Buzzbee
| Buzzbee | |||
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| First appearance | Green House (1982, overall) Donkey Kong 3 (1983, Super Mario franchise) | ||
| Latest appearance | Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong 3 (2019) | ||
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Buzzbees[1][2] (or Buzz bees),[3] also referred to simply as bees,[4] are insect-like enemies that appear in Donkey Kong 3. They are the primary units of the beehives in Stanley's greenhouse. They attack by either throwing spears or swooping down from their hives, trying to steal Stanley's flowers. In the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System version, Buzzbees only throw darts when they are carrying a flower. In the arcade version, Buzzbees feed the flowers to Donkey Kong to become Super Bees. In the Famicom and NES version, Buzzbees carry the flower to their beehive and disappear. One or two will sometimes escort Beespies, where they are referred to as Guards.[5] From round 12 (9 in the Famicom and NES version), their appearance is altered. The new Buzzbees are more aggressive and do not escort Beespies.
While unnamed, a Buzzbee first appears in Green House for the Game & Watch, poking a cat as the game's alarm.
In Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū, Buzzbees fly around in formation, throwing spears and swooping down at Stanley directly. Since there are now flowers, here, they primarily block Stanley's own shots from hitting Donkey Kong. In addition, if a Buzzbee is hit, it transforms into a Super Bee. Only one formation of Buzzbees and Super Bees may exist at a time, and Super Bees count for the Buzzbee formation they are a part of. By shooting down an entire formation of Buzzbees and Super Flies without one cycling off-screen, a Flag will spawn. In the bonus rounds, a long formation of Buzzbees will fly around the screen, not throwing spears nor diving at Stanley; Stanley must shoot all the Buzzbees and the resulting Super Bees before the timer runs out. Shooting a Buzzbee is worth 10 points. The design of the Buzzbee itself is based on earlier rounds from the arcade game.
Buzzbees reappear in the Donkey Kong 3 Game & Watch, where they are simply called "bees." Stanley and Donkey Kong use their sprayers to force the bees to sting each other. One version of the North American box art gives them a less fuzzy appearance.
Gallery[edit]
Buzzbee alarming the cat
Stanley, fighting a Buzzbee
Artwork of Buzzbee and a flower
Buzzbee before round 12 (arcade)
Buzzbee after round 12 (arcade)
Buzzbee before round 9 (NES)
Buzzbee after round 9 (NES)
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 兵隊バチ・バズビー[6] Heitaibachi Bazubī |
Soldier-Bee Buzzbee | |
| こバチ バズビー[7] Kobachi Bazubī |
Child-Bee Buzzbee | ||
| Italian | Ape blu[8] | Blue bee | |
| Ape[9][10] | Bee | ||
| Buzzbee[11] | - |
Notes[edit]
- Buzzbees greatly resemble the unnamed stinger-wielding bee enemy from VS. Ice Climber. In the Disk System version, this enemy is replaced with a Nitpicker.
References[edit]
- ^ Donkey Kong 3 back flyer (English).
- ^ 1986. Donkey Kong 3 NES instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 6.
- ^ 1986. Donkey Kong 3 NES instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 2.
- ^ MICRO VS. SYSTEM DONKEY KONG 3 instruction. Page 8.
- ^ 1986. Donkey Kong 3 NES instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 7.
- ^ Donkey Kong 3 back flyer (Japanese).
- ^ ドンキーコング
３ (Donkī Kongu Surī) instruction booklet. Nintendo (Japanese). Page 4. - ^ Donkey Kong 3 (Virtual Console) e-manual. Page 8.
- ^ Arcade Archives Donkey Kong 3, in-game manual
- ^ 2002. Game & Watch Gallery Advance manual. Nintendo of Europe (British English). Page 120.
- ^ Arcade Archives Donkey Kong 3, in-game manual
| Donkey Kong 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong • Stanley | |
| Enemies | Buzzbee • Creepy • Super Bee* • Vine Eater* • Beespy • Attacker • Kabutomushi • Butterfly | |
| Items and objects | Beehive • Flower • Sprayer • Super Sprayer | |
| Greenhouses | Blue • Gray • Yellow | |
| Other | Gallery • Staff | |
| Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong • Stanley |
| Enemies | Buzzbee • Super Bee • Creepy • Beespy • Attacker • Coconut • Kabutomushi • Butterfly |
| Stages | On the Highway • On the Strange Bridge • On the Country Road • The Aliens • In the U.F.O. • Leaving the Earth • In the Astron Belt • Around the Saturn • A Mysterious Planet • On the Desert • By the Pyramid • In the Cave • At the Active Volcano • In the Active Crater • At the Dome • On the Ground Picture • At the Runway • A Mushroom Cloud • At the Sunset • In the City |
| Other | Bonus Stage • Flag • Gallery • Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū • Sprayer |
