIOWARE: TWISTED!
- Super Mario Bros. 3-Lift (Steer Mario around a circular lift while
avoiding Bullet Bills, Cheep-Cheeps and Piranha Plants.)
- Wrecking Crew (Help Mario Avoid Eggplant Men.)
- Pinball (Mario and Pauline cameo as balls ping about.)
- Golf (Mario swings on his own, but the player must steer the course
to catch the ball!)
- Mario Bros. (Spin the Game Boy to right an upturned Koopa
Troopa or Buzzy Beetle.)
- Donkey Kong Jr. (Help Junior save his pops from Mario.)
- Donkey Kong 3 (Stanley aims insecticide at D.K.'s ass once again.)
- NES Open Tournament Golf (Aim the ball while caddy Peach
watches pleasantly.)
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (Pick the right power-up - Frog, Hammer
Bros., Tanooki, Fiery or Statue!)
- Super Mario Bros. (Classic Super Mario Bros.-style levels are bent
into roundness, navigable only by rotating.)
WARIOWARE: TOUCHED!
- Super Mario Bros. (Bump the stylus against blocks to reveal coins.)
- Super Mario Bros. (Give Goombas, Koopa Troopas and Spinys the
poke of death with the stylus.)
- Mario Paint (Fill in the unpainted areas.)
- 8-Bit Hero (Note which pixel doesn't belong. Pick correctly and the
screen zooms out to reveal Link, an Ice Climber or Mario.)
- Donkey Kong 3 (Blow into the microphone to make Stanley's bug
spray shoot up at D.K.)
9-Volt's starring roles:
WarioWare, Inc. (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$ (Gamecube) - 2003
WarioWare: Twisted! (Game Boy Advance) - 2005
WarioWare: Touched! (Nintendo DS) - 2005
Other appearances:
Wario World (Gamecube) - 2003
=======================================================================
18-VOLT [new]
Occupation: Overgrown funkster
First appearance: WarioWare: Twisted! (2005)
Looks like he's 30, but he's apparently an elementary school student.
Either way, I felt a little nervous went 9-Volt invited this guy over to
his house to play. Things turned out pretty well, though - his mixing
on the turntable ends up being a good complement to the music 9-
Volt's 8-bit gaming experience. You can always pick 18-Volt out from
the rest. He's the character who's taller than everybody else, shoulders
like a linebacker, 3-D shades inexplicably on his eyes and a single
mohawked spike on his head.
Since his introduction to the WarioWare series, 18-Volt has shown up
in each of 9-Volt's cinema scenes.
18-Volt's appearances:
WarioWare: Twisted! (Game Boy Advance) - 2005
WarioWare: Touched! (Nintendo DS) - 2005
=======================================================================
AERODENT
Occupation: Boss of the Topaz Passage
Only appearance: Wario Land Advance (2001)
A mouse riding an inflatable teddy bear - and only one of the many
whacked-out bosses inhabiting the Golden Pyramid. If Wario can flip
the teddy bear balloon upside-down, he can take a swipe at its mousy
pilot.
=======================================================================
AKIKI
Occupation: Ukiki cutie
Only appearance: Mario Party Advance (2005)
In Mario Party Advance, Ukiki the Grinder has a family that includes a
tomboyish niece named Akiki - ostensibly making Ukiki a genuine
monkey's uncle. In one of the game's mini-quests, Akiki seeks help in
finding the kidnapped Ukiki.
=======================================================================
AKUMAN
Occupation: Worse than the Noid
Only appearance: Wario's Woods NES (1994)
A fiendish gremlin creature with wings and a pitchfork. He wears a
read outfit. Standard cartoon devil stuff here. He's the first boss Wario
must puzzle-duel with, but only in the NES version of the game.
=======================================================================
ALEX
Occupation: Tennis player
Only appearance: Mario Tennis (2000)
A generic human netter that players could unlock by hooking their
Game Boy Color versions of Mario Tennis to their Nintendo 64
versions via a special cable. I, however, never had this cable and know
nothing of Alex's appearance, behavior or tennis abilities.
=======================================================================
ANTI GUY
[also known as Deadly Guy]
Occupation: The dark side of shyness
Only appearance: Paper Mario (2001)
A black-robed Shy Guy who tenaciously guards a chest in Shy Guy's
Toy Box. Mario can fight him, but he's a tough cookie. Stomping Anti
Guy earns Mario the Power Plus badge. Alternatively, Mario can buy
off this Shy Guy by feeding him Lemon Candy.
=======================================================================
THE ANCIENT ONES [new]
Occupation: Stone idols
First appearance: Super Mario 64 (1996)
A pair of stone hands with an eye in the palm, these spirits call
themselves "the ancient ones" and guard a star. Mario must pop them
in the eyeball three times each. Then they hands will crumble and
yield the star.
The Ancient Ones' starring roles:
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1996
Super Mario 64 Shindou Version (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - 2004
=======================================================================
APPLEBY
Occupation: Fruit-chucking tunneler
Only appearance: Dr. Mario 64 (2001)
A strange, flesh-colored mole creature who pops up as a boss in Dr.
Mario 64. Appleby is also a selectable character in the game's
multiplayer mode. The character initially appeared, however, in Wario
Land 3, where he'd toss the apples that transform Wario into Fat
Wario
Appleby's starring roles:
Dr. Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Other appearances:
Wario Land 3 (Game Boy Color) - 2000
=======================================================================
AQUALEA [new]
[Japanese name: Meidou]
Occupation: Angry mermaid
Only appearance: Wario's Woods (1994)
A mermaid with a pink tail and blue hair. She's the boss of the eighth
level in Wario's Woods. I'm fairly certain that a boss from the NES
Wario Wood's, Meidou, is Aqualea without her name being translated
into English. They look almost identical.
Image link: gamehiker.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=177&pos=7
=======================================================================
ARICH
Occupation: Sinister spider
First appearance: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double
Trouble (1996)
A giant red spider who's not nearly as nice as Squitter. Arich is the
boss of the game's second area, Kremwood Forest.
Arich's starring roles:
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie's Double Trouble (Super NES) - 1996
Donkey Kong Land 3 (Game Boy) - 1997
=======================================================================
THE ARMORED HARRIERS
Occupation: Impermeable idiots
Only appearance: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
Called "The Iron Adonis Twins" by their fans, the Armored Harriers
sit pretty high on the Glitz Pit totem pole-o'-fightingness. They're a
pair of king-sized Iron Clefts, those generic Paper Mario baddies that
looks like walking rocks. You thought the little ones were tough?
These guys are practically invincible. Only when a certain nameless
Baby Yoshi join Mario's party can the Armored Harriers' heft be used
against them. The little Yoshi swallows can swallow one and them spit
it against the other. After toppling these two, Mario advances to the
cleaner, newer major league locker room instead of the skuzzy minor
league one.
And did you notice that one of the Armored Harrier brothers wears red
shoes while the other wears green? And should that remind you of
another pair of brothers?
=======================================================================
ART and DECKO [new]
Occupation: Hawt Slices guitarist and rapper, respectively
Only appearance: WarioWare: Twisted (2005)
We may never know how Mona ended up in a band with these two.
Regardless, Mona + Art + Decko = the Hawt Slices, a rock band hot
enough to displace Vanessa from the top of the pop charts. Art, the
smaller of the two, appears to be a black, impish creature wearing
something like a Santa Claus hat. Decko, conversely, is a fat, yellow
creature who looks something like a bear with antlers. Decko also has
a "D" on his chest.
In the same vein as the "Kat and Ana" pun, Art and Decko's names
together make "art deco," an artistic, fashion and architectural
movement in the early 1900s. The pun doesn't work as well as Kat and
Ana's, though, since the art deco movement seems to have no relation
to Art and Decko's appearance or behavior.
=======================================================================
ASHLEY [new]
Occupation: Dark-hearted cutie pie
First appearance: WarioWare: Touched! (2005)
A morbid little girl with a red witchy dress, two long, black pigtails,
and a creepy headless doll, Ashley lives alone in a mansion in
Diamond City. That the mansion bears a passing resemblance to
Luigi's Mansion is probably no coincidence - both places seem to be
the site of some creepy goings-on.
You see, Ashley doesn't just look like a witch. She is a witch. In fact,
her story sequence in the game depicts her being in the middle of
combining some ingredients in her cauldron one stormy night. The
mixture, however, goes sour and belched us a cloud of smoke, and
Ashley quickly realized that she's missing an ingredient. At the same
time, space alien and WarioWare regular Orbulon is cruising over the
sky when a lightning bolt zaps his ship and sends him crashing into
Ashley just as she's leaving to look for the missing ingredient. Upon
meeting the alien, Ashley realizes that he is the missing ingredient and
she dispatches her impy cohort, Red, to chase after Orbulon.
The harried alien, of course, escapes, and Red returns to his mistress
empty-handed. Ashley merely grins and tells him that she'll just use
him instead.
Later, Ashley and Red go to the Hawt House to meet up with the rest
of the WarioWare: Touched! cast. Notably, Ashley is the only
character who does not dance. She's probably too busy being evil.
Ashley's game set, "Total Drag," features games that require the
player to drag the Nintendo DS stylus in order to perform various
actions: lighting a match, for example. The games pass to the tune of
Ashley's theme song, making her one of the few characters in the
Marioverse to have their own tune, complete with lyrics. The words to
Ashley's theme are printed below. They come from Enigmapoeia's
video game song lyrics guide at GameFAQs.com. Lyrics are sung by a
mysterious group referred to in the credits as "Ashley's Creepy Crew."
They're not seen in the game. Lyrics in the double brackets are spoken
by Ashley herself.
Who's the girl next door living in the haunted mansion?
[[You better learn my name 'cause I am]] Ashley!
She knows the darkest spells and she brews the meanest potions
[[You might be the ingredient I seek]]
Don't let yourself be fooled by her innocent demeanor
[[You should be afraid of the great]] Ashley!
She doesn't play with dolls, and she never combs her hair
[[Who has time for girly things like that?]]
[[Eye of newt, I cast a hex on you]]
[[Grandma's wig, this'll make you big]]
[[Kitten Spitz, soon your pants won't fix]]
[[Pantalones Giganticus!]]
[[Oh no, not again!)
She could rule the world, and still finish all her homework
[[Everyone knows that I'm the greatest]] Ashley!
You better watch your step or she'll cast a spell on you
[[I turned my teacher into a spoon]]
[[I must flip through my spellbook, and yes it's true]]
[[I don't have as many friends as you.]]
[[But I think you're nice and maybe we could be friends]]
[[And if you say no, you're toast]]
Who's the girl next door living in the haunted mansion?
[[You better learn my name 'cause I am]] Ashley!
Just remember this when you see her on the street
[[I'm the cruelest girl you'll ever meet]]
As Enigmapoeia also notes, the character Luna, who appears in
Mona's prologue, has a number-four hit with her version of
Ashley's theme. In her version, however, the second line is
subbed for "You should be afraid of the great Ashley!"
Enigmapoeia also notes that the "Kitten Spitz" mentioned is
probably the WarioWare character Spitz, a feline taxi driver
who had his own game sets in the first to entries in the series.
Ashley's not the first diminutive witch character in the Wario
games. That would be Sarissa, a cuter, nicer looking sorceress
who appeared in Wario's Woods. Also, Ashley's name is
probably a pun on the word "ash," seeing as how she's all
about fire and brimstone and all that.
