View source for Balloon Fighter

{{character infobox
|image=[[File:SSBU Balloon Fighter Spirit.png|250px]]
|first_appearance=''[[nwiki:Balloon Fight|Balloon Fight]]'' (1984, ''Balloon Fight'' series)<br>''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' ([[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] cameo) ([[List of games by date#2001|2001]], ''Super Mario''-related media)
|species=Human
|latest_appearance=''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'' (cameo, 2023)
}}
'''Balloon Fighter''' is a character that originates from ''[[nwiki:Balloon Fight|Balloon Fight]]'' and has since made multiple appearances in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise. In his original game, he attempts to fly around using a pair of balloons while dodging various obstacles and enemies that try to stop him. If he is hit, his balloons are popped and he is defeated. Though his actual name is unknown, he has been dubbed "Balloon Fighter".<ref>''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' trophy.</ref>

==History==
===''WarioWare'' series===
====''WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!''====
[[File:WWIMM BalloonFight.png|thumb|left|Balloon Fighter in ''WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!'']]
Balloon Fighter first appears in ''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]'' in the [[Balloon Fight (WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!)|Balloon Fight]] microgame. He must continually fly while avoiding little sparkling fires and a fish at the bottom of the screen. As the microgame increases in difficulty, more lightning is placed in the sky for Balloon Fighter to dodge.

====''WarioWare: Twisted!''====
[[File:Balloon Fight Record.png|frame]]
Balloon Fighter appears in ''[[WarioWare: Twisted!]]''{{'}}s [[Balloon Fight (WarioWare: Twisted!)|Balloon Fight]] microgame. Here, he is holding onto a rope, and the player must tilt a nearby balloon towards him so that he can grab onto it and start flying. The game's increases in difficulty make it more difficult to navigate the balloon to him. A souvenir appears, also titled [[Balloon Fight (souvenir)|Balloon Fight]], that plays the microgame's music (which is a theme from the original ''Balloon Fight'').

====''WarioWare: Touched!''====
Another microgame based on ''Balloon Fight'' appears in ''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]'', again titled [[Balloon Fight (WarioWare: Touched!)|Balloon Fight]], and as a result, Balloon Fighter appears again. In this microgame, Balloon Fighter is being attacked by enemy balloon riders, and the player must tap on the enemies' balloons to defeat them. It is also possible for the player to tap on Balloon Fighter's balloons, though doing so causes him to fall, failing the microgame.

====''WarioWare: Smooth Moves''====
[[File:WWSM Balloon Fight.png|thumb|Balloon Fighter in the Balloon Fight microgame of ''WarioWare: Smooth Moves'']]
Balloon Fighter appears in ''[[WarioWare: Smooth Moves]]'' in the microgame titled [[Balloon Fight (WarioWare: Smooth Moves)|Balloon Fight]] (the same as the previous three microgames). This time, the microgame does not use the NES game's graphics and instead opts for 3D models. The gameplay emulates the original game, similar to the microgame in ''WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!'', only it takes place from a rear view perspective. The goal is for Balloon Fighter to survive while avoiding the obstacles in the sky. A full minigame, [[Balloon Trip (minigame)|Balloon Trip]], also appears in the game, with the goal of obtaining a high score. This is done by reaching long distances, popping balloons, and avoiding more obstacles.

====''WarioWare: D.I.Y.''====
The fifth and final microgame based on ''Balloon Fight'' in the series is [[B. Fight]]. It is exactly like the microgame in ''WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!'', with Balloon Fighter trying to keep his balloons from being popped.

====''WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase''====
Balloon Fighter appears in the Music section of ''[[WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase]]'' whenever listening to music in the [[Wario-Man Super Store]]. In this game, he has an older appearance with gray hair and a mustache. In Game Play, the player must make Balloon Fighter fly into the notes to make the song play. Due to his size, playing the complete song is impossible. If Balloon Fighter flies too close to the water, a fish pops up and attempts to eat him. Getting eaten by the fish, falling into the water, or flying into a spark causes him to respawn near the top of the screen. In Auto Play, Balloon Fighter is gigantic and plays all the notes. The player can move him towards the left to decrease the tempo or move him right to increase the tempo, though he returns to the center of the screen when the player lets go.

====''WarioWare Gold''====
Balloon Fighter appears again in the ''[[WarioWare Gold]]'' microgame [[Balloon Fight (WarioWare Gold)|Balloon Fight]]. Set in the game's bonus stage, the goal is to pop a certain number of balloons before time runs out. The fighter must also avoid lightning in the microgame's third level of difficulty.

