| Ghost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork of various ghosts from Luigi's Mansion | |||
| First appearance | Wario Land II (1998) | ||
| Latest appearance | WarioWare: Get It Together! (2021) | ||
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Ghosts are the spirits of previously deceased entities, which are believed to sometimes appear in a visible form to other living beings. Characters and enemies inspired by common depictions of ghosts in popular culture have appeared throughout the Super Mario franchise, starting with the introduction of Boos in Super Mario Bros. 3. However, various interpretations of stereotypical ghosts have also appeared in multiple games, most prominently in the Luigi's Mansion series, where they are the main enemy type.
History
Wario Land II
Ghosts[1][2] appear as enemies in Wario Land II, appearing prominently in the Uncanny Mansion, though they are also found in Syrup Castle, in the stages Storm the castle!! and Defeat four ducks!, as well as in the cellar in the stage Defeat the giant spear man. They are completely invincible to all attacks, and if Wario touches a ghost, he will become Zombie Wario. Ghosts will travel in either a counterclockwise circle or a wave pattern, and are often placed in locations where turning into Zombie Wario would be undesirable, usually requiring Wario to avoid them.
Luigi's Mansion series
Luigi's Mansion
Ghosts first appear in Luigi's Mansion and its Nintendo 3DS version. The ghosts in the game are created by the ghost artist Vincent Van Gore after King Boo releases him from his portrait, along with the other portrait ghosts. Ghosts never appear in the direction Luigi is looking, which E. Gadd also mentions. Sucking up more than one ghost at a time will always give a heart, with the exception of Mr. Bones and the Garbage Can Ghost.
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Different types of ghosts appear in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, the sequel to Luigi's Mansion, and inhabit Evershade Valley. These ghosts are friendly, due the influence of the Dark Moon, and help Professor E. Gadd with his paranormal research. However, when King Boo destroys the Dark Moon, the ghosts turn against E. Gadd and go on a rampage, under King Boo's command. Luigi once again comes up behind them, catching them, defeats King Boo, and repairs the Dark Moon, making them friendly yet again.
Luigi's Mansion 3
In Luigi's Mansion 3, another set of different ghosts appear as Hellen Gravely's and King Boo's minions. They were part of E. Gadd's collection of ghosts along with King Boo before he was tricked by Hellen into coming to her hotel, trapping him and freeing them and King Boo. They initially are disguised as human employees of the Last Resort hotel when Luigi, Mario, Princess Peach, and three Toads arrive, although after all but Luigi were captured, they stopped using the disguises. Luigi, with Gooigi joining him, ultimately recaptured them. After the Last Resort Hotel was destroyed, the ghosts escaped from the containment field and were about to attack Luigi, only for King Boo's gem to mysteriously vanish and cause the ghosts to regain their senses, also being distraught over the destruction of the Last Resort before E. Gadd offered to help them rebuild. After the repairs were done, E. Gadd, Gooigi, and the ghosts bade Luigi, Mario, Princess Peach, and the Toads farewell.
DK series
Ghosts[3] appear as enemies in both games of the DK series.
DK: King of Swing
Ghosts debut in DK: King of Swing, appearing in the level Ship of Souls. They float around a set area until they spot Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong, at which point they will start approaching them, fading in and out. In their opaque statue, ghosts can damage the Kongs upon contact, but can also be defeated with a charge. When translucent, they can be safely passed through.
DK: Jungle Climber
Ghosts return in DK: Jungle Climber, appearing in the level Spooky Woods. They are now visible only when Donkey Kong is moving, and stay invisible in every other circumstance. If Donkey Kong is too close to one, it will scare him away without damaging him. If he is motionless, they pass through him.
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U each have an unlockable trophy of ghosts from the first Luigi's Mansion, and it shows a Gold Ghost, a Purple Puncher, and a Blue Twirler. In both games, the trophy is unlocked at random, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U's trophy was even slightly retextured from the Super Smash Bros. Brawl one. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, instead has an unlockable trophy of ghosts from Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and depicts a Greenie, a Hider, a Gobber, and a Slammer.
