Mario franchise strategy guide/Enemies/Boo

Boo (テレサ, Teresa) is a fictional ghost that appears in the Super Mario series. Boos made their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. 3.

Characteristics

Physically, Boos resemble classical Halloween spooks. They are round, puffy and balloon-like in appearance, and usually sport a pair of sharp vampirical canine teeth. Boos have beady eyes and a variety of facial expressions comparable to those of classical jack o' lanterns. Boos have flaps for arms as well as short tails. There are many Boo variations, as they vary in color and size. The most common Boo type is a generic, milky-white Boo, but other Boos can come in hues of blue, green, pink, orange, brown, red and black. One type of Boo, found in Paper Mario, is the Dark Boo, which is violet with glowing orange eyes and a blue tongue. Even though they are ghosts, there has been some controversy as to whether Boos are true ghosts or a species of ghost-like creatures. Judging from their dialogue in Super Mario 64, it is hinted that they are in fact dead Mushroom Kingdom residents. However, this has been contradicted in more recent games, mostly when one takes it into consideration that the ghosts of Mushroom Kingdom citizens have been seen, and they were not Boos. The ghosts in Luigi's Mansion resembled the people they were before they died. Also, Boos can be killed and created by Koopa magic. Boos are often evil, but this is not always the case. They also tend to have jobs and friends, and most Boos appear to have functional roles in society. This indicates that Boos are actually ectoplasmic creatures, not deceased spirits. However, it is possible that Boos are the ghosts of dead Bandits; Bandits wear masks resembling the face of a Boo, and they share with Boos the tendency to steal from people.

Appearances

Boo first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3, mostly in castles and fortresses. They won't move if Mario/Luigi faces them, but they'll give a chase when they turn their backs on them. In this game they were known as Boo Diddleys (perhaps a nod to Bo Diddley, an American singer).

Boos were given extended play in Super Mario World, which featured hundreds of them residing in various "ghost houses", with the ability to disappear, group together, rotate in impenetrable circles and make various faces. When Mario or Luigi look toward these creatures, they blush, flinch and stop moving. When the characters turn away, the ghost gives chase. In one level, there is a variant that turns to stone — stone which Mario can safely jump on — when Mario faces him. Eeries (Telesauls in Japan) appear to be a dinosaur version of Boos, but are not shy. Instead, they wander back and forth in groups. In Yoshi's Island, Yoshi cannot hit Boos with eggs unless he is facing away and the egg ricochets off of a wall while Boos are active.

Though Boos are, for the most part, minor antagonists, one is Mario's ally in Paper Mario; Lady Bow, who assists Mario in his battle against Bowser, by making him invisible or scaring enemies.

In Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, a secret set of levels could be accessed if a certain number of points were obtained. In these levels (called "You vs. Boo"), Mario/Luigi raced Boo to the end of the level. Boo acted like a literal ghost in You vs. Boo, finishing at your time (and changing in color) every time you challenge him again after beating him.

In Luigi's Mansion, King Boo is the main antagonist in Luigi's quest to rescue Mario. (He reappears in Super Mario Sunshine; Super Mario 64 DS, oddly named "Big Boo" like the non-crowned large ghost of that game, except he called himself "the" Big Boo; is playable in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and in Mario Party 8 as an NPC) Most Boos are shy but mischievous ghosts that love scaring others (especially Toad, as seen in Luigi's Mansion). Despite the fact that they are "ghosts", they do not seem to be the spirits of the deceased, but rather a separate type of creature.

Super Princess Peach introduced a reversal of this with the Mad Boo, a Boo that chased Peach whenever she looked at it, and cowered when she turned away. A larger boss version exists, known as "Big Boo" (who made its debut in Super Mario World) and a boss in Yoshi's Island is named "Bigger Boo." Other types include "Fishin' Boo" (Spook in Japan), who floats overhead dangling a lethal blue flame, and a Pink Boo from Super Mario Sunshine who, when sprayed by FLUDD, would turn into a platform for a short time.

New Super Mario Bros. features a Boo (called the Balloon Boo) which inflates itself to massive proportions when stared at, and when Mario or Luigi looks away, it expels the air, propelling itself forward. This game also features a Boo-like creature called a Broozer, a pale ghost with green eyes, a sinister, fanged smile and boxing gloves, which could punch through solid blocks. The Yoshi series of games introduced Boo Balloon, who is a balloon version of a Boo who does not freeze if looked at directly, and Boo Man Bluff (an obvious reference to "blind man's bluff"), a large orange blindfolded Boo, who does not freeze if looked at directly. In Yoshi's Story, a blind variation exists, which approaches on basis of sound rather than sight, as well as a Slime Boo. Boo Guys are the ghosts of Shy Guys that appear in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Two variations known as "Greaper" and "Glum Reaper" appear in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Boos appear in Bowser's Castle. There, they attack simply, but they do not shy away from Mario and Luigi like in the platformers.

In Super Paper Mario, Boos haunt certain chambers in Merlee's Mansion, and Dark Boos inhabit parts of "The Underwhere", a realm where the dead spirits of sinners reside. This may lend evidence to Boos being the spirits of the dead, but it is also possible that they are merely a form of demon.

A recent trailer of Super Mario Galaxy has shown that, through the use of a power-up, Mario will be able to transform into a Boo.

