Bob-omb (Paper Mario: The Origami King)

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“You know that memory-loss thing? What's it called... Ambrosia? Amnesty? Thinky Thinky Panic? Whatever you call it, I've got it—big time.”

—Bob-omb, Paper Mario: The Origami King

Bob-omb, or Bobby as referred to by Olivia, is an ally to Mario in Paper Mario: The Origami King. He is an amnesiac Bob-omb who joins Mario and Olivia's quest while attempting to recall his memories. He occasionally refers to Mario as "Big M" and Olivia as "lady".

Bob-omb uses Bomb Bump in battle, ramming into the nearest enemy, dealing 20 damage. However, there is also a chance that he may trip and deal no damage instead. This is indicated by if he starts to sleep during the turn.

Bobby deserved better.

After Bobby died, I was staring helplessly at the tv screen for a couple of minutes, shocked, silent, my grieving is still not over and I will be taking my time with this. I have never imagined that a very cute, lovely and lighthearted game like this would hit me at the back like a sudden brick on the face. As the player, when I first met Bobby the bomb-omb it was awkward but funny and adorable. At first I didn’t know what to do with him. Then we knew that he had amnesia. When me and Olivia offered for him to join us to create new memories. He joined us, we laughed, ran from bad guys, we even fought some of them fearlessly. We even ate together some canned tuna and it was an amazing time. The thing is, he did now even know what his story was so this is why he didn’t tell mario and olivia anything. But when olivia was crushed under the boulder and would be stuck forever, bobby looked at me and said that he wanted a favor. He asked if we could go to that ship and fetch something important because he assured us that that it would save Olivia. So we went on another adventure, little did I know that it would be the last time I would ever see his innocent and adorable little face. That friend face that made me miss him so much after all these adventures. I can’t stop crying over this. I am now running out of breath as I am typing this because I tend to succeed at expressing myself a lot when I write so I could let it out. My dear friend, our lovely, kind, adorable, funny, courageous and white-hearted Bobby. Our friend is gone. I’m crying now and I can’t continue this game. I need to take a little break. If I knew, if mario knew, if anyone of us knew what was going on in his mind we would have NEVER agreed to go to that ship. Olivia would have NEVER agreed to this. I love you bomb-omb. I love and miss you Bobby already. So much, you poor, sweet courageous little boy. Our buddy had already a tough time before all this. Then this happens.. damn you nintendo. Damn you for making me feel this way. I swear I can’t breathe. I am drinking water and I will probably need a lot of time to recover. I can’t believe you are gone. I miss and love you Bobby. Thank U. Thank U for everything. Gdbye.

Justice for Bobby.

History

Background

Sometime prior to the events of Paper Mario: The Origami King, Bob-omb had lost a comrade, also named Bob-omb. Afterwards, Bob-omb kept his late friend's fuse as a memory, keeping it safe within a lock-box that he always carried with him.

At some point afterwards, Bob-omb was booked with a group of Bob-omb friends on a cruise in the VIP stateroom on The Princess Peach. However, during the trip, the ship was attacked by Gooper Blooper, who had been converted to a Paper Macho form due to King Olly's actions. The group attempted to defend the ship, but to no avail, and during the battle, Bob-omb was knocked off the boat, losing his fuse in the process.

Sometime later, Bob-omb washed ashore at Toad Town, physically unharmed but suffering amnesia. After coming to his senses, Bob-omb set off alone towards Overlook Mountain, looking to recover his memories.

Paper Mario: The Origami King

By the time Mario and Olivia defeat Colored Pencils and unravel the red streamer used in King Olly's plot to take over the world, Bob-omb has boarded a cable car headed towards Autumn Mountain. Mario and Olivia end up boarding that same car, where the two parties cross paths for the first time.

During the ride, Bob-omb introduces himself, stating he only remembers his name and reveals he has amnesia, albeit not knowing the correct term for the condition, and states his purpose for going on the journey. Olivia then brings up the idea of Bob-omb joining them as a chance to help him recover his memories. Initially, Bob-omb is skeptical, stating he thought he would be a burden to the two, after which Olivia abandons the idea. Bob-omb, however, thinks about the opportunity, and brings it up again shortly afterward.

By the time the cable car reaches Autumn Mountain, Mario has agreed to take Bob-omb under their wing. After getting off, Olivia refers to him as Bombert, but Bob-omb corrects her. Shortly afterward, Bob-omb runs off to investigate a small valley in the mountain. Olivia tries to call him back, calling him Bhomas only for him to correct her again, leading her to settle on Bobby as a nickname. Mario and Olivia then jump in after him. The valley is in fact a dried up river, and on the way out, Bob-omb tries to make friends with a Spiny turned Folded Soldier, forcing Olivia to stop him. The trio then enters a dried up lake, with a Water Vellumental Magic Circle nearby.