List of ghosts in the Luigi's Mansion series
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Luigi's Mansion
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Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
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Luigi's Mansion 3
Profiles
Luigi's Mansion
- Instruction booklet bio: "There are several types of normal ghost, each with a different shape and size. They are not abnormally difficult to capture, because they're, well, normal. There are also slightly special elemental ghosts, but you'll have to see page 15 for more information about them."
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Trophy
- Ghosts
- GCN Luigi's Mansion
- Ghost variations that appeared throughout Luigi's Mansion. They don't have the special power required to manifest any truly unusual ghostly phenomena, so they rely on such pedestrian physical methods as punching Luigi to frighten him. There are also some rare varieties that are very rich and drop a lot of coins.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
- Trophy
- Name:
- Ghosts (NTSC)
- Ghosts (Luigi's Mansion 2) (PAL)
- Despite Luigi's crippling fear of...well, everything, Professor E. Gadd ropes him into taking care of some unruly ghosts. Here we have four types: the small green ones are Greenies, the angry-looking red ones are Slammers, the thin blue ones are Hiders, and the big yellow ones are Gobbers. What appropriate names! (American English)
- Despite Luigi's crippling fear of...well, everything, Professor E. Gadd ropes him into taking care of some unruly ghosts. Here we have four types: the small, green ones are Greenies, the angry-looking, red ones are Slammers, the thin, blue ones are Hiders and the big, yellow ones are Gobbers. What appropriate names! (British English)
- Name:
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
- Trophy
- Ghosts (Luigi's Mansion)
- GCN Luigi's Mansion (11/2001)
- These mischievous ghosts haunt an old, old mansion. Suck them all up with your Poltergust 3000, but watch out for their attacks while you do! The gold ones' short punches might not be too hard to dodge, but the pink ones have much greater reach. The blue ones will smack the floor to hit you with shock waves! (American English)
- These mischievous ghosts haunt an old, old mansion. Suck them all up with your Poltergust 3000, but watch out for their attacks while you do! The gold ones' short punches might not be too hard to dodge, but the pink ones have much more reach. And the blue one will smack the floor to hit you with shock waves! (British English)
Gallery
A painting of the various minor ghosts in the 3DS version of Luigi's Mansion
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ユーレイ (Wario Land II)[4] Yūrei オバケ (Luigi's Mansion series[5], DK: Jungle Climber) Obake ポワン (DK: King of Swing)[6] Powan |
Yūrei Ghost The French name "Point" |
|
| Chinese (simplified) | 鬼魂 (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga) Guǐhún 鬼怪 (Luigi's Mansion 3 and WarioWare: Get It Together!) Guǐguài |
Ghost | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 鬼怪 (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Luigi's Mansion series, WarioWare: Get It Together!) Guǐguài |
Ghost | |
| Italian | Spettro malefico (DK: Jungle Climber) | Malefic spectere |
References
- ^ Official American Wario Land II website (Internet Archive)
- ^ Nintendo Power Volume 106, page 69. "You’ll also meet ghosts for the first time."
- ^ DK: Jungle Climber, Cranky Kong's dialogue in Spooky Woods: "Boy, everywhere you look, it's ghosts, ghosts, and more ghosts! Listen up, because you'll want to know how to fend 'em off. Jeepers creepers, better cast yer peepers on the top screen! All you have to do is stop moving and stay totally motionless. If you stay still, the ghosts turn transparent, and they can't hurt you. When you're walking, just stop where you are. When you're on pegs, grab on with both hands and freeze! Remember, when you're in danger, just stay calm and stay still."
- ^ Wario Land 2: Nusumareta Zaihō Shogakukan guide, page 89.
- ^ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/aggj/character/index.html
- ^ DK: King of Swing Japanese website, enemies section. Retrieved July 18, 2015.