Blargg

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Blargg
Artwork of a Blargg from Super Mario World
Artwork of a Blargg from Super Mario World
First appearance Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (spirit cameo) (2018)
Variants
Notable members

Blarggs are large creatures commonly found inhabiting pools of lava in underground caverns. They first appear in Super Mario World and resemble lazy-eyed lava dinosaurs, but Yoshi's Story depicts them as blobby beings with large mouths, small arms and beady eyes, while numerous other games involve an assortment of similarly derived blobby species.

History[edit]

Super Mario World[edit]

Blargg sprite from Super Mario World.
Super Mario World sprite

In Super Mario World, Blarggs (also named Munchers[1]) are fairly rare enemies, encountered primarily in the Vanilla Dome. When Mario or Luigi approach a Blargg on a Skull Lift, the eyes of the Blargg will be visible before they dip back into the lava, moments before lunging. Yoshi is capable of jumping on them and, with some difficulty, eating them. The player can also opt to Spin Jump if lacking a Yoshi, although this method only prevents one from taking damage if landing on a Blargg or its eyes. They are mainly seen in Vanilla Dome 3, though they make their first appearance in Vanilla Dome 1 and later reappear in Chocolate Secret. It is possible for Invincible Mario to defeat one in Vanilla Dome 1 before falling into the lava. Caped Mario can also defeat it with a Body Press attack before falling into the lava. These methods reveal a glitched sprite.

As shown by graphics in the source code of pre-release builds, Blargg went through many design iterations of varying sizes, as both a dinosaur like in the final and as a shark.[2]

Super Mario World television series[edit]

Blargg
A Blargg from the Super Mario World animated series

Blarggs, though never referred to as such onscreen, appeared in two episodes of the Super Mario World animated series.

In the episode "The Wheel Thing", Mario and Luigi, having been banned to the Lava Pits, begin attempting to cook a pizza over a fire. The smell from this cooking pizza causes a Blargg to emerge from a nearby lake of lava and begin to chase Luigi, attempting to eat the plumber. Luigi is rescued from being devoured as Mario swoops down and saves his brother as Cape Mario.

In a later episode titled "Mama Luigi", a Blargg makes a brief appearance. Luigi and Yoshi, while running away from a pair of Tyrannosaurus Rex, use a Blargg's head as a stepping stone to cross a river of lava.

Nintendo Adventure Books[edit]

A Blargg, which lived in water, appears in one of the bad endings in Dinosaur Dilemma, eating Mario if he falls into a pit while fleeing from some Mega Moles.

Super Mario-kun[edit]

An extrat of Super Mario-kun, showing a Blargg in his entirety.

A Blargg appears from the 9th chapter of the first volume as the chapter's main baddie.

After a friendly Mega Mole leads Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi towards the underground exit, they travel on a Lava Lift where they are immediately attacked by the Blargg, who was given the order to kill the Mega Mole as well due to his betrayal. The Blargg attacks the protagonists by spitting fire. Mario tries to hurt it with a fireball, but ends up making it stronger due to its fire affinity. Mega Mole, meanwhile, cowers in fear and uses Mario as a shield and, when Mario asks him what a Blargg's weakness is, he reads the Super Mario World manual and finds out that Blarggs cannot be defeated. When the Blargg is about to kill Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi, Mega Mole jumps on the Blargg, attacking it and landing right in its mouth, clogging it. The Blargg falls back into the lava, and while Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi mourn the death of their friend, they meet Mega Mole on shore, where he managed to survive from the lava and with Blargg's mouth still stuck on his forehead, pleading to be put back into the lava. In this shot, the Blargg's body is show: the neck is the entire body, and it has little arms and legs.

Super Mario Adventures[edit]

Several Blarggs make a minor appearance in Nintendo Power's Super Mario Adventures comic, appearing in the lava flooded basement of Bowser's Castle. These Blarggs are used as stepping stones by Mario to reach a Warp Pipe leading to another part of the castle.

