Porcupuffers, alternatively spelled Porcu-Puffers, are pufferfish-like enemies which first appear in Super Mario World.
Profile[]
Physical description[]
The bulky Porcupuffer has purple outer skin and a white belly. It has slit eyes and puffy pink lips. It has spikes everywhere on its body with the exception of the underside. Its seemingly flimsy fins are light in purple and actually support the Porcupuffer very well.
Behavior[]
Porcupuffers try to defeat Mario, Luigi, or another character by jumping out of the water at them. If the character is underwater, the Porcupuffer tries to dash into them.
History[]
Super Mario World[]
Mario and Yoshi stomp on a Porcu-Puffer relentlessly stalking them.
In Super Mario World, Porcupuffer appears in three levels throughout the entire game. These levels are: Vanilla Secret 3, Cookie Mountain and Chocolate Island 1. However, in Cookie Mountain and Chocolate Island 1, they are found in secret areas. While in Vanilla Secret 3, Porcupuffer is found throughout the entire level, chasing the player. Mario and Luigi can spin jump on them or use Yoshi to "ride" them. Fire Mario and Cape Mario can defeat a Porcupuffer. And Yoshi can also eat them. Porcupuffers are unable to jump and instead chase them from the water surface.
New Super Mario Bros.[]
While Porcupuffers don't appear in New Super Mario Bros. a relative of them called the Spike Bass appears, and they behave very similarly to Porcupuffers.
Super Mario Galaxy series[]
Although Porcupuffers are absent in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 a similar enemy called the Puffer Fish appears.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
The Porcupuffer makes his first attack on the Mario Crew.
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Porcupuffer appears in World 6-5 and World 9-2, a Porcupuffer also appears for World 4's enemy course. It jumps out of the water occasionally to attack Mario. They can be destroyed by hitting it with a Koopa Troopa Shell, a Fireball, or the effects of a Starman however this will only give Mario a breather for a few seconds before another Porcupuffer appears, similar to Lakitu. If Ice Mario tries to freeze a Porcupuffer, it will break free almost instantly due to it's size.
Super Mario 3D Land[]
Mario near a Porcupuffer.
Porcupuffers appear in Super Mario 3D Land, in this game, they are much larger and are not as aggressive as in previous games. They mainly swim in set patterns (sometimes going over or under wall blockages), Porcupuffers can be defeated with the effects of a Fire Flower, Super Leaf, Starman, Boomerang Flower, Statue Leaf, or an Invincibility Leaf. They commonly appear in underwater levels such as World 3-2 and World 7-1 however there are some Porcupuffers in Waterfall-based levels such as World 6-1 which hop out of the water and try to fly into Mario/Luigi sometimes breaking parts of the bridges.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[]
A Porcupuffer swimming to the next section of the level where it will attack.
Porcupuffers appear again in New Super Mario Bros. 2, in this game, they behave as they did in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and appear in World Flower-2 and World Star-4. In the former, it is shown that Porcupuffers can also swim in Poisoned Water and in the latter, a Porcupuffer is seen swimming to the right in the first area, and in the second area of the level, a Porcupuffer relentlessly makes attemps to attack you as the tidal levels of the beach waters flood the level. Jump across the platforms of the scrolling level to keep as much distance between you and the Porcupuffer as possible. The third and final section of the level has you jumping across rising/falling platforms while avoiding the Porcupuffer. A Porcupuffer is also seen in the first level of the Impossible Pack. Porcupuffers can be defeated with the effects of a Fire Flower, Gold Flower, Super Leaf, Mega Mushroom, Starman, or Invincibility Leaf.
New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]
The Porcupuffer makes yet another attack.
Porcupuffers return in New Super Mario Bros. U as well as New Super Luigi U and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. In these games, they retain their behavior from previous games in the New Super Mario Bros. series (stalking Mario and friends and then making attempts to attack via leaping) and are only seen in the Rock-Candy Mines levels Porcupuffer Falls and Porcupuffer Caverns. Porcupuffers can be defeated with the use of Shells, or the effects of a Fire Flower or Starman. They can be frozen with Iceballs but will break free instantly due to their size.
Super Mario 3D World/Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[]
A Porcupuffer Swimming.
The Porcupuffer appears again in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, like in Super Mario 3D Land, they aren't particularly aggressive, they are also larger and are exclusively found underwater however in these games, they are faster as well. Porcupuffers are commonly found in underwater areas (such as Pipeline Lagoon) and can be defeated with the effects of a Fire Flower, Super Leaf, Super Bell, Boomerang Flower, Starman, Lucky Bell, Invincibility Leaf, or Invincibility Bell.
Super Mario Maker 2[]
Mario battles many Porcupuffers.
Porcupuffers appear again in Super Mario Maker 2 as placeable enemies. In this game, they are limited to the Super Mario 3D World game style, and behave in the same way as they do in Super Mario 3D World. When placed on a surface of water, they behave as they did in the 2D Mario games (relentlessly stalking Mario and trying to hop-attack him. Porcupuffers are also seen underwater being less aggressive. Porcupuffers can be defeated with the effects of a Fire Flower, Super Bell, or a Starman. When underwater, if a Porcupuffer is hit with Fireballs, they will gradually increase in size before blowing up.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Its name is derived from Porcupine Puffer.
- Their names were spelt as "Porcu-Puffer" in their debut in Super Mario World however in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, it was changed to "Porcupuffer" in American regions however Europe and Oceania have retained their original name.
