Raphael the Raven

"Raphael" redirects here. For the Renaissance artist, see Raphael Sanzio.

“Raphael Raven here - Caww!”

—Raphael the Raven, Tetris Attack

Raphael the Raven (also known by the shortened name Raphael Raven) is the leader of the Ravens and first appears as the boss of the fifth world in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Initially, he is an ordinary Raven but is magically enlarged by Kamek to fight the Yoshis. Even after he is defeated, he remains huge.

History

Yoshi franchise

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Blue Yoshi fighting Raphael.

When Blue Yoshi first meets Raphael, he is an ordinary Raven. However, Kamek appears and magically enhances him, increasing his size and strength. Then, Raphael slams into Blue Yoshi, sending it and Baby Mario flying to a small moon. Additionally, the force of the attack makes the Yoshi lose all its eggs. Raphael then launches himself to the moon and prepares for battle.

Raphael fights by chasing and ramming into Blue Yoshi around the moon to send Baby Mario flying. He also attacks by jumping into the air and slamming the ground, creating shockwaves that circle the moon. The moon's interior is quartered by two Stumps extending its diameter, the ends of which jut out from two points on the surface. Yoshi must Ground Pound one of these while Raphael is on the opposite end to damage him. With each hit, Raphael becomes redder, angrier and faster. After three successful hits, Blue Yoshi defeats Raphael and Raphael becomes a constellation in the sky.

Tetris Attack

Raphael the Raven on the left of the screen.

Raphael the Raven returns in the game Tetris Attack, allied with the Shy Guys. In this game, Raphael is not considered an enemy. He is also a playable character, replacing the moon fairy Seren from the original Japanese version. He is in the eighth level and is the last character to be saved from Bowser's and Kamek's brainwashing.

Yoshi's Island DS

Although Raphael the Raven did not appear as a boss in Yoshi's Island DS, he still makes a cameo. In the intro, one part shows a group of bosses from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, including Raphael and the others.

Yoshi's New Island

Although Raphael the Raven did not appear as a boss in Yoshi's New Island, in World 2, the Kamek mini-boss battle is similar to the Raphael the Raven boss battle. Giant Ravens also resemble Raphael the Raven.

Paper Mario

Raphael and his Ravens in Paper Mario.

File:PMRaphael.PNG

Raphael the Raven reappears in Paper Mario. In this game, Raphael is the leader of a tribe of reformed Ravens that live in peace with the Yoshis of Lavalava Island. He lives in nest in a tree in Jade Jungle and has become a legend to the Yoshis (as no one except the Village Leader can remember actually seeing him). He has the ability to communicate with both Mario and his Ravens. Raphael helps Mario by ordering his Ravens to build a pulley contraption to take Mario and his allies to Mt. Lavalava, site of the fifth Star Spirit and the Lava Piranha. He also gives Mario the Ultra Stone, an item that allows Mario's party members to become even more powerful.

Later in the game, he writes to Sushie a letter which the player can read at the Post Office in Toad Town. In the letter, he asks whether he can provide help for Sushie, such as helping her climb the tree or cooking things she wants to eat.

Tattle

• "He's Raphael the Raven, the guardian of this jungle. Look at the size of this guy! He's enormous! I bet there's nothing he can't do. Doesn't he seem trustworthy?"

Super Smash Bros. series

Raphael the Raven makes a cameo in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a trophy. The information states that he is the biggest Raven, although it is Kamek who enlarged him. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, he appears as a Sticker.

Trophy information from Super Smash Bros. Melee

Name	Image	Game	Description
Raphael Raven	File:Trophy216.PNG	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 10/95	The basically laid-back Ravens come in several sizes. The smaller ones travel in flocks or traipse around small platforms all day long. The biggest of their breed is called Raphael the Raven, and his enormous size renders most direct attacks useless. Instead of fighting, Raphael and the Ravens helped Mario out in Paper Mario.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Sticker information

Image	Game	Effect
File:RaphaelRavenAlt.jpg	Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island	Launch Resistance +6

List of appearances by date

Title	Description	Release Date	System/Format
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island	Boss	1995	SNES
Tetris Attack	Playable Character	1996	SNES
Paper Mario	NPC	2000	Nintendo 64
Super Smash Bros. Melee	Trophy	2001	Nintendo GameCube
Yoshi's Island DS	Cameo in the intro	2006	Nintendo DS
Super Smash Bros. Brawl	Sticker	2008	Wii

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ビッグキューちゃん[?] Biggu Kyū Chan	Big Raven
Chinese	大Q[?] Dà Q	Big Q, transliterated from Japanese name
German	Abroxas Don Raphael (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Paper Mario)[?]	Abraxas, a witch's pet raven in the children's book 'The Little Witch', by Otfried Preussler
Italian	Gracchio Bombo[?]	Caw Bomb (referring to his black and round appearance)

Trivia

• The moon where Raphael is fought in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island can be seen in the Yoshi's Island stage from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
• Digga-Leg from Super Mario Galaxy 2 has a similar battle style to Raphael in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Coincidentally, both are fought in space.
• The Raphael Raven boss battle is the only instance in which Baby Mario does not cry when he falls off Yoshi's back, but he can still be taken away by the Toadies, possibly referencing how there is no sound in space.
• In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Raphael's sprite has a star on his belly. However, since the star is always the same palette as his skin, it is never seen in-game.
• In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Raphael and Naval Piranha are the only world bosses to use the extended variation of the boss theme.