Spark

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This article is about the enemies debuting in Donkey Kong Jr. For other uses of the word Spark, see Spark (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Sparx or Sparkle.
Spark
Spark
Artwork from Super Mario Advance
First appearance Donkey Kong Jr. (1982)
Latest appearance The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (2024, overall)
Yoshi's New Island (2014, Super Mario franchise)
Variants
Comparable

Sparks are orb-shaped creatures that emit pulses and flashes of electricity continually. They are mostly found crawling around walls and ceilings and moving across wires. Sparks are the first in a series of enemies in the Super Mario franchise that are balls of electricity, including Li'l Sparkies and Amps.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong series[edit]

Donkey Kong Jr.[edit]

Sprite of a Spark from Donkey Kong Jr.

Sparks first appear in Mario's Hideout of Donkey Kong Jr. Red Sparks (also known as Globes[1]:7) continue to circle their own platform, but blue ones can travel to other platforms through static particles. These Sparks are generated by Mario in order to shock Donkey Kong Jr., preventing him from saving his father. Blue Sparks do not appear in the Coleco Adam port, which alters the stage layout and replaces them with hazardous green water drops instead.

Donkey Kong (Game Boy)[edit]

Spark

In the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong, only one Spark[2] appears in Stage 6-4, rotating clockwise at a medium pace around a small platform in the path of a Conveyor Belt. It has the same behavior as the Sniper and Sukōpī seen earlier in the game, except losing a life from the Spark displays an electrocution animation. Unlike other appearances, the Spark in this game lacks eyes. This game also introduces a more common wire-crossing successor.

Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

Spark from Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic Hisshō Kōryakuhō
Artwork from Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic

Sparks appear in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2, usually underground or in buildings. Sparks circle platforms, though some can hover in the air if a Mushroom Block is pulled out from beneath them. Sparks cannot be jumped on and damage the player character when touched. A Spark is defeated if either hit by an object or from a POW Block being used nearby. A Spark is defeated automatically if the screen scrolls while they are in a specific position.[3] In original versions, Sparks have red outlines around their eyes; in the Super Mario All-Stars version and other subsequent remakes, they have yellow outlines as well as an orange outer body outline. In the remake, touching a Spark knocks the player back as the screen briefly pixelates, and an item named the Spark Chaser can expel them from jar interiors.

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]

Spark
A Spark from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
“Spark on the warpath!”
Mario, "On Her Majesty's Sewer Service"

A Spark only appears in the episode "On Her Majesty's Sewer Service" in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! It does not discharge any electricity. The Spark is encountered by Mario and Luigi in the Tunnel of Doom as they run from a Goomba. Both are avoided when Mario and Luigi create a grappling hook out of a super spy hose nozzle and mini plunger; apparently unable to stop moving, the Spark and Goomba subsequently crash into one another, causing an explosion.

Nintendo Comics System[edit]

Three Spark
Three Sparks from "Bedtime for Drain-Head"

Sparks appear prominently in issues of Nintendo Comics System, appearing in such stories as "The Legend," "Bedtime for Drain-Head," and "A Mouser in the Houser." Like most enemies featured in the stories, they are shown to be intelligent and fully capable of speech.

Yoshi's Island series[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

Piro Dangles with no flames in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
A Piro Dangle without fire in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Sparks are referred to as Piro Dangles[4] in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its remake. They emit fire instead of electricity and have faces similar to that of Fryguy. Occasionally, their fire temporarily goes out, revealing that underneath they are white spheres. During this time, they are harmless. Piro Dangles can be found only in a secret room in Burt The Bashful's Fort, as well as in Endless World of Yoshis in the remake, where they can also be defeated from a blue watermelon. There is also an unused variant of Boo Blah that has a Piro Dangle on its head.

Yoshi's New Island[edit]

In Yoshi's New Island, Sparks maintain their appearance and behavior from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, and appear only within dark rooms in Beware the Boo Brigade and Fort Key Calamity.

The Legend of Zelda series[edit]

Zelda Wiki article: Spark

Sparks appear with the same wall-running behavior in multiple games in The Legend of Zelda series. In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Sparks flash between orange and blue and are completely invincible, appearing in a few dungeons. In this game, they also share the same graphics as the segmented fire bars and Fire Snakes, which stay orange. Sparks are more common in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Ages, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and can be destroyed with the boomerang, which turns them into fairies.

