The Chomp (ワンワン, Wanwan); nicknames: Chomps, Chain Chomps, Chain Chompers, Chomp Chomps, Dajut-On-A-Chain; is a video game character from Nintendo's popular Mario and Zelda video game series.
It is a black, spherical creature, dog-like in personality, often tethered to a block or post by a chain. It has sharp teeth and is constantly gnawing at the air and straining against its chain, as if eager to "chomp" on any passers-by. Under unusual circumstances, Chain Chomps can come loose — for example, in Super Mario Bros. 3, when the in-game timer for the level hits 160 seconds, or in Super Mario 64 and New Super Mario Bros. by ground-pounding the post it is chained to. Normally they are invulnerable, and in some games, Chomps can be beneficial. Like many icons from the series, these enemies are frequently referenced by gamers. Chain Chomps are known for being the precursors to common close combat video game enemies who can absorb a ridiculous amount of damage. In fact, the 'Pinky' demons in Doom 3 were nicknamed "Chomps" by some fans in reference to these vicious enemies.
Appearences
Super Mario Bros. 3
Chomps made their first appearance in level 2-5 of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES/Famicom as Chain Chomps, along with their cousins, the flying, fire-spitting, self-destructing Fire Chomps. They have since appeared in many Mario games.
Super Mario Kart
Chain Chomps appeared in the two-player match race mode of Super Mario Kart. Although they did not have a visible chain, they were confined to set paths.
Super Mario RPG
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Bowser uses a Chain Chomp for a weapon, and Chain Chomps also appear as enemies. Additionally, a much more powerful form known as a Gold Chomp (called Chomp Chomps) appears. These creatures are about as powerful as the game's first true boss, Mack the Knife. In the Japanese version, it was a Piranha.
Yoshi's Island
They also appear in Yoshi's Island, devoid of their chains and having increased to the massive size they retained in many future games (save one specimen, which remained chained and small, like in previous games). These Chomps appear waiting on distant cliffsides in the background and leap from their cliff to the foreground to attack, upon spotting Yoshi, eventually chomping huge rifts into the ground. Even larger chomps chase after Yoshi in certain levels, these are known as Chomp Sharks. Of course, when Yoshi makes it all the way, the Chomp Shark hits its teeth on a hard surface, breaks the teeth, sheds a tear, and falls down.
Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS
In Super Mario 64, and its remake, Super Mario 64 DS, an enormous Chain Chomp appears as a mini-boss character. The Chain Chomp first acquired its distinctive bark in this game, which was used in most subsequent games. A star is located behind Chain Chomp's gate; acquiring it requires the solution of a puzzle.
Mario has to use the Chomp to break through a massive gate and get the star from behind it. Mario must avoid the the chomp's attacks while jumping on the pole which holds the chain. If Mario does it the chomp becomes free. In its happy feeling the chomp accidentally breaks through the gate.
Mario Kart 64
In Mario Kart 64 Chomps appear on the Rainbow Road track where they travel at road level in the opposite direction of the racers in a regular zig-zag pattern. If racers run into a Chomp, it causes them to explode and fly up into the air.
Mario Party series
Chain Chomps have made appearances in the Mario Party series.
Mario Power Tennis
In Mario Power Tennis a Chain Chomp appears in the mini-game "Chain Chomp Challenge", where players must hit balls into their Chomp's mouth.
Paper Mario
In Paper Mario Chain Chomps (as well as the Stone Chomp variant) were unleashed by Tutankoopa and, like most of the other characters in the game, made no distinctive sound.
Super Princess Peach
Chain Chomps behave in the same fashion in Super Princess Peach as in their previous appearances, attacking Peach at unpredictable moments. The game also includes the Calm Chain Chomp. It sleeps peacefully until disturbed.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, a Chain Chomp is a usable item for Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Petey Piranha, and King Boo that pulls the racers forward for a few seconds and bowls over other racers in its path. During this time, the player does not have to steer and will not go off the track. After a certain amount of time, it abandons the vehicle and goes off on its own for a short period. It is also an obstacle on the Luigi Circuit and Mario Circuit tracks.
