Boss Bass
- Not to be confused with Big Bertha or Cheep Chomp.
| Boss Bass | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A sprite of a Boss Bass for Super Mario Bros. 3's Super Mario All-Stars remake | |||
| General information | |||
| Variant of | Cheep Cheep | ||
| Appearances | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Paper Mario (2007, mentioned) Yoshi's Island DS (2006, physical appearance) | ||
| Similar entities | |||
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A Boss Bass[1][2][3][4] is a huge variant of Cheep Cheep which first appears in Super Mario Bros. 3. Boss Basses are related to Big Berthas, from which they can be differentiated in that Big Berthas are the female equivalents who protect the Baby Cheeps underwater while a Boss Bass hunts for its prey on the water's surface.
History
Super Mario Bros. 3
In Super Mario Bros. 3, Boss Basses are commonly found in Water Land and Giant Land. A Boss Bass swims on the surface of the water, attempting to lunge out and eat Mario or Luigi if they get too close. If the Boss Bass eats either Mario or Luigi, they instantly lose a life, making Boss Bass one of the few enemies capable of instantly defeating either Mario or Luigi regardless of form. Mario or Luigi can defeat a Boss Bass by either using a projectile on it, such as a Fireballs or a Koopa Shell, or from touching it while under the effects of the Starman. However, the Boss Bass is only temporarily defeated, as it returns shortly after.
In Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, if the Orange Switch e-Reader card is scanned, Mario or Luigi can obtain a coin by shooting a fireball at an enemy while in their Fire form, including Boss Bass. If Mario or Luigi collect a coin after defeating a Boss Bass with a fireball, it does not return for the remainder of the level.
Mario Kart DS
A Boss Bass appears in Mario Kart DS in N64 Banshee Boardwalk, where it can be periodically seen jumping out of the water, arching over the course, and then landing into the water on the other side. The Boss Bass is harmless, considering that jumps are high rendering it completely harmless. It usually jumps whenever players race by the bridge and is also seen jumping during the course's introduction. The Boss Bass replaces the Giant Cheep-Cheep from the original course found in Mario Kart 64.
Yoshi's Island DS
Boss Basses return in Yoshi's Island DS, in which they are found in many levels of World 3. Boss Bass attacks by hopping out of the water, and if a Yoshi is underneath a Boss Bass's mouth during its descent, the Boss Bass eats him and the baby on his back, immediately resulting in the loss of an extra life. Boss Bass cannot be defeated, although if a Yoshi throws an egg at it, a Boss Bass appears in the Island Museum, specifically within the Tropical Section of the Aquatic Enemy Exhibit.
The mid-boss of World 3 is named Bessie Bass, who is a Big Bertha but with the behavior of a Boss Bass.
Super Paper Mario
Boss Basses do not appear in Super Paper Mario, although they are mentioned in The Underwhere by one of the Shaydes, who says that 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 a Cheep-Cheep and ate him.
Appearances in other media
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Throughout The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, Boss Bass makes numerous appearances attempting to eat Mario. He is first seen chasing some fish around before chasing after Mario and the others, they appear in a couple of the show's episodes such as "Never Koop a Koopa."
Relatives
Boss Basses have several relatives aside from Big Berthas. The Cheep Chomp from New Super Mario Bros. has similar qualities to the Boss Bass, and another enemy in the game, Spike Basses, patrol the surface of water levels, similar to a Boss Bass. However, Spike Basses will not try to eat Mario. Boss Basses are similar in both appearance and behavior to the Big Red Blurps from Yoshi's Story.
Gallery
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Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork of Mario using a stick to try and escape from a Boss Bass's mouth
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A Boss Bass attempting to eat Mario in Super Mario All-Stars's remake of Super Mario Bros. 3
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A Boss Bass jumping over Banshee Boardwalk in Mario Kart DS
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | Kyodai Pukupuku ♂ |
Trivia
- Despite being a large variant of a Cheep Cheep, a Boss Bass eats smaller ones. They also have trouble distinguishing them from something else, as proven in Super Paper Mario when a Shayde 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, the huge fish ate him.
References
- ^ "Even if Mario is Super, Boss Bass, the terror of the high seas, can swallow him whole." - Nintendo Power Volume 13, page 8.
- ^ As stated in the Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Prima Guide
- ^ As stated in the Yoshi's Island DS Player's Guide
- ^ As stated in the Yoshi's Island DS Prima Guide
[Edit] Cheep Cheeps
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|---|---|
| Characters | |
| Bessie Bass • Cheepskipper • Chef Shimi • Coach • Furious Fred de Fillet • Kipp • Porcupuffer • Sashimie • Sushie • Stewart • Ultra Pukupuku | |
| Species | |
| Air Cheep • Baby Cheep • Big Bertha • Blurp • Boss Bass • Bubba • Cheep Chomp • Deep Cheep • Eep Cheep • Fish Bone • Gold Cheep Cheep • Green Cheep Cheep • Honebōn • Jean de Fillet • Lava Cheep Cheep • Mad Blurp • Mecha Cheep • Mega Cheep Cheep • Mega Deep Cheep • Mega Eep Cheep • Mr. Kipper • Needle Bomb • Porcupuffer • Puffer-Cheep • Sad Cheep Cheep • Sand Cheep • Small Cheep Cheep • Spike Bass • Spiny Cheep Cheep | |
