Octopus (character)

Octopus
Screenshot from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Species	Octopus
First appearance	Octopus (1981)
Latest appearance	Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)

The Octopus is a character who guards treasure from the diver in its self-titled game for the Game & Watch. It has seldomly appeared in the Super Mario franchise, mainly just in remakes of Octopus, where it has a role of guarding sunken treasure from the player; if the Octopus grabs the player, the game registers a miss.

History

Game & Watch Gallery series

Game & Watch Gallery

The Octopus guarding treasure from Mario while Princess Peach waits in the boat in Game & Watch Gallery

In Game & Watch Gallery, a port of the original Octopus exists where it is played exactly the same, and so the Octopus's role is the same; however, a remake also exists in which Mario replaces the diver and goes down to steal the Octopus's treasure. Mario, however, can use his treasure as a weapon by throwing it at the Octopus, stunning whichever arm is hit temporarily.

Game & Watch Gallery 4

In Game & Watch Gallery 4, another port of the original Octopus is unlockable and playable, and it is a more authentic port than the one seen in Game & Watch Gallery. Another remake also appears; this time the Octopus has the ability to change color (orange, green, or blue), and it does so each time Mario earns 200 points. Mario can fight it back again by throwing his treasure sack at it, making the Octopus recoil and cry.

The Octopus, or at least its arms, also appears in a sequence that plays if the player selects the game yet does not actually start it. Mario arrives with a bag of loot in one hand and a Game Boy Advance in another. However, he ends up surrounded by four octopus arms (two on each side) that are menacing him. Trapped, he then calls on a Lakitu to help him. He then grabs the fishing pole of Lakitu and, trying to hold on, is ultimately forced to drop his belongings, with a crown and gold objects falling out of the loot bag. Finally, each octopus arm retrieves a treasure, including the loot bag itself as well as the GBA.

WarioWare: Smooth Moves

The Octopus guarding treasure in the microgame in WarioWare: Smooth Moves

The Octopus appears in the microgame Game & Watch Octopus in WarioWare: Smooth Moves in which the player must raise the Wii Remote at the correct time for the diver to escape the Octopus.

Super Smash Bros. series

The Octopus in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mr. Game & Watch's Final Smash is Octopus. It transforms him into this character. In the former three games, the Octopus can move left and right and jump, dealing damage on contact. It can also extend its tentacles for extra range. The Octopus cannot turn around, so the direction it and its tentacles face is determined by the way the player was facing when they started. While it appears to float, it needs to "walk" on ground or water and can therefore fall. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the attack instead involves Mr. Game & Watch backing up then rushing forward and off the screen. The Octopus flies in this version, can move up and down freely, and uses the tentacles to grab opponents and carry them off the screen. Opponents are capable of escaping the grab. Once complete, Mr. Game and Watch reappears at the place the attack started.

List of Super Mario appearances

Title	Description	Release date	System/format
Game & Watch Gallery	Enemy in port of Octopus and remake	1994	Game Boy
Game & Watch Gallery 4	Enemy in port of Octopus and remake	2002	Game Boy Advance
WarioWare: Smooth Moves	Cameo as enemy in microgame	2006	Wii
Super Smash Bros. Brawl	Playable character (power-up)	2008	Wii
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS	Playable character (power-up)	2014	Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U	Playable character (power-up)	2014	Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	Playable character (power-up)	2018	Nintendo Switch

Profiles

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Trophy Octopus
	Appears in: Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl
	Mr. Game & Watch's Final Smash. He turns into the huge cephalopod that made its debut in the Game & Watch game Octopus. Of course, you can damage enemies by running into them, but you can do more damage by pressing the attack button to extend four arms and launch foes. In the original Octopus game, you had to avoid the octopus while salvaging treasure from the sea.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Trophy Octopus

Game(s): Wii U only

Category: Final Smash

() Appears in: -

() Trophy Box: 56: Game & Watch

The Game & Watch title Octopus featured a hero collecting treasure while avoiding a bothersome giant octopus's tentacles. Activate Mr. Game & Watch's Final Smash to transform him into that octopus! Ram into opponents, and use the attack button to extend the tentacles. The only thing you can't do is change the direction you're facing. (American English)

The Game & Watch title Octopus featured a hero collecting treasure while avoiding a bothersome giant octopus's tentacles. Activate Mr. Game & Watch's Final Smash to transform him into that octopus! Then ram into opponents, and use the attack button to extend the tentacles. The only thing you can't do is change direction. (British English)