Bill Bourrin : le géant qui a fait trembler Mario

Bill Blaster: the giant who made Mario tremble

1369 mots | Temps de lecture : 6 minute(s)

In the vast bestiary of the Mario universe, few enemies inspire such immediate dread as the Banzai Bill (renamed Bomber Bill in English). This enormous black projectile, adorned with a shark-like grin, is the oversized cousin of the famous Bullet Bill.

Fired from massive cannons and almost impossible to stop, this flying behemoth has, over the decades, become a true visual icon of difficulty, encountered in platforming levels, on race tracks, and now, on the big screen.

Summary

A Bullet Bill on Steroids

The Banzai Bill is a giant variant of the Bullet Bill (Bullet Bill), that black, cartridge-shaped projectile that has been zooming straight at the player since 1985. Where a classic Bullet Bill fits in Mario's palm, the Banzai Bill occupies an entire portion of the screen.

Its Japanese name is Magnum Killer (マグナムキラー), a direct nod to its nature as a super-powerful munition. Its silhouette is immediately recognizable: a massive, deep black body, and, most notably, a wide, predatory grin with teeth, reminiscent of the famous nose art painted on military aircraft.

In European French, it bears the evocative name Bill Bourrin, playing on the idea of brute, unrefined force. This naming fits the character perfectly: it doesn't trick, it charges straight ahead, crushing everything in its path.

Super Mario World: The Crushing Debut of 1990

The Banzai Bill makes its very first appearance in Super Mario World, released on Super Nintendo in Japan in 1990 (then in Europe in 1992). In this foundational 16-bit game, it emerges in certain levels as an impossible-to-ignore threat.

From this episode on, the rule is set: this behemoth cannot be stopped head-on. The player has only two options: slip into a gap in the scenery to let it pass overhead, or jump directly on its back to get rid of it. Its size makes it a spectacular, almost cinematic obstacle, well ahead of its time.

This striking appearance permanently established the Banzai Bill as the symbol of escalating threat in the series: when a simple Bullet Bill is no longer enough to impress, Nintendo brings out the heavy artillery.

How to Survive a Banzai Bill

Facing a Banzai Bill requires composure, because this giant is fired from an oversized cannon (the Banzai Bill Cannon) that propels it at full speed. A collision is almost always fatal, but a few defenses exist.

  • The head jump remains the classic method: well-timed, it neutralizes the beast and allows you to bounce off it.
  • The Super Star makes Mario invincible and allows him to pass through the monster without harm, or even pulverize it on contact.
  • In Super Mario Odyssey, the cap Cappy even allows you to capture certain Banzai Bills: Mario then takes control of them to cross chasms and destroy stone blocks safely.

This near-invulnerability makes the Banzai Bill one of the most intimidating enemies in the repertoire: you don't really fight it, you evade it or turn it to your advantage.

From Banzai Bill to Bomber Bill: The Great Renaming

For nearly thirty years, the official English name of the character was "Banzai Bill". Then, around the early 2020s, Nintendo subtly began a change. The name "Bomber Bill" appeared with The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), in which Bowser refers to the enemy by this name.

This new designation was subsequently officialized in games starting with Super Mario Party Jamboree, becoming the reference English name. The exact reason for this renaming has never been publicly communicated by Nintendo, which continues to fuel discussions among fans.

Good news for French-speaking players: in Europe, the name Bill Bourrin, however, has not changed. It is therefore under this brutal moniker that it continues to wreak havoc in our versions of the game, regardless of the evolution of its English label.

An Icon of Oversized Threat

Beyond its platforming debuts, the Banzai Bill has established itself as a star danger in several Mario Kart tracks. On the Airship Fortress track (created in Mario Kart DS, where Banzai Bills have replaced Bullet Bills since its reappearance in Mario Kart 7), a continuous stream of these giant projectiles sweeps through the path: the slightest contact sends the driver spinning and costs valuable time.

It also returns with the series' 2D comeback in New Super Mario Bros. on DS (2006), where its presence reminds us that no console generation escapes its threat. In each appearance, it plays the same role: that of the large, breathtaking obstacle.

This consistency has made the Banzai Bill much more than a simple filler enemy. It embodies the very idea of a "visual boss" in Mario: a threat whose size alone creates tension, without any dialogue. From the pixel of 1990 to the big screen of 2023, it remains one of the most legible symbols of difficulty throughout the saga.

Banzai Bill at a glance

French name (Europe) Bill Bourrin
Current English name Bomber Bill (formerly Banzai Bill)
Japanese name Magnum Killer (マグナムキラー)
Type Giant variant of Bullet Bill
First appearance Super Mario World (1990, Japan)
Original console Super Nintendo
Fired by A giant cannon (Banzai Bill Cannon)
Weaknesses Jump, Super Star, capture in Odyssey

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FAQ

  • What is the difference between a Banzai Bill and a Bullet Bill?
    The Banzai Bill is simply a giant version of the Bullet Bill. It retains the same black projectile shape, but it is much larger, occupies a large part of the screen, and features a wide, toothy grin that makes it much more imposing.
  • How do you defeat a Banzai Bill?
    You neutralize it by jumping on its head, by becoming invincible with a Super Star, or, in Super Mario Odyssey, by capturing it with Cappy. Otherwise, you have to dodge it by slipping into a gap in the scenery to let it pass.
  • Why is Banzai Bill called Bomber Bill in English?
    Nintendo replaced the English name Banzai Bill with Bomber Bill in the early 2020s. This new name appeared with The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, then was officially used in games starting with Super Mario Party Jamboree. The precise reason has not been communicated.
  • In what game does the Banzai Bill first appear?
    It makes its debut in Super Mario World, released on Super Nintendo in Japan in 1990, then in Europe in 1992. It already served as a giant, unstoppable obstacle there.
  • Can you capture a Banzai Bill in Super Mario Odyssey?
    Yes. Thanks to the Cappy cap, Mario can take control of certain Banzai Bills. He then uses them to cross chasms, destroy stone blocks, and neutralize Bullet Bills without getting hurt.
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