=======================================================================
THE AXEM RANGERS
[Japanese name: Kajidoh Sentai Onoranger]
Occupation: Smithy's minions
Only appearance: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
After Mario and his friends defeat the Czar Dragon in Barrel Volcano,
these five color-coded criminals swoop in and steal the star. The Axem
Rangers include Axem Red, the leader; Axem Black, the cool guy with
the shades; Axem Pink, the cute one; Axem Green, the skinny one; and
Axem Yellow, the fat one. The rangers, each of whom fight with a
small handheld hatchet, attempt to escape on the Blade, their flying
vehicle, which, of course, is shaped like an axe. When Mario's party
fights the Axem Rangers, they one-by-one drop out of the rumble,
each with his or her own lame excuse.
Axem Green: "I have a headache!"
Axem Pink: "My makeup's running!"
Axem Yellow: "I'm hungry!"
Axem Black: "I broke my shades!"
(A reader calling himself ON EI tells me that if you decide to take
Axem Red out and leave one of the other rangers for last, he'll exclaim
"Oh, my head is spinning!")
Axem Red eventually makes his teammates combine forces with the
Blade to fire their powerful Breaker Beam, but the Axems fail anyway.
Later, in the depths of Smithy's factory, Mario can see new Axem
rangers being manufactured.
The Axem Rangers are a clear parody of the Mighty Morphin' Power
Rangers, whose various incarnations enjoyed mid-90s popularity
throughout the United States and Japan. The subsequent Mario RPG,
Paper Mario, featured the Koopa Bros., who parodied the Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles in similar vein.
(Editorial note: I was a little flattered when I was browsing through the
Wikipedia and found that a user named Ciotti plagiarized this passage
for an article on the Axems. Not only that, but another reader had
recognized the text as mine and called him on it. I guess that's when I
realized that people actually do read this guide!)
=======================================================================
AZALEA [new]
Occupation: Golfer
First appearance: Mario Golf (2000)
A track star now quickly accelling at golf. Azalea is one of the four
generic humans players can chose to play as in the Game Boy Color
version of Mario Golf, which allows players to build their stats
however they chose. Azalea is also playable in the Nintendo 64
version of Mario Golf if they have both versions, both systems and a
transfer pak. Her stats are variable and her name can be changed to
whatever players wish.
There's a strange connection between Azalea and Daisy that I think
merits a mention. The Smash Bros. Melee trophy info for Daisy claims
that she was playable in the Nintendo 64 Mario Golf. She wasn't, but
Azalea was. Azalea also happens to look exactly like Daisy. Same
color clothes, same hair, and the exact same face. Odder still, when
Azalea was still around, Daisy looked like old Daisy - that is,
brunette hair and tan skin. Essentially, then, Nintendo gave Daisy
Azalea's face.
Creepy, no?
Azalea's starring roles:
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) - 1999
Mario Golf (Game Boy Color) - 2000
Mario Golf: Advance Tour (Game Boy Advance) - 2004
=======================================================================
BABY BOWSER
[Japanese name: Kokuppa/Baby Koopa]
Occupation: Child-king of the Koopa
First appearance: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super NES) -
1995
While Bowser and Baby Bowser's biographies don't conflict like
Mario and Baby Mario's do, determining exactly who Baby Bowser is
and what he should be called is nonetheless a pain in the ass.
Baby Bowser is Bowser's infant self. Baby Bowser is not Bowser Jr.,
who is the youngest of Bowser's offspring and a troublemaker in
Super Mario Sunshine. Baby Bowser is also not one of the miniature
Bowser clones that populate the Mario Party games (even though they
have been referred to as Baby Bowsers at some point in that series).
Those Mario Party cretins are either the Mini Bowsers (as I think
they're called in Mario Party 5, in which you can play as one) or
Koopa Kids (though, not to be confused with the seven of Bowser's
children from Super Mario Bros. 3, who are called the Koopa Kids or
the Koopalings, alternately).
No, this is the crankiest, meanest baby in the whole Marioverse: the
child king of the Koopa Kingdom, Baby Bowser.
This brat and his caretaker/foster parent, Kamek, are the central
villains of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. After using his black
Koopa magic to foresee all the trouble the Mario Bros. would one day
cause Bowser and his crew, Kamek intercepts the Stork en route to
delivering Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to their parents. Kamek snags
Baby Luigi, but Baby Mario falls into the helping hands of the
Yoshies.
Baby Bowser doesn't show up until the end of the game. The Yoshi
clan's quest to reunite Baby Mario ends in Baby Bowser's playroom.
The spoiled mini-monarch demands to ride Yoshi, calling him, "green
donkey." But Yoshi instead stomps Baby Bowser. Kamek swoops in to
magically meddle one last time. Abracadabra - Baby Bowser grows
up. Not older, just bigger. Tyrannosaurus rex-size, which is big enough
to destroy his entire castle. With glowing eyes, he bounds from the
horizon, directly at Yoshi and Baby Mario - and your TV screen, too.
A series of well-aimed eggs stops him in his tracks however, and
Kamek zooms away with the battered boy king in tow.
Baby Bowser shows up on Yoshi's Island once more, sans Kamek, to
stir up trouble in Yoshi's Story. Yoshi, sans Baby Mario, must rescue
his homeland's most precious natural resource, the Super Happy Tree
- also known as the Marvelous Tree of Mirth in the game's pre-
production days - from Baby Bowser's clutches. Fiendishly, Bowser
has stolen the source of the Yoshies' happiness and flattened their
world into a storybook.
After embarking on an unusual quest of fruit-collecting, Yoshi finds
Bowser waiting in the last room of one of his four castles: Mecha
Castle, Lift Castle, Magma Castle or Ghost Castle, depending on the
player's choice. Regardless of which castle chosen, the little king rides
around on ghosts near the ceiling of the final room. Yoshi must chuck
Bob-Ombs upwards, then tussle with Baby Bowser on the floor once
he falls. The battle is not too difficult, especially since the Super
Happy Tree is growing in the center of the room, giving Yoshi a
healthy supply of fruit. Yoshi sends Baby Bowser packing once last
time. Presumably, Bowser spends the next few years growing up and
attacks the Mushroom Kingdom as an adult some time later.
Though he's probably not going to make a starring role in the near
future, I've noticed that Baby Bowser is also part of the décor in the
Yoshi's Island-themed Baby Park racetrack in Mario Kart: Double
Dash!!
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BABY BOWSER***
Even as a youngster, Baby Bowser was already playing pranks and
causing trouble for Baby Mario and his pal Yoshi. Even at this early
age of his evil career, Baby Bowser had tons of henchmen at his
disposal. Many experts speculate that Mario and Bowser have some
sort of connection that can be traced back to their mutual births.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BABY BOWSER***
Baby Bowser's starring roles:
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super NES) - 1995
Yoshi's Story (Nintendo 64) - 1998
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Other appearances:
Picross NP Vol. 2 (Super Famicom) - 1999
Super Smash Bros. Melee (Gamecube) - 2001
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube) - 2003
=======================================================================
BABY LUIGI
Occupation: Overshadowed infant
First appearance: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
If Luigi got the short end of the stick when it comes to starring roles in
video games, then Baby Luigi had his stick stolen, stomped into pieces
and then recycled. Baby Luigi doesn't show up in his debut game until
the very end. Basically, he's the game's Princess Peach. Once Baby
Mario and Yoshi trounce Bowser, they find Baby Luigi and the Stork.
The Stork flies his bundle back to Mom and Dad. The last shot of the
game is proud Mr. and Mrs. Mario holding the young heroes in their
hands.
The little green guy floated around in Nintendo limbo until Mario
Kart: Double Dash!!, in which he and his twin brother tore up the
racing circuit in their turbo-powered prams.
Like his brother, Baby Luigi makes a split-second cameo in the
opening cinema for Mario Power Tennis. During the match between
the Marios and the Warios, Baby Luigi is that blurry green tot standing
beneath Toadsworth's umpire chair.
MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH!! DATA:
Partner: Baby Mario
Personal racecar: Rattle Buggy
Special weapon: Chain Chomp
Baby Luigi's starring role:
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube) - 2003
Other appearances:
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super NES) - 1995
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Mario Power Tennis (Gamecube) - 2004
=======================================================================
BABY MARIO
Occupation: Crybaby, future hero
First appearance: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
In the beginning, Baby Mario makes sense. Kamek buzzes the Stork
flying the baby Mario Bros. to their parents and makes off with Baby
Luigi and Mr. Stork, but Baby Mario plummets to Yoshi's Island -
and onto the back of an unsuspecting Yoshi. Baby Mario's adventure
in Super Mario World 2 established three things: (1) the diaper-clad
daredevil's lifelong propensity for adventure; (2) his friendly
relationship with the Yoshies; and (3) his decidedly less friendly
relationship with the Koopas.
Baby Mario doesn't do a whole lot in Super Mario World 2. If Yoshi
takes a hit, Baby Mario gets bounced off Yoshi's back. He also
becomes encased in a bubble, for some inscrutable reason, and will
float about the screen until Yoshi can retrieve him. The bubble's no
sound barrier, though; Baby Mario shrieks like a banshee when his
separated from his steed. Super Mario World 2 actually marks the first
time Mario had any kind of voice.
If Yoshi snags a Super Star, however, Baby Mario becomes Super
Baby Mario. Invincible and clad in the yellow cape from Super Mario
World, Baby Mario could run at super speeds - even up walls and on
ceilings. The effect was only temporary, but Baby Mario does get his
own stage, "4-1: Go! Go! Mario!!," in which a string of Super Stars
pits Baby Mario against classic foes from Mario's adult adventures:
Koopa Troopas, Goombas, Piranha Plants and even the rarely seen
post-cocoon form of the Wiggler: the Wigglerfly.
Proving true Kamek's predictions that Mario would be a headache for
the Koopas, Baby Mario and his Yoshi companions trample Baby
Bowser, setting the turtle folk up for many future losing interactions
with the Mario Bros. The ending sequence that follows, however,
begins to cause some head-scratchers for those of us looking for any
shred of continuity in the Marioverse.
When the freed Stork finally delivers the infant brothers, he does so in
a village in the Mushroom Kingdom - not Brooklyn, where the Mario
Bros. supposedly originally came from. The game's text clearly says
"Mushroom Kingdom" and the neighboring houses sport the fungus-
style look we Mario fans have come to know and love. With that,
Nintendo established a difference between Baby Mario and his adult
self.
A reader calling himself Tinus points out, however, that Mario's
Brooklyn origin never shows up in the text of any game. He's right.
The only actual mention of the Mario Bros. as Brooklynites is in the
American instruction manual for the original Super Mario Bros. Still,
that aspect of Mario and Luigi has shown up in so many adaptations of
the Mario series, like the television shows and the movie, that I'd dare
to call it canon. Initially, I'd say that being born in Brooklyn would
account for Mario and Luigi's accents, but Tinus also points out that
the brothers' accents are so thick as to suggest they came from Italy,
not the United States. A valid point, I admit. (He also points out that
many characters in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door speak with
accents - like Dupree in his fake French, for example - and these
characters most likely weren't born in the real world. Contradictions
on top of contradictions. That's the Nintendo way. Nonetheless, I'd
much rather just live with the continuity flaws than disregard original
origin story altogether.) This debate is continued to some extent in
Mario's bio, but I'll warn readers here that I make no attempt to settle
it - just present the two sides of the issue.
Baby Mario would show up in subsequent Mario games, though
clothed in a toddler version of Mario's overalls instead of just a diaper.
