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Para-Beetles (known as Parabeetles in European regions) are flying Buzzy Beetles that first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3.
History[]
Super Mario series[]
Super Mario Bros. 3/Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[]
In Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario and Luigi can hop on their back for a ride, allowing them to traverse air levels and making them one of the very few enemies that cannot be defeated by jumping on them. They are immune to fireballs, but vulnerable to Raccoon Mario's tail attacks, Super Stars and hammers. They are found only in Sky Land's World 5-6, as well as in the e-reader level Para Beetle Challenge in the GBA remake.
Jumping on a stationary Para-Beetle will slightly lower it, though it will gradually rise upwards again, somewhat making a zig-zag. The mobile Para-Beetles soar quickly through the skies, forcing the player to jump from Para-Beetle to Para-Beetle. Green Para-Beetles were originally going to appear in the game (as well as in the Game Boy Advance remake), where they were shown to be faster than normal Para-Beetles.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
Para-Beetles return in New Super Mario Bros. Wii after 20 years of absence, where they are slower and larger than they are in Super Mario Bros. 3. There is also a huge new derived species known as the Heavy Para-Beetle. If Mario steps on a regular Para-Beetle, it will start to rise to the top of the screen; if Mario jumps on a Heavy Para-Beetle, it will start to fall slowly. They only appear in World 7-6. If players jump on eight Para-Beetles consecutively without touching the ground, a 1-Up Mushroom falls from the sky.
Unused variants of Para-Beetles and Heavy Para-Beetles that fly to the right and stand still and face the screen exist in the game's files.[1]
New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U[]
Para-Beetles reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, behaving the same as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. They appear in the Soda Jungle level Flight of the Para-Beetles. In New Super Luigi U, they appear in Para-Beetle Parade, where they are seen carrying Piranha Plants, Big Piranha Plants, and P-Switches.
Super Mario Maker series[]
Para-Beetles reappear in Super Mario Maker and the sequel Super Mario Maker 2 if the player applies Wings to a Buzzy Beetle; it will fly in a straight line and thus behave in a similar manner. In the Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. U styles, they retain the Buzzy Beetle color scheme. However, they still behave like they normally do in platformers.
Amada Anime Series: Super Mario Bros.[]
In the Super Mario anime Super Mario Momotarō, a female Para-Beetle becomes the first creature to join forces with Mario in his mission to rescue Princess Peach after Mario gives some food to the starving Para-Beetle. During the final battle, she aids Mario by knocking out Wendy O. Koopa with a powerful tackle and later using the same move on Bowser. After the final battle, she helps Mario return the treasures that Bowser had stolen back to their rightful owners. She is based off of the bird from Momotarō.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[]
Para-Beetles make a couple of appearances in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, where they either fly around in numbers, acting as minions in Bowser's army as shown in True Colors, or serve as rideable creatures for Mario, Luigi and Toad to ride on, as in the episode 7 Continents for 7 Koopas.
Mario Golf: World Tour[]
Para-Beetles appear in Mario Golf: World Tour in the background of the Sky Island course, flying around.
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition[]
In Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, Para-Beetles are a light-attributed enemy with a high HP stat and low Attack and RCV stats, being ranked 4 out of 6 in HP and 2 out of 6 in their other stats. Their skill is Support, which cures the team of Paralysis. Their second skill is Light Boost, which raises the attack of Light attribute team members if players clear a horizontal line of light orbs. Buzzy Beetles can turn into Para-Beetles if they are given four P-Wing transformation items. If a Para-Beetle is given six Super Mushroom transformation items, it becomes a Heavy Para-Beetle.
Mario & Luigi series[]
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[]
Para-Beetles appear in the Minion Quest: The search for Bowser mode of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions. Here, they are a Flying troop. Their special attack involves diving into their opponents. They are weak against ordinary Buzzy Beetles, despite Flying troops typically being strong over Melee troops.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[]
Para-Beetles reappear in Bowser Jr.'s Journey, despite being absent from the original game, reprising their roles as enemies and allies.
Profiles and statistics[]
Mario & Luigi series[]
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[]
- Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser profile: A veritable flying fortress. Their bodies are protected by a hard shell. Weak against their rivals, the Buzzy Beetles.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[]
- Bowser Jr.'s Journey profile: Parabuzzies are flying fortresses. They're bitter rivals with Buzzy Beetles and hate fighting against them.
Game appearances[]
| Titles | Description | Release date(s) | Systems/formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | Enemy | 1988 | Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Super Mario All-Stars | Enemy | 1993 | Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | Enemy | 2003 | Game Boy Advance |
| New Super Mario Bros. Wii | Enemy | 2009 | Wii |
| Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition | Enemy | 2010 | Wii |
| New Super Mario Bros. U | Enemy | 2012 | Wii U |
| New Super Luigi U | Enemy | 2013 | Wii U |
| Mario Golf: World Tour | Cameo | 2014 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition | Enemy/Teammate | 2015 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions | Ally/Enemy | 2017 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey | Ally/Enemy | 2018 | Nintendo 3DS |
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Enemy | 2019 | Nintendo Switch |
| Dr. Mario World | Assistant | 2019 | iOS/Android |
References[]
External links[]
- Para-Beetle at Super Mario Wiki, the Super Mario wiki.