Boom Boom

Boom Boom (sometimes parsed Boom-Boom or BOOM-BOOM ) is one of Bowser's henchmen and an antagonist in the Mario franchise and among Mario's most persistent foes. While often depicted as an individual, sometimes he is shown as an entire species, also called Boom Booms. Boom Boom first debuted in Super Mario Bros. 3, where he often battles Mario or Luigi in fortresses. Boom Boom then later made his return appearance in Super Mario 3D Land as one of the two secondary antagonists who often appears in airships, along with his partner Pom Pom, a female Boom Boom who acts the other secondary antagonist in the game. After Super Mario 3D Land, Boom Boom reappeared in later games more often. Compared to Bowser's species, he has a complete shell instead of a carapace not directly connected to his plastron, and the shell itself may not have spikes on it, depending on the game. Additionally, he has enormous hands that he swings around as fists as his primary form of attack.

Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario All-Stars / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Boom Boom makes his first appearance in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES, where he helps Bowser and the Koopalings invade the Mushroom World's seven kingdoms. He appears in the fortresses of each kingdom, fighting Mario and Luigi to prevent them from going any closer to the Koopalings. However, the Mario Bros. prevail, and his fortresses get destroyed thanks to the Magic Balls he dropped. After he fails to protect the Koopalings, Boom Boom also appears in many levels in Dark Land; specifically in World 8-Fortress and all the battleships, airships, and tanks - except for the first tank set, which is instead manned by a Boomerang Bro. Due to palette inconsistencies between locations in the original version, he appears dark brown in most places, blue and gray in, tan with white details in 2, and tan with lighter tan details in vehicle levels, though later versions have him consistently tan.

In battle, Boom Boom begins by simply walking left and right towards Mario, occasionally crouching down and showing his large spikes, then leaping. After being hit, he either starts to charge and jump very high or flies with his winged arms; the latter strategy first appeared in Water Land's first fortress. After a second hit, Boom Boom walks left and right again, but very quickly, possibly as a desperation tactic. After the third hit, he releases a Magic Ball, which destroys the fortress Boom Boom is in when Mario or Luigi touch it, and opens a lock or makes a bridge appear elsewhere on the map.

To defeat Boom Boom, Mario has to jump on his head three times to eliminate him, hit him with five fireballs from a Fire Flower, or score five hits with hammers from the Hammer Suit (which he can do with as little as one hammer if his aim was precise enough).

Because of ambiguity in the language used in the instruction manuals of the original Super Mario Bros. 3 and its ports, it is unknown whether there is a different Boom Boom in each fortress or if they are all the same one. Additionally, two World-e levels (Swinging Bars of Doom and Ice Cubed) in Super Mario Advance 4 make the player fight two Boom Booms at once. He also acts as the key art for the World-e level Treacherous Halls.

Super Mario 3D Land
After 23 years of absence, Boom Boom makes his return in Super Mario 3D Land, along with a new, boomerang-wielding, female partner named Pom Pom. In this game, Boom Boom now has an audible voice for the first time, which is quite deep. In an interview, Koichi Hayashida explained that "when Tanooki Mario appeared, some members of the team wanted to include Boom Boom and the Koopalings. Then we created a type of gameplay where the enemy follows as you run around the room, and we thought this would be interesting, so we used Boom Boom to put it into the game."

Boom Boom, Pom Pom, Bowser, and the Koopa Troop, invade the Mushroom Kingdom to kidnap Princess Peach, and take most of the Super Leaves during a storm. Mario receives a letter from Bowser and goes after them. After the defeat of the first Tail Bowser, Boom Boom appears in some airships, where he encounters and fights Mario. Like most bosses, Boom Boom can return after each defeat. After he is defeated in Worlds 2 and 3, Pom Pom replaces him in Worlds 4 and 6.

Princess Peach attempts to escape from Bowser, but Boom Boom and the Koopa Troop chase her down, recapture her, and lock her within a cage. He returns in World 7 and battles Mario in his airship, alongside Pom Pom. Both are defeated, however.

Boom Boom here is much larger (especially his arms) than he was in his previous encounter with Mario and Luigi (where he was roughly the same height as Mario). He no longer appears to have retractable spikes on his shell, which is now red, and has new attacks. In battle Boom Boom spins wildly with his arms and fists to hurt Mario, but if he does this too long, he becomes dizzy and vulnerable. When hit, Boom Boom can also attack by retreating into his large shell and then spinning fast in random directions, in a similar fashion to the Koopalings when they are hit by the player in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. After taking three hits from Mario's stomps or tail whips or 15 fireballs, Boom Boom, defeated, will vanish while releasing ten coins.

