Midbus

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Midbus
Midbus artwork from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Artwork from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Species Pig/pangolin
First appearance Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009)
Latest appearance Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018)
“You listen. Peach, gone. Lord Fawful, new ruler. Now, no need of you. Lord Fawful says sleep. NOW YOU SLEEP!”
Midbus, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Midbus is the secondary antagonist in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and its remake. He is a brawny, unintelligent, pig-like creature that acts as Fawful's chief minion. Midbus's name is a pun on the phrase "mid boss". Midbus fights Bowser three times, the third time as Blizzard Midbus, where Mario and Luigi also assist in battle.

Midbus is a pink creature resembling a boar with yellow pangolin-esque armor, a snout-like tattoo on each shoulder, a light-pink belly, and black horns and spines. Midbus is similar to Bowser in build and temperament, making him a foil as well as a rival to the Koopa King; his Blizzard Midbus form is an elemental contrast to Bowser's fiery attacks, and the snout-shaped emblem on his shoulders even somewhat resembles the Koopa King's own emblem. Like Fawful, Midbus speaks Engrish, but his speech pattern is more broken than that of his boss's, as he uses short and simple phrases and sentences; he also gives unnecessarily long names to the various weapons he uses (for example, he refers to Junker as "Super Ultra Great Mega Trashy Monster Junker Bot"). According to Nate Bihldorff, his speech is meant to evoke a poorly dubbed kung-fu movie.[1]

HistoryEdit

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s JourneyEdit

 
Midbus and Bowser meeting for the first time in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

At the beginning, after Bowser becomes unconscious,[2] Midbus is called in by Fawful,[3] to which he responds offscreen.[4] Later, at Cavi Cape, Midbus brought forth by Fawful to fight, which occurs after Fawful announces a plot to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.[5] Fawful unintentionally teaches Bowser how to use his Action Commands while trying to give Midbus advice. Bowser is incapable of fighting due to the Vacuum Shroom,[6] so the fight ends prematurely.[6] Before leaving with Fawful, Midbus tells Bowser to work on his skills.[7] The pair complete the takeover of Bowser's Castle, and Fawful puts him in charge of Bowser's Castle, now his secondary base, along with Bowser's brainwashed and converted minions.

In Dimble Wood, when Bowser launches a Banzai Bill at his conquered castle, Midbus is informed about the oncoming projectile,[8] so they propel the castle over to Dimble Wood[9] and land it on Bowser.[10] Midbus is soon met unexpectedly by a giant Bowser, after Mario and Luigi had turned him giant from the Rump Command. From this, the first Giant Bowser battle begins, where Midbus deploys several squadrons of troops throughout.[11] When defeated, Midbus accuses Bowser of cheating before being hit by fiery breath and retreating with the castle.[12]

Later, at Bowser Path, Midbus launches an enormous iron ball at Bowser,[13] but with help from the Mario Bros. in the fourth Arm Center segment, Bowser manages to throw the iron ball back on the castle, forcing it to land it.[14]

In the castle, now a gigantic theater, Midbus and Bowser fight a caged match hosted by Fawful,[15] though the cage is not in the remake.[16] being the second battle against Midbus. After losing again, Midbus is dragged off stage by two Goombas.[17] Some time after Bowser is force-fed a banquet for his victory, causing him to become stuck in the floor from becoming overweight, Midbus and Fawful arrive below in the Bob-omb Storage Depot to extract Peach from Bowser,[18] Midbus then brings out a treadmill so that Bowser can return to normal weight.[19] As they leave, Fawful asks for Midbus's help with carrying an unconscious Peach,[20] although Midbus refuses, forcing Fawful to stagger along.[21] After both Midbus and Fawful are gone, Bowser finally falls through and runs on the treadmill, returning him to normal.[22]

Much later, the Mario Bros. and Starlow are in a junkyard within Princess Peach's Castle, which Fawful had taken over. Midbus arrives on a flying platform, pulls out a remote, and assembles a trash robot to attack the Mario Bros.[23] Since the robot is unresponsive, Midbus breaks the remote angrily,[24] leaving Mario and Luigi to fight an erratic robot.[25]

Bowser later has his final encounter with Midbus and Fawful in Peach's Castle as the two are busy transferring Peach's power into the Dark Star to awaken it.[26] Midbus alerts Fawful to Bowser's arrival and wishes to fight him again.[27] Noting Midbus's pride, Fawful uses his ray gun to transform Midbus into Blizzard Midbus,[28] then the boss fight starts. Midbus ultimately loses and somehow becomes frozen up to his neck in a block of ice,[29] remaining in this state for the rest of the journey. Bowser uses the frosty air to relieve chest pain within his body after the Dark Star had awakened and entered his body.[30][31]