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

  • Instruction booklet description:
    • English:
      He shines and moves in a circular motion around the walls and floors of the underground. He moves fast or slow.[5]
    • Other languages:
      • Dutch:
        Hij vonkt en vliegt rondjes bij de muren en vloeren in de onderwereld. Hij beweegt snel of langzaam.[6]
        (Translation: He sparks and rushes in circles on the walls and floors in the underworld. He moves fast or slow.)
      • French:
        Il brille en tournant autour des murs et planchers du monde souterrain. Il se déplace vite ou lentement.[6]
Game Boy Advance
  • Instruction booklet description:
    • English (British):
      You'll find Sparks circling blocks and steps. It's best to use POW blocks to turn off their power.[7]:11

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]

Donkey Kong series[edit]

スパーク (JP) / Wire Trap (EN)
A Spark from Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong for the Game Boy.
Original text (Japanese) Translation
種族しゅぞく ウエポンぞく Tribe Weapon clan
性格せいかく 一直線いっちょくせん Disposition Straight line
登場とうじょうゲーム JRジュニアGBゲームボーイドンキー Game appearances Jr., GB Donkey
火花ひばならす電気でんきのかたまり

JRジュニアでは、ゆかはしまわっているので、すきを一気いっきはしけよう。GBゲームボーイでは、ロープのうえつたってやってくるからとにかくけよう。どちらもれれば感電死かんでんししてしまうぞ。[8]:96

A lump of electricity that emits sparks

In JR, they are running around on the floor, so you have to run past them at once when you see a chance; in GB, they are moving over the ropes, so avoid them at all costs. In both cases, you will be electrocuted if you touch them.

Super Mario USA[edit]

スパック (JP) / Spark (EN)
A Spark from Super Mario Bros. 2.
Original text (Japanese) Translation
種族しゅぞく ウエポンぞく Tribe Weapon clan
性格せいかく あきらめがわる Disposition Reluctant to give up
登場とうじょうゲーム USAユーエスエー Game appearances USA
アメリカまれのスパック

スパックとおなじく電気でんきのかたまりで、ブロックのまわりをはしっている。ジャンプでけながらすすんでいこう。カギやキノコブロックがあれあば、これをぶつけてたおせる。[8]:225

American-born Spark

Like Spark, it is a mass of electricity and runs around blocks. Jump to avoid them as you go. If you have a key or Mushroom Block, you can hit it with them to defeat it.

Yoshi's Island series[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island[edit]

  • Shogakukan guide: 暗闇の中で、壁に沿って動いている。火が消えて白くなったときをねらって、通り抜けよう。[9] (They move along walls in the dark. Try to get by when their flames are extinguished and they turn white.)
  • Player's Guide: Mr. P.D. jealously guards a secret cache of coins in Burt the Bashful's Fort.[4]

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

  • Shogakukan guide: 暗やみの中で、かべに沿って動いている。火が消えて白くなったスキに、通りぬけよう。[10] (They move along walls in the dark. Get by when their flames are extinguished and they turn white.)

Yoshi's New Island[edit]

  • Shogakukan guide: 一定の間隔で光を放ち、ゆっくりと移動すろ。光を照明がわりにして暗い部屋を進もう。光ったときだけ、触れるとダメージを受ける。倒すことはできない。[11] (Emits light at regular intervals and moves slowly. Use the light as a light source to advance through the dark room. If you touch it, you will take damage only when it glows. It cannot be defeated.)

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Spark.

Names in other languages[edit]

The contemporaneous name for each language is listed first. Subsequent names are listed in chronological order for each language, from oldest to newest.

Spark[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スパーク[8][9][11][10][12]
Supāku
Spark
スパック[8][13][14]
Supakku
A corruption of "Spark" Super Mario Bros. 2
Chinese (simplified) 电球[12]
Diànqiú
Electric Ball
火花[15]
Huǒhuā
Spark Super Mario Advance
Chinese (traditional) 電球[12]
Diànqiú
Electric Ball
Dutch Spark[6][12] -
French Spark[6][7]:51[12] -
Eclair[1]:7 From éclair ("sparkle") Donkey Kong Jr. (Atari)
German Spark[16][7]:31[17][12] -
Funke[1]:7 Spark Donkey Kong Jr. (Atari)
Pyro Head[18] - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Italian Spark[19][20][12] -
Scintilla[1]:8[21][22] Spark Donkey Kong Jr.
Scarica elettrica[23] Electrical charge Donkey Kong II
Favilla[7]:111 Spark Super Mario Advance
Sfavillotto[24] Littke Spark; shared with Luma Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia
Korean 스파크[12]
Seupakeu
Spark
Portuguese Choquim[25] Shock
Spark[26] - Super Mario Bros. 2
Russian Искрик[12]
Iskrik
Sparks
Spanish (NOA) Chispa[1]:8[12] Spark
Spanish (NOE) Spark[27][7]:91[12] Spark

