Viruses trace their origin to real-life germs, though real viruses are much more primitive, while the Mario series depicts the Viruses as somewhat proto-sentient, allowing them to coordinate attacks.
Other Appearances
Mario & Luigi series
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Viruses are first seen in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga where they are only fought in Woohoo Hooniversity. In battle, they mainly attack by trying to bite either Mario or Luigi. If this attack isn't blocked back, the Virus may poison the brother. They are also defeated when all of the viruses in each battle is the same color. In the 3DS version, Viruses have Dr. Mario sound effects when this happens.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Viruses are seen briefly in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story where they are one of the Toothy's attacks.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Viruses are fairly common in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team where they are seen only in the areas where Mario and Luigi are searching for the five pieces of the Ultibed, but can appear in Wiggly's area. The Viruses always fight in groups of 16 and they attack mainly by charging at Mario and Luigi. The way to defend against their charge varies depending on how it is done. If it involves the viruses charging in two lines, it must be jumped. If it has them run around the Bros. in a circle, it must be avoided by whacking them with the hammer, causing them to retreat. If three of the same colour are countered in a row, those viruses die instantly. They are defeated normally or by placing them in 3 same colors in a row, which can be done by attacking them, but not with counterattacks unlike in Superstar Saga.
Dr. Luigi
The Viruses return in this game where they serve as the main enemies. Their designs in this game are completely different from most other games, as now they are completely legless, with just two arms coming from their sides. The red virus becomes a magenta virus (confusion), the blue one now becomes cyan (dizziness), while the yellow one just suffers design changes, inflicting "drowsiness".
Dr. Mario World
The Viruses reappear in this mobile game for iOS and Android, this time wreaking havoc all across the Mushroom Kingdom with their powers, forcing Mario and his friends to team up with Bowser and his minions to bust the viruses. In addition to the standard red, yellow, and blue viruses, this game also has green, cyan, purple, and pink viruses.
Statistics
| Virus | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVL | 16 | HP | 36 | POW | 64 | DEF | 40 | SPEED | {{{spd}}} | ||||
| EXP | 22 (20) | COINS | 4 | Fire | Heal | Thunder | Critical | Jump | Normal | |||||
| Hammer? | Normal | Hand? | Normal | Stun? | 30% | Burn? | 60% | Stat Down? | 100% | |||||
| Item drop | Location(s) | |||||||||||||
| •None - 0% •None - 0% | Woohoo Hooniversity | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Virus | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVL | 15 | HP | 36 | POW | 44 | DEF | 60 | SPEED | {{{spd}}} | ||||
| EXP | 22 (20) | COINS | 4 | Fire | Critical | Thunder | Heal | Jump | Normal | |||||
| Hammer? | Normal | Hand? | Normal | Stun? | 30% | Burn? | 60% | Stat Down? | 100% | |||||
| Item drop | Location(s) | |||||||||||||
| •None - 0% •None - 0% | Woohoo Hooniversity | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Virus | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVL | 16 | HP | 36 | POW | 54 | DEF | 80 | SPEED | {{{spd}}} | ||||
| EXP | 22 (20) | COINS | 4 | Fire | Heal | Thunder | Heal | Jump | Normal | |||||
| Hammer? | Normal | Hand? | Normal | Stun? | 30% | Burn? | 60% | Stat Down? | 100% | |||||
| Item drop | Location(s) | |||||||||||||
| •None - 0% •None - 0% | Woohoo Hooniversity | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Nomenclature
Viruses earned their name from the Latin Vīrus, a second declension noun meaning "poison". Other languages did not give the viruses alternative names, using the English voices as well, with the exception of the Japanese language, which calls them "Uirusu", which still means "Virus". Their names in other languages are as follows:
- Spanish: El/La Virus (fourth declension noun, genitive Lois/Les Virús, dative Loy/Le vírui, accusative Lo(m)/La(m) Víru(m), ablative Lod/Lad Vírud, plural Los/Las Virus, genitive plural Loro/Laro Viruro, dative/ablative plural Leis/Labos Virubus, Accusative Plural Los Virus)
- Portuguese: O/A Vírus (fourth declension noun, genitive Lóis/Leis Virus, plural Os/As Vírus, genitive plural Lorom/Larom Viru(r)om, Dative/Ablative Plural Lais/Labus Virubos, Accusative Plural Los/Las Vírus)
- Italian: Il/La Virus (fourth declension noun, genitive Lóis/Les Virúus, dative Lói/Lái Vírui, accusative Lo/La Víru, ablative Lód(e)/Lá(d)e Vírud, plural I/Le Virus, genitive plural Loro/Laro Virúro, dative/ablative plural Glis/Labus Virúbus, Accusative plural Los/Las Vírus)
- French: Le/La Virus
- Latin: Vīrus (Declension as in Latin, but masculine, with the plural Vīrī (accusative Vīrōs) and the accusative singular Vīrum. Variable gender depending on the individual.)
Gallery
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| Dr. Luigi | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | ||
| Dr. Luigi · Virus | ||
