Punchinello

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Punchinello
Artwork of Punchinello
First appearance Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
Latest appearance Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch) (2023)
“You... YOU will make me famous!”
Punchinello, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Punchinello is one of the major bosses encountered in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. He is named after Pulcinella, a classical character in Italian theater and puppetry. His name may have also been taken from Pulcinella's English variant, Mr. Punch. He mainly uses variations of Bob-ombs while fighting. When one of the seven Star Pieces crashed into the Mole Mines at Moleville, he took it for himself. Punchinello also wants to be famous, according to his wish on Star Hill and his Thought Peek thought. When Mario and his allies arrive in Punchinello's area looking for the Star Piece, he thinks that he can become famous if he can defeat them and engages them in battle.

Despite him guarding a Star Piece and having a weapon motif, Punchinello does not appear to have any affiliation with the Smithy Gang. Regular boss music plays when fighting Punchinello instead of the music played during fights with Smithy Gang bosses, there are no Machine Made replicas of Punchinello in the Factory, and Punchinello is not mentioned among the fallen Smithy Gang members by the Clerk. Additionally, one of the wishes in Star Hill appears to be his.

In the remake's post-game, a stronger version of Punchinello titled Leveled-Up Punchinello can be fought. He is the second boss to be encountered, after Scratchy-Throat Belome. Before battle, he expresses his desire to defeat Bowser in order to become famous. After the fight, he upgrades Bowser's Chain Chomp into a Wonder Chomp, and is offered a chance to rebuild Bowser's Keep, to which he obliges in order to gain a little fame. In the ending cutscene if the player defeats Smithy after defeating Culex 3D, Punchinello helps with the repairs in Bowser's Keep.

Battle[edit]

Regular[edit]

If Mario walks up in front of him, he shoves Mario away with his arms, sending Mario back into the other room. Thus Mario must be behind or near the side of Punchinello to start battling.

When battle starts, Punchinello throws Microbombs at Mario, which can explode after a set amount of turns. In battle, Punchinello attacks with his fist, punching one of Mario's party members. Punchinello also uses the attack Sand Storm.

Punchinello uses four varieties of Bob-omb to aid him in battle. Each variety appears after the boss takes enough damage. He first releases four Microbombs, then four Bob-ombs, and then three Mezzo Bombs.

After Punchinello is defeated, he summons a King Bomb which lands on him and eventually explodes, covering Mario and co. in soot. After cleaning themselves off, the heroes take the third Star Piece and venture deeper into the mines.

Leveled-Up Punchinello[edit]

Punchinello only takes 1 or 2 damage from all attacks, and while he retains the use of Sand Storm, he can also use Flame Wall, Flame Stone and Grinder.

Like before, Punchinello summons Bob-ombs to aid him, with this variety being named "Strong Bob-ombs". Unique to these enemies is that, if they are hit with a perfectly timed Action Command, they turn around to face Punchinello; at least one of them may also enter the battle in this turned-around state. When these Bob-ombs are facing Punchinello, they will explode on him instead of Mario and his party, dealing 80 damage.

Once defeated, Punchinello summons another King Bomb, however this one walks towards him after being lit and explodes on him. However, he, as well as Mario and company, come out of the explosion unharmed.

Profiles and statistics[edit]

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

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars enemy
Punchinello
Battle idle animation of Punchinello from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars HP 1200 FP 10 Speed 15
Location(s) Coal Mines Attack 60 Magic attack 22
Role Boss Defense 42 Magic defense 40
Bonus Flower None Yoshi Cookie None Morph rate 0%
Evade 0% Magic evade 0% Spells Sand Storm
Weak None Strong Jump, Fear, Poison, Sleep, Mute, Critical Sp. attacks None
Coins 0 Exp. points 0 Items None
Psychopath "Yeeha! I see we're already famous!"

Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)[edit]

Punchinello
Image of Punchinello from the Nintendo Switch version of Super Mario RPG
HP 1200
Exp. 0
Weak Elements N/A
Weak Statuses N/A
Drops N/A
Rare Drops N/A
Found In Mole Mines
Monster List profile
As a result of throwing bombs willy-nilly to become a famous bomb-maker, he faced exploder's remorse and flamed out early.
Thought Peek
So chic! Everyone is so chic!
Animations

Leveled-Up Punchinello[edit]

Leveled-Up Punchinello
Image of Punchinello from the Nintendo Switch version of Super Mario RPG
HP 1200
Exp. 0
Weak Elements N/A
Weak Statuses N/A
Drops N/A
Rare Drops N/A
Found In Mole Mines
Monster List profile
He says he wants to go home famous. Little does he know that he's already well-known in his hometown as a goofball who Mario beat twice.
Thought Peek
Everyone is even more chic now! You've really leveled up your game!
Animations
Other stats for Leveled-Up Punchinello[1]
FP 800
Attack 335
Defense 355
Magic Attack 235
Magic Defense 255
Speed 15
Evade 0%?
Spells Sand Storm, Flame Wall, Flame Stone
Special Moves Grinder
Element Resistances Jump
Status Resistances Fear, Poison, Sleep, Mute
Other Resistances Lamb's Lure/Sheep Attack, Geno Whirl, Pure Water, Yoshi Cookie
Coins 0

Quotes[edit]

Main article: List of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars quotes#Punchinello
  • "Good day. The name's Nello...PUNCHINELLO!"
  • "They say I'm a hothead, but I'll show them! You... YOU will make me famous! So long!"
  • "It's CLOBBERING TIME!"
  • "Simmer down, fluffy! I'm not going to waste this on YOU! Who knows what might happen!"

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Punchinello[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ペパット
Pepatto
Anagram of「パペット」(papetto, puppet)

Chinese 偶偶
Ǒuǒu
Partial repetition of「木偶」(mùǒu, wooden puppet)

Dutch Punchinello
-
French Punchinello
-
German Pupponetto
Comes from "Puppe" (doll) with Italian diminutive suffix "-etto"
Italian Punchinello
-
Korean 페펏
Pepeot
Anagram of "퍼펫" (peopet, puppet); From the Japanese name

Spanish Punchinello
-

Leveled-Up Punchinello[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ペパット (レベルアップ)
Pepatto (Reberu Appu)
Punchinello (Level Up)

Chinese (simplified) 偶偶 (等级提升)
Ǒuǒu (Děngjí Tíshēng)
Punchinello (Level Up)

Chinese (traditional) 偶偶 (等級提升)
Ǒuǒu (Děngjí Tíshēng)
Punchinello (Level Up)

French Punchinello (niveau supérieur)
Punchinello (level up)
German Pupponetto (extra Ehrgeiz)
Punchinello (extra ambition)
Italian Punchinello (potenziato)
Punchinello (powered-up)
Korean 페펏 (레벨 업)
Pepeot (Lebel Eob)
Punchinello (Level Up)

Spanish Punchinello nivel +
Punchinello level +

Trivia[edit]

  • Punchinello's introduction in the original SNES localization, "Nello... PUNCHINELLO!", is a reference to James Bond's catchphrase of being "Bond, James Bond". Translator Ted Woolsey originally wanted to name him "James Bomb", which explains why Punchinello introduces himself this way, but management refused to allow it.[2]
  • Before releasing his Mezzo Bombs in the original, Punchinello shouts "It's CLOBBERING TIME!". This is likely a reference to The Thing's catchphrase. Domino also says the same phrase.
  • Punchinello is the only boss other than Bowser and Smithy to not yield any EXP or even show a results screen. As a consequence, it is the only battle in the game where the Super Jumps do not count towards the Attack Scarf or Super Suit.[3]
  • Punchinello’s original Psychopath quote claims that he is “Already famous…” This is possibly intended to be breaking the Fourth Wall, as in that he is in a video game, making him famous. This was changed in the remake.

References[edit]