Despite his tiny stature, Baby Mario can swing a golf club or drive a
go-kart with the best of them. He cries less loudly now, which is a
plus. However, his continued presence is a bit of a pain for Mario
purists. Mario playing a tennis match against Bowser is enough of a
stretch; Mario playing tennis against his own infant self is another
matter altogether.
It's quite possible that Camelot realized this: Baby Mario is nearly
absent from Mario Power Tennis, the Gamecube sequel to the Mario
Tennis that Baby Mario starred in. He's not playable, but he makes an
ever-so-quick cameo in the game's intro movie. During the opening
match between the Mario Bros. and the Wario Bros., look for this pint-
sized plumber standing beneath the umpire's chair. He's only there for
a second or two, but I'm sure it's him.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BABY MARIO***
Long ago, when the stork was carrying Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to
the Mario household, the stork was ambushed, causing Baby Mario to
tumble onto Yoshi's Island. This marked the beginning of the Yoshies'
adventure to deliver Baby Mario to his parents. Since then, Baby
Mario's been spotted on golf courses and tennis courts.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BABY MARIO***
MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH!! DATA:
Partner: Baby Luigi
Personal racecar: Goo Goo Buggy
Special weapon: Chain Chomp
Baby Mario's starring roles:
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super NES) - 1995
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) - 1999
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64) - 2000
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube) - 2003
Other appearances:
Super Smash Bros Melee (Gamecube) - 2001
Mario Power Tennis (Gamecube) - 2004
=======================================================================
BABY YOSHI
Occupation: Compulsive eater-in-training
First appearance: Super Mario World (1990)
Before Baby Mario or Baby Bowser or - I dread it - Baby Wario,
Baby Yoshi showed up in Super Mario World. While the regular green
Yoshi popped out of his shell fully grown, the special classes of
Yoshies - red, yellow and blue - were little squirts whom Mario
carried around and fed enemies until they matured. Additionally, each
time Mario toppled one of the Koopalings' castles, he freed one of the
captive Yoshi eggs. At the end of the game, when Mario and Peach
return to Yoshi's house, the seven eggs hatched, producing seven baby
Yoshies. (Curiously, while the eggs all had yellow spots, Yoshies of
all four colors emerged. This flaw was fixed when Nintendo ported
thew game to Game Boy Advance.)
The heroes of Yoshi's Story were also supposed to be juveniles -
ones who hadn't yet cracked out of their shells when Baby Bowser
zapped Yoshi's Island into storybook flatness. These eight Yoshi kids,
however, didn't look any different than full-sized Yoshies.
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario rescues a Yoshi egg
from Hoggle, the porcine hotdog vendor who'd like to incorporate the
egg into a new dish. Mario rescues the egg and it eventually hatches
into a cute Baby Yoshi - complete with an eggshell diaper. This
Baby Yoshi model seems to be based more off the anklebiter Yoshies
from Paper Mario than the look of the original Baby Yoshies. This
tagalong is more customizable than most. Players get the option of
naming the little guy and colors varied from one game to another. (I
got an orange one and named him Doshi.)
Though tiny, this Baby Yoshi packs a punch. Mario can ride on his
back to get around a little more quickly. And in battle, the Baby Yoshi
can stomp and slurp as well as a full-grown one. His Slurp ability,
which allows him to swallow one enemy and spit it at another, is
instrumental in the defeat of the Armored Harriers, a pair of baddies
made from the hardest substance in the Marioverse. In the game's
epilogue, we find that Baby Yoshi has re-entered the Glitz Pit fighting
circuit as a solo act. He fights under the name "The Great Gonzalez
Jr."
Baby Yoshi's starring role:
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube) - 2004
Other appearances:
Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1991
Yoshi (NES) - 1992
Yoshi (Game Boy) - 1992
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1994
Mario's Picross (Game Boy) - 1995
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES) - 1996
Tetris Attack (Super NES) - 1996
Game & Watch Gallery 2 (Game Boy) - 1998
Game & Watch Gallery 3 (Game Boy Color) - 1999
Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Game & Watch Gallery 4 (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
=======================================================================
BALL BUNNY
[Japanese name: Shoot]
Occupation: Hare at the hoops
First appearance: Wario Land II (1998)
Ball Bunny is a basketball-loving rabbit whom Wario must fight in an
unusual way: by shooting hoops. Ball Bunny will attempt to jump on
Wario and turn him into Ball Wario, then shoot his newly round form
into his basket. Alternatively, Wario will be trying to squash Ball
Bunny into a make a basket with him on his side of the court.
Ball Bunny is the only boss from Wario Land II to show up in the
sequel. There, he's the fourth boss in a stage called "A Town in
Chaos." The rules are fairly similar, except that Ball Bunny and Wario
are aided in their basketball efforts by a neutral third party: a happy
little tortoise.
Ball Bunny's starring roles:
Wario Land II (Game Boy) - 1998
Wario Land 3 (Game Boy Color) - 2000
=======================================================================
BANDIT
[Japanese name: Thief]
Occupation: Super-evolved Shy Guy
First appearance: Super Mario World: Yoshi's Island (1995)
Bandit, who looks like a taller, sneakier Shy Guy in a blue robe, is a
generic enemy with a knack for thievery. He'll snatch Baby Mario
right off Yoshi's back. Bandit has a profile here, however, because he
is also Yoshi's opponent in a series of mini-games Yoshi can find
during his adventure. Yoshi and Bandit square off in such
competitions as Balloon Toss, in which they must key in a certain
sequence to toss the gradually expanding balloon to their opponents, or
Watermelon Spit, where they try to snipe each other with a high-speed
stream of watermelon seeds.
Some players might not know that Bandit is also a playable character.
While on the map screen, a player could hold select and then press X,
X, Y, B and then A to unlock a special menu that allowed both
practice sessions of the microgames and a two-player version of
certain games. Whoever held the second controller played as Bandit,
making him the first playable Shy Guy ever in a Mario game.
The generic Bandits showed up as minor villains in the Dry Dry Desert
area of Paper Mario, as well as on the mean streets of Rogueport in the
sequel, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Bandit's starring roles:
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super NES) - 1995
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
Other appearances:
Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube) - 2004
=======================================================================
BANDY ANDY
[Japanese name: Prots]
Occupation: Gossipy grunt
Only appearance: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
A combatant in the Glitz Pit who fights on a team called the Hand-It-
Overs. Bandy Andy has been around long enough to learn a secret or
two, and he'll blab if Mario gives him a chance. Loose lips sink ships,
of course, and soon Bandy Andy vanishes, just like the other missing
fighters he's warned you about.
Bandy Andy is a particular member of the generic Bandit enemy class,
as his name might imply.
=======================================================================
BARBOS
Occupation: Irksome urchin
First appearance: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double
Trouble (1996)
A giant spiny sea urchin and the boss of the game's sixth area, Razor
Ridge. Dixie and Kiddy sit this fight out and leave the heroics to
Enguarde, the smiling swordfish that has served the Kong family since
the days of the original Donkey Kong Country. Enguarde must poke
Barbos' soft body during the brief seconds in which his shell opens up.
Barbos' starring roles:
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie's Double Trouble (Super NES) - 1996
Donkey Kong Land 3 (Game Boy) - 1997
=======================================================================
BELCHA
Occupation: Big-time barrel
First appearance: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double
Trouble (1996)
And you thought Dumb Drum was an odd choice for a boss. Belcha is
the boss of the game's first area, Lake Orangutanga. He's is a giant
animate barrel that spits smaller, inanimate barrels. Dixie must crack
open the barrels and throw the contents - beetles, unless I'm
mistaken - into Belcha's mouth. Doing so causes the big guy to burp,
which will send him rocketing backwards. Eventually, he'll burp
himself right off the pier. The fight sounds a lot like Yoshi's against
Roger the Potted Ghost in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.
Belcha's starring roles:
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie's Double Trouble (Super NES) - 1996
Donkey Kong Land 3 (Game Boy) - 1997
=======================================================================
BELOME
[Japanese name: Berome]
Occupation: Sewer mutant
Only appearance: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
A big, four-eyed dog who lives in Kero Sewer. Before the much-
feared Belome goes down in the fight against Mallow and Mario early
in the game, he predicts, "If you defeat me, you still won't beat me.
Beware the flood!" His prophecy comes true when a huge wall of
water knocks the heroes out of the sewer and into the cascades of the
Midas River.
Mario and company fight Belome again in Belome Temple, the
complex located beneath the shifting sands of the Land's End desert.
This time, he's even stronger and he'll eat party members and generate
clones of them. As a point of interest, Belome thinks Mario tastes sour,
Geno tastes like wood, Peach tastes peachy, Bowser tastes worst, and
Mallow tastes the best.
In Japan, Belome's name can also be written as "Berome." Fellow
Mario researcher TheKoopaBros. notes that "bero" means "tongue"
and "me" means "eye." This makes sense, since Belome's two most
outstanding characteristics are his big, lolling canine tongue and his
four eyes.
=======================================================================
BIFF ATLAS [new]
[Japanese name: Maddi]
Occupation: Bodybuilder boogeyman
Only appearance: Luigi's Mansion (2001)
A muscular ghost who haunts the rec room in the haunted mansion.
Though his body is gone, Biff still spends his time lifting barbells. If
Luigi knocks one of the punching bags into Biff as he floats by, he'll
be vulnerable just long enough for Luigi to suck him up with this
vacuum.
According to the Game Boy Horror on Biff, he likes weightlifting and
lilies, the latter because they symbolize purity.
Image link:
http://www.gamehiker.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=64&pos
=7
=======================================================================
THE BIG BOB-OMB
[also known as the Bob-Omb King]
Occupation: Lord of all blasting matter
First appearance: Super Mario 64 (1996)
This stately bomb sits atop the hill in the middle of Bob-Omb
Battlefield, the first area Mario encounters in Super Mario 64. He
claims to be powerful and uses words like "methinks," but if Mario
can pick him up and throw him three times, he'll explode and Mario
will earn a star.
In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, the Big Bob-Omb appears atop a
mountain in the Peach Castle grounds. According to reader Tinus, the
Ring Golf mode makes players hit a ring that the Big Bob-Omb is
wearing - a difficult task.
The Big Bob-Omb's starring roles:
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1996
Super Mario 64 Shindou Version (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (Gamecube) - 2003
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - 2004
Other appearances:
Mario Party 5 (Gamecube) - 2003
=======================================================================
THE BIG BOO
Occupation: Principal poltergeist
First appearance: Super Mario World (1991)
The Big Boo awaits Mario at the end of a hidden ghost house in the
Donut Plains area of Super Mario World. He's a supersized version of
the regular Boo ghosts, who made their debut in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Unlike his underlings, however, the Big Boo doesn't shy away if he
looks Mario in the face. Mario defeats him by kicking blocks upward
into the Big Boo's face. Super Mario World also has a look-alike ghost
in a later Ghost House on Chocolate Island. It's a blue-toned version
of the same ghost - presumably the Big Blue Boo.
In Super Mario RPG, a minor baddie called "The Big Boo" inhabits
Kero Sewers. But because this ghost is anything but big, I'll assume
this name was just given arbitrarily.
The Boo Mansion area of Super Mario 64 pits Mario against the Big
Boo in a boss battle three separate times for three separate stars, as
reader Tinus reminds me. "Scarier than ever," Tinus writes.
