A Fighter Fly (originally spelled Fighterfly), also referred to as a firefly[1] or bee,[2] is a hopping insect that first appeared in the sewers of the original Mario Bros. arcade game.
In early versions of Mario Bros. as well as the Battle Game included in the original Super Mario Bros. 3, the designs for Fighter Flies feature large toothy scowls and shiny eyes. In their artwork associated with game, Fighter Flies wear blue masks around their eyes.
The design of Fighter Flies was redone in the remaster of Super Mario Bros. 3 included in Super Mario All-Stars. Their design in this title has large white eyes with black pupils, while their scowls are replaced with small closed mouths, their heads are a light orange color, and they have noses. This design is further developed in the Game Boy Advance remake of Mario Bros., which also gives them three colors and speeds depending on how many times they have been flipped over, like the other target enemies have.
Instead of walking, a Fighter Fly bounces around to move from one place to another. In Mario Bros., a Fighter Fly makes a ringing sound before one of them enters a stage.
Appearances[]
Mario Bros. series[]
Mario Bros.[]
Fighter Flies as they appear in various different versions of Mario Bros.
In Mario Bros., Fighter Flies are one of the myriad of pests that emerge from pipes to attack Mario and Luigi. They first appear in Phase 6 (Phase 7 in Japan). After a Fighter Fly emerges, it hops across the floors. As such, Mario has to precisely time his jump when the Fighter Fly is on the ground to flip the creature over. If airborne, a Fighter Fly cannot be flipped over - not even if Mario uses the POW Block. Once flipped over, Mario has to run into the insect to clear it off the stage.
Mario Bros. Special[]
In Mario Bros. Special, Fighterflies can only be stunned if it is only a trampoline or conveyor belt that is being bounced on by Mario or Luigi. They first appear in Phase 9.
Punch Ball Mario Bros.[]
In Punch Ball Mario Bros., Fighterflies can be flipped over by hitting the POW Block while it is on the ground or having a Punch Ball thrown at them. If they recover or become the last target enemy on stage, they will turn green and move faster. They first appear in Phase 6.
Playbox BASIC / Family BASIC[]
Fighterflies are programmable sprites in the Playbox BASIC and Family BASIC accessories for the Family Computer. They make a cameo in the Playbox BASIC's Biorhythm Board. They appear as enemies in shooter mini-games in the Data Recorder's cassette and Family BASIC V3.
Super Mario Bros. Special[]
In Super Mario Bros. Special, Fighterflies, named Nakaji, appear in five levels. They are presumably named after Tomohiko Nakajima, one of the three staff members responsible for naming new enemies. He also made the end credits, which is the only place where the name appears. While it is not possible to stomp them, they can be defeated by any other method, including with a hammer.
Super Mario series[]
Super Mario Land[]
A Fly artwork, from Super Mario Land.
In Super Mario Land, Fighterflies are simply named Flies[3][4] and are seen in the Birabuto Kingdom of Sarasaland. In this game, they hop towards Mario, just like in Mario Bros. Some of them spawn in midair and hop downward when scrolled on-screen instead of appearing simply on the ground. Kumos from the Easton Kingdom attack in the same manner as Flies. They can simply be jumped on or be shot with a Superball to be defeated. Flies award Mario with 400 points when he defeats them. They are only found in World 1-1 and World 1-3 where, in the latter, one poses as Princess Daisy.
Super Mario 3D World[]
Fighter Flies appear in Luigi Bros., an additional game featured in Super Mario 3D World. Like the other enemies in Luigi Bros., Fighter Flies behave in the same way as in Mario Bros., which this game is based on.
Super Mario Maker[]
A Mystery Mushroom costume, designed after Fighter Fly, can be unlocked in Super Mario Maker (after the version 1.20 update) by completing the hard version of Gnat Attack. When performing a jump as Fighter Fly, the player can hear the high-pitched noise this enemy made in the original Mario Bros.. If the player presses while playing as Fighter Fly, it will turn into a Freezie, which is a foe that also debuted in Mario Bros.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[]
A Fighter Fly fight in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Fighter Flies appear as obstacles on the Mario Classic Court in Mario Power Tennis, in a flat 8-bit model form. Like other enemies, they will walk around on the court, obstructing a player's movements. An unused 3D model for a Fighter Fly can be found in the game's files, heavily based off their design from the Mario Bros. remake in Super Mario All-Stars.
In other media[]
Super Mario (Kodansha manga)[]
In Super Mario Land, Fighter Flies, depicted like giant anthropomorphic flies (with compound eyes and proboscis), are met in Birabuto Kingdom. One attaches itself onto Mekakuribō, who is actually Princess Peach in disguise, making her yell in disgust when the enemy starts slurping with its mouth. Mario quickly defeats it. When Daisy is rescued from King Totomesu, she jumps at Mario and starts to kiss him, only to reveal she was a Fighter Fly in disguise, making Mario gag.
Super Mario-kun[]
In Super Mario-kun, Fighter Flies appear in volume 3 alongside other Super Mario Land enemies. One of them is the second enemy to damage Mario, via biting. Later, Mario grabs a Super Star and defeats them alongside the other enemies.
Another Flighter Fly also appears in chapter 9 of volume 9, which takes place in a Mario Bros. styled arena where Mario, Luigi and Yoshi are trapped. It does not play any important role.
Crossover appearances[]
NES Remix[]
In NES Remix, Fighter Flies appear in some of the challenges based on Mario Bros.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[]
Fighter Flies make a cameo appearance as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Unlike the other Mario Bros. trophies, this trophy uses sprites from the NES version instead of the arcade version.
Unused appearances[]
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening[]
Fighterflies in prototype The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening assets
In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening development assets, Fighter Fly sprites, along with either a rough sketch or a planned variant, can be found among the game's cameos.
• ⋆-Enemy, boss, or stat exclusive to the main game. • ⋆⋆-Enemy, boss, or stat exclusive to Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser. • ⋆⋆⋆-Enemy variants differ in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions.
while playing as Fighter Fly, it will turn into a Freezie, which is a foe that also debuted in Mario Bros.