He also appears in the Special Worlds of the game. In, Mario fights both Boom Boom and Pom Pom at the same time; however, Boom Boom's spins create flames. When Pom Pom is defeated before Boom Boom, the red floor will lower to the ground for the rest of the fight. A Boom Boom that requires only one hit to be defeated can also appear in the Special Worlds' Mystery Boxes.

The official European and Oceanian websites refer to both Boom Boom and Pom Pom in the plural sense. Therefore, it's possible that the player is fighting different individuals in each airship, although the Prima guide and the American website use the singular, and only one Boom Boom or Pom Pom is seen onscreen at any given time.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Boom Boom returns in New Super Mario Bros. U, where multiple are shown on the world map; the Prima guide states that these are all the same individual. Unlike Boom Boom's design in Super Mario 3D Land, he once again possesses spikes on his shell, as in Super Mario Bros. 3.

Just like the Koopalings in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Boom Boom stands on top of the fortress on the map and when the player enters, he cackles and then jumps inside. He is the tower boss for the majority of the worlds, with the exception of Screwtop Tower and Slide Lift Tower, where Boss Sumo Bro and Magikoopa respectively, will act as the bosses in Boom Boom's stead.

Before each battle after Acorn Plains, Boom Boom is assisted by Magikoopa, who will use his magic on him the same way he did with bosses in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Magikoopa will grant Boom Boom these abilities:
 * Layer-Cake Desert: Will grant Boom Boom the ability to spin jump.
 * Sparkling Waters and Frosted Glacier: Will grant Boom Boom the ability to jump, similar to Super Mario Bros. 3.
 * Soda Jungle: Will make Boom Boom larger.
 * Rock-Candy Mines: Will transform Boom Boom's arms into wings, similar to Super Mario Bros. 3.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Boom Boom reappears as the boss of World 2, as the second boss of World 6, and in World Flower-12: Boss Blitz in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. In World 2 and World 6, Boom Boom is the leader of the tank armies returning from Super Mario Bros 3, as Airships do not return. In the first fight, he fights with the same strategy as in Super Mario 3D Land, only that his spinning lasts longer. After the first hit, he turns nearly invisible, but can slightly be seen, while spinning and in his shell. After the second hit, he becomes even harder to see. In World 6, he loses his invisibility, but learns to copy his shell while spinning after the first hit, and spins even longer. After the second hit, he conjures two shells. In World Flower-12, he maintains the same pattern as in World 2. He once again takes three hits to beat for each battle. In the Ending, he is upset about Bowser (who is trapped in a bottle), and Pom Pom tries to cheer him up.

Boom Boom also makes a brief appearance in the level Mystery House Marathon in World Crown, where he guards the penultimate star. However, he's defeated after only one hit, similar to his 3D Land Mystery Box appearance.

A cat variation of Boom Boom known as Cat Boom Boom appears in the Bowser's Fury campaign of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. He is fought twice in the Clawswipe Colosseum. His battle in his first encounter, titled, "Clash with Cat Boom Boom," is based on his battle in World 2 and Boss Blitz, while his second encounter, titled, "Final Bout with Cat Boom Boom," is based on his battle in World 6.

Super Mario Run
Boom Boom reappears in Super Mario Run as the boss of all three airship levels. He retains his appearance from New Super Mario Bros. U, but his only attack is running towards Mario. The fight in World 2 has no hazards, World 4 has Burners, two on each side, and World 6 has Boom Boom jump every time he touches the ground. He may also be found in airship stages at the end of certain areas in Remix 10. Two Boom Booms are fought at the same time in Airship Plunder, the ninth level of World Star. One of these Boom Booms appears golden and shining, and it leaves a trail of coins behind it whenever it runs across the boss stage. Both Boom Booms must be defeated individually with three hits each.