The Big Boo has recently seemed to lose his position as Boo boss to
King Boo from Luigi's Mansion. Biggie did, however, show up in
Game Boy Advance's Game & Watch Gallery 4, as the second-level
boss in the boxing game. He even used a smaller Boo to "punch."
GameFAQs poster Kirby021591 theorizes that the Big Boo and King
Boo are one in the same, as the character referred to as the Big Boo in
Super Mario 64 DS wears a crown - though only in the stage "Big
Boo's Haunt," which Nintendo created specifically for Super Mario 64
DS. (The other Big Boo appearances in Super Mario 64 DS are sans-
crown.) A crown, after all, is the primary defining characteristic of
King Boo aside from his size. This Big Boo also has a cackle that
sounds more like King Boo's than that of the typical Super Mario 64
Boo. (Though, again, the cackle only shows up in the Big Boo's Haunt
stage.) Since the Big Boo had no crown in the Nintendo 64 incarnation
of Super Mario 64, maybe the programmers just decided to place the
game more on continuity with the current state of the Marioverse.
The Big Boo's starring roles:
Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1991
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1994
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1996
Super Mario 64 Shindou Version (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - 2004
Other appearances:
Mario Party-e (Game Boy Advance E-Reader) - 2002
=======================================================================
BIG BULLY
Occupation: Horny pusher
First appearance: Super Mario 64 (1996)
A boss Mario must fight in steamy, dreamy Lethal Lava Land. As
Mario hops from one island to the next in a sea of lava, he eventually
comes to one populated by three Bullies, minor baddies that look like
Bob-Ombs with bull's horns. They'll try to knock Mario into the lava
if he steps into their line of sight. Once the three Bullies are boiled, the
Big Bully will drop down and take Mario on. He's no real threat,
though. All Mario has to do is trick him into plunging into the lava and
he'll earn a star.
Big Bully's appearances:
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1996
Super Mario 64 Shindou Version (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - 2004
=======================================================================
BIG LANTERN GHOST
[Japanese name: Big Torch-kun]
Occupation: Brooder-in-the-dark
First appearance: Paper Mario (2001)
The Big Lantern Ghost is a mid-boss in Shy Guy's Toy Box. He loves
the dark and hates the light, so the only way to defeat him is to attack
his lantern to brighten the room - and weaken him. Once Mario
stomps the Big Lantern Ghost, he can break open the lantern, revealing
Watt, the source of the light and Mario's sixth companion.
Smaller Lantern Ghosts first showed up as generic baddies in Super
Mario Bros. 2: Yoshi's Island.
Big Lantern Ghost's appearance:
Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Mario Party Advance (Game Boy Advance) - 2005
=======================================================================
THE BIGGER BOO
Occupation: Plus-size poltergeist
First appearance: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
Boss of the third castle in Yoshi's Island. Pelting him with eggs make
him grow bigger. Then he dies.
The Bigger Boo's starring roles:
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super NES) - 1995
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
=======================================================================
BIONKINTON
Occupation: Floating chicken hatchery
Only appearance: Super Mario Land (1989)
A mini-boss Mario fights in the final stage of Super Mario Land.
Bionkinton is a fairly generic-looking cloud, from which helmet-
wearing chickens launch at Mario. When Bionkinton absorbs twenty
shots from Mario's Sky Pop, the considerably more-menacing Tatanga
appears.
Oddly, while nearly every other enemy in Super Mario Land has a
Japanese name, the chickens Bionkinton fires are simply named
"Chicken."
=======================================================================
BIRDO
[Japanese name: Catherine]
Occupation: Bazooka beak
First appearance: Doki Doki Panic (1987)
"That's as far as you'll go!"
Get it straight. It's not Ostro. It's not Birdetta. It's Birdo, and she's a
girl.
Birdo first showed up in Doki Doki Panic, better known as Super
Mario Bros. 2 with Arabian people. As far as I know, the Doki Doki
Birdo was identical to her Super Mario Bros. 2 incarnation: a pink
dinosaur - who looked like Yoshi even before there was a Yoshi -
who spat eggs, wore a bow and guarded a crystal ball. (One should
also note that Birdo's emblematic bow only showed up in the
promotional artwirk initially. Nintendo didn't add it to her sprite until
Super Mario All-Stars.) By hopping on her eggs and tossing then back
in her face, Mario and his friends could beat Birdo and open the portal
to the next level. Later in the game, Birdo got tougher, mixing fireballs
into the stream of projectiles shooting from her cannon-shaped
proboscis.
Unfortunately for Birdo, those behind Super Mario Bros. 2's
translation made a few mistakes. In both the game's ending and
instruction manual, Birdo's name shows up as "Ostro," which is
actually the name of the ostrich-like baddie ridden by Shy Guys -
that's Birdo as a beast of burden, which is another Yoshi-before-there-
was-a-Yoshi connection. Furthermore, some clown at Nintendo
decided to decide that the bow-adorned Birdo was a transvestite -
"He thinks he is a girl and likes to be called 'Birdetta,'" as the
instruction manual put it. But that transvestite complication has since
vanished, especially since Birdo is now a quasi-love interest for Yoshi,
who also blurs the gender line by producing eggs. Weird! That's pre-
Yoshi connection number three.
At first, it seemed Birdo would go the way of Stanley the Bugman,
dropping out of sight after her fifteen minutes of video game fame. But
then she made a cameo both in Wario's Woods and in the background
of Kirby Super Star. She also appeared as a boss in Super Mario RPG:
Legend of the Seven Stars. As one of Valentina's guards, Birdo shot
eggs as fiercely as ever as a one of the many bird-pets skulking around
the Nimbus Land Castle.
Birdo bounced from the fringes of obscure cameo land to the
mainstream Mario crew in 2000 in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64.
This game marked the first major addition to the "Big Eight" in years
with the arrival of Birdo, Daisy, Baby Mario and Waluigi. Each have
appeared regularly since. This also means that Birdo followed in the
footsteps of Donkey Kong and Wario as a former foe that reformed
into a friend.
Her popularity has grown in the past few years. In Mario Kart: Double
Dash!!, Birdo and Yoshi raced together. Birdo's likeness even graced
the box art for Super Mario Advance - which, interestingly, is the
third remake of Super Mario Bros. 2 and the fourth remake of Doki
Doki Panic. A giant robotic version of Birdo, Robirdo, even replaced
the second Mouser, who had previously been boss of level 3-3. And
players could now pluck the bow from Birdo's head if they wanted.
The act does nothing to further their battles with Birdo, but it's a
Mario first nonetheless. Birdo also has a voice in Super Mario
Advance - an eloquent and evil sounding voice. In most games,
though, she merely makes honking, quacking noises, with a
vocabulary limited to her own name.
Birdo treads the line between goodie and baddie in Mario and Luigi:
Superstar Saga. The Princess Peach who gets her voice stolen by
Cackletta is actually a cleverly disguised Birdo. Later, the bazooka-
beaked one becomes an adoring apprentice to Popple after sense gets
knocked back into the previous apprentice, an amnesiac Bowser. But it
would seem the writers of the game's script decided to bring back
Birdo's ambiguous gender. Popple pauses before referring to Birdo as
a "dame," and Birdo insists that Popple call her the more feminine
"Birdie."
Birdo's small but dedicated following may have been disappointed to
find out that she is not playable in Mario Power Tennis, despite having
appeared in several previous Mario sports titles. What's interesting is
that she appears in the intro sequence as a generic race. No Mario
game has featured generic Birdos since her Doki Doki Panic/Super
Mario Bros. 2 days, but check out the opening movie and you'll see
scores of Birdos - orange ones, blue ones, yellow ones, green ones -
trotting about the stadium, alongside other generic races like Pinatas,
Nokies, Toads, Goombas and Koopas. Even more interesting: there's
not a single pink Birdo.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BIRDO***
First seen in Super Mario Bros. 2, Birdo is known for shooting eggs
and fireballs from her mouth. Mario and his friends would have to
jump onto the eggs in midair, pick them up and throw them back at
her. Long missing from the Nintendo scene, Birdo recently reappeared
in Mario Tennis and Super Mario Advance.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BIRDO***
Note: the trophy bio for Birdo is technically incorrect, as Birdo
appeared in Wario's Woods, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven
Stars and Kirby Super Star before returning full-force in Mario Tennis.
She was never completely absent, just under the radar.
MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH!! DATA:
Partner: Yoshi
Personal racecar: Turbo Birdo
Special weapon: Birdo Egg
Birdo's starring roles:
Doki Doki Panic (Famicom) - 1987*
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) - 1988*
Super Mario All-Stars (Super NES) - 1993*
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1994*
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES) - 1996
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64) - 2000
Super Mario Advance (Game Boy Advance) - 2001*
Super Smash Bros Melee (Gamecube) - 2001
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube) - 2003
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Other appearances:
Wario's Woods (NES) - 1994
Kirby Super Star (Super NES) - 1996
Animal Crossing (Gamecube) - 2001
Mario Power Tennis (Gamecube) - 2004*
* Because Birdo is both a unique character and a generic term for her
whole race, I decided to differentiate between her appearances in this
list. Entries with an asterisk mean that Birdo appears as a generic race
- not as the specific pink egg-spitter we all know and love. (In Japan,
I suppose, this unique Birdo the one they call "Catherine.")
=======================================================================
BLABLANADON
Occupation: Friendly neighborhood pterodactyl
Only appearance: Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
This prehistoric anachronism waits at the foot of Hoohoo Mountain
and to fly travelers to the mountain's summit. When Mario and Luigi
travel through Hoo Hoo Village, however, Blabblanadon is nowhere to
be found. Once Mario and Luigi ascend to the mountain's summit,
they see him incubating an egg, the contents of which are, of course,
evil. Once Mario and Luigi beat the hatchling, a nasty fire-breather
named Dragohoho, Blablanadon returns to Hoohoo Village.
Much later in the game, Bowletta pilots Bowser's castle high into the
sky, where she rains down fiery terror on the good people of Beanbean
Kingdom. Mario and Luigi's only hope at getting high in the sky is, of
course, Blablanadon, who waits at the castle entrance to fly the
brothers back down again when they emerge victorious.
=======================================================================
BLEAK
Occupation: Not-so-jolly snowman
First appearance: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double
Trouble (1996)
A giant snowman who's not interested in spreading Christmas mirth
- or any mirth, for that matter. Bleak is the boss of K3, the tallest
mountain in the entire Northern Kremisphere and the fifth area of the
game. The battle departs from typical boss fights, however. It's a
snowball fight that plays more like Swanky's Sideshow, the mini-
games in which Dixie must throw balls at targets.
Bleak's starring roles:
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie's Double Trouble (Super NES) - 1996
Donkey Kong Land 3 (Game Boy) - 1997
=======================================================================
BLOAT
[Japanese name: Billy]
Occupation: Skele-glutton
Only appearance: Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
A bony member of the skeleton crew of the S.S. Chuckola who,
despite lacking flesh, has still managed to become obese and wedge
himself in a doorway. Mario and Luigi must blast Bloat out of the way
with dynamite.
=======================================================================
BLOOEY
Occupation: Blooper buddy
Only appearance: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Blooey, known to his friends as the "White Torpedo" is a feisty
Blooper who joins Luigi on his quest to rescue Princess Eclair. Mario
first meets them in the plaza in Rogueport, where Luigi details their
escapades in Rumblebump Volcano. Blooey, sporting what would
appear to be a golden tan, seems none too pleased with the adventure,
however. He apparently got dunked in lava and, now crispy fried,
blames Luigi.