Midbus has the same role in the remake. However, he also has a minor role alongside Fawful in Bowser Jr.'s Journey. At one point, he is insultingly referred to as slow by Dieter of the Best Fitness Friends, much to his chagrin. A Nintendo DREAM interview reveals that the Best Fitness Friends are the same species as Midbus.[32]

Unused appearancesEdit

 
Pigs patterned after Midbus in Minecraft: Wii U Edition.

In Minecraft: Wii U Edition, unused screenshots in the files reveal that the Pig would have been reskinned as Midbus in the Super Mario Mash-up.

BattleEdit

For details on the third fight against Midbus, see the appropriate section on that form's article.

Cavi CapeEdit

Midbus is the first boss fought by Bowser, and he is considered to be a tutorial boss. Midbus is first warned by Fawful about Bowser's punch.[33] It is then Bowser's turn,[34] in which he has to wind up a punch with   to deal the most damage, but before losing his balance, although Fawful's warnings showing the proper timing.[35] The same is done for Bowser's counterattack punch.[36] The fight ends with Midbus using a Ground Pound-like attack that Bowser cannot counter since he has not learned shell defense yet. It is after this that the Vacuum Shroom leaves Bowser feeling unwell.[6]

Bowser's CastleEdit

Midbus uses a wider variety of attacks in the Bowser's Castle battle. Midbus can run off-screen to grab a wrecking ball and return while swinging it rapidly. Bowser can avoid this by ducking and holding his position for a few seconds while Midbus swings the ball over him at a higher speed.[37] If Bowser dodges successfully, Midbus continues spinning back with the wrecking ball before throwing it at Bowser; if the ball is up high, Bowser can avoid the attack by ducking, but if angled low, Bowser must punch it away as it bounces towards him; being hit by the wrecking ball toss can render Bowser dizzy. In one of his other attacks, Midbus takes a deep breath, puffs himself up, and walks forward before storing energy for a massive uppercut, signified by him flashing.[38] Bowser can counter the attack by punching Midbus's stomach repeatedly, but if he does not, Midbus sends him flying upward, inflicting lots of damage on Bowser and possibly affecting him with dizzy or being flipped. Successfully countering causes Midbus to grab his belly in pain, and Bowser can land another counter punch as he stumbles forward briefly before returning to his position.

Since Bowser knows shell defense, he can counter Midbus's Body Slam, unlike the previous battle.[39] However, Midbus may land in front of Bowser, creating a shockwave that can either confuse or flip him over, but this can be countered with a punch.

The boss fight has an interactive crowd. If Midbus lands any of his attacks on Bowser, they throw him food.[40] If Bowser performs an "Excellent" Action Command on Midbus without KO'ing him, he receives only six coins.[41] The food remains on the stage, and Midbus eats it during his turn, while Bowser can punch the food off stage or inhale it to eat for himself, which will anger Midbus; donuts heal 10 HP, the cakes heal 20 HP, and the meat heals 50 HP and raises power for a few turns.

In the remake, Midbus gains the Fury status after losing half his HP,[42] like most bosses. For Midbus' iron ball move, he takes a couple of swings to pick up speed, so Bowser usually has to duck manually before holding his position for the longer swing. It is now possible to damage Midbus by successfully countering his puffed-up chest move.[43]