As the trio explores the mountain, Bob-omb runs off twice, the first time to take in the sight of the Water Vellumental Shrine, and the second during a walk in the Tall Grass Plains, in which he meets and befriends a Sombrero Guy. Then, while crossing a bridge to the shrine, a Paper Macho Goomba appears, whom Bob-omb also attempts to befriend. The Goomba then knocks Bob-omb off the bridge, and Mario jumps off in pursuit, landing in the Chestnut Valley. Mario ends up continuously having to rescue Bob-omb, before making it back to the shrine. Once they arrive, Bob-omb and Mario stand on dual pressure plates, opening the shrine. Bob-omb, however, decides to remain near the entrance in fear.

Bob-omb continues to tag along until and during Shogun Studios aside from the Ninja Attraction. After Mario defeats Rubber Band and unravels the blue streamer, the staff of Shogun Studios throw fireworks in celebration. Looking at the fireworks causes Bob-omb to regain his memories. Bob-omb then decides to part ways with Mario and Olivia, but after some convincing from the latter, he continues with them.

The trio continues the boat tour to Sweetpaper Valley following the yellow streamer. During the ride, Olivia asks Bob-omb to tell them more about him, but he declines for unknown reasons. The boat reaches Sweetpaper Valley, but following an encounter with King Olly, a boulder crushes Olivia and blocks the way forward. Seeing this, Bob-omb and Mario, on the former's request, heads back to Toad Town and takes a rider from Sea Captain Toad across The Great Sea to The Princess Peach, now overtaken with black ink. Inside the VIP stateroom is a lockbox containing the item Bob-omb is looking for, which is promptly taken by Gooper Blooper. After Mario defeats it and recovers the box, the two head back to Sweetpaper Valley. Bob-omb finally tells Mario his backstory, and reveals the item inside the lockbox: his late friend's fuse. He puts it on, and, as his last words thanks Mario. Bob-omb then lights the fuse, prompting Mario to try to stop him, only for it to be too late. Bob-omb explodes, sacrificing his life to destroy the boulder trapping Olivia.

Upon realizing Bob-omb's demise, Olivia becomes extremely disheartened, and runs off into Breezy Tunnel. She comes to rest on a log in a Monty Mole chamber questioning her ability to continue with the quest. Mario tries to comfort her, but with little result. The Monty Moles then gather the remains of the destroyed boulder and place it near the entrance. Bob-omb's spirit calls to Mario from the rubble, and has him cheer up Olivia, lest his sacrifice be in vain. Under Bob-omb suggestion of using laughter Mario then uses his Goomba Mask to cheer up Olivia, and the two continue their quest. Though Bob-omb's spirit cannot be talked to again, Mario can still inspect the pile of rubble where the spirit is found anytime afterward, to which Olivia will question what he's doing and urge him to keep going.

In Bowser's Castle, Olivia mistakes one of the Bob-omb troops to be fired out of the airship to be their old partner. This Bob-omb then states that he is not the same Bob-omb, though Olivia decides not to think too hard, and continues to call him and the other Bob-ombs Bobby, stating she is glad to see him.

Gallery

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  Bob-omb using Bomb Bump

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  Mario and Olivia meeting Bob-omb

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  Bob-omb's spirit

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  Promotional wallpaper for Paper Mario: The Origami King from Nintendo Co., Ltd.'s LINE account

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  Paper Mario: The Origami King desktop wallpaper from My Nintendo

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  Paper Mario: The Origami King smartphone wallpaper from My Nintendo

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ボムへい Bomuhei	Bob-omb; Olivia interprets it as 「ボム平」 (same pronunciation), with 平 meaning "flat" or "commonplace" and a surname, and once uses 「ボム公」 (Bomukō), with 公 being an occasionally-negative name modifier for familiarity and a title for European royalty.
Chinese (simplified)	炸弹兵 Zhàdànbīng 炸弹彬 Zhàdàn Bīn	Bob-omb From "炸弹兵" (Zhàdànbīng, Bob-omb)
Chinese (traditional)	炸彈兵 Zhàdànbīng	Bob-omb
German	Bob-omb Bobby	Bob-omb Bobby
Korean	폭탄병 (포탄병) Poktanbyeong (Potanbyeong)	Bob-omb (The mispronunciation of "Bob-omb," Olivia misunderstood the name of the Bob-omb)
Spanish (NOA)	Bob-omba Bombi	Bob-omb Bomby

Trivia

• Bob-omb, while trying to recall the term for amnesia, mentions "Thinky Thinky Panic", which itself is a pun on Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, where Bob-ombs debuted.
• In the Japanese version, Bob-omb calls Mario "aniki", or "big brother" (which can figuratively be used as an honorific for a superior), implying that the former is younger than him.
• If Mario returns to the photo booth at Shogun Studios after Bob-omb sacrifices himself, his spirit will appear in the finished picture.