He'd be playable if you could play Luigi's quest. But you can't.
=======================================================================
BOBBERY
[Japanese name: Barel/Bareru]
Occupation: Salty sea dog
Only appearance: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
Before Flavio will set sail to Keelhaul Key, he wants Mario to find
Admirable Bobbery, the trustworthiest deckhands in Rogueport.
Bobbery, however, isn't keen of being found. Once Mario stumbles
upon the secret entrance into his locked house, he finds that Bobbery
- a standard black Bob-Omb who sports with a big white moustache,
a sailor's hat and a nautical steering wheel spinning about on his back
- is completely unwilling to leave on a high-seas adventure.
Podley, proprietor of Rogueport's soda bar and the one guy privy to
the inside scoop on Rogueport residents, explains that Bobbery's
beloved wife, Scarlette, passed away from a sudden illness while he
was away on a voyage long ago. Since then, Bobbery has been too
depressed to do much of anything. Fortunately, Podley has an old
letter that Scarlette wrote before she died and he asks Mario to deliver
it. Upon reading the letter, Bobbery realizes that Scarlette would have
wanted him to continue living. He merrily skips off to the S.S. Flavio
to join Flavio's crew.
Once on Keelhaul Key, Bobbery takes a licking from some pirate
ghosts and seems nearly ready to kick the bucket. But a sip of
Chuckola Cola fills the old guy with the life he needs to keep on
fighting. Bobbery joins Mario's party.
Bobbery has similar talents as Bombette from the first Paper Mario. It
makes sense, as both characters are Bob-Ombs. In battle, Bobbery
explodes to harm enemies. Out of battle, he can explode to blast open
secret passage ways. No matter how many times Bobbery explodes, he
always reforms, good as new.
He's the second playable Bob-Omb ever in a Mario game.
=======================================================================
BOBO [new]
Occupation: Black Sugar pirates mascot
First appearance: Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land
A giant pink bird and Capt. Syrup's personal pet. Wario first fights
Bobo in the S.S. Teacup area of the original Wario Land. She swoops
at Wario and sends smaller birds at Wario like projectiles. The
oversized avian shows up again in the game's sequel, Wario Land II,
as the boss of the second area - again, the S.S. Teacup.
I'm actually not completely sure that "Bobo" is the character's name.
Jay Mitchell, reader and self-described Wariologist, brought the
character to my attention, but I have yet to verify it online. If another
Wario buffs can help me check this out, I'd appreciate it.
Bobo's starring roles:
Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land (Game Boy) - 1994
Wario Land II (Game Boy Color) - 1998
=======================================================================
BODDLE
Occupation: Theatre owner
Only appearance: Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
The eccentric brother of Bubbles, the inventor of Chuckola Cola.
Boddle, the president of the Yoshi Fan Club, loves Yoshies so much
that he wears a Yoshi egg like clothes. He even poured his money into
constructing a theater so the Yoshies can come to Beanbean Kingdom
and watch movies. When Mario and Luigi first meet Boddle, he's
using a fragment of the shattered Beanstar to decorate the theater
marquee. He's willing to lend the piece to the Mario Bros., but on one
condition: they collect suitable replacement decorations.
Mario and Luigi have no choice but to search the world for Bean Fruit,
a delicacy that grows underground. If they feed the Bean Fruit to the
seven different colors of Yoshies - red, orange, yellow, green, azure,
blue and purple - the respective Yoshies will lay a neon egg that
Boddle will use in the sign.
(Together, the two brothers names are Bubbles and Boddle, which
sounds just a bit like the classic Taito arcade game, Bubble Bobble.
The resemblance is probably coincidental.)
=======================================================================
BOGMIRE
[Japanese name: Shadoma]
Occupation: Cemetery spook
Only appearance: Luigi's Mansion (2001)
A manifestation of the haunted mansion's collective fear and despair.
A shapeless, grimacing ghost that Luigi must fight in the mansion's
backyard cemetery. Once Luigi beats Bogmire, he can access the third
wing of the mansion.
=======================================================================
BOMBETTE
[Japanese name: Pinky]
Occupation: Adorable explosive device
Only appearance: Paper Mario (2001)
Little Bombette is a pink Bob-Omb with an iron will - and a fiery
temper. An outburst in front of her bosses, the Koopa Bros., sent her to
the dungeon of the their fortress, so she's more than happy to help
Mario fight them. All the other Bob-Ombs respect Bombette and many
of the male ones seem to be head-over-heals in love with her.
Bombette is the first playable Bob-Omb in any Mario game.
Despite her size, Bombette packs a lot of power. She can explode -
though she re-forms after every explosion - or send her round little
body careening into enemies. Her explosions can also break through
walls to reveal hidden rooms and passageways.
Bob-Ombs have been a staple of the Marioverse since their
introduction in Super Mario Bros. 2 (and before that, Doki Doki
Panic). But those Bob-Ombs didn't show the personality Bombette
does. They just mindlessly walked forward, stopped, and then
exploded, taking out anyone - good guys or bad guys - who might
be standing nearby. Bob-Ombs were actually the first Super Mario
Bros. 2 baddie to show up in another game. Of all the baddies in the
game, only they appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. (Most, like Shy
Guys and Snifits didn't appear again until Super Mario World 2:
Yoshi's Island.)
Super Mario 64 introduced the friendly pink Bob-Ombs, the Bob-Omb
Buddies. Unlike their nasty black-colored brethren, the Bob-Omb
Buddies would help Mario and shoot him from their cannons to let him
reach far-off ledges. Presumably, Bombette, whose Japanese name is
"Pinky," is one of these friendly ones, thought the Paper Mario series
offers many friendly Bob-Ombs of all colors.
=======================================================================
BONEHEADS
Occupation: Samurai demon
Only appearance: WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
A giant skeleton clad in samurai armor who creeps into the castle
where Prince or Princess Insert Your Five-Letter Name Here lives and
promptly possess him or her. Ana and her troop of ninjas tries to kill
him but fail. Kat and her dog Paw rush to Ana's rescue. Kat shred
Boneheads into ribbons.
I have no idea why this guy's name is plural, but I'd presume it's a
typo.
=======================================================================
BONETAIL
[Japanese name: Zonbaba]
Occupation: Biggest, baddest dragon
Only appearance: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
The third of the three pet dragons who once served the Shadow Queen.
Bonetail is the older brother of Hooktail and Gloomtail. A skeletal
beast, he awaits Mario at the bottom of the Pit of 100 Trials. The fight
against him is purportedly the toughest in the game.
=======================================================================
BOO
[also known as: Boo Diddly, Boo Buddy; Japanese name: Teresa]
Occupation: Shy spook
First appearance: Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)
This shy little ghost originally appeared as Boo Diddly, another
character in the Nintendo tradition of rock star namesakes. (Bo Diddly
was a famous musician and singer.) Boo was a generic baddie who
lived in fortresses and other dark places. Of the many, many new
baddies introduced in Super Mario Bros. 3, Boo was one of the only
ones to appear again in other games - Chain Chomps, Nipper Plants
and Thwomps being among the others. Though their name changed to
simply "Boo," their behavior has remained virtually identical: look at
Boo, Boo won't move; turn away, he tries to bite you in the butt.
Boos have been popular ever since. They congregated in myriad forms
in their own haunted houses in Super Mario World and appeared as
items in Super Mario Kart that, when used, would render a character
invisible and steal opponents' weapons.
This ghost wasn't so shy in Mario Tennis, the first game to feature a
playable Boo. Apparently, phobia of looking people in the face fades
when faced with athletic competition.
(I remember when the preview specs for Mario Tennis were released.
Several websites listed Boo as being a female character because the
Japanese version of the game listen the ghost's name as "Teresa." As it
turns out, the reference wasn't to the common name but the Japanese
name for the character, which can be also be Anglicized as "telesa."
Boos, I'll wager, generally are gender ambiguous, with the exception
of Bow, Bootler and King Boo. "Teresa," incidentally, seems similar
to the Japanese word for "shy," "tereru.")
In his trek through the haunted homestead in Luigi's Mansio, Luigi
gradually eliminates various lesser Boos before he finally defeats the
King Boo. Before they attack, each introduces itself, so I hthought I'd
list their names here: BamBoo, Boo B. Hatch, Boodacious, Boofant,
Boogie, Boohoo, Booigi, Boo La La, Boolderdash, Boolicious,
Booligan, Boolivia, Boomeo, Boomerang, Boonita, Boonswoggle,
Booregard, Booris, Booscaster, Bootha, Bootique, Game Boo, Game
Boo Advance, GumBoo, Kung Boo, LimBooger, Little Boo Peep, Mr.
Boojangles, PeekaBoo, ShamBoo, TaBoo, TamBoorine, TurBoo and
Underboo. The remaining twenty Boos have no names, and Luigi
dispatches them in the form of the jumbo ghost, Boolossus.
A generic Boo also materialized as a playable character in Mario Party
5, replacing the much-missed Donkey Kong. Boo had previously
shown up in each of the Mario Party games as an instrument players
could use to rob opponents of money or even stars. Though Mario
Party 5's Boo lacked feet or a body, he competed in games with the
rest of the characters.
Now that King Boo has risen to popularity, it will be interesting to see
whether the generic Boo persists as a playable character. Camelot
decided to inclue him in Mario Power Tennis, in which he could
summon his spectral companions to help defeat his opponents. You
haven't played real tennis until you see a wall of Boos materialize
against you mid-match.
Much of the rest of Boo folklore is collected in the profiles for the Big
Boo, the Bigger Boo, Bow and King Boo.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BOO***
These shy spirits inhabit Mario's world and have been known to vanish
or freeze when met face-to-face. In recent years, they seem to have
overcome their fears in order to pursue tennis and other social
activities. They usually appear in groups and fly in formation. From
time to time, giant Boos make surprise appearances.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BOO***
Boo's starring roles:
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64) - 2000
Mario Party 5 (Gamecube) - 2003
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (Gamecube) - 2003
Mario Party 6 (Gamecube) - 2004
Other appearances:
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - 1990
Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1991
Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (Game Boy) - 1992
Super Mario Kart (Super NES) - 1992
Super Mario All-Stars (Super NES) - 1993
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1994
Mario's Picross (Game Boy) - 1995
Bandai Satellaview Super Mario Bros. 3 (Bandai Satellaview) - 1995
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Super NES) - 1995
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1996
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES) - 1996
Super Mario 64 Shindou Version (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Game & Watch Gallery 2 (Game Boy) - 1998
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color) - 1999
Picross NP Vol. 2 (Super Famicom) - 1999
Mario Party (Nintendo 64) - 1999
Mario Party 2 (Nintendo 64) - 2000
Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Mario Party 3 (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (Game Boy Advance) - 2001
Luigi's Mansion (Gamecube) - 2001
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube) - 2002
Mario Party 4 (Gamecube) - 2002
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube) - 2003
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
WarioWare, Inc. (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Game Boy Advance) - 2004
Mario Pinball Land (Game Boy Advance) - 2004
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - 2004
Mario Party Advance (Game Boy Advance) - 2005
=======================================================================
BOOLOSSUS
[Japanese name: Jumbo Teresa]
Occupation: Jumbo Boo
Only appearance: Luigi's Mansion (2001)
A conglomeration of twenty Boos mashed together into one big, fat,
bouncing Boo. Luigi must trick Boolossus, the third boss in Luigi's
Mansion, into popping itself on the horn of one of the unicorn statues
on the balcony. Doing so will cause Boolossus to divide into its
smaller members, whom Luigi can freeze with ice and suck into the
Poltergust 3000.
