Bomb

A Bomb is an item used in the Mario series. Generic bombs are not to be confused with Bob-ombs, kamikaze enemies with a mind of their own.

Generally speaking, bombs as depicted in the Mario series are not entirely unique, and are based on a widely-used cartoon gag that stylizes bombs as sometimes being less dangerous than a real-world one and often depicts them simply as dark, round orbs with fuses atop them. Bob-ombs are living enemies based on this stylization, as well. Despite appearing in recent games such Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Bombs seem to be slowly fading out of the Mario series, being replaced by the aforementioned Bob-ombs (which function very similarly to the bomb items).

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros. 2

An illustration of a Bomb from Super Mario Bros. 2.

In Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad could pluck bombs from the ground and throw them. In Super Mario Bros. 2, the four heroes would have to use the bombs to clear obstacles such as in caved in areas. It could also be used to defeat enemies (but it could also hurt the heroes as well). Bob-ombs also made their first appearances in the Mario series in this game, and can be found in later levels of the game. Enemies such as Mouser have thrown bombs at Mario and his friends as a source of attack during their battles. Bombs later appear in remakes of Super Mario Bros. 2 such as Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario Advance.

In later installments of the Super Mario series, bombs are seemingly to having been replaced by the Bob-omb enemies.

Wario series

Wario's Woods

In Wario's Woods, the use of bombs were Toad's main attack when fighting the various monsters that were sent by Wario. Toad would receive these multi-colored bombs from his fairy helper, Wanda. In order to defeat Wario's minions (as well as the bosses in the game), Toad would have to stack the bombs according to their colors and if the color matched with a monster, it would get destroyed. In the SNES vesion of the game, Toad can be seen throwing a bomb at Wario's castle in the ending of the game, causing his castle to get destroyed and allowing peace to return to not only Wario's Woods, but as well as the entire Mushroom Kingdom.

Wario World

File:Smiley Bomb.PNG

Smiley Bombs from Wario World.

Bombs later appeared in Wario World. They were purple and had faces on them, and usually were shot out by Ankirons. A larger explosive called a Smiley Bomb also appeared in the game. They also made an appearance in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. The defending team could sometimes receive one out of the ? Panels on the court. When thrown, they would explode, knocking everyone within the blast radius down and spilling some of their collected Coins.

Bombs known as Smiley Bombs worked in a similar fashion in this game. While they strongly resembled regular bombs, they had painted faces on them.

Wario Land: Shake It!

Bombs appeared in Wario Land: Shake It! in Boogie Mansion and thrown by Peek-a-booms. There is also a bomb block that can be a platform before it explodes. Both can be triggered when touched or when Wario does an Earthshake Punch.

Wario Ware series

Bombs also appear in all of the WarioWare games. They determine the time left in the microgame. These bombs are often marked with Wario's nose, mouth, and his signature (possibly as a reference to Wario himself).

Super Smash Bros. series

Bombs are referenced in Super Smash Bros. Melee and in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as seen when Peach tries to pull a vegetable from the ground, she may occasionally grab a Bob-omb. The method of how she plucks a Bob-omb refers to the style she and the other heroes pulled bombs from Super Mario Bros. 2.

Donkey Kong series

DK Jungle Climber

Bombs also appeared in DK Jungle Climber where they can be used and thrown in order to destroy obstacles such as Steel Barrels. In later levels, Bombs serve as a semi-common weapon used by Kritters to attack.

Paper Mario series

Super Paper Mario

File:BoomerPixl.PNG

Boomer, a Pixl from Super Paper Mario with similar properties as a bomb.

In Super Paper Mario, there is a Pixl named Boomer, which is a Pixl in the shape of a bomb. Mario can use Boomer to blow up switches, blow up cracks in the wall, and defeat enemies. Bombs also appear occasionally when a player stomps on a Ninjoe, a Ninjohn, or a Ninjerry. These bombs can hurt the player, unlike Boomer. On a side note, the bombs that the Ninja family drops look exactly like Boomer. Lastly, the bomb appears in Chapter 6-2, when Mimi disguises herself as King Sammer, and tells the player to open a chest in front of them. It turns out there is a bomb inside of the chest, but comes out as a dud.

Mario & Sonic series

Bombs appeared in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. They are an item in Dream Events that can be used by anyone. In Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, the player places it on the ground in Dream Race. Anyone who touches it will be slowed down. In Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, when used, it goes near the other players, and if they don't have a star, then the bomb blows up and slows down the player. There is a kind of bomb called a bomb puck that is used only in Ice Hockey.

Comics

Club Nintendo Comic series

In the Club Nintendo comic "Sag niemals Holerö!", Bomberman used bombs to defeat some evil aliens.