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour features several holes where a Chain Chomp devours any ball that approaches it.
Mario Superstar Baseball
In Mario Superstar Baseball, a Chain Chomp appears in the mini-game "Chain Chomp Sprint". They also appear in Wario Palace to knock outfielders down.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door features two types of Chain Chomps: Red Chomps, which appear in Glitzville and the Pit of 100 Trials, and traditional Chain Chomps, appearing in the Palace of Shadow. Also a possible aquatic version of Chain Chomps were seen named Nibbles who would attack Mario if he entered any body of water (even fountains and swimming pools).
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, two Chain Chomps appear. In one battle at Woohoo Hooniversity, Mecha-Chomps, dog-like mechanical Chomps, appear. Chomp Bros., a variation of the Hammer Bros., swings Chomps at Mario and Luigi, and appear in Bowser's Castle.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Chomps occasionally appear in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, mostly as agents of random chaos and mischief. For example, in one scene, the brothers are supposed to be traveling upwards through a complex pipe network. Suddenly, a Chomp slams into the most delicate part of the network, rearranging the connections so the brothers are instead sent down to a basement. In addition, one particular Bros. Item involves releasing a Chomp to chase after Mario and Luigi (or their baby selves) as the bros lead it into random enemies. On rare occasions, the Pocket Chomp, which is usually male, will have a pink bow, indicating that it's a female one instead. Also a Shroob variant of the Chain Chomp (Shromp?) was used as a weapon by the Elder Princess Shroob.
Super Mario Strikers
Super Mario Strikers featured a Chain Chomp as an item with which the player could attack. If used, the Chomp attacked all opposing players on the field, leaving them on the ground for a few seconds.
Super Mario Sunshine
Small Chain Chomps called Chain Chomplets as well as a large one appear in Pianta Village in Super Mario Sunshine. At first they appear fiery and red, apparently due to fever and their extreme rage. They have to be cooled down with water to return to normal. The large one turns gold when pulled into a tub of water.
Mario Kart DS
Chain Chomps appear in Mario Kart DS as obstacles on several courses. On the course "Peach Gardens", rather than a chain, they have item boxes for tails.
New Super Mario Bros.
Chain Chomps and Fire Chomps both make appearances in New Super Mario Bros.. Chain Chomps appear in level 6-6, and are a bit larger than the Chain Chomps in Super Mario Bros. 3, but smaller than the ones typically found in later games. They make the barking sound first heard in Super Mario 64, and are chained to stakes which can be pounded into the ground for coins. Fire Chomps appear in level 7-1, and they look and behave much like their Super Mario Bros. 3 counterparts but are called Flame Chomps.
Yoshi's Island DS
The Chomps return in their bigger forms from Yoshi's Island - as Shark Chomps and Background Chomps return. But this time, a new Giant Chomp returns with them too - a Giant Bouncing Chomp that can cause problems for Yoshi. These things are very hard to dodge, due to the fact you see them only in two levels - which are both side-scrollers.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Some chomps appeared as enemies in dungeons such as Turtle Rock.
Other Titles
The Chomps make many cameo appearances in The Legend of Zelda games. Link's Awakening featured a domesticated Chomp (named Bow Wow, after its Japanese name Wan-Wan) while Four Swords Adventures and A Link to the Past had Chomps in the form of enemies to be avoided by Link.
History
The Chomp was inspired by a childhood experience of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, where a dog tried to attack him. The dog lunged at him, but was jerked back by its leash just as the canine snapped at Miyamoto inches in front of his face.
Trivia
- In the Japanese version of Mario's games, the Chomp is named Wanwan, the rough equivalent of "Woof Woof." This explains its dog-like personality, and also why it was called Bow Wow in the North American version of Link's Awakening.
- The Pokémon Girafarig has a mini-chomp-like head at the tip of its tail. This may be why in the Pokedex it refers to its tail biting anything that comes near it.