Globe[edit]

"Globe" refers to a type of Spark in Donkey Kong Jr. They are restricted to their platforms and are colored red, whereas "normal" Sparks are blue.

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スパーク[8]
Supāku
Spark
French Boulet[1]:7 Ball
German Feuerkugel[1]:7 Fireball
Italian Globo[1]:8 Globe
Spanish Globo[1]:8 Globe

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 1983. Donkey Kong Junior by Nintendo: ATARI Computers. Sunnyvale: ATARI, Nintendo of America (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish).
  2. ^ August 20, 1994. 「任天堂公式ガイドブック ドンキーコング」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Donkey Kong). Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 4-09-102485-8. Page 59.
  3. ^ Small Mario Findings. Video. Tumblr (English). Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Miller, Kent, and Terry Munson (1995). Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 128Media:SMW2 Guide 128.jpg.
  5. ^ 1988. Super Mario Bros. 2 Instruction Booklet (PDF). Redmond: Nintendo of America. Page 26.
  6. ^ a b c d 1989. Super Mario Bros. 2 Handleiding / mode d'emploi. Brussels: Nintendo (Dutch, French). Page 30.
  7. ^ a b c d e 2001. Super Mario Advance Instruction Booklet (PDF). Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian).
  8. ^ a b c d e November 20, 1994. Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 4-09-259067-9. Page 96.
  9. ^ a b September 20, 1995. 「スーパーマリオヨッシーアイランド任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Super Mario: Yossy Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 4-09-102523-4. Page 5Media:Super Mario Yossy Island Shogakukan P5.jpg.
  10. ^ a b November 20, 2002. 「スーパーマリオアドバンス3任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Super Mario Advance 3 Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 4-09-106701-4. Page 17Media:Advance 3 Shogakukan P17.png.
  11. ^ a b August 9, 2014. 「ヨッシー New アイランド 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Yoshi's New Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106542-1. Page 20Media:Yoshi New Island Shogakukan P20.jpg.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Nintendo Switch) enemy glossary
  13. ^ 1994. Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 225.
  14. ^ Sakai, Kazuya (ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). "Super Mario USA" in 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106569-8. Page 67.
  15. ^ From the ending scenes of Super Mario Advance as localized by iQue. 无敌阿尔宙斯 (August 28, 2013). 神游 超级马力欧2敌人官译. Baidu Tieba (Simplified Chinese). Archived February 26, 2017, 16:11:09 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  16. ^ 1990. Super Mario Bros. 2 Speilanleitung. Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 27.
  17. ^ Matsumoto, Atsuko, Rie Ishii, and Claude Moyse, editors (1992). Der Spieleberater Super Mario Power. Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). ISBN 3-929034-02-6. Page 118.
  18. ^ Menold, Marcus, John D. Kraft, and Thomas Görg, editors (1995). Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World 2 – Yoshi's Island". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 17.
  19. ^ 1989. Super Mario Bros. 2 Libretto di Istruzioni. Oleggio Castello: Nintendo (Italian). Page 26.
  20. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap figurine gallery: "080 - Spark"
  21. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. (3DS - Virtual Console) Italian e-manual. Page 8.
  22. ^ The Legend of Zelda: Enciclopedia di Hyrule. Page 205.
  23. ^ Donkey Kong II Italian manual
  24. ^ November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 67.
  25. ^ In-game name from The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
  26. ^ Gaglianone, Arthur, and Francisco Pellegrini Jr., directors (1991). Super Mario Bros. Livro Ilustrado. Rio de Janeiro: Multi Editora (Brazilian Portuguese). Page 9, 18.
  27. ^ 1989. Super Mario Bros. 2 Libro de Intrucciones. Madrid: Nintendo (Spanish). Page 26.

External links[edit]