Spark
- This article is about the enemies debuting in Donkey Kong Jr. For other uses of the word Spark, see Spark (disambiguation).
| Spark | |||
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| First appearance | Donkey Kong Jr. (1982) | ||
| Latest appearance | Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda (2021) Ultimate NES Remix (2014, Super Mario-related media) | ||
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Sparks are orb-shaped creatures who continually emit pulses and flashes of electricity. They are mostly found crawling around walls and ceilings and moving across wires. Sparks are the first in a series of enemies in the Super Mario franchise that are balls of electricity, including Lil Sparkies and Amps.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong series[edit]
Donkey Kong Jr.[edit]
Sparks first appear in Mario's Hideout of Donkey Kong Jr. Red Sparks (also known as Globes[1]) continue to circle their own platform, but blue ones can travel to other platforms through static particles. These Sparks are generated by Mario in order to shock Donkey Kong Jr., preventing him from saving his father.
In the Coleco Adam port, the layout of the stage has been altered and there are no blue Sparks. Instead, they have been replaced by dangerous green water drops that come from the mouths of spigots and cracks in the ceiling.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)[edit]
In Donkey Kong for Game Boy, only one Spark[2] appears in Stage 6-4, rotating clockwise at a medium pace around a small platform in the path of a Conveyor Belt. It has the same behavior as the Sniper and Sukōpī seen earlier in the game, except losing a life from the Spark displays an electrocution animation. Unlike other appearances, the Spark in this game lacks eyes. This game also introduces a more common wire-crossing successor.
Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
Sparks also appear in Super Mario Bros. 2 as uncommon enemies, usually encountered underground or in buildings. They circle platforms, though some can hover in the air if a Mushroom Block is pulled out from beneath them. Sparks can be defeated by throwing an object at them or using a POW Block near them. Sparks can't be jumped on and can hurt the player's character by simply touching them. In the NES version, Sparks have red outlines around their eyes; in the SNES version and other subsequent remakes, they have yellow outlines as well as an orange outer body outline. If the screen scrolls while they are in a specific position, they automatically die.[3]
Sparks changed slightly in Super Mario Advance. If the player is hit by one, they are knocked back and the screen flashes. In addition, an item called the Spark Chaser can be used to expel them from new jar interiors.
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]
- “Spark on the warpath!”
- —Mario, "On Her Majesty's Sewer Service"
A Spark makes only one appearance on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, in the episode "On Her Majesty's Sewer Service". Having been dumped into the Tunnel of Doom, Mario and Luigi, while running from a Goomba, encounter a Spark that is quickly approaching. Mario and Luigi manage to avoid this Spark and the Goomba by creating a grappling hook out of a super spy hose nozzle and mini plunger; apparently unable to stop moving, the Spark and Goomba subsequently crash into one another, causing an explosion. In this appearance, the Spark featured does not appear to radiate any electricity.
Nintendo Comics System[edit]
Sparks are featured quite prominently in issues of Nintendo Comics System, appearing in such stories as "The Legend," "Bedtime for Drain-Head," and "A Mouser in the Houser." Like most enemies featured in the stories, they are shown to be intelligent and fully capable of speech.
Yoshi's Island series[edit]
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]
In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its Game Boy Advance remake, Sparks are known as Piro Dangles.[4] They emit fire instead of electricity and have faces similar to that of Fryguy. Occasionally, their fire temporarily goes out, revealing that underneath they are white spheres. During this time, they are harmless. In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Piro Dangles can only be found in a secret room in Burt The Bashful's Fort. There is also an unused variant of Boo Blah that has a Piro Dangle on its head. In Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, they also appear in Endless World of Yoshis and can now be defeated with a blue watermelon.
Yoshi's New Island[edit]
In Yoshi's New Island, they are found in Beware the Boo Brigade and Fort Key Calamity. Both instances have them appear in a dark room.
The Legend of Zelda series[edit]
Sparks appear with the same wall-running behavior in multiple games in the Legend of Zelda series. In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Sparks flash between orange and blue and are completely invincible, appearing in a few dungeons. In this game, they also share the same graphics as the segmented fire bars and Fire Snakes, which stay orange. In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Sparks are much more common than before, and can be destroyed with the boomerang, which turns them into fairies.
Profiles[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
- Instruction Booklet bio: He shines and moves in a circular motion around the walls and floors of the underground. He moves fast or slow.[5]
Super Mario Advance[edit]
- Instruction Booklet bio: You'll find Sparks circling blocks and steps. It's best to use POW blocks to turn off their power.[6]
Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]
Donkey Kong series[edit]
スパーク
Wire Trap
Tribe: Weapon clan
Disposition: Straight line
Game appearances: Jr., GB Donkey
A lump of electricity that emits sparks
In JR, they are running around on the floor, so you have to run past them at once when you see a chance; in GB, they are moving over the ropes, so avoid them at all costs. In both cases, you will be electrocuted if you touch them.
