Rip Van Fish
| Rip Van Fish | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork for Super Mario World | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario World (1990) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (2003) | ||
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Rip Van Fish[1] (also pluralized Rip Van Fishes[2] and parsed as Rip van Fish)[3] are fish enemies that spend most of their time sleeping. They first and mainly appear in Super Mario World. Rip Van Fish are large blue fish with orange fins, tail, and lips as well as a pair of big eyes. They are named after the literary character Rip Van Winkle, who fell asleep for twenty years.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario World[edit]
In Super Mario World, if Mario or Luigi swims too close to a Rip Van Fish, it wakes up and starts to chase after him. Like Cheep Cheeps, a Rip Van Fish can be defeated if Mario and Luigi either shoot a fireball at it while under the effects of a Fire Flower, swim into one while under the invincibility effect of a Super Star, or have Yoshi swallow one. If Mario or Luigi is invincible, the Rip Van Fish acts the opposite and tries to swim away from them. Once Mario or Luigi swim a far enough distance from the Rip Van Fish, it goes back to sleep. In Forest of Illusion 2, all Rip Van Fish within range can be awakened by the whistle of a Chargin' Chuck.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
The Rip Van Fish reappear in the underwater portions of the World-e level Sea to Sky in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. They act the same as in Super Mario World.
Super Mario World television series[edit]
Rip Van Fish also appeared in the Super Mario World television series episodes "King Scoopa Koopa" and "Mama Luigi".
In "King Scoopa Koopa", after leaping down a Warp Pipe in the Star Path to escape several cave people transformed into Chickadactyls, Mario and Princess Toadstool end up in the ocean. Seeing a Rip Van Fish near, Mario and Princess Toadstool attempt to tiptoe past the Rip Van Fish, only for it to wake up, leading to the latter chasing them. Fortunately, Mario and Princess Toadstool struck into the Warp Pipe before the Rip Van Fish can get them.
In "Mama Luigi", Luigi and Yoshi, after falling into the ocean, end up waking a nearby Rip Van Fish, which proceeds to chase Luigi and Yoshi. Attempting to escape the Rip Van Fish, Luigi and Yoshi enter a nearby, underwater tunnel and begin swimming furiously, avoiding obstacles such as ? Blocks and Urchins. Eventually, the Rip Van Fish, having apparently grown tired of chasing Luigi and Yoshi, quickly stops and begins to nap once again, allowing Luigi and Yoshi to get away.
Mario's FUNdamentals[edit]
In Mario's FUNdamentals, Rip Van Fishes appear as a playing card when the player plays Go Fish with Mario.
Nintendo Puzzle Collection[edit]
Rip Van Fish reappears in the Nintendo GameCube remake of Yoshi's Cookie in Nintendo Puzzle Collection, as the second opponent in the game's VS. Mode if the player plays on Hard mode.
Profiles and statistics[edit]
Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]
- Super Mario World Instruction Booklet: This little fellow is always taking a nap, but when Mario comes along, he wakes up, and sets off in hot pursuit. Whatever you do, don't let Rip touch Mario.[4]
- Mario Mania: Talk about cranky! Asleep, Rip Van Fish is harmless. Wake him, though, and you'll have to high-tail it out of there before he can hunt you down.[5]
- Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 "Denizens of Dinosaur Land" poster: Even though these little guys are always napping, they wake up whenever Mario or Luigi comes near and set off in hot pursuit. Whatever you do, don't let them catch you!
- Prima Games: Rip Van Fishes sleep until you come near, then they wake up and chase you for having disturbed their rest. They are vulnerable to Capes and Fireballs.[2]
Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]
| グースカ (JP) / Rip Van Fish (EN) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Original text (Japanese) | Translation | ||
| アクア族 | Tribe | Aqua clan | |
| きむずかしい | Disposition | Moody | |
| ワールド | Game appearances | World | |
| 寝起きの悪さはンNo.1 水の中でイビキをかいて眠っているプクプクの仲間。のんびりしているように見えるが、近づくと目をさまして、猛スピードで追いかけてくる。起こさないのが一番だ。[6] |
No. 1 in sleeping and waking up A friend of Cheep Cheep's that is snoring and sleeping underwater. They appear to be taking it easy, but when you approach them, they wake up and chase you at breakneck speed. It is best not to wake them up. | ||
Gallery[edit]
Original Story illustration story, from Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Yoshi's Egg
Kirin Lemon commercial
Artwork used for a Super Mario puzzle.
Mario Undōkai trading card
Mario's Game Gallery
Mario's FUNdamentals
Mario's FUNdamentals
Super Mario Picture Book with Peel-and-Release Stickers 1: Get Yoshi Back
Sticker sheet from Super Mario Picture Book with Peel-and-Release Stickers 1: Get Yoshi Back
Super Mario Picture Book with Peel-and-Release Stickers 4: Protect Your House!
Mario Family sewing design
Nintendo Puzzle Collection
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | グースカ[?] Gūsuka |
A Japanese term for sleeping heavily; officially romanized as "Gooska". | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 瞌睡鱼[7] Kēshuì Yú |
Dozing Fish | |
| French (NOA) | Rip Van Poisson[?] | Rip Van Fish | |
| French (NOE) | Rip Van Fish[?] | - | |
| German | Rip Van Fish[8] | - | |
| Italian | Rip Van Fish[9] | - | |
| Rip Van Smack[10] | Rip Van Cheep; from Pesce Smack ("Cheep Cheep") | ||
| Portuguese | O Peixe Rip[?] | The Rip Fish | |
| Spanish | Rip Van Fish[?] | - |
References[edit]
- ^ August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 106.
- ^ a b Stratton, Bryan (February 26, 2002). Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-3913-1. Page 14.
- ^ August 13, 2022. English Super Mario World entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp. (Archived August 13, 2022, 14:17:58 UTC via archive.today.)
- ^ 1991. Super Mario World instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 24.
- ^ August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 51.
- ^ 1994. 「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 66.
- ^ 无敌阿尔宙斯 (August 28, 2013). 神游 超级马力欧世界 敌人官译. Baidu Tieba (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors (1993). Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 19.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Page 54.
- ^ L'enciclopedia di Mario - La guida definitiva al personaggio più iconico del mondo dei videogame, 2023, Anime Cult Retrogamer, page 63
