Mario franchise strategy guide/Bosses/Raphael Raven

Raphael Raven (Big Kyuuchan in Japan) is a member of the Raven (Kyuuchan in Japan) species that first appeared in the video game Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island as a villain.

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Raphael Raven

The Raven species appeared several times in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island as generic enemies, walking around small spheres, implying their ability to stick to surfaces. Raphael the Raven, however, is apparently a special Raven, made more powerful by Kamek's magic.

In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Raphael the Raven was the final boss of World 5. When the player finally arrives in the boss room, he appears as a regular Raven, but with Kamek's magic, he was transformed into Raphael the Raven. He, Baby Mario and Yoshi went to the moon to fight, which is very small. Like the regular ravens, Raphael Raven ran around this sphere, and Yoshi had to both avoid him and confront him in order to defeat him. All Raphael the Raven had to do to harm Yoshi is to bump into him, while Yoshi must ground-pound a stake down into the moon as Raphael Raven is directly under it. Doing this causes him to go into a rage, and rush after Yoshi. He could also create sparks that orbited the moon several times by stomping the ground. Three hits takes him down, and he was knocked into the stars. He appears in the GBA port of this game, titled Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.

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Blue Yoshi fighting against an angry Raphael Raven in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Later, in the game Tetris Attack, he appeared as the final ally to be saved from Bowser's control. This is his first appearance as a good guy. He replaced Seren (Panel de Pon, the original version of Tetris Attack), a fairy girl, as the final ally. He appears in his angry form at all time, fighting alongside one Red Shy Guy and two Green Shy Guys. It is shown that Raphael the Raven isn't fluent in English, often saying small, one-line statements, and Caw-Caw as well. In Paper Mario, he's far more well-spoken, and now lives in the Jade Jungle on Lavalava Island as the leader of other Ravens, apparently giving up working for Bowser. He has also given up the name Raphael the Raven, in return for the simpler name, Raphael Raven. He assists Mario and company in getting to the next Star Spirit in the volcano. Raphael Raven seems to have gotten much larger since his days in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.

He later appears as a Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee unlocked through the lottery. This Trophy can be unlocked in Adventure, All-Star or Classic modes as well. Raphael Raven is one of the few of the bosses in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island to appear again. The others are Hookbill the Koopa and Naval Piranha , who had appeared as bosses in Tetris Attack.