Boos also appear briefly in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, haunting a single room in Bottle Grotto. These Boos seem to have gotten over their fear of facing opponents and float carelessly toward intruders. Many of the game's weapons are useless against them, as they disappear when struck by them and appear on the diametrically opposite side of the room. When light touches them, however, they turn into retreating shadows and are vulnerable to nearly everything. The Magic Rod remains the only item able to dispatch their ghost forms.

In Mario's Picross, Boo appears as one of the puzzle solutions.

Boos were commonly featured in the Mario Party series. They would have their own space where players could steal each other's coins and stars. In some Mario Party games, Big Boo made an appearance with the role of a regular Boo but was able to steal coins and stars from all players. Starting with Mario Party 5, it became a playable character. Replacing it in its job would be Chain Chomp, and later, a pink Boo.

A Pink Boo appeared in Mario Party 6. When a player landed on its space, it would steal coins or a star from chosen player for up to 40 coins. The Pink Boo wasn't a space in Mario Party 7, but was an orb that stole stars/coins and gave it to the player; it also appeared in mini-games like Mathemortician and Ghost in the Hall.

In Mario Party 4, Pink Boo appeared on Boo's board and when passed, he will cause the pink bridges to appear/disappear. When visible, in game events such as the Ghost Train will be unusable due to their presence.

Boo is also a playable character in Mario Party 8. There was also a board called King Boo's Haunted Hideaway Where you would give King Boo 10 coins in order to get a Star.

Boo appeared playable in Mario Party 5 and has appeared playable in every Mario Party game.

Some Mario Kart games feature Boo as an item that makes the user invisible and steals an item from a rival. In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Boo is a playable character that must be unlocked by getting 50 best badges in tournaments. In Mario Tennis and Mario Power Tennis a Boo is a playable character; he possesses the ability to curve the ball a great distance and thus confuse opponents.

Boo is also a playable character in Mario Hoops 3 on 3, and, Mario Superstar Baseball, along with King Boo. Boo is an above average hitter with poor defense and speed, but is a surprisingly good pitcher.

Boo will also be a playable character in the game Mario Strikers Charged, where he is a Playmaker sidekick. In the new Mario Kart Wii Trailer, Boo is seen at 00.50.

Variations

The enemy called Teresa in Japan has been translated with several names in English translations. The following are not variations: Boo Diddly in Super Mario Bros. 3 and The Big Boo in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Stretch (ネッチー, Netchi)

Appears in Super Mario Bros. 3. This Boo hides inside an elongated white block, and pokes its head out from time to time. Only the head is dangerous to Mario. Some white blocks contain more than one Stretch.

Eerie (テレサウルス, Teresaurus)

Appears in Super Mario World. It is the ghost of a dinosaur. Unlike Boo, Eerie moves straight ahead without stopping.

Boo Buddies (集団テレサ, Shoudan Teresa)

Appear in Super Mario World. These Boos travel in large groups and attack in a variety of ways. Some spin in circles, some fade in and out of the scenery and some travel in a snake-like pattern across the screen.

Big Boo / Atomic Boo (アトミックテレサ, Atomic Teresa)

First appeared in Super Mario World. A giant Boo.

Boo Block (ブロックテレサ, Block Teresa)

Appears in Super Mario World. When you face this Boo, it turns into a block that Mario can stand on.

Boo Balloon (バルーンテレサ, Balloon Teresa)

Appears in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. A blue Boo with a balloon string hanging beneath it. Each time Yoshi hits it with an egg Boo Balloon inflates. When it has been hit three times it pops.

Boo Man Bluff (めかくしテレサ, Mekakushi Teresa)

Appears in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. A peach-colored Boo wearing a blindfold that searches for Yoshi using sound. Yoshi can walk past them, but if he jumps or shoots eggs then Boo Man Bluff homes in on Yoshi's position.

Bigger Boo (びっくりテレサ, Fright Teresa)

Appears as a boss character in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Kamek's magic has made this boo even bigger. Yoshi has to hit it with eggs, but it fades away when you face it. You have to bounce your eggs off the wall while facing away in order to hit Bigger Boo. Each time you do it expands in size even more, until eventually it explodes.

Li'l Boo (ハイテレサ, Hai Teresa)

Appears in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. A stronger version of the Boo.

Dark Boo (ダークテレサ, Dark Teresa)

Appears in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Super Paper Mario. A stronger, purple Boo.

Dark Boo (テレテレサ, Tereteresa)

Appears in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. A strong Boo that steals Mario and Luigi's items and tries to escape. This is not the same enemy as the Dark Teresa of the Paper Mario games, which also has the name "Dark Boo" outside Japan.

Boolossus (ジャンボテレサ, Jumbo Teresa)

Appears as a Boss character in Luigi's Mansion. A giant Boo made up of many smaller Boos. You have to impale it on a unicorn statue in order to release the smaller Boos and capture each one individually.

King Boo (キングテレサ, King Teresa)

First appears in Luigi's Mansion. A large Boo wearing a crown. He is leader of the Boos that created Luigi's Mansion and even successfully captured Mario.

King Boo has gone on to appear as a playable character in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and as a boss in Super Mario 64 DS (mistakenly called Big Boo).