Sparx

Sparx
The Sparx around the perimeter
First appearance	Qix (arcade, 1982) Qix (Game Boy, 1990, Super Mario-related media)
Latest appearance	Super Mario Land 4 (1990, Super Mario-related media) Qix++ (2009)
Relatives Fuse
Comparable Spark

The Sparx are obstacles of the Qix games. They are Spark-like creatures that go around the lines of the area perimeter or the lines created by the player's Marker. At the beginning of a stage, only one or two Sparx are present, but their number increases when a meter bar at the bottom of the screen runs out, or, in case there are enough Sparx going around, their speed will increase. Touching one of it will result in a life loss. Depending on how much time the player spends on a stage, the Sparx will eventually evolve to Super Sparx, making them bigger and faster. Another variety of a Sparx, a Fuse, while chase the Marker on the line that is being created, if the player laze around for a long while.

In the first storyline of the Super Mario Land 4 manga, Mario and his friends are challenged by Qix Daiō into facing three minions in a real-life game of Qix. The Sparx, depicted with an angry expression, appears in almost all stages, but only play a role in the first challenge. Luigi gets eliminated because of them after getting cornered right after re-entering the perimeter after taking some area.

Profile and statistics

• Instruction booklet description:
  • English:
    Sparx: This character moves along boundary lines. If Sparx touches your Marker, the Marker will be destroyed.
    Super Sparx: If you stay on a stage for too long, you will hear a warning sound and the Sparx will change form and will become more aggressive.

Gallery

• 

  Mario and Luigi's Marker surrounded by Sparx

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	スパークス Kuikkusu	Sparks