Mario & Wario[edit]

Level 5-4 map in the game Mario & Wario.
Blargg in LEVEL 5-4

A Blargg appears in Honō no Dōkutsu, the fifth stage of Mario & Wario. It is nearly identical to its appearance in Super Mario World, but unlike its previous appearance, it is docile and merely part of the scenery.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]

While no Blarggs appear in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars or in its Nintendo Switch remake, Czar Dragon, the lava-dwelling boss of Barrel Volcano, resembles their Super Mario World design.

Yoshi's Story[edit]

Blargg
A Blargg in Yoshi's Story

In Yoshi's Story, Blarggs are altered, being larger, and given small arms with a blobby appearance. They appear in only one level, Stage 2-2: Blargg's Boiler. In this game, Blarggs do not harm Yoshi when touched, although Yoshi gets a forceful push from them. While they cannot be harmed, Yoshi can throw an egg at one to force it back into the lava. There is also one Blargg unaffected by eggs which will briefly pursue Yoshi.

Due to their large size and blobby appearance, these Blarggs appear to be visually based off of the Gargantua Blarggs in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. However, they lack eyebrows and have a pair of small reptilian nostrils.

Their artwork from Yoshi's Story is reused as a stamp in Mario Artist: Paint Studio.

Paper Mario series[edit]

In Super Paper Mario, a Sammer Guy named Raging Blargg can be fought. Additionally, in the Japanese versions of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Super Paper Mario, the "-tail" dragon bosses Hooktail, Gloomtail, Bonetail, Fracktail, and Wracktail instead have names that are based off Blargg's Japanese name, Unbaba.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time[edit]

Blarggs are referenced in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, where they are mentioned by Kylie Koopa using "in a Blargg's age" as a figure of speech, after Yoob spit her out in Yoshi's Island.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

A Blargg sticker can be collected in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and a Blargg spirit appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Both use their Yoshi's Story artwork.

Unused appearances[edit]

Super Mario 64[edit]

Blargg
A Blargg with unfinished textures in Super Mario 64

Blarggs, with their appearance resembling how they appeared in Super Mario World, were originally going to appear in Super Mario 64 as enemies in Lethal Lava Land, Bowser in the Fire Sea, and even Wing Mario Over the Rainbow as they were found in the game's coding. With a cheating device, the player can make them appear on the level, being fully functional and with a complete model (aside from a lack of eyes).

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Super Mario World[edit]

  • Shogakukan guide: 火の海に生きるワニに似た敵。ガイコツいかだの近くに潜み、海面から目だけを出してマリオを待ち伏せ。タイミング良く、ジャンプでかわせ。[3] (An enemy resembling a crocodile that lives in a sea of fire. It lurks near the raft and ambushes Mario with only its eyes above the surface of the sea. Dodge them with a well-timed jump.)
  • Mario Mania: Blargg gets hot under the collar when intruders enter his cavern. He pops out of the molten lava and tries to snatch you off your skull raft.[4]

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]

ウンババ (JP) / Blargg (EN)
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Original text (Japanese) Translation
出身しゆつしん / 種族しゅぞく 恐竜族きょうりゅうぞく Place of origin/tribe Dinosaur clan
性格せいかく いたずら好き Disposition Mischievous
登場とうじょうゲーム ワールド Game appearances World
マグマのしぶきに注意ちゅうい

マグマのうみにいる、火炎恐竜かえんきょうりゅう普段ふだんかくれ ているが、ちかづくとかおしておそつてくる。どんな攻撃こうげきつうじない無敵むてきキャラだ。出現前しゅつげんまえにしぶきががるので、それを目印めじるしにしよう。[5]

Watch out for magma spray

A flaming dinosaur in the sea of magma. It is usually hidden, but when you approach it, it will show its face and attack you. It is an invincible enemy that cannot be defeated by any attack. Before it appears, it makes a splash, so use that as a warning sign.