=======================================================================
BOOM-BOOM [new]
Occupation: Fortress foe
Only appearance: Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)
Basically, Boom-Boom is the Birdo of Super Mario Bros. 3. Scattered
throughout the various kingdoms of the Mushroom World are
fortresses Mario must conquer. In each of fortresses lurks Boom-
Boom, a brutish Koopa mini-boss who swings a pair of mighty biceps
as he scuttles around the floor. If Mario stomps Boom-Boom three
times, he drops a crystal that will unlock a door on the map screen.
In the final kingdom, Dark World, Boom-Boom appeared in Bowser's
tanks, airships and boats as well.
Image link:
gamehiker.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=74&pos=3
Boom-Boom's appearances:
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - 1990
Super Mario All-Stars (Super NES) - 1993
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1994
Bandai Satellaview Super Mario Bros. 3 (Bandai Satellaview) - 1995
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
=======================================================================
BOOMER
Occupation: Smithy's minion
Only appearance: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
An honorable fighter who duels Mario and his party on the chandeliers
in Bowser's Keep, much as Mario and Bowser did at the beginning of
the game. When beaten, Boomer performs a melodramatic death scene
before plummeting off the chandelier and onto the floor.
=======================================================================
BOOSTER [new]
[also known as Booster the Seventh; Japanese name: Bukki]
Occupation: Crazed train enthusiast
Only appearance: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
During the quest to collect the Star Pieces and give Smithy the boot,
Mario and company met Booster, the seventh in a line of Boosters.
Booster lived in Booster Tower, which sat atop Booster Hill.
Surrounded only by toy trains and his three beetle-collecting Snifit
pals, Booster went quite mad.
Smithy first arrived in Mario's world by crashing through the roof of
Bowser's Keep in his giant sword-shaped vehicle, Exor, during the
middle of Mario and Bowser's umpteenth fight. Consequently, the
three figures central to the brawl - Bowser, Mario, and Peach -
went flying in three different directions. Peach happened to land on the
balcony of Booster Tower.
A stranger to the interactions of normal humans, Booster decided to
marry Peach despite her pleas of "MARIOHELPMEMARIOHELPME
MARIOHELPME." Intent of making Peach his bride, Booster
kidnapped her to the marriage resort, Marrymore. Mario and his crew
intervened just in time, however; Booster ended up kissing Bowser
and returning to his tower wifeless. (Technically, Booster could also
end up kissing Mario. Different kissing variations depend on how
quickly Mario collects Peach's various bridal articles: her shoes, her
brooch, her ring, and her crown. I'm just going by the best-case
scenario here.) Undaunted, Booster played with his trains until a
second woman fell from the sky: Valentina, the villainess who had
been plotting to overthrow the Nimbus Land royal family. Somehow,
the two fell in love. Super Mario RPG's ending led one to believe
Booster and Valentina eventually got married.
With his big red nose, bug eyes, and wild facial hair, Booster bore a
more-than-passing resemblance to Wario. (Wario, however, had a
much less prominent role in the Mario universe at the time Nintendo
released Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars than he does
now.) A painting of a guy who looks a lot like Wario - big nose,
moustache, yellow hat - even hangs in the lobby of Booster Tower,
in the wall of portraits showing Booster's ancestors. (Players can spot
this one easily because the blue Snifit that casually peruses each
painting, one by one, jumps back when he sees Wario's mug in the slot
marked "Booster the Second.")
Since Square owns the rights to all the characters unique to Super
Mario RPG, Booster has yet to reappear. Too bad, because Booster is a
kickass character, with kickass theme music to boot.
Image link: gamehiker.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=46&pos=13
=======================================================================
BOOTLER
Occupation: Spectral Smithers
First appearance: Paper Mario (2001)
A minor character in Paper Mario, Bootler is Lady Bow's ghostly
butler. This Boo serves as an advisor to Lady Bow and seems very
protective of her. Much as the Chancellor of the Mushroom Kingdom
does to Peach in Super Mario RPG, Bootler tries to persuade Bow not
to journey with Mario. Bow and Bootler's exchanges, however,
involve quite a bit more shouting that the polite ones in the Mushroom
Kingdom court.
Apparently, Booter traveled the world with Goompa and Koopa Koot
when they were younger. Various asides throughout the game
reference Bootler's legendary status.
Bootler makes a cameo in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
After Mario vanquishes the Shadow Queen, he'll find Bootler and
Lady Bow on vacation in Poshley Heights. Bootler is just as adoring of
his mistress as ever.
Bootler's appearances:
Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube) - 2004
=======================================================================
BOSHI [new]
[Japanese name: Washi/Warshi/Warushi]
Occupation: Mushroom Derby champion
Only appearance: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the Yoshies reside on
Yo'ster Isle. No, scratch that. A bunch of red and yellow Yoshies
reside there, plus one green one - the Yoshi we all know and love -
and one blue one - Yoshi's jerk of an alterego, Boshi. It's not evident
in the English translation, but Boshi was conceived as a rival for Yoshi
on the same lines as Wario and Waluigi were for Mario and Luigi. The
Japanese root "warui," which means bad," got blended into Yoshi's
name to turn "Washi" - or possibly "Warshi" or "Warushi."
Nintendo of America apparently thought "Boshi" sounded tougher.
Boshi certainly looks tough. He sports some wicked shades and a
spiked choker. The other Yoshies resent Boshi because he dominates
the Mushroom Derby, the Yoshi footrace, and will only take
challengers on a one-on-one basis. Once Mario shows up, Yoshi
schools Boshi and the races open up to everybody. Boshi reforms.
Since Square owns the rights to Boshi and all the other characters
unique to Super Mario RPG, Boshi has yet to cause any more trouble.
Image link: gamehiker.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=46&pos=14
=======================================================================
BOW
[also known as Lady Bow; Japanese name: Resaresa]
Occupation: Poltergeist royalty
First appearance: Paper Mario (2001)
She'd be a great colleague for Peach and Daisy. Lady Bow is the
reigning royalty for the Boo Kingdom. She oversees all matters ghost-
related. And unlike her shy brethren, haughty but well-intentioned
Lady Bow does not shrink away from conflict.
Her deadly fan weapon in tow, this glamorous ghost joins Mario and
his friends to help destroy Tubba Blubba, a lumbering, purple Koopa
who's been snacking on Lady Bow's subjects in the desert town of
Gusty Gulch. Lady Bow promises to give Mario the Star Spirit Skolar
if he helps her find Tubba Blubba's hidden weakness. The weakness, it
turns out, is that Tubba keeps his disembodied-yet-still beating heart in
the basement of a locked shack in Gusty Gulch. After defeating Tubba
Blubba and his talking heart, Mario and Bow emerge victorious.
Tubba Blubba coughs up the ghosts he's eaten while Bow's butler
Bootler materializes with the Star Spirit. Lady Bow decides to see
Mario though his entire journey. She's a formidable fighter who can
slap enemies or whack them with her war fan. Lady Bow can also
make Mario become invisible.
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario can meet up with
Bow and Bootler after he beats the Shadow Queen. They're
vacationing in Poshley Heights.
Lady Bow's name keeps in synch with the tendency for Marioverse
women to have names that are cute, sweet or diminutive objects. This
is, of course, if you pronounce her name to rhyme with "foe" and
"doe," instead of "cow" or "how." Either pronunciation makes sense;
she does wear bows but also has a position of respect that would
necessitate others to bow to her.
At the Mushroom Kingdom Squad's Domain, Luigi of the Pipes points
out an interesting ambiguity about Boo royalty. Lady Bow's in charge
in Paper Mario, but King Boo reigns supreme in Luigi's Mansion. And
then there's the Big Boo - not to be confused with the Big Blue Boo
- in Super Mario World. Just another example of Nintendo's "to hell
with continuity" policy. Interesting, though.
Bow's starring roles:
Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Other appearances:
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube) - 2004
=======================================================================
BOWLETTA
[Japanese name: Gerakuppa]
Occupation: Hell-spawn he-she
Only appearance: Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
An unholy union of Cackletta's evil magic and Bowser's brute
strength. Bowletta is born when Mario and Luigi stomp Cackletta's
body, displacing her angry spirit. Cackletta's assistant, Fawful, pumps
her soul into Bowser's unconscious body. Tadah! - evil that bends
gender. Ever wondered what Bowser would look like with breasts?
Well go find a picture of Bowletta and you'll know. Everyone in the
game seems to take to referring to this monstrous amalgam as
Bowletta right away, too. Bowletta is the second-to-last battle in the
game.
And, as any Mario fan would know, Bowletta is hardly the first
gender-vague character in the series, what with Toad, Yoshi and Birdo
and all.
=======================================================================
BOWSER KOOPA JR.
[Japanese name: Koopa Jr.]
Occupation: Prince of the Koopa
First appearance: Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree - the overgrown, rotten, foul-
tempered tree.
This pipsqueak first stirred up trouble on Isle Delfino in Super Mario
Sunshine. Initially, though, it's not Bowser Jr. who seems to be at the
root of the island paradise's problems. It's Shadow Mario, Mario's
shady doppelganger - as opposed to his twin brother Luigi or his
alterego Wario or his infant self Baby Mario or his twin's alterego
Waluigi or his doctor alterego Dr. Mario. Princess Peach first notices
Shadow Mario during the in-flight movie promoting Isle Delfino. He's
a Mario-shaped silhouette bounding behind a row of hula-dancing
Pianta folk.
When the Isle Delfino police arrest Mario for vandalizing the buildings
in Delfino Plaza, it's clear Shadow Mario painted the graffiti to frame
Mario. Under a court order, Mario must postpone his vacation and
clean up the graffiti with a water-powered jetpack design by the mad
Dr. E. Gadd. Washing away graffiti means leaving Princess Peach
behind. Surprising no one, she gets nabbed - this time, by Shadow
Mario.
After a showdown at roller coaster funland Pinna Park, Shadow Mario
removes his mask to reveal the face of young Koopa royalty. Bowser
Jr. then drops two bombshells: that his graffiti paintbrush and Mario
disguise were designed by the Gadd Science Corporation; and that
Princess Peach is his mommy and this whole graffiti mess was just a
ploy to have someone to tuck him in at night.
In a few short minutes, this revelation changes a lot about the
Marioverse, actually. Bowser Jr.'s presence apparently negates the
existence of the Koopalings, Bowser's seven children who debuted in
Super Mario Bros. 3. After all, why would Bowser wait until his
eighth child to name one "Bowser Jr."? Bowser Jr. Certainly seems
younger than the original brood. Furthermore, Bowser Jr.'s possession
of the Gaddbrush also means that E. Gadd's inventions serve evil
purposes as well as good. And finally, Princess Peach's apparent
willingness to believe that she's Bowser's Jr.'s mother - you're your
mommy?" - means that she is a complete idiot.
In the game's final battle, Mario duels Bowser and Bowser Jr. in a
Koopa jacuzzi floating high above Corona Volcano. Naturally, he and
Peach escape safely. Surprisingly, Bowser and his son seem to escape
okay as well. They end up on some island near Isle Delfino, relatively
unscathed. Proving Bowser Jr.'s a true heir to the Koopa line, he
admits that though he knew Peach was not his mother, the lie does
nothing to prevent father and son from gleefully readying their plot
against Mario and Peach.
