Fireball (Donkey Kong)

Fireballs (also generically called fireballs  and alternatively known as firefoxes) are enemies that first appeared in Donkey Kong. They are living embodiments of fire similar to the Lava Bubbles from Super Mario Bros.

Donkey Kong
Fireballs make their first appearance in the original Donkey Kong as enemies. In levels 25 m and 50 m, Fireballs emerge from the oil drums and then chase after Mario, although they have short attention spans. In the former level, they only emerge when the oil drum is hit by a blue barrel. If Mario is touched by a Fireball, he loses a life and is forced to restart the level. Fireballs can climb ladders, no matter if they are broken or fixed, but cannot reverse directions during the climb. They cannot fall from ledges or cross gaps. Eventually, they migrate to the top of the level. If Mario jumps over a Fireball, he receives points, but the only way to destroy them is with a hammer. Picking up a hammer causes the Fireballs to turn blue. In 25m and 50m, there can be a maximum of five Fireballs simultaneously onscreen. In 75 m, two Fireballs patrol a set of platforms.

Donkey Kong Circus
In their second appearance, Donkey Kong has to dodge Fireballs while trying to juggle pineapples in Donkey Kong Circus for the Game & Watch.

Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
In Donkey Kong for Game Boy, Fireballs appear in the Start, which is a recreation of the arcade original, as well as in Stage 1-3, Stage 5-6, and Stage 5-8.

Donkey Kong 64
During the events of Donkey Kong 64, Fireballs retain their role of enemies in a built-in port of the classic Donkey Kong game, playable through an arcade machine found inside Frantic Factory.

Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Fireballs make cameo appearances in Donkey Kong Country Returns and its enhanced port. In a level called Shifty Smashers, some crushing blocks feature renders of Donkey Kong agitatingly leaping over a Fireball enemy. The imprints are imitations of the characters' original sprites from the Donkey Kong arcade classic.

Super Mario Bros. Special
Their third appearance is in Super Mario Bros. Special, where they are credited as Sigebou. These enemies can fall off the edges of platforms. They are found only in Worlds 7-4 and 8-2 and are indestructible.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Fireballs appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, where they are often seen monitoring a set area. However, they are considerably scarce during the course of the game. They will instantly burn Mario on contact, thus causing him to lose a life. Much to the plumber's advantage, they can be crushed with hammers usually found nearby.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Fireballs reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis during the final battle against Donkey Kong on the Roof, as well as in B1 and B2 in DK's Hideout. On the Roof, Fireballs spawn from an oil can if a barrel falls into it, while in B1, Fireballs spawn from oil cans periodically without the use of barrels. However, in B2, two Fireballs spawn at the beginning of the level without being produced from an oil can. Similarly to their appearance in Donkey Kong, Fireballs move along girders and ladders and pursue Mini Marios. A Mini Mario is burned and destroyed if it touches a Fireball without being protected by a water drop. Unlike previous appearances, Fireballs can reverse their direction while climbing ladders. Fireballs can be defeated by any Mini using Hammers.

Fireballs also appear in the Construction Zone, where they can be used in the Lava Dome construction kit and Special Kit 3.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
Fireballs appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! as enemies once again, being introduced in Area 5-2. They closely resemble their arcade counterparts and walk at a moderate pace along the ground, although they will start treading faster once the Minis take hold of hammers.

Super Smash Bros. series
Fireballs also appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the 75 m stage. On that stage, Fireballs can damage the fighters by touching them. Each hit does 10% damage and moderate knockback.

NES Remix series
Fireballs appear in Donkey Kong related challenges in NES Remix, NES Remix Pack, and Ultimate NES Remix.

Mario Kart series
In Mario Kart Tour, a Fireball makes a cameo in the New York Minute courses on the jumbotron displaying gameplay of 25m from the game. The jumbotron reappears in in the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten
''' ドラムカンファイア 　ゴースト族 　熱血 ゲーム　GBドンキー ''' 近づくと丸こげだぞ！ ドラム缶から出てくる火の玉. 少しでち触れると、一発で丸こげになってしまう. ハンマーを持っていれば倒せるが、素手では、たちうちできない. ひたすら逃げまくろう.

' Drum Can Fire Tribe: Ghost clan Disposition: Hot-blooded Game appearances: GB Donkey ' Get close enough and you'll get a full burn! ''A fireball coming out of a drum. If you touch it even a little, it will burn you to a crisp. If you have a hammer, you can defeat them, but you cannot hit them with your bare hands. Just keep running away from them.''