StatisticsEdit

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryEdit

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Midbus (1)
  HP 95 (143) POW 30 (75) DEF 34 (51) SPEED 14 (21)
Coins 0 (0) Level 9 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Training Battled by Bowser Location(s) Cavi Cape Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Normal KO? Immune Experience 75 Item drop
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Midbus (2)
  HP 950 (1,425) POW 110 (275) DEF 76 (114) SPEED 21 (32)
Coins 300 (450) Level 21 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Boss Battled by Bowser Location(s) Bowser's Castle Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Normal KO? Immune Experience 550 Item drop TNT Drumstick - 100.0%
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Cake
  HP 9,999 (9,999) POW 999 (999) DEF 999 (999) SPEED 999 (999)
Coins 0 (0) Level 21 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Support Battled by Bowser Location(s) Bowser's Castle Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Normal KO? Immune Experience 0 Item drop
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Donut
  HP 9,999 (9,999) POW 999 (999) DEF 999 (999) SPEED 999 (999)
Coins 0 (0) Level 21 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Support Battled by Bowser Location(s) Bowser's Castle Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Normal KO? Immune Experience 0 Item drop
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Meat
  HP 9,999 (9,999) POW 999 (999) DEF 999 (999) SPEED 999 (999)
Coins 0 (0) Level 21 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Support Battled by Bowser Location(s) Bowser's Castle Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Normal KO? Immune Experience 0 Item drop
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Blizzard Midbus
  HP 2,041 (3,062) POW 312 (780) DEF 165 (248) SPEED 32 (48)
Coins 1,200 (1,800) Level 32 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Boss Battled by Bowser Location(s) Peach's Castle Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Normal KO? Immune Experience 6,500 Item drop Star Candy - 90.0%
Power Fangs X - 10.0%
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s JourneyEdit

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Midbus (1)
  HP 95 POW 58 DEF 17 SPEED 10 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 0
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 1x Speed down 1x Item drop None - 0%
None - 0%
Level           1 Location(s) Cavi Cape
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Midbus (2)
  HP 800 POW 180 DEF 96 SPEED 21 Experience 550
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 300
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 1x Speed down 1x Item drop None - 0%
Gourmet Band - 100%
Level           12 Location(s) Bowser's Castle
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Cake
  HP 9999 POW 999 DEF 999 SPEED 999 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 0
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 1x Speed down 1x Item drop None - 0%
None - 0%
Level           1 Location(s) Bowser's Castle
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Donut
  HP 9999 POW 999 DEF 999 SPEED 999 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 0
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 1x Speed down 1x Item drop None - 0%
None - 0%
Level           1 Location(s) Bowser's Castle
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Meat
  HP 9999 POW 999 DEF 999 SPEED 999 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 0
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 1x Speed down 1x Item drop None - 0%
None - 0%
Level           1 Location(s) Bowser's Castle
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Blizzard Midbus
  HP 2580 POW 336 DEF 330 SPEED 31 Experience 6500
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 1200
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 1x Speed down 1x Item drop None - 0%
Divine Shell - 100%
Level           30 Location(s) Peach's Castle

QuotesEdit

Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story quotes § Midbus
  • "Sense is for the weak!"
  • "You listen. Peach, gone. Lord Fawful, new ruler. Now, no need of you. Lord Fawful says sleep. NOW YOU SLEEP!"
  • "MUH MUH! The clock strikes payback hour. Do plan two. To your posts!"
  • "Bowser! Next time goes a different way than this way went."
  • "Hmph. I scoff. I scoff at you. You bluff. It is time. The special weapon of Lord Fawful. I will release it. SUPER ULTRA WONDER ULTIMATE RUTHLESS GREAT IRON BALL! HYAH!"
  • "You amuse me. I have fought Bowser. You are much smaller."
  • "He is of trash. And you are. You, trash. I call you trash. Go be trashy in this trash hole with this trash robot forever!"
  • "No one pressed "dance"! You are broken!"
  • "Now it is time! Now we will fight! Then you will lose! And you will cry!"
  • "Now you face hot wrath. The hot wrath of my freezing blizzard attack! HERE YOUR LONG JOURNEY ENDS!" (Blizzard Midbus before battling Bowser for the final time)
  • "Though I fall here... None beat Lord Fawful... Now he will FINISH YOU!" (Midbus' last words before freezing over after Bowser defeats him)

Names in other languagesEdit

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese メタボス[?]
Metabosu
Portmanteau of「メタボ」(metabo, Japanese slang for metabolic syndrome) and "boss"
French (NOA) Lèchebott[?] Pun on lèche-bottes ("bootlicker")
French (NOE) Métaboss[?] Japanese name
German Metaboss[?] From the Japanese name
Italian Grugnosauro[?] Portmanteau of grugno ("snout") and dinosauro ("dinosaur")
Korean 메타보스[?]
Metaboseu
From the Japanese name
Russian Бронехряк[?]
Bronekhryak
Portmanteau of "броненосец" (bronenosets, "armadillo") and "хряк" (khryak, "boar")
Spanish (NOA) Cervil[?] Portmanteau of cerdo ("pig") and vil ("vile"); also a pun on servil ("subservient")
Spanish (NOE) Metajefe[?] From the Japanese Name