Super Mario USA[edit]
スパック
種族 ウエポン
性格 あきらめが
登場ゲーム
アメリカ
スパックと
Spark
Tribe: Weapon clan
Disposition: Reluctant to give up
Game appearances: USA
American-born Spark
Like Spark, it is a mass of electricity and runs around blocks. Jump to avoid them as you go. If you have a key or Mushroom Block, you can hit it with them to defeat it.
Yoshi's Island series[edit]
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island[edit]
- Shogakukan guide: 暗闇の中で、壁に沿って動いている。火が消えて白くなったときをねらって、通り抜けよう。[9] (They move along walls in the dark. Try to get by when their flames are extinguished and they turn white.)
- Player's Guide: Mr. P.D. jealously guards a secret cache of coins in Burt the Bashful's Fort.[4]
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]
- Shogakukan guide: 暗やみの中で、かべに沿って動いている。火が消えて白くなったスキに、通りぬけよう。[10] (They move along walls in the dark. Get by when their flames are extinguished and they turn white.)
Yoshi's New Island[edit]
- Shogakukan guide: 一定の間隔で光を放ち、ゆっくりと移動すろ。光を照明がわりにして暗い部屋を進もう。光ったときだけ、触れるとダメージを受ける。倒すことはできない。[11] (Emits light at regular intervals and moves slowly. Use the light as a light source to advance through the dark room. If you touch it, you will take damage only when it glows. It cannot be defeated.)
Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Bio: 電気を発しながら、足場の周囲を高速で回転している。[12] (It spins around the platforms at high speed while emitting electricity.)
Gallery[edit]
Artwork[edit]
Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic Hisshō Kōryakuhō
Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction booklet
Super Mario USA
Sprites[edit]
Donkey Kong Jr. (arcade, red)
Donkey Kong Jr. (arcade, blue)
Donkey Kong Jr. (NES, red)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Screenshots[edit]
Donkey Kong Jr. (NES)
Yoshi's New Island
Yoshi's New Island
Names in other languages[edit]
Spark[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | スパーク[7][9][11][10] (Donkey Kong series, Yoshi's Island series, and The Legend of Zelda series) Supāku スパック[7][8] (Super Mario Bros. 2) Supakku |
Spark A corruption of "Spark" |
| Chinese | 火花[13] Huǒhuā |
Spark |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 电球 (The Legend of Zelda series) Diànqiú |
Electric ball |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 電球 (The Legend of Zelda series) Diànqiú |
Electric ball |
| Dutch | Spark (The Legend of Zelda series) | - |
| French | Spark (The Legend of Zelda series) | - |
| French (NOE) | Eclair[14] | From "éclair" (sparkle) |
| German | Funke[14] Pyro Head Spark |
Spark - - |
| Italian | Scintilla[14] Sfavillo Favilla[15] spark (The Legend of Zelda series) |
Spark Masculine form of "sfavillare (to sparkle) Spark - |
| Korean | 스파크 (The Legend of Zelda series) Seupakeu |
Spark |
| Russian | Искрик (The Legend of Zelda series) Iskrik |
Sparks |
| Spanish (NOA) | chispa (The Legend of Zelda series) | spark |
| Spanish (NOE) | Chispa[14] spark (The Legend of Zelda series) |
Spark - |
Globe[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | スパーク[7] Supāku |
Spark |
| French | Boulet[14] | Ball |
| German | Feuerkugel[14] | Fireball |
| Italian | Globo[14] | Globe |
| Spanish | Globo[14] | Globe |
References[edit]
- ^ Instruction manual for Atari 8-bit and Atari 7800 conversions
- ^ 「任天堂公式ガイドブック ドンキーコング」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Donkey Kong), page 59.
- ^ Small Mario Findings
- ^ a b Miller, Kent, and Terry Munson. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Player's Guide. Page 128.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. 2 Instruction Booklet. Nintendo.
- ^ Super Mario Advance European Instruction Booklet, page 11. Nintendo.
- ^ a b c d Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Page 96.
- ^ a b Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Page 225.
- ^ a b 「スーパーマリオヨッシーアイランド任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Super Mario: Yossy Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook), page 5.
- ^ a b 「スーパーマリオアドバンス3任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Super Mario Advance 3 Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook), page 17.
- ^ a b 「ヨッシー New アイランド 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Yoshi's New Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook), page 20.
- ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario USA section, page 67.
- ^ From the ending scenes of Super Mario Advance as localized by iQue. Reference: 无敌阿尔宙斯 (August 28, 2013). 神游 超级马力欧2敌人官译. Baidu Tieba. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Donkey Kong Junior Atari computer version manual (International)
- ^ Italian Super Mario Advance booklet
External links[edit]
| Donkey Kong Jr. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong Jr. • Donkey Kong • Mario | |
| Enemies | Snapjaw • Nitpicker • Spark • Drop* • Bird | |
| Rounds | Vine Scene • Jump Board Scene • Mario's Hideout • Chain Scene | |
| Other | Gallery • Media • Pre-release and unused content • Staff | |
| *Only appears in the Coleco Adam version of the game | ||
