Giant Spiked Balls are larger variations of Spiked Balls found in several Mario games, having made their first appearance in New Super Mario Bros.. They typically behave identically to a standard Spiked Ball with a major exception being that they're much larger, due to their large size however, they are slower, much more sturdy, and also extremely powerful as they are able to shred through and destroy anything in their path whether it be enemies, blocks, or even smaller Spiked Balls, Giant Spiked Balls can sometimes be tossed down by Mega Spikes. Giant Spiked Balls are typically indestructible and can only be destroyed with invincibility power-ups such as the Starman.
History[]
Super Mario series[]
New Super Mario Bros.[]
A Giant Spiked Ball rolling as seen in New Super Mario Bros..
Giant Spiked Balls are first seen in New Super Mario Bros., in this game, they first appear in World 2-Castle where one is seen destroying a staircase of Brick Blocks above Mario/Luigi before rolling into the nearby pit acting as a bit of a preview for what's up ahead. Later in the level, two respective Giant Spiked Balls can be found in between gaps below swinging ropes. Swinging across these ropes is optional but they lead to platforms with items. A single Giant Spiked Ball later appears in World 5-Fortress as the elevator reaches the halfway point of the Tower destroying the Spiked Balls already rolling on the elevator creating a much larger obstacle to avoid on the way up. Stay ahead of the platform as the Giant Spiked Ball rolls around breaking blocks and destroying the Dry Bones along the path and be sure to go to the right of the wall barrier wall as the Giant Spiked Ball will always end up on the left. Giant Spiked Balls can only be destroyed with the effects of a Starman or Mega Mushroom.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
A Giant Spiked Ball rolls at the Mario Crew.
Giant Spiked Balls later reappear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, in this game, they can be found in World 8-2 where they roll along the rolling grounds with the smaller Spiked Balls. Once again, Giant Spiked Balls can shred through blocks and destroy the smaller Spiked Balls as well as the Goombas, Hefty Goombas, and Grand Goombas along the path. Giant Spiked Balls behave as they did previously but are slightly faster than before. They can only be destroyed with the effects of a Starman.
Super Mario 3D Land[]
Giant Spiked Balls rolling around the Elevator.
Giant Spiked Balls appear again in Super Mario 3D Land appearing in levels such as World 5-1 as well as various Airships. They emerge from holes or cannons and roll around destroying anything in their way including Spiked Balls, blocks, and other enemies. They roll around much more slowly and their larger size can make avoiding the slightly harder as they are too big to be jumped over normally Giant Spiked Balls can be destroyed with the effects of a Starman, Statue Leaf, or an Invincibility Leaf.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[]
Several Giant Spiked Balls in the Castle.
Giant Spiked Balls return in New Super Mario Bros. 2 this time appearing in World 4-Castle and World Mushroom-A. In this game, they are found in between gaps rolling around very slowly. They can once again destroy smaller Spiked Balls and are slightly slower than they were previously, a Giant Spiked Ball can only be destroyed with the effects of a Starman, Mega Mushroom, or Invincibility Leaf. Giant Spiked Balls also have an equivalent called Giant Stone Spiked Balls which appear in World 4-1 and a much larger variation of the Giant Spiked Ball called that Super Giant Spiked Ball which appears in World Mushroom-Castle.
New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]
Although Giant Spiked Balls are absent in New Super Mario Bros. U as well as New Super Luigi U and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, a similar enemy called the Mega Grrrol appears which appears to've replaced the Giant Spiked Ball in these games.
Super Mario Run[]
A Giant Spiked Ball rolling at Mario.
Giant Spiked Balls appear in Super Mario Run during the final battle with Bowser in the level Bowser's Bob-ombing Run. During the chase, Bowser occasionally spits out Giant Spiked Balls from his Koopa Clown Car which roll towards you and must be jumped over as you give chase to Bowser. They can only be destroyed with the effects of a Starman.
Super Mario Maker 2[]
A Mega Spike after tossing a Giant Spiked Ball.
Giant Spiked Balls appear in Super Mario Maker 2 as projectiles thrown by Mega Spikes. Unlike regular Spiked Balls, Giant Spiked Balls can destroy blocks in their path, they can also destroy smaller Spiked Balls and kill enemies as they roll along the paths and down hills. Once again, the only way to destroy a Giant Spiked Ball is with a Starman.
Mario & Luigi series[]
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[]
A Giant Spiked Ball in an attack.
Giant Spiked Balls appear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam as part of one of the attacks made by a Spike. They can be countered back with a Hammer or jumped over. Paper Spikes never use Giant Spiked Balls and only regular Spikes have access to these weapons.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[]
A Giant Spiked Ball being tossed.
Giant Spiked Balls appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey during the Spike's Group Attack. Whenever 2, 3, or 4 Spikes are deployed they will all toss Giant Spiked Balls at the enemy dealing heavy damage.
Mario Party series[]
Mario Party 9[]
Players dodge the Spiked Balls and Giant Spiked Balls.
Giant Spiked Balls appear once again in Mario Party 9 in the minigame Tumble Temple. During the minigame, Spiked Balls are rolling down a slope at the players being bounced around by the poles, as the minigame progresses, Giant Spiked Balls also start rolling down the hill which behave the same as the regular Spiked Balls but their larger size makes them harder to avoid. As the timer nears 0, more and more Giant Spiked Balls start showing up. If a player is hit by a Giant Spiked Ball or a regular Spiked Ball, they are immediately eliminated from the minigame.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- While Giant Spiked Balls can destroy most objects and kill nearly every enemy in the game, they are unable to instantly kill Mario or his friends rather just merely doing the regular damage upon contact.
