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Raphael the Raven (JP) (also known by the shortened name Raphael Raven) is the leader of the Ravens who first appeared as the boss of the fifth world in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Initially, he is an ordinary Raven, but is magically enlarged by Kamek to fight the Yoshis. Even after his defeat, he remains huge.

History[]

Yoshi series[]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island[]

When Blue Yoshi first meets Raphael, he is an ordinary Raven. However, Kamek appears and magically enhances him, increasing his size and strength. Then, Raphael slams into Blue Yoshi, sending it and Baby Mario flying to a small moon. Additionally, the force of the attack makes the Yoshi lose all its eggs. Raphael then launches himself to the moon and prepares for battle.

Raphael fights by chasing and ramming into Blue Yoshi around the moon to send Baby Mario flying. He also attacks by jumping into the air and slamming the ground, creating shockwaves that circle the moon. The moon's interior is quartered by two stumps extending its diameter, the ends of which jut out from two points on the surface. Yoshi must ground-pound one of these while Raphael is on the opposite end to damage him. With each hit, Raphael becomes redder, angrier, and faster. After three successful hits, Blue Yoshi defeats Raphael and Raphael becomes a constellation in the sky.

Tetris Attack[]

Raphael the Raven returns in the game Tetris Attack, allied with the Shy Guys. In this game, Raphael is not considered an enemy. He is also a playable character, replacing the moon fairy Seren from the original Japanese version. He is in the eighth level and is the last character to be saved from Bowser and Kamek's brainwashing.

Yoshi's Island DS[]

Although Raphael the Raven does not appear as a boss in Yoshi's Island DS, he still makes a cameo. In the intro, one part shows a group of bosses from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, including Raphael and the others.

Yoshi's New Island[]

Raphael the Raven[1] reappears in Yoshi's New Island. Instead of being a boss, he is a generic enemy, and acts much like the other Ravens; Raphael can be defeated in the same way. He is found in Eggstraordinary Terrain in the area above the beanstalk.

In World 2, the Kamek mini-boss battle is similar to the Raphael the Raven boss battle.

Paper Mario[]

Raphael the Raven reappears in Paper Mario. In this game, Raphael is the leader of a tribe of reformed Ravens that live in peace with the Yoshis of Lavalava Island. He lives in nest in a tree in Jade Jungle and has become a legend to the Yoshis (as no one except the Village Leader can remember actually seeing him). He has the ability to communicate with both Mario and his Ravens. Raphael helps Mario by ordering his Ravens to build a pulley contraption to take Mario and his allies to Mt. Lavalava, site of the fifth Star Spirit and the Lava Piranha. He also gives Mario the Ultra Stone, an item that allows Mario's party members to become even more powerful.

Later in the game, he writes a letter to Sushie which the player can read at the Post Office in Toad Town. In the letter, he asks whether he can provide help for Sushie, such as helping her climb the tree or cooking things she wants to eat.

Tattle[]

  • "He's Raphael the Raven, the guardian of this jungle. Look at the size of this guy! He's enormous! I bet there's nothing he can't do. Doesn't he seem trustworthy?"

Super Smash Bros. series[]

Raphael the Raven makes a cameo in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a trophy. The information states that he is the biggest Raven, although it is Kamek who enlarged him. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, he appears as a sticker. The Sticker's information states that the artwork is from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island; however, it actually uses the retouched Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 artwork. Raphael also makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a spirit which makes the fighter immune to any tripping effect like the earthquake hazard and the Banana peels.

Profiles and statistics[]

Super Smash Bros. Melee Trophy[]

Names Game Description
Raphael Raven Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
10/95
The basically laid-back Ravens come in several sizes. The smaller ones travel in flocks or traipse around small platforms all day long. The biggest of their breed is called Raphael the Raven, and his enormous size renders most direct attacks useless. Instead of fighting, Raphael and the Ravens helped Mario out in Paper Mario.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Sticker[]

Game Effect
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Launch Resistance +6

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Spirit[]

Names Games Types Classes Effects How To Obtain Spirit Battles
Opponents Battle Conditions Stages Songs
Raphael the Raven Yoshi Series Support (1) Advanced Falling Immunity World of Light (Light Realm); Spirit Board Giant King Dedede
  • The enemy is giant
Mario Galaxy Yoshi's Island (for 3DS/Wii U)

List of appearances by date[]

Titles Description Release date(s) Systems/formats
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Boss 1995 SNES
Tetris Attack Playable Character 1996 SNES
Paper Mario]] NPC 2000 Nintendo 64
Super Smash Bros. Melee Trophy 2001 Nintendo GameCube
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 Boss 2002 GBA
Yoshi's Island DS Cameo in the intro 2006 Nintendo DS
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Sticker 2008 Wii
Yoshi's New Island Enemy 2014 Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Spirit 2018 Nintendo Switch

Trivia[]

  • The moon where Raphael is fought can be seen on the Super Smash Bros. Brawl stage, Yoshi's Island.
  • In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Raphael's sprite has a star on his belly. However, since the star is always the same palette as his skin, it is never seen in-game.
  • Digga-Leg from Super Mario Galaxy 2 has a similar battle style to Raphael in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Coincidentally, both are fought in space.
  • The Raphael Raven boss battle is the only instance in which Baby Mario does not cry when he falls off Yoshi's back, but he can still be taken away by the Toadies, possibly referencing how there is no sound in space.
  • In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Raphael Raven and Naval Piranha are the only world bosses to use the extended variation of the boss theme.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Yoshi's New Island internal filenames (kyutyan_a_big.csv, kyutyan_b_big.csv, kyutyan_c_big.csv, kyutyan_s_big.csv)
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