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Chester, Nick (September 15, 2009). Localization Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. Destructoid (English). Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Ninbanyan (May 22, 2021). Mario & Luigi Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - 100% Longplay Full Game Walkthrough No Commentary Gameplay (20:26). YouTube (English).
  3. ^ "COME! MIDBUS!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  4. ^ "Of course... Lord Fawful..." – Midbus (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  5. ^ "No hunger for nuts. Just to conquer Mushroom Kingdom... First, the emptying of the castle of Peach! AND THEN! Andthenandthenandthenandthenandthen! The castle of Bowser for me!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  6. ^ a b c "That weird mushroom is making me feel cruddy... Can't win like this..." – Bowser (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  7. ^ "It does not end here. Work on your skills." – Midbus (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  8. ^ "Trouble, Lord Midbus! There's a Banzai Bill on course for the castle!" – Goomba (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  9. ^ Ivan (September 15, 2016). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Part 11 "Giant Bowser" (06:07). YouTube (English).
  10. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Part 11 "Giant Bowser" (06:54). YouTube.
  11. ^ "Midbus has several attacks and defenses, such as sending out platoons of minions to storm Bowser by land and air." – Browne, Catherine (September 14, 2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Prima's Official Strategy Guide (Premiere Edition). Roseville: Prima Games. ISBN 978-3074-6565-8. Page 54.
  12. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Part 11 "Giant Bowser" (16:34-16:54). YouTube.
  13. ^ SullyPwnz (October 31, 2015). Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Part 13: FAWFUL'S SPECIAL WEAPON! (16:17). YouTube (English).
  14. ^ Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Part 13: FAWFUL'S SPECIAL WEAPON! (18:56). YouTube.
  15. ^ "It is the time! The Heavyweight Cage War of All Destruction!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  16. ^ BlazzerSora (January 12, 2019). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 6 Bowser's Castle & Midbus Boss Battle (1:04:25). YouTube (English).
  17. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 6 Bowser's Castle & Midbus Boss Battle (1:10:14). YouTube.
  18. ^ BlazzerSora (January 13, 2019). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 7 Alpha Kretin Boss Battle (1:05:31). YouTube (English).
  19. ^ "Buh-Bowser! You are needing to huh-hit the gym!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  20. ^ "Huh-heavy... Muh-Midbus! Help!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  21. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 7 Alpha Kretin Boss Battle (1:06:29). YouTube.
  22. ^ "BWAHAHAHAHA! Best workout ever!" – Bowser (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  23. ^ BlazzerSora (January 23, 2019). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 17 Junker Boss Battle (18:53). YouTube (English).
  24. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 17 Junker Boss Battle (19:37). YouTube.
  25. ^ "Oh. Well, good. Now you work. Trash these trashmen!" – Midbus (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  26. ^ January 25, 2019. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 19 Blizzard Midbus Boss Battle & Airway (02:30). YouTube (English).
  27. ^ "Lord Fawful. Leave him to me." – Midbus (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  28. ^ "But Midbus has pride... So Fawful leaves him to you! MIDBUS! POWER UP!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  29. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 19 Blizzard Midbus Boss Battle & Airway (13:39). YouTube (English).
  30. ^ "Bah! My chest is getting hot again!" – Bowser (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  31. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Walkthrough Part 19 Blizzard Midbus Boss Battle & Airway (16:38). YouTube.
  32. ^ @NE_Brian (February 24, 2019). Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story dev on how it approached the remake, Bowser Jr.’s Journey mode, updating music, more. Nintendo Everything (English). Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  33. ^ "The longer he is holding back his punch, the bigger the hurting to your face!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  34. ^ iSneakSometimes (May 9, 2013). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Midbus | Episode 5 Let's Play Walkthrough (04:29). YouTube (English).
  35. ^ "If you are holding back your punch to the last second by pressing  , that is BADNESS!" – Fawful (2009). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo (English).
  36. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Midbus | Episode 5 Let's Play Walkthrough (04:56). YouTube.
  37. ^ BossBattleChannel (March 30, 2019). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Boss 10 - Midbus (04:03). YouTube (English).
  38. ^ Sleepant (January 16, 2019). Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Midbus Boss (05:34). YouTube (English).
  39. ^ "Each move can be answered, such as using the shell defense to wound Midbus as he attempts a Body Slam." –
  40. ^ "The crowd tosses food on the stage to reward Midbus." – Browne. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 62.
  41. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Boss 10 - Midbus (03:54). YouTube.
  42. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Midbus Boss (04:58). YouTube.
  43. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 3DS - Midbus Boss (05:41). YouTube.