Super Mario Maker 2
Boom Boom appears as an enemy in Super Mario Maker 2. Boom Boom appears in all styles, with the Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World styles giving him new sprites. In the Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. U and Super Mario 3D World styles, he behaves identically to their respective original games, though he now crouches when stomped on in the main four styles, even in the New Super Mario Bros. U style; the Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World styles use the same behavior as in Super Mario Bros. 3. When he is stomped twice, he dashes faster in the first three styles; in the New Super Mario Bros. U style, he instead Spin Jumps like his appearance in Stoneslide Tower of the original game. If Boom Boom is given wings, he will fly across the screen and occasionally swoop down in an attempt to hurt the player, akin to his appearance in 1 of Super Mario Bros. 3 in the first three styles or Grinding-Stone Tower in the New Super Mario Bros. U style; in the Super Mario 3D World style, he instead floats while spinning. Boom Boom can only be placed five times in a course.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Boom Booms appear in four episodes of The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, where their roles are limited to attacking Mario and Luigi in various locales and producing only roars as sounds. Unlike the games, their teeth are yellow, not white, and they are depicted with similar shells to Bowser's species, due to the carapaces and plastrons being disconnected. The episodes featuring them are Misadventures in Babysitting, Do the Koopa, Crimes R Us, and The Venice Menace.

Super Mario Bros. film
The Boom Boom Bar in the Super Mario Bros. film is named after Boom Boom - one of many references the movie makes to Super Mario Bros. 3 and other early games.

Nintendo Adventure Books
In the Nintendo Adventure Books series, Boom Boom appears in the third book Monster Mix-Up. On one of the multiple routes, the Mushroom King gets kidnapped by two Koopa Troopas. Bowser then lands nearby in the Monster Mixer and threatens to throw him in with Elmo, the stupidest of all of Bowser's troops. However, Elmo does not show up. Eventually, Bowser loses his patience and asks for an explanation to Elmo's disappearance. Boom-Boom waddles up to the front and explains that he wanted to get out of the Fortress and left Elmo in charge there. Infuriated, Bowser tosses him in the mixer with a Fire Snake. Boom Boom pops out of the mixer with his head on fire and flails around pleading for water. Bowser makes a joke saying he's the first of the red hot Troopas. Also, in the book Koopa Capers, an item called "Boom Boom's Socks" can be found.

Super Paper Mario
In Super Paper Mario, one of the Sammer Guys that can be fought is named Flailing Boom Boom, a reference to Boom Boom's sprite animation during the battle against him in Super Mario Bros. 3.

Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition
Boom Boom serve as the bosses of most of the tower courses in Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition. They are Light attribute characters, and their skill changes all Orbs into a random attribute. Their Awoken Skill increases the amount of time that the player has to move Orbs around.

Each Boom Boom that is encountered can have different battle strategies, which can include delivering first strike blows, raising their own ATK, raising their defense against certain attributes, and even refresh the player's Orbs.

After Bowser joins the player's party, a Boom Boom replaces him as the boss of. Likewise, after Bowser Jr. joins the player's party, a Boom Boom replaces him as the boss of, , and.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Boom Booms appear as teammates for Mario or Sonic's team in the Rugby event in the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. They have spiked shells and wear rugby helmets, which are either red, blue, or green, depending on the color of Mario or Sonic's team.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Boom Booms reprise their roles as teammates in the Rugby Event in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Minecraft
In the Super Mario Mash-up of Minecraft, Boom Boom appears as a playable skin. Additionally, following the Nether Update, Piglins are replaced by Boom Boom.

Mario Sports Superstars
Boom Boom and Pom Pom appear as supporting playable characters in Mario Sports Superstars, their Mario sports game playable debut. In soccer, they serve as the two selectable goalies. They additionally appear as team players in baseball, where they are classified as power type characters.

Mario Tennis Aces
"Mario! This is Lord Bowser's island! Boom Boom says SCRAM!"

- Boom Boom

Boom Boom makes his first appearance in the direct Mario Tennis series in Mario Tennis Aces. He appears as an enemy in Story Mode on Inferno Island, and needs to be defeated in a tennis match in order to progress. The conversations before and after the match against him mark the first time he has had dialogue in a game; he refers to himself in the third person and speaks in broken English.

Boom Boom also appears as a Defense-type playable character, meaning he excels at returning shots. He became available for all players on March 1, 2019, although he could be unlocked earlier by participating in the February 2019 online tournament. Boom Boom has the fastest sideways movement in the game, although he is very slow when moving vertically on the court. His movement and victory animations reference his original sprite animation from Super Mario Bros. 3. In his entrance animation, an anchor is lowered onto the court while he holds onto it; he then jumps off of it and rises into the air with a spinning attack similar to the one he uses in the 3D Super Mario games. He also uses this attack in his Special Shot, Spiteful Strike. His horizontal Trick Shot is named Twist 'n' Boom, while his vertical Trick Shot is named Boom Twirl; Twist 'n' Boom has significantly more range than Boom Twirl does, fitting with his theme of being good at moving horizontally and bad at moving vertically. His emblem depicts one of his arms.