Yoshi's Story[edit]

  • Shogakukan guide: バブルの親玉、溶岩オバケに立ちおうじょう。しばらく待って、ようすを見よう。[6] (The master of the Spark Spooks, this lava monster stalls. Let's wait for a while to see what happens.)
  • Nintendo 64 Spieleberater: Der rote Lavasack findet sich todkomisch, deswegen lacht er immer und streckt mir die Zunge raus! [7] (The red lava bag thinks he's hilarious, that's why he's always laughing and sticking his tongue out at me!)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Sticker
Blargg
Blargg Sticker
Artwork from: Yoshi's Story
Effects in The Subspace Emissary: [Specials: Direct] - Attack +13
Usable by: Anyone

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit[edit]

Name Image Game Type Class Effect How to obtain Spirit battle
Opponents Battle conditions Stage Song
Blargg A Blargg Yoshi Series Support (2) Advanced Mouthful of Curry Spirit Board Curry Bowser
  • The enemy breathes fire
Castle Siege (volcanic area) Melty Monster

Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.[edit]

Bio: 溶岩に生息。マリオを確認したあと、大きな口を開けて襲いかかる。[8](Lives in lava. After checking on Mario, it opens its large mouth and attacks.)

List of appearances[edit]

Title Year Format
Super Mario World 1990 SNES
Super Mario World - "The Wheel Thing" 1991 TV Episode
Super Mario World - "Mama Luigi" 1991 TV Episode
Dinosaur Dilemma 1991 Book
Super Mario-kun Volume 1 1991 Manga
Mario & Wario 1993 SNES
Super Mario-kun Volume 9 1993 Manga
Wario's Woods Japanese commercial 1994 TV Advertisment
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World 1994 SNES
Mario Bowl 1995 Arcade
Super Mario Maze Picture Book 4: Princess Peach Disappeared 1995 Book
Super Mario Pocket Picture Book Number 3: Quizbook 1995 Book
Yoshi's Story 1997 Nintendo 64
Mario Artist: Paint Studio 1999 Nintendo 64DD
Super Mario Picture Book with Peel-and-Release Stickers 5: Wanda's Birthday 1999 Book
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 2001 Game Boy Advance
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (mentioned) 2005 Nintendo DS
Super Smash Bros. Brawl 2008 Wii
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 2018 Nintendo Switch

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ウンババ[3][6]
Unbaba
Possibly from「ウンウン」(un'un, onomatopoeia for groaning sound) and「婆」(baba, hag), referencing their teeth gaps, bulging eyes, and large nose resembling a wicked witch, or possibly an allusion to「バブル」(Baburu, Lava Bubble) or the ancient mythological monster Humbaba

Chinese 乌巴巴[9]
Wūbābā
From the Japanese name

French (NOE) Blargg
-
German Feuerdrache
Dudel Sprudel[7]
Blargg (newer games)
Fire dragon
Fizzy doodle
-
Italian Blargg
-
Korean 짜자잔
Jjajajan
Korean exclamation equivalent to "ta-da!"

Russian Студнезавр
Studnezavr
From cтудень.. (studen, "aspic") and -завр (-zavr, a suffix used for creating dinosaur names)

Spanish Blargg
-

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nintendo Power Volume 28. Page 16.
  2. ^ Twitter post showing early SMW tiles. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  3. ^ a b 「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオワールド」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario World). Page 29.
  4. ^ Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 51.
  5. ^ Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Page 46.
  6. ^ a b 「ヨッシーストーリー 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Yoshi's Story Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Page 7.
  7. ^ a b Nintendo 64 Yoshi's Story Spieleberater. Page 19Media:Yoshi's Story German Guide Enemies.png.
  8. ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario World section. Page 54.
  9. ^ 无敌阿尔宙斯 (August 28, 2013). 神游 超级马力欧世界 敌人官译. Baidu Tieba. Retrieved February 2, 2017.