Fireball (Donkey Kong)

Fires (also called Fireballs and Firefoxes ) are the first generic enemies in a Mario game. They are living embodiments of fire similar to the Podoboos from Super Mario Bros.

Donkey Kong
Fires make their first appearance in the original Donkey Kong and in its remake for the Game Boy as enemies. In levels 25m and 50m, Fires emerge from the Oil Drums and then chase after Mario, although they have short attention spans. If Mario is touched by a Fire, he loses a life and is forced to restart the level. Fires 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 Fire, he receives points, but the only way to destroy them is with a hammer. Picking up a hammer causes the Fires to turn blue. In the climactic fourth level, they grow larger, which makes them more difficult to jump over. There can only be five or less Fires on the screen at the same time in the arcade version; that number was lowered to four in the Nintendo Entertainment System remake of the game.

Super Mario Bros. Special
Their next appearance was in Super Mario Bros. Special where they were credited as Sigebou. The name was created by Hudson Soft's staff. These enemies can fall off the edges of platforms.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong
They appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, where they will often be seen monitoring a set area. They will instantly burn Mario on contact, thus causing him to lose a life.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
They re-appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis in the final boss fight with Donkey Kong, on the roof and the basement levels. They will spawn from Oil Barrels if a wooden barrel falls in to them just like in the original Donkey Kong and they will throughout the field in the same as in the original as well. They can now reverse directions while climbing ladders.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
Fire appears in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! as enemies once again. They sport a more retro appearance and will also suicidally charge at Mario if he is holding a hammer.

Super Smash Bros. series
Fire also appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U on the 75m stage, whom the two games share. On that stage, Fire can damage the fighters by touching them. Each hit does 10% damage and moderate knockback.