Super Mario Party
In Super Mario Party, Boom Boom makes a cameo appearance in the minigame Absent Minded, where he is one of the characters that can appear. Outside of this small cameo, this game is notable for being the only one to feature Pom Pom but not Boom Boom.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Boom Boom appears as an Advanced-class Attack-type primary spirit with one support slot. The image representing the spirit is a render from Super Mario 3D World. In World of Light, the spirit is encountered on the Light Realm map at the entrance to the Molten Fortress. The puppet fighter is a giant Squirtle, fought on the Battlefield version of the Unova Pokémon League stage.

The spirit be enhanced at level 99 into "Boom Boom & Pom Pom", an Ace-class spirit that makes the user's smash attacks more powerful during battle.

Dr. Mario World
Boom Boom debut in the Dr. Mario series as assistants in Dr. Mario World. In stage mode, his effect is to grant a chance that an object, mainly a virus, is transformed into an exploder at stage start, where the chance of it happening is greater at higher levels. In versus mode, their effect is to instead grant a chance that the lowest row of objects are eliminated when an object reaches the second-to-last row, where the chance of it happening is greater at higher levels, with a chance it can reactivate if it failed the first time whenever the condition is met again. Once this versus mode effect activated, it will not activate again for the duration of the match.

Mario Strikers: Battle League
Boom Booms appear as goalies in Mario Strikers: Battle League, replacing Kritters from the previous installments.

Physical appearance
Boom Boom was originally a Koopa with tan or brown skin, although Super Mario 3D Land made his limbs yellow. In the original NES version of Super Mario Bros. 3, Boom Boom in Desert Land's fortress was colored gray due to color limitations. He has long flailing arms and is built like Roy or Morton. He has a rounded snout with two protruding teeth, large legs and padded feet like the Koopalings, and is roughly their height as well, the main difference being his belly being fully covered by his shell's plastron, which is connected to the carapace. As of Super Mario 3D Land, his carapace is red, but in that game, Super Mario 3D World, and Bowser's Fury, it lacks the spikes seen in his other appearances. He is also larger than Mario in recent games. Also, since New Super Mario Bros. U, his hands have visible claws.

In Super Mario Maker 2, Boom Boom receives new designs to match the Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World  styles: the former is very close to his original design in Super Mario Bros. 3, but with more rotund body proportions and an open mouth; the latter depicts him with a darker head and limbs than his other designs.

Personality and traits
Boom Boom is Bowser's faithful servant. He is a powerhouse with a short-temper, although his profiles usually point out that he is easily defeated by taking three stomps to the head. Boom Boom can give orders to the Koopa Troop with Bowser, like to capture the fleeing Princess Peach in Super Mario 3D Land. In most of his appearances, Boom Boom is partnered with Pom Pom; the two are shown to work together very well. Likewise, Boom Boom does not get along with Mario and his friends due their interferences in Bowser's plans and their victories against him.

Boom Boom was introduced as a silent character in Super Mario Bros. 3; since Super Mario 3D Land, he communicates using grunts, yells, and roars. In Mario Tennis Aces, Boom Boom speaks in third person via textbox dialogue.

Abilities
Boom Boom has unique abilities different from other Koopas. In Super Mario Bros. 3, he is capable of jumping higher, running fast and turning his arms into wings to fly (although the wings simply sprout from his head in Super Mario Maker 2's Super Mario 3D World theme). He can also expose his spikes on his shell. Boom Boom flails his arms while dashing in an attempt to hurt Mario.

In Super Mario 3D Land, Boom Boom displays a mostly new set of abilities. He can now spin with his arms extended, which can create a trail of flames, but the attack will leave him dizzy after a while. He also spins in his shell to attack Mario, similar to the Koopalings. Boom Boom can shake his airship just by stomping the floor or hitting the wall with his spinning shell. In Super Mario 3D World, he has the ability to turn invisible and create up to two large duplicates of his red shell that spin across the arena while he attacks with his usual spin attack. He can also teleport across the arena, performing a hand sign similar to Pom Pom before doing so after recovering from being dizzy.

Trivia

 * Not counting ports and remakes, Boom Boom currently holds the record for the longest non-appearance gap in the series with 99 titles between his initial introduction and his reappearance.
 * Despite being listed separately in the Friends and Foes section, the Prima Games guide of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 refers to Boom Boom as a Koopaling.