Bob-omb

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A render of a Bob-omb from Super Mario 64
The standard Bob-Omb.

A Bob-omb is a living bomb character or item, featured in Nintendo's Mario series of video games. In some games they will follow the player until they explode, while in others games they stand still while exploding. Bob-ombs are mostly black, though in some games they flash red when about to explode. In the Mario Kart series the Bob-omb is used as an exploding projectile weapon that you launch at enemies from a distance. Some of these enemies have wind-up keys and some don't. Their appearance, intellegence, and ally/enemy status differs wildly from game-to-game (for example, in Super Mario Bros. 3 they were mindless explosives, in Paper Mario and Paper Mario 2 they were sentient and civilized).

Appearances

The Bob-omb was first introduced in Super Mario Bros. 2, where its general habits (walk around for a while, then explode) were made clear. Some were also hidden in the ground and would explode roughly 2 seconds after pulled up by the player. However, SMB2 was the only game where Bob-ombs had arms. Bob-omb was the only enemy from Super Mario Bros. 2 to be featured in Super Mario Bros. 3, which, upon its late 1980s release, largely adopted the look, feel, and enemies of the original Super Mario Bros..In Super Mario Bros. 3, the Bob-ombs had the addition of small wind-up keys on their backs — if the key was attacked, they would explode after a few seconds; otherwise, they would peacefully wander back and forth. Like Koopa Troopas, they could also be carried and tossed when knocked out. In later worlds, cannons on tanks and ships continuously spawned them in great quantities. Bob-ombs later were the subject of many minigames in the Mario Party series. Also, Bob-ombs and their more powerful counterparts, Rob-ombs, appeared in Super Mario RPG. In Super Mario 64, the pink Bob-omb Buddies were introduced. They were friendly with Mario, and at war with the normal black Bob-ombs. The black Bob-ombs either tried to chase Mario down and explode if they saw him, or they manned cannons and shot water blasts at him. In the game Bob-ombs can be picked up and thrown, but they'll explode if Mario holds them for too long. One of the game's boss characters was the Big Bob-omb, sporting a golden crown and an enormous mustache. He only appeared once in Super Mario 64, but twice in Super Mario 64 DS.

In Paper Mario, a pink Bob-omb named Bombette joined Mario and assisted him by blowing up cracks in walls. The sequel, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, also featured a Bob-omb partner, named Admiral Bobbery. The other Bob-ombs helped Mario reach the X-Nauts' moon base by launching him out of a giant cannon. The game also introduced a large enemy Bob-omb known as Bulky Bob-omb (and the more powerful counterpart, Bob-ulk). If not defeated quickly, they would explode and deal a lot of damage (obviously at the expense of their own HP).

In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Bob-omb reappears along with Lethal Bob-omb, a more powerful version. On Star Hill, in the boss battle against Commander Shroob, his fellow Support Shroobs tote around a giant purple Bob-omb with Shroob eyes called Shroob-omb. If the Mario Bros. get struck by it when the Shroobs toss it at them, or if it rolls at them if the middle or back Support Shroob is left, another one is brought in.

In Super Mario World, some Bob-Ombs parachute from the sky or float around inside bubbles.

Bob-ombs have also appeared in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, where golf balls impacting on a Bob-omb cause it to explode, sending the ball out in the opposite direction. They also have appeared in Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Kart DS, Super Mario Strikers, and the Mario Party series as items.

In Super Mario Sunshine, the Bob-omb returns for a few episodes as a weapon of Monty Mole, receiving a tune-up with a more mechanical look, including the wind-up key and simplistic feet. Their traditional face is replaced by a digital display, which will do a countdown from three when it is about to explode.

Bob-ombs have even appeared in various Legend of Zelda games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. If you strike them with your sword once, they will run frantically around the room in a diagonal pattern, ricocheting off of walls and objects until they explode. If you manage to strike them again, they stop moving and explode.

The Bob-omb also appeared in the Super Mario Bros film. Unlike its gaming counterpart, it was not sentient and would only move if wound up. It could also walk up walls and was immensely more powerful than in the games (so much so that the mere sight of a Bob-omb caused mass panic and even made King Koopa duck and cover). In an obvious display of product placement, Bob-omb's feet were festooned with Reebok shoes, visible for a split second before he explodes.