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
Balloon Fighter makes only a few cameos in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]]. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Balloon Fighter is given a [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]], which mostly covers the ''Balloon Fight'' game, and this is also the first game where he is named "Balloon Fighter. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', there is a [[Sticker (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)|Sticker]] of Balloon Fighter, based on artwork from the cover of ''Balloon Fight'' for the [[Family Computer|Famicom]]; in [[smashwiki:Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary|The Subspace Emissary]], the Balloon Fighter sticker can only be used on [[smashwiki:Pit|Pit]], giving him +4 to his weapon attacks. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', Balloon fighter appears as an advanced support [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirit]], who grants fighters with increased jumping abilities.

===''Super Mario Maker''===
[[File:SMM Balloon Fighter.png|thumb|left]]
Balloon Fighter appears as an unlockable costume via [[Costume Mario]] in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]''. He can be randomly unlocked after clearing the 100 Mario Challenge on Normal or harder.
{{br}}

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', one of the billboards in [[Brooklyn]] uses the Balloon Fighter to advertise a car wash.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Balloon Fight Icon.png|''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]''
WWT Balloon Fight Icon.png|''[[WarioWare: Twisted!]]''
BalloonFightWWT.png|''WarioWare: Twisted!''
Balloon Fight WWTouched Icon.png|''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]''
BalloonTrip SM title screen.png|''[[WarioWare: Smooth Moves]]'' [[Balloon Trip]] minigame
Balloon Trip.png|''WarioWare: Smooth Moves'' Balloon Trip minigame
B. Fight WWDIY.png|''[[WarioWare: D.I.Y.]]''
Balloon Fighter pose SMM.png|''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
Balloon Fight WWG.png|''[[WarioWare Gold]]''
</gallery>

==Profiles and statistics==
===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
[[File:trophy281.png|thumb|150px]]
*'''Trophy'''
**'''Balloon Fighter'''
**''Balloon Fight''<br>6/86
**''The goal in Balloon Fight is to break your enemy's two balloons, depriving him of his flotation devices. If you lose one balloon, your buoyancy drops and it becomes harder to rise. As you can pop both friends' and enemies' balloons, you have to stay alert in this two-player fun fest. The balloonist's name is unknown.''
{{br}}
===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
[[File:Balloon Fighter Sticker.png|frame|right]]
*'''Sticker'''
**Artwork from: ''Balloon Fight
**Effect: [Weapon] - Attack +4
**Usable by: Pit
{{br}}
===Spirit information===
{| align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="text-align:left; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial; font-size:85%;"
|-
!rowspan=2 width=8% style="text-align:center;"|Name
!rowspan=2 class=unsortable width=10% style="text-align:center;"|Image
!rowspan=2 width=8% style="text-align:center;"|Game
!rowspan=2 width=5% style="text-align:center;"|Type
!rowspan=2 width=5% style="text-align:center;"|Class
!rowspan=2 width=8% style="text-align:center;"|Effect
!rowspan=2 width=13% style="text-align:center;"|How to obtain
!colspan=4 width=40% style="text-align:center;"|Spirit battle
|-
!width=7% style="text-align:center;"|Opponents
!class=unsortable width=19% style="text-align:center;"|Battle conditions
!width=7% style="text-align:center;"|Stage
!width=7% style="text-align:center;"|Song
|-
!align=center|Balloon Fighter
|align=center|[[File:SSBU Balloon Fighter Spirit.png|x100px]]
|''Balloon Fight'' Series
|Support (1)
|Advanced
|Jump ↑
|World of Light (Light Realm); Spirit Board
|[[Villager]] (♂) ×4
|
*Timed battle
*The enemy favors up specials
*The enemy has increased jump power
|[[Balloon Fight (stage)|Balloon Fight]]
|Balloon Fight Medley
|}

==References==
<references/>

{{Humans}}
{{Crossover characters}}
{{WWIMM}}
{{WarioWare: Twisted!}}
{{WarioWare: Touched!}}
{{WWSM}}
{{SMM}}
[[Category:Characters from other Nintendo games]]
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Super Mario Maker costumes]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirits]]
[[Category:WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! characters]]
[[Category:WarioWare: Smooth Moves characters]]
[[Category:WarioWare: Touched! characters]]
[[Category:WarioWare: Twisted! characters]]