Recurring Enemies in The Mario Series - Bob-omb

Bob-omb

Bob-ombs (pronounced /bɒbɒmz/), known as Bomuhei (ボム兵?) in Japan, are living bombs, sometimes with windup keys on their backs. They wander around aimlessly and eventually explode on their own if not picked up, stomped on, or thrown around. They first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2 as grayish walking bombs with arms that contrast with the purple non-animated bombs that Mouser throws. The arms were removed in later games. Bob-ombs are common enemies in Super Mario 64 as well as allies. In these games, Bob-ombs are first encountered in Bob-omb Battlefield, a level that is ruled by King Bob-omb. Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door feature two playable Bob-ombs named Bombette and Admiral Bobbery respectively. They appear as items in other games, including the Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. series. In Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers they appear in a mini-game called Bob-omb Derby, where the object of the game is to hit them to create fireworks. Bob-ombs also made an appearance in the Super Mario Brothers movie, where they are shown to be the size of a golf ball with a wind up key on its back. There are some Bob-ombs in Super Princess Peach that are happy. When they explode, they release confetti.

GameDaily listed the Bob-omb as the ninth best Mario enemy, calling it the "most adorable explosive" they've ever seen. UGO.com listed the Bob-ombs on their list of "The Cutest Video Game Characters" stating "Bob-omb is the cutest little suicide bomber this side of Tehran".