Boss Bass
Template:Species-infobox A Boss Bass is a huge Cheep Cheep that eats seafarers.[1] He has a mouth-brooding counterpart called Big Bertha. In Super Paper Mario, it is implied in a passing mention that they eat normal-sized Cheep Cheeps.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 3
In this game, Boss Bass swims on the surface of the water trying to leap out and eat Mario if he gets too close. It does not matter which form the player is in because Boss Bass will defeat Mario instantly in one gulp, even if he is a statue. In both of the stages he appears in, the water level rises and sinks, making Mario an easy target. Throwing blocks, shells, hammers, and fireballs at Boss Bass can defeat him, as well as tail attacks and using a Super Star, but he'll eventually come back. However, in Super Mario Advance 4, if the player has turned on the e-reader card that makes enemies hit by fireballs turn into coins, and the player successfully hits Boss Bass with a fireball and collects the coin, Boss Bass will not return for the rest of the level.
As seen by the Japanese name for Boss Bass in this game, they are intended to be the giant counterpart to Cheep Cheep here.
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS
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It has been suggested that this section be merged into Cheep Chomp. (discuss) |
In Super Mario 64, Boss Bass (known here as Bubba[2]) appear in two places on Tiny-Huge Island. Like Cheep Cheep, they have been redesigned with visible orange and yellow scales, and also wear sunglasses and have no tooth. They aim in on the player character with their mouth wide open, attempting to eat them. If a character is eaten, that character will lose a life, regardless of their current health. In Super Mario 64 DS, their design was reverted to their original one, serving the same role and appearing in the same locations. This time, the one closest to the course's entrance can be defeated with a nearby Super Mushroom.
The Japanese versions for these games refer to the enemy by a new name, Bakubaku, likely due to them being roughly the same size as ordinary Cheep Cheeps here. The Cheep Chomp found in New Super Mario Bros. uses a retexture of the Boss Bass model from Super Mario 64 DS, and has the same behavior and noises, but on a 2-dimensional plane.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Boss Bass make appearances in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, where they usually chase after Mario and his friends. Since they are never referred to by name, it is possible that they are intended to be Big Berthas, but they are not seen with Baby Cheeps.
Mario Teaches Typing
In the second mode of Mario Teaches Typing, Underwater World, the game repeatedly loops footage of Mario, Luigi or Princess Peach swimming away from either a Boss Bass or a Blooper. Their appearance is slightly different: their mohawks, fins, and tails are cyan, and they have several sharp teeth rather than a single blunt tooth.
Mario Golf
In Mario Golf, either a Boss Bass in its Super Mario 64 design or a Cheep Cheep in its Yoshi's Story design will jump out of the water if the ball lands in it. Boss Bass are also much smaller in this game.
Mario Kart DS
A Boss Bass makes a small cameo in Mario Kart DS, where it jumps out of the water and over the course in Banshee Boardwalk. Boss Bass replaces the Cheep Cheep from the original Mario Kart 64 version.
Yoshi's Island DS
Boss Bass[3][4] are also found in Yoshi's Island DS. They patrol their own little section of water, and periodically leap out in an attempt to swallow Yoshi whole. Yoshi will only be eaten while they are descending. There is also a mid-boss in World 3, Bessie Bass.
While Boss Bass don't appear in later games of the Yoshi franchise, Lunge Fish are given a similar leaping behavior afterwards.
Super Paper Mario
Boss Bass are given a passing mention in Super Paper Mario by a Shayde, who said that he fell into the ocean once, but luckily could swim as well as a Cheep Cheep. Unfortunately, a Boss Bass thought that since he swam like a Cheep Cheep, he was one himself, and the huge fish ate him.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 巨大プクプク[5] Kyodai Pukupuku バクバク[6][7] Bakubaku[8] |
Giant Cheep Cheep; same as Big Bertha (originally) Onomatopoeia for chomping; same as Cheep Chomp (renamed) |
References
- ^ "Even if Mario is Super, Boss Bass, the terror of the high seas, can swallow him whole." - Nintendo Power Strategy Guide for Super Mario Bros. 3, page 8.
- ^ Super Mario 64 Player's Guide, pages 12 & 108
- ^ Williams, Drew (2006). Yoshi's Island DS Nintendo Player's Guide. Page 31.
- ^ Black, Fletcher (2006). Yoshi's Island DS Prima guide. Page 159.
- ^ Scan of 「スーパーマリオブラザーズ3完全攻略テクニックブック1」 (Super Mario Bros. 3 Kanzen Kōryaku Technique Book 1)
- ^ Yoshi's Island DS Nintendo Dream Book, page 17.
- ^ Super Mario Pia Page 62
- ^ Super Mario 64 DS internal object name (BAKUBAKU)
| Cheep Cheeps | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Bessie Bass • Cheepskipper • Chef Shimi • Coach • Furious Fred de Fillet • Kipp • Porcupuffer • Sashimie • Sushie • Stewart • Ultra Pukupuku |
| Species | Air Cheep • Baby Cheep • Big Cheep Cheep • Big Deep Cheep • Big Eep Cheep • Blurp • Cheep Cheep • Cheep Cheep (Snow Kingdom) • Cheep Chomp • Deep Cheep • Eep Cheep • Fish Bone • Gold Cheep Cheep • Honebon • Jean de Fillet • Lava Cheep Cheep • Mad Blurp • Mecha Cheep • Mr. Kipper • Needle Bomb • Porcupuffer • Puffer-Cheep • Rip Van Fish • Sad Cheep Cheep • Sand Cheep • Small Cheep Cheep • Spike Bass • Spiny Cheep Cheep |
| Vehicles | Cheep Blimp • Cheep Charger • Cheep Snorkel • Fish Bone Ferry • Gold Cheep Charger • Gold Cheep Snorkel • Gold Fish Bone Ferry • Green Cheep Charger |