The little guy has yet to cause too much trouble, however. Bowser Jr.
competed in the Toadstool Tour in Gamecube installment of Mario
Golf. He even wore his mask from his Shadow Mario costume. He
also raced with his father in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! - this time,
without the mask around his face.
The young master Bowser appears alongside his pops in Mario Power
Tennis, proving that he is quickly becoming a Mario series regular. He
seems to have collected the old Gaddbrush for this appearance, as
well, as both his super movers involve using that awful goopy paint to
ensure a victory.
As a side note, it's obvious that while Bowser Jr. and Baby Bowser are
separate characters, Baby Bowser - that is, the infant version of the
Koopa king seen in games like Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
and Yoshi's Story - came first and clearly influenced the look of
Bowser Jr.
I recently came across an interesting point regarding the apparent
paradox between Bowser Jr. and the seven other Koopalings. At the
beginning of Super Mario Sunshine, FLUDD scans over Mario and, in
processing his earlier exploits, briefly flashes a shot of Mario tussling
with Larry Koopa. (Whether this fight is from Super Mario Bros. 3 or
Super Mario World, I'm not yet sure.) Thus, this may be unintentional
proof on Nintendo's part that Bowser Jr. and the other Koopa offspring
do, in fact, exist in the same continuity. Otherwise, how could
FLUDD's display and Bowser Jr. appear in the same game?
MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH!! DATA:
Partner: Bowser
Personal racecar: Bullet Blaster
Special weapon: Bowser Shell
Bowser Jr.'s starring roles:
Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube) - 2002
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (Gamecube) - 2003
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube) - 2003
=======================================================================
BOWSER KOOPA
[also known as King Koopa, Big Devil Koopa; Japanese name:
Koopa/Kuppa]
Occupation: Cantankerous King of the Koopa
First appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
[bowser]
"KOOPAMACALLIT"
Easily the most famous turtle-dragon-king-grouch in video games
today.
King Bowser Koopa, a spiked shell full of bad news, stomped into the
Mushroom Kingdom in Super Mario Bros. Using that black Koopa
magic, Bowser subjugated the Mushroom people, transforming them
into bricks, stones and "field horsehair plants." He then locked away
Princess Peach, the only one with the power to break his spell. He's
tormented Mario, Luigi, and mushroom folk alike ever since.
The origins of Bowser's name are not as well-documented as other
Mario characters'. I remember reading somewhere that Shigeru
Miyamoto took the name Kuppa from a brand of Asian plateware, thus
keeping within the theme of naming characters after food and food-
related stuff. However, I can't remember where I read this and
researching it online hasn't turned up much.
A Mario fan named LajosJancsi posted an interesting point at the SMB
Info Station about "Koopa" also being the Japanese pronunciation of
the Korean soupy rice dish gug-bab. (If you'd like to read this post in
full, check the recommended reading section at the end of this guide; I
put its address.)
Quite a few readers have also been lobbying the Koopa-Kappa
connection as a possible explanation for Bowser's surname. In
Japanese folklore, Kappa are water-dwelling creatures who prey upon
humans somewhat like vampires do in western folklore. Kappas
resemble turtles somewhat, and in some depictions they even have
shells, much like the Koopas do. Kappas, however, also have the
distinct trait of having hollow-bowl like heads filled with water. If the
water spills out, the Kappa dies. No Koopas have this trait, though it
did show in Super Mario World; on the climb up to the Yellow Switch
Palace on Yoshi's Island, Mario passes through a small body of water
on top of a hill. According to the American instruction manual, this
geographical formation is called Kappa Mountain, though the game
never mentions this. (An actual Kappa shows up in Animal Crossing
as Kap'n, the seafaring, cucumber-loving turtle-looking thing, whom
the American version never specifies as a Kappa. So clearly such a
reference would not be out of place in a Nintendo game.)
If having three plausible origins didn't cloud the matter enough
already, one of the Mushroom Kingdom's specials on the translation
quirks of Japanese Mario games into English states that Bowser had no
first name in the original Super Mario Bros. Whatever he was called in
Japanese translated to "Big Devil Koopa." Subsequently, the games
just called him "Koopa" or "Kuppa," the latter being a Japanese
variant of the former.
Finally, Patrick Gremillion wrote in and informed me that Bowser may
have gotten his doggy-sounding first name in a way similar to how the
Koopalings got theirs. One of the members of the classic rock-pop
group Shanana is nicknamed "Bowzer."
THE BIG BAD
Wherever his name might come from, Bowser's been causing trouble
since his infancy, as seen in the prequel to the Mario saga, Super
Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Under the guidance of the Magikoopa
Kamek, an early Koopa Troop attacked the Stork that was delivering
Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to their parents in the Mushroom
Kingdom. Although this plot contradicted Nintendo's earlier story of
the Mario brothers hailing from Brooklyn, the continuity works from
Bowser's side. No matter where these Mushroom Kingdom-native
babies fit into the Marioverse, it's the same Bowser who's been
wreaking havoc, whether as a spoiled child king or a full-grown king.
Bowser lost this first fight, as he would subsequent ones - and, hell,
all future ones, too. Kamek whisked Baby Bowser into the sky, to
grow up and devise future schemes for future games. (For certain
reasons, arbitrary though they might be, the activities Bowser did as a
baby in the Yoshi's Island games are listed in their own profile, under
"Baby Bowser.")
In the original Super Mario Bros., Mario and Luigi could fight eight
separate Bowsers. Every fourth level introduced the brothers to a
different Bowser clone. Each could be defeated either by tagging -
and apparently removing - the hammer that keeps Bowser's bridge
from collapsing or by being sprayed with a volley of fireballs, which
would reduce the clones to their original states and fall into the lava.
(In order, these baddies-in-disguise are a Goomba, Koopa Troopa,
Buzzy Beetle, Spiny, Lakitu, Blooper and Hammer Brother.) Each
Bowser, notably, lacked his trademark fire-red mane in the game,
though all the promotional art showed him with it.
Bowser wreaked similar havoc in The Lost Levels: breathing fire,
tossing hammers, and blocking access to Peach and her Mushroom
Retainers. And, once again, stages leading up to the last were marked
by more decoy Bowsers - and in stages A through D, sometimes
more than one Bowser in a stage.
The big guy sat out Super Mario Bros. 2, but showed up in the third
NES outing flanked by his seven horrible children: Larry, Morton,
Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig. As per their father's
instructions, the Koopalings had each raided the castles of various
kingdoms in the Mushroom World, stolen the kings' magic wands, and
transformed them into animals. A glaring, unanswered question Super
Mario Bros. 3 poses is where these Koopalings came from. Although
diehard Mario fans would probably be thrilled to meet her, Nintendo
has yet to introduce Bowser's better half - the closest thing to a wife
so far has been that old hag Magikoopa Kammy Koopa.
But regardless of whether his wife lived there too, Super Mario Bros.
3's take on Bowser resides in the Dark World, the gloomy but fiery
final kingdom of the Mushroom World. (In the Japanese version of the
game, this last kingdom was called "Koopa Kingdom," which would
make Super Mario Bros. 3 the only game to depict the often-
referenced home of the Koopas.) After collapsing fortresses, legions of
army tanks and fleets of airships, Mario or Luigi had to trick thudbutt
Bowser into crashing through the brick floor of his throne room.
Bowser's Super Mario Bros. 3 in-game appearance marks the first to
feature his trademark red mane and yellow spikes.
Bowser got a bit craftier for Super Mario World. After the brothers
survived the terrors of his neon fortress, the Mario Bros. had to duel on
the rooftop with the Clown Car, a grinning quasi-helicopter in which
Bowser kept himself, Peach, giant bowling balls, and dozens of
mechanical replicas of himself. Some well-placed hits, however, sent
the Koopa King hurtling into the night sky.
Hanging out with Mario and Peach in various spin-offs that began
popping up after Super Mario World didn't change Bowser's nasty
ways, however. The Mario series entered 64-bit territory with Mario's
quest to break the curse Bowser places over the Mushroom Kingdom
castle. A Koopa spell magically imprisoned Peach and her subjects in
the castle walls unless Mario finds the 120 stars Bowser secreted away
in the castle's various nooks. In Super Mario 64, Bowser brawled with
Mario three times. Taller, fiercer, and more Godzilla-like than he'd
appeared in earlier games, Bowser belched flames Mario could only
douse by swinging him by the tail and tossing him into some ringside
explosive devices a wiser king would not have installed.
At the end of Luigi's Mansion, the launch title for the Nintendo
Gamecube, it wasn't Bowser who dueled with Luigi on the roof at the
end of Luigi's Mansion. Instead, King Boo piloted a giant mechanical
Bowser suit - the head of which could float off disembodied and
expose King Boo to Luigi's vacuum. Spooky stuff.
The scheme Bowser hatches in Super Mario Sunshine is downright
dastardly. Bowser fought Mario high atop Corona Volcano at the end
of Super Mario Sunshine. Bowser Jr. and Peach float in the own lava-
proof boats. But what has drawn these characters together this time?
Bowser cruelly has convinced Bowser Jr., the eighth Koopaling -
whose origins are as mysterious as his older siblings' - that Peach is
his mother. This lie prompts Bowser Jr.'s painty shenanigans all over
Isle Delfino. When Mario tromps the junior and senior Bowsers in a
duel in a volcano-heated bathtub in the sky, they end up on the shores
of some island paradise. Bowser admits the lie; Junior seems okay
with it. It's the closest to a happy ending Bowser's gotten yet.
ARCH-NEMESES LIKE TO PLAY, TOO
Back in the heyday of the Super Nintendo, Bowser appeared for the
first time as a playable character in Super Mario Kart, the first-ever
spin-off of the Mario platforming franchises. Yes, it's a little odd to
see Bowser driving around in a miniature car with folks he usually
tries to kill or kidnap. But his inclusion in this came has meant that
he's playable in the vast majority of subsequent spin-offs - and each
time he's the fatty. Like in his original Mario Kart incarnation, Bowser
generally plays the slowest, strongest selectable character in whatever
the Mario gang does. Tennis, golf, baseball - whatever.
This trend continued in Super Smash Bros. Melee as well. Like Mario,
Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Peach, and Dr. Mario, Bowser was a selectable
character. This Bowser wasn't a bumbling grumblepuss; he was a
snarling monster. A suped-up tyrannosaurus rex of angry called Giga
Bowser even awaited skilled players who met special conditions. Giga
Bowser was a monstrous amalgam of Bowser, Ganondorf, and
Mewtwo - the three supervillains from the Mario, Zelda, and
Pokémon franchises, respectively. He - it? - stood several times
taller than Bowser in his normal form.
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF BOWSER
It shouldn't be surprising that Bowser makes regular appearances in
the Mario RPG series. What's puzzling about these games, however, is
that they generally portray him as a much more likeable character than
the regular games do.
For example, Bowser kept unusually polite company in Super Mario
RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars as well. As Bowser sees it, it's Mario,
Mallow, and Geno who join the Koopa Troop. In truth, the union
between Mario and Bowser is really Bowser's only means of stealing
back his castle from the Smithy Gang, whose arrival has stricken him
with a serious case of homeless. Bowser proved to be as worthy and
ally as was an enemy; he brought brute strength to the group and could
fling a mean Chain Chomp. Bowser's special moves included
summoning his minions to attack.
