Rex: the little purple dragon of Dinosaur Land

EnemyRexSuper Mario World

One jump flattens him, a second one wipes him out. A small purple dragon from the hills of Dinosaur Land, Rex shows up in Super Mario World back in 1990. This profile breaks down his two-stage mechanic, how to take him out in a single hit, the story behind his old French name “Drabon” and his later comebacks.

Rex is one of the most iconic enemies in Super Mario World: a small purple dragon who calmly patrols the hills of Dinosaur Land. His name is identical in French and in English, Rex, even though an older French translation called him Drabon.

Half dragon, half dinosaur, he embodies all by himself the prehistoric atmosphere of the adventure released in 1990, and he remains, decades later, one of the most recognizable faces in the Super Nintendo bestiary.

Contents

• An enemy born with Dinosaur Land
• What Rex looks like
• Two jumps to flatten him, then finish him off
• Beating him in a single hit
• Rex or Drabon: the story of the French name
• Rex's comebacks after Super Mario World
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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An enemy born with Dinosaur Land

Rex makes his big debut in Super Mario World, released in 1990 in Japan on Super Famicom. He populates the lush tropical scenery of Dinosaur Land, the archipelago where Mario, Luigi and the Princess head off on holiday before Bowser ruins the trip.

In this world where dinosaurs live side by side with the Yoshi, Rex plays the part of the basic enemy: you run into him from the very first levels, often in small groups, strolling peacefully from left to right. His hulking silhouette and his easy-going look make him a kind of mascot for the game's prehistoric folklore.

Unlike more forgettable foes, Rex enjoys a memorable design that has tied him lastingly to Super Mario World in players' memories. He belongs to that gallery of enemies which, without ever being bosses, define the visual identity of an entire game.

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What Rex looks like

Rex sports a body ranging from indigo to purple, set off by an orange belly that stands out sharply against his frame. His snout ends in a distinctive nose horn and his mouth reveals a set of small pointed teeth.

• A pair of small dragon wings adorn his back, but they are far too puny to let him fly: Rex stays firmly on the ground.
• He wears big red shoes that immediately call to mind those of Yoshi, his neighbour in Dinosaur Land.
• His upright stance and his nose horn suggest a cross between a dragon and a dinosaur, perfectly in keeping with the theme of the game.

This look, cute and reptilian at the same time, contributes a great deal to the visual charm of the enemy. It is a simple design, easy to read on screen, yet striking enough to survive generations of consoles.

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Two jumps to flatten him, then finish him off

Rex's great quirk lies in his two-stage resilience. Where a Goomba vanishes after a single jump, Rex demands two hits to go down with a standard jump, which makes him a slightly tougher opponent than he looks.

On the first jump on his head, his upper body sinks into his torso: he loses half his height and ends up completely flattened. Far from being neutralized, he then becomes slightly faster and darts across the level more briskly, forcing the player to stay alert.

Only on the second jump is the flattened version of Rex eliminated for good. This two-step mechanic, both easy to read and fun, turns a simple enemy into a small timing challenge and explains why he is remembered so well.

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Beating him in a single hit

The double jump is not the only option: several power-ups let you take Rex down instantly, skipping the flattened stage and with no risk of watching him speed up.

• The Spin Jump takes him out in one go instead of merely flattening him.
• A fireball, thrown by Mario in his fire form, puts him out of action from a distance.
• A swipe of the cape sweeps him away cleanly in a single motion.
• A Super Star vaporizes Rex on contact alone, like any enemy standing in invincible Mario's path.

This variety of solutions makes Rex an excellent enemy to learn on: he teaches the player to juggle jump, fire, cape and invincibility depending on the situations encountered in the levels.

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Rex or Drabon: the story of the French name

Today, the creature carries the official name Rex in French as in English. But an older French translation once referred to him as Drabon, taken straight from his Japanese name.

That word evoked both the dragon and the enemy's prehistoric reptile look. Going back to the name Rex, shorter and punchier, fits far better with the nod to the Tyrannosaurus rex that clearly inspired the creature.

For the name of the world, Nintendo kept the original Dinosaur Land, which can simply be understood as the land of the dinosaurs of Super Mario World. Knowing these variants avoids any confusion between older guides and more recent sources.

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Rex's comebacks after Super Mario World

Even though Super Mario World remains his homeland, Rex did not vanish entirely after 1990 and has resurfaced in several games in the series, proof of his standing as a well-liked enemy.

• In Mario & Wario, on Super Famicom, he turns up among the creatures filling the levels of the puzzle game.
• In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Rex returns as an enemy encountered along the way in the Game Boy Advance adventure.
• In Super Princess Peach, it is Princess Peach herself who takes him on during her Nintendo DS escapade.

These reappearances confirm Rex's status as a lasting figure of the Mario bestiary. Far from a throwaway enemy confined to a single title, he is now part of the saga's visual heritage.

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Rex at a glance

French name	Rex (formerly Drabon)
English name	Rex
First appearance	Super Mario World (1990, Japan)
Type	Enemy (dragon-dinosaur)
Habitat	Dinosaur Land
Special trait	Flattens and speeds up on the first jump
Weaknesses	Jump ×2, Spin Jump, fireball, cape, Super Star
Other games	Mario & Wario, Superstar Saga, Super Princess Peach

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FAQ

• Which game does Rex first appear in?
  Rex makes his debut in Super Mario World, released in 1990 in Japan on Super Famicom, where he populates the world of Dinosaur Land.
• Why do you have to jump on Rex twice?
  The first jump only flattens him, halving his height and making him faster; a second jump is needed to actually eliminate him.
• How do you beat Rex in a single hit?
  A Spin Jump, a fireball, a cape swipe or a Super Star is enough to eliminate him instantly, skipping the flattened stage.
• Why was Rex once called Drabon?
  Drabon was an older French translation derived from his Japanese name. The current official name is Rex, in French as well as in English.
• Does Rex appear in games other than Super Mario World?
  Yes, you will find him notably in Mario & Wario, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Super Princess Peach.

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