R.O.B.

R.O.B. (short for Robotic Operating Buddy) is an accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System who has recently made appearances in a few Mario games. In Japan, it was known as the Famicom Robot, which was short for Family Computer Robot. R.O.B. functions by translating flashes of information on the television screen into physical actions (using technology similar to the Zapper Gun). R.O.B. was first used for the game Gyromite.

Players could control R.O.B. with the control pad to make him raise and lower gyroscopes. To make the gyroscope spin, the player must set the object in the gyroscope spinner and then balance it on one of the two round trays that are connected to controller two. Placing a gyro on the red tray lowers the red gates in the game; placing a gyro on the blue tray lowers the blue gates.

Mario Kart DS
R.O.B. is also the last unlockable character in Mario Kart DS. In the game, he is one of the heaviest characters, his weight matched only by Bowser. R.O.B's symbol is the NES D-Pad. R.O.B. has two original karts: the ROB-BLS and the ROB-LGS which are similar to the motor bikes in Mario Kart Wii. His karts are fast, heavy, and have wider handling. R.O.B. is the first non-Mario character to appear in the Mario Kart series. The others (in the Mario Kart Arcade GP series) are Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Blinky, and Mametchi. When players play online, they may come across the HVC-012, the red Japanese version of R.O.B. His karts also experience the same change of color.

WarioWare'' series
R.O.B. is also the subject of "Stack-Up" microgame in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ from 9-Volt's games. In WarioWare: Twisted!, a R.O.B. is seen in 9-Volt's game room. In WarioWare: Smooth Moves, R.O.B. is the boss of 9-Volt's stage, the "Star Fox" boss level. Like many of his other appearances, his model differs between Japanese and western versions. He bobs around shooting either a large revolver-like light gun using both arms in the Japanese version or its western equivalent, the NES Zapper. To defeat him, the player had to shoot the flashing blocks set-up for has if he was being used to play Stack-Up.

Super Paper Mario
R.O.B. once again appears in another Mario game-this time Super Paper Mario. Francis keeps a model of the red Famicom Robot on his shelf in the game.

Super Smash Bros. series


R.O.B.s appear under three roles in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. During The Subspace Emissary, they are part of the Subspace Army, and are used to activate the Subspace Bombs, as well as guard the Ancient Minister and come in different variations; R.O.B. Sentry, R.O.B. Launcher, and the R.O.B. Blaster. The bodyguards for the Ancient Minister are called The R.O.B. Squad. When a pair of R.O.B.s are used to activate a Subspace Bomb, they are destroyed in the explosions. In the Subspace Emissary, it is revealed that the Ancient Minister is actually R.O.B. and the whole reason he was destroying the Super Smash Bros. World was because Tabuu had killed a lot of R.O.B.s and he had become very depressed. It is also revealed that R.O.B., the Ancient Minister, was once the ruler of the world and he lives on a floating island along with the other ministers. Samus, Pikachu, Captain Olimar, Captain Falcon, Donkey Kong, and Diddy Kong were able to get in this same island. However, when they arrived, the Ancient Minister refused to battle with them.

A hologram of Ganondorf suddenly appeared and started commanding all the R.O.B.s except for the Ancient Minister. All the R.O.B.s attacked the Minister until his clothes were burned off and the gang discovered he was R.O.B. After that, R.O.B. decided to stop destroying the world and teamed up with the gang to stop Ganondorf and Tabuu from destroying the Super Smash Bros. World.

The R.O.B. becomes a playable character in his own right. R.O.B.'s Final Smash makes him shoot a group of short-ranged whirling lasers out of his eyes, followed by some hard-hitting short lasers, similar to the Superspicy Curry. R.O.B. can freely move during this Final Smash, unlike some other characters. The tiny light on R.O.B.'s head tells how charged up his laser is, being brighter the more powerful. R.O.B. appears as the Japanese version of himself rather than the American version. However, the American gray version is available as an alternate costume.

Robo Beam
Robo Beam is the name of R.O.B's Standard Special Move in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In this, he shoots out a laser so long, it takes up the whole width of the screen setting. This move however is extremely thin, approximately 3/4 the size of the Light Arrow. The move does 3% damage. Also,if the player aims it downwards, it will bounce off the ground. Also, just like Wario's Wario Waft, if the player doesn't use the attack for a while, it will be a Super Robo Beam. However, the attack will not work if used again immediately after firing. Kirby is able to use this attack if he sucks up R.O.B.'s powers; even saying "Beep!" when using the attack.

Arm Rotor
Arm Rotor is the side special move of R.O.B. in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It's a spinning move that hits the opponent a few times. It causes R.O.B. to move forward a little whilst spinning, similarly to the Ice Climbers' Squall Hammer. R.O.B. can change the direction of the way he is swinging his arms. It can also deflect projectiles.

Robo Burner
Robo Burner is the up special move of R.O.B. in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. When used, he uses a booster to send him flying upwards. R.O.B. can also angle it to the side. Other attacks can be used whilst flying. The flight lasts about five seconds. A short hop will happen if the special move button is simply tapped.

Gyro
Gyro is R.O.B.'s down special move in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. R.O.B. pulls out a gyromite and launches it forward. It may move differently depending on the stage and gravitational effects. R.O.B. can charge it up to make it launch faster, further and make it spin for longer, this charging technique is similar to Samus' Charge Shot. To use it once charged, the player must press the Down special attack button when they want to fire it. Once R.O.B. shoots it, the gyromite can remain on the stage for a while, depending on how long the attack was charged for. R.O.B. or other characters can pick it up and throw it again. Until a fired gyromite disappears, the player can't shoot another one. The name comes from the game Gyromite, R.O.B's first appearance and his weapon, the Gyromite.

Diffusion Beam
Diffusion Beam is the name of R.O.B.'s Final Smash. Once the Smash Ball has been opened, and R.O.B. activates it, swirling lasers will come out of his eyes, which deal a lot of damage to opponents caught in their short range, but they do not have any knockback. This Final Smash allows the player to move around and pick up items while the lasers are still firing automatically.

Solid Snake Codec Conversation

 * Otacon: So, Snake, you're fighting Robot?
 * Snake: Yeah, it's a robot. Although, couldn't they have come up with a better name?
 * Otacon: Actually, in the U.S. they called him "R.O.B." Robot, R.O.B.--take your pick.
 * Snake: Fine. R.O.B. it is, then.
 * Otacon: In North America, R.O.B.'s body was grey, like the NES. But in Japan, he had a white body and red arms, the color of the Japanese Famicom.
 * Snake: Huh. You sure know your geeky tech stuff, Otacon.
 * Otacon: (chuckles) Well, you know...

Trivia

 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, R.O.B. is the only playable character in the "Other" category of trophies.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, at one of the Port Town Aero Dive stops there is a statue in the background that resembles R.O.B.
 * In Mario Kart DS, the kart R.O.B. BLS looks the same as the stand that R.O.B. has. The colored pegs are from a game that uses them as pieces to a puzzle.
 * A R.O.B.'s head is a treasure in the Pikmin series, along with several gyro blocks.