Big Bob-omb

"The baron of all blasting matter, the king of ka-booms the world over" as he describes himself, Big Bob-omb, or King Bob-omb as he is also known, appeared in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, both times as a boss. He resembles a normal Bob-omb, but he had arms, a golden crown and an enormous white moustache. He fights by grabbing Mario and throwing him off the mountain top they fight on. Mario (or Luigi or Wario in SM64DS) must use this tactic against him, and grab him from behind and throw him on the mountain, but throw him off and he will acuse you of cheating. When Yoshi first challenges him, he can't be thrown so he instead throws Bob-ombs at the dinosaur, which have to be spat back. He made cameo appearances in the nuemerous Mario Party games, notably in Mario Party Advance, where he reveals himself to be the leader of a Bob-omb mafia, which defends Shroom City. He also is the boss of a set of missions in Mario Kart DS, where you must hurl Bob-ombs from a kart at him. He also made a cameo appearance in the minigame "Bob-omb Derby" in Mario Superstar Baseball as a Bob-omb you have to hit for points. Hitting him will earn you several extra bonus points.

Pink Bob-omb

The pink bob-omb was first introduced in Super Mario 64. They are sometimes referred to as Bob-omb Buddies, as they did not harm Mario in anyway, but instead helped him open up cannons to reach high places. In Super Mario 64 DS, some may also show you the location of the red coins in the lower touchscreen. They also appear in a mini game called Sort or ‘Splode. These pink bob-ombs are always at war with the common black bob-ombs. Paper Mario features a pink bob-omb named Bombette who joins Mario in his quest for the Seven Star Spirits.

Sub-Species

  • Bulky Bob-Omb: A much stronger Bob-Omb. After 4 turns it will explode. The power of their bomb attack is 8.
  • Bob-Ulk: The strongest Bob-Omb. After 4 turns it will explode. The power of their bomb attack is 16!
  • Bob-omb Buddies: A friendly type of bob-omb that will open cannons for Mario in Super Mario 64.

Notable Bob-Ombs

Paper Mario Stats

HP: 3. Attack: 1, Defense: 0

Tattle: Bob-ombs are pretty temperamental, and they get steaming mad when you attack 'em. You'd better not jump on 'em when they're angry or they'll blow up in your face. In fact, stay away entirely. Attack 'em from a distance with items like Hammers. Or you could send in other things, like shells. If they attack when angry, they'll charge in and explode. So you'd better take care of them before they blow!

Paper Mario 2 Stats

Regular Bob-Omb

HP: 4, Attack: 2, Defense: 1

That's a Bob-omb. It attacks by blowing itself up. Yeah. Reeeeeeeal smart. A Bob-omb will get totally mad if you damage it. They have like, super-short fuses. When it gets mad, it'll charge and explode on its next turn. THAT attack... really hurts. Oh, and if it's mad, it'll blow up at the slightest contact. So don't attack directly! Attack it from a step away with a hammer or hit it with something hard, like a shell.

Bulky Bob-Omb

HP: 6, Attack: 2, Defense: 1

That's a Bulky Bob-omb. I think it's like other Bob-ombs... but it's huge! It's weird... It never attacks, but once its fuse is lit, it'll blow up on its own eventually. I don't mind it taking itself out of the battle, but that explosion hurts us, too! Oh, and when it powers up, that Attack power is 8, so watch out! Fire and explosions light its fuse, so I guess setting it off early is one strategy... You can run, too, but if you're gonna fight, beat it before it goes off!

Bob-Ulk

HP: 10, Attack: 4, Defense: 2

That's a Bob-ulk. That's... easily the biggest Bob-omb I've ever seen! It won't attack, but once its fuse is lit, it'll explode after a while. So the problem is... how to beat it before it goes off. I mean, its bomb attack has a power of 16! That's no joke. Seriously, watch out for that. Just go all out to beat it. Pull out all the stops. Or you could just set it off early with fire or explosions. Your call.

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