Time Bob-omb

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Not to be confused with Alarm Bob-omb.
Time Bob-omb
Sprite of a Time Bob-omb from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
A Time Bob-omb in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
First appearance Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
Latest appearance Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (2017)
Variant of Bob-omb
“When the number on the face of the Time Bob-omb reaches zero, it's Game Over for you! Defeat the Koopaling before the number reaches zero!”
Onscreen text, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

A Time Bob-omb is a type of Bob-omb that appears in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its Nintendo 3DS remake. It is a small maroon Bob-omb that first shows up during the boss battles with Roy Koopa, Wendy O. Koopa, and Larry Koopa in Bowser's Castle. It cannot be targeted, and it serves the role of adding a turn limit to the battles; if the number on its face reaches zero before the boss is defeated, the Mario Bros. are instantly knocked out.

A Time Bob-omb is set to eight at the start of each fight, with a text box explaining the win condition: Defeat the Koopaling in question before its timer reaches zero, with Mario and Luigi having eight turns each to do so. It steps forward and counts down before each of Mario and Luigi's subsequent turns; upon reaching zero, it runs at the Mario Bros. and sets itself off. Under normal circumstances, this always KOs both Mario and Luigi, resulting in a Game Over. However, the damage the Time Bob-omb actually does to the Mario Bros. can be affected by their HP and Defense stats. It is possible through legitimate means for Mario and/or Luigi to have high-enough stats that they survive the damage from the Time Bob-omb's explosion; in this event, the boss battle continues as normal without any time limit. If Mario and Luigi successfully defeat the Koopalings within eight turns, the Time Bob-omb will flee.

During the Bowletta boss fight, when Mario and Luigi have nearly defeated her, a cutscene occurs, in which a Time Bob-omb appears behind the Mario Bros. and self-destructs right next to them, KOing the pair. This allows Bowletta to suck them into her stomach, where they fight Cackletta's soul. As with the Koopalings, it is possible for Mario and Luigi to survive the explosion; however, Bowletta acts as if the Mario Bros. are unconscious and sucks them in anyway.

Time Bob-ombs received some notable differences in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions. First, a Time Bob-omb deals a set 999 damage, regardless of Mario and Luigi's own stats, ensuring that the explosion always KOs them. In addition, Roy also explains how it works to the Mario Bros. during the start of his boss battle. Furthermore, each Time Bob-omb now has a different turn count for the Koopaling boss battles, and the turn limit lowers with each successive battle; it explodes after nine turns when Roy is fought, seven turns when Wendy is fought, and five turns when Larry is fought. If Mario and Luigi defeat the Koopaling within the given turn limit, the Time Bob-omb detonates harmlessly.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 時限ボム
Jigen Bomu
Time Bomb

Italian Cronobomba
From chrono (a Greek root word meaning "time") and "bomb"
Spanish Bombabum
From bomba ("bomb") and the onomatopoeia "boom"