Returning to the RPG format didn't cheer Bowser up. Bowser played
the central villain in Paper Mario in 2001. The Koopa King seized the
wish-granting Star Rod, an artifact from the astral paradise Star Haven,
and then imprisoned the seven Star Spirits. Aided by Koopa witch
Kammy - Kamek's replacement? - Bowser even hoisted the
Mushroom Kingdom castle into space. Naturally, Mario eventually
trekked all the way to Peach's doorstep in the sky, then fought and
defeated a gargantuan Bowser. Still, his acts of villainy were intercut
with scenes showing him squabbling with Kammy. Big bad or not, he
had a human side to him.
He then suffered his worst indignation yet in Mario and Luigi:
Superstar Saga. First, his plan to steal Peach gets inadvertently foiled
by Cackletta, the Bean Witch, because Cackletta replaces Peach's
voice with explosive expletives. Every time the fair princess speaks,
her caustic words shake the room. Bowser agrees to fly Mario and
Luigi to Beanbean Kingdom in the Koopa Cruiser to retrieve Peach's
voice, but Cackletta destroys Bowser's aircraft and Bowser gets his fat
butt stuck in a cannon. A pair of Toads named the Stardust Brothers
fire the Koopa King into the stratosphere, but he later turns up with
amnesia and a new job: apprentice to Popple the thief. Worst of all,
Bowser regains his mind just in time to have his body possessed by the
disembodied Cackletta. The result: Bowletta, Bowser's body with
Cackletta's headdress and what would appear to be breasts. Bowletta
even crosses his/her legs when perched on Bowser's throne. Bowletta
was the second-to-last fight in this Game Boy Advance RPG.
Bowser supplied comic relief once again in the fourth Mario RPG,
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. With the main villainy duties
being performed by the Shadow Queen and the X-Nauts, Bowser
merely bumbled about Rogueport and the outlying areas in a vain
quest for the Crystal Stars. He and Kammy often arrive at areas just
after Mario had stormed through and done anything worth doing.
Humorous squabbling ensues.
He wasn't completely relegated to playing a bit part, however. Bowser
fights Mario twice: once in a surprise Glitz Pit match and again at the
end of the game, when Bowser is making a last-ditch effort to do
something important. Occasionally, Bowser is even playable. His
scenes even contain three recreations of original side-scrolling levels
from Super Mario Bros. - specifically level 1-1, 2-2 and 1-4 - that
Bowser can hop and bop his way through. The Koopa Troopas are
replaced with X-Nauts and the mushrooms with chunks of meat, but
it's all there, more or less accurate to how you remember it. It's damn
cool, and the closest we've gotten yet to a Bowser solo adventure.
THE FUTURE
On that note, Bowser is the only one of the Big Eight to not yet get his
own game. Will players ever get to play as the Koopa King and
pummel those pesky plumbers?
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BOWSER***
Bowser has a long history of kidnapping Princess Peach to lure his
nemesis, Mario, into traps. He leads an enormous group of
mischievous creatures, not the least of which are his seven children.
With outrageous strength, flammable breath, and more spikes than you
can shake a Star Rod at, Bowser is a constant threat.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR BOWSER***
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR THE CLOWN CAR***
Bowser's single-seat, personal airship doesn't exactly handle like a
dream, but it wasn't designed to be sporty. The Koopa Clown Car was
made to carry Bowser's huge weight, not to mention a logic-defying
arsenal of massive bowling balls. In Super Mario World, Mario busted
the Koopa Clown Car by pelting it with Mecha Koopas.
***SMASH BROS. TROPHY INFO FOR THE CLOWN CAR***
MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH!! DATA:
Partner: Bowser Jr.
Personal racecar: The Koopa King
Special weapon: Bowser Shell
Bowser's starring roles:
Super Mario Bros. (NES) - 1985
Versus Super Mario Bros. (Arcade) - 1986
Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (Famicom) - 1986
Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt (NES) - 1988
Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt + World Class Track Meet (NES) - 1990
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - 1990
Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1991
Super Mario Kart (Super NES) - 1992
Super Mario All-Stars (Super NES) - 1993
Yoshi's Safari (Super NES) - 1993
Yoshi's Cookie (Super NES) - 1993
Yoshi's Cookie (Game Boy) - 1993
Yoshi's Cookie (NES) - 1993
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (Super NES) - 1994
Bandai Satellaview Super Mario Bros. 3 (Bandai Satellaview) - 1995
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES) - 1996
Tetris Attack (Super NES) - 1996
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1996
Super Mario 64 Shindou Version (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64) - 1997
Mario's Tennis (Virtual Boy) - 1997
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color) - 1999
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) - 1999
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64) - 2000
Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (Game Boy Advance) - 2001
Luigi's Mansion (Gamecube) - 2001
Super Smash Bros Melee (Gamecube) - 2001
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube) - 2002
Mario Party-e (Game Boy Advance E-Reader) - 2002
Nintendo Puzzle Collection (Gamecube) - 2003
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (Gamecube) - 2003
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube) - 2003
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
Super Mario Bros. (Game Boy Advance) - 2004
Super Mario Bros. 2 (Game Boy Advance) - 2004
Mario Pinball Land (Game Boy Advance) - 2004
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube) - 2004
Mario Power Tennis (Gamecube) - 2004
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - 2004
Other appearances:
Tetris (NES) - 1989
Alleyway (Game Boy) - 1989
F-1 Race (Game Boy) - 1991
SimCity (Super NES) - 1991
Hotel Mario (CD-I) - 1992
Mario Is Missing! (NES) - 1993
Mario Is Missing! (Super NES) - 1993
Yoshi's Cookie (Super NES) - 1993
Game & Watch Gallery (Game Boy) - 1997
Game & Watch Gallery 2 (Game Boy Color) - 1998
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64) - 1998*
Game & Watch Gallery 3 (Game Boy Color) - 1999
Mario Party (Nintendo 64) - 1999
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo 64) - 2000*
Mario Party 2 (Nintendo 64) - 2000
Picross NP Vol. 6 (Super Famicom) - 2000
Mario Party 3 (Nintendo 64) - 2001
Game & Watch Gallery 4 (Game Boy Advance) - 2002
Mario Party 4 (Gamecube) - 2002
Mario Party 5 (Gamecube) - 2003
WarioWare, Inc. (Game Boy Advance) - 2003
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$ (Gamecube) - 2003
Mario Party 6 (Gamecube) - 2004
Mario Party Advance (Game Boy Advance) - 2005
* as the Lon Lon/Romani Medallion and as a portait in Hyrule Castle
=======================================================================
BOWYER [new]
[Japanese name: Yuminpa]
Occupation: Smithy's minion
Only appearance: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
At the heart of the forest maze, Mario and Mallow meet the maniac
whose rain of poison arrows has been terrorizing the residents of Rose
Town. It's Bowyer, a living, talking bow. (And when I say talking, I
mean in the most broken English in a Mario game - Yoda with a
learning disability.) Bowyer and his team entered the forest in search
of the "shooting star" the residents of Rose Town witnessed a few days
earlier. Of course, it's the second Star Piece. When Mario and Mallow
fight Bowyer, they join Geno for the firs time. Bowyer has a clever
tactic in the fight: he can disable certain buttons to prevent the party
from using regular attacks, special attacks or items.
By the way, "bowyer" is an archaic English term for a bowsmith.
=======================================================================
BRIDGET THE BAKER [new]
Occupation: Purveyor of sweet pastries
Only appearance: WarioWare: Touched! (2005)
A pleasant-looking lass who works at the Sweet Spot, Diamond City's
bakery. Wario stops there on the walk back from a particularly nasty
visit to his dentist, Dr. Payne, and buys some sweet baked good, only
to undo all the work that Dr. Payne had done. Ouch.
Bridget looks remarkably like the pop singer Luna, who also debuts in
WarioWare: Twisted.
=======================================================================
BRIGHTON
Occupation: Solar manifestation
Only appearance: Mario Party 6 (2004)
The sun, though neither the Angry Sun from Super Mario Bros. 3 nor
the imprisoned sun from Paper Mario. Brighton, who appears as a sun-
shaped head atop a red and white robed body, represents sunlight and
daytime. His war with this friend Twila, the moon, will be settled
somewhat nonsensically by Mario and his friends playing mini-games
and filling up the Star Bank with stellar currency.
Make sense? Didn't think so.
Brighton and Twila's celestial popularity contest is a recurrent theme
in Mario Party 6. Throughout the game, time passes from day to night,
affecting game appearance and play.
=======================================================================
THE BROTHERS BEAR
Occupation: Just short of a jamboree
Only appearance: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double
Trouble (1996)
Thirteen bear siblings scattered throughout the Northern Kremisphere.
They can help Dixie out, but she'll need to find them various items or
perform various tasks, RPG-style. You know the drill.
The Brothers Bear, listed alphabetically:
* Baffle, the puzzle aficionado
* Barnacle, the shell collector
* Barter, who runs a swap shop
* Bazaar, who sells items and information
* Bazooka, the gun enthusiast
* Benny and Bjorn, the twins who operate a set of chain lift
* Blizzard, a snowbound bear who needs Dixie to deliver a present for
him
* Blue, who's down in the dumps
* Blunder, the Nintendo Power subscriber
* Boomer, the explosives expert
* Bramble, who loves both flowers and Banana Birds
* Brash, the braggart
=======================================================================
BRUCE
Occupation: Bombette's admirer, Kooper's subleaser
Only appearance: Paper Mario (2001)
A Bob-Omb who lives in Koopa Village in Kooper's house. Bruce
loves Bombette so much he explodes for her - literally - but she
doesn't return the affection.
=======================================================================
BUBBLES
Occupation: Chuckola Cola Inc. owner and proprietor
Only appearance: Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
An older bean who founded the Chuckola Cola soda company.
Bubbles makes his signature brew by brewing choice Chuckleberries
and telling quality jokes to get the Chuckleberries to laugh and
carbonate the beverage. He'll gladly donate a can of his mightiest
brew, Chuckola Cola, to help save the ailing Queen Bean - but only
if the brothers can best his brew in battle.
=======================================================================
BUNDT
Occupation: Monster wedding cake
Only appearance: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
Initially, Chef Torte attacks Mario's party when he realizes that they
have disrupted Booster and Peach's wedding. Shortly into the battle,
however, the cake begins to rumble. Mario and his friends must then
fight the living cake itself until all five of its candles have been
snuffed. Eventually, all that's left of the Bundt is its raspberry base,
which the three Snifits encourage Booster to swallow hole. He does.
Mario would fight feisty food again in the third Mario RPG, Mario and
Luigi: Superstar Saga, when he and Luigi take on the Chuckolator, the
living, fighting barrel of Chuckola Cola.
=======================================================================
BUB-ULBER
[Japanese name: Flower-san/Mr. Flower]
Occupation: Anthropomorphic bulb
Only appearance: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
A cheerful resident of Petalburg whom Mario and Goombella
encounter.
Bub-Ulber is a Bub-Ulb, a rare plant character that figured into the
plotline of the first Paper Mario. Bub-Ulbs look like an oversized bulb
with a face and a flower growing out of the top. In Paper Mario, Mario
had to collect seeds from red, blue, green and yellow Bub-Ulbs and
then let Minh T. grow them into flowers in order to open the passage
to Flower Fields. (Curious, since bulb plants don't grow from seeds.)
Those Bub-Ulbs, however, did not have names.
Obviously, the name "Bub-Ulb" is patterned after the name of the
classic Mario baddie, "Bob-Omb."
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