Boo (Nintendo)
Boo Hiding (right)
A Boo (???; Teresa or Telesa) is a type of ghost featured in Mario video games. Boos made their first appearance under the name of "Boo Diddly" in Super Mario Bros. 3 and was virtually invincible to all attacks with the exception of the Starman and the Hammer Bros. Suit. 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 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. 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", 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. 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 Mathmortician and Ghost in the Hall. Though Boos are, for the most part, minor antagonists, one is Mario's ally in Paper Mario; Lady Bow, who assist Mario in his battle against Bowser, by making him invisible or scaring enemies. Some Mario Kart games feature Boo as an item that makes the user invisible and steals an item from a rival. 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; and is playable in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!) Most Boos are shy but mischievous ghosts that love scaring others (especially Toads, 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 seperate type of creature. In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Boo is a playable character that must be unlocked by getting 50 birdie badges in tournaments. In the 1st 4 Mario Parties, Boo steals coins and stars from players, but later, starting with Mario Party 5, it becomes a playable character. Replacing it in its job would be Chain Chomp, and later, a pink female Boo. Boo is also a playable character in Mario Superstar Baseball, along with King Boo. New Super Mario Bros. features a Boo capable of inflating itself. This game also features a Boo-like creature called a Broozer, a black ghost with green eyes, a sinister, fanged smile and boxing gloves, which could punch through solid blocks.