The Master of Darkness (暗黒大魔王 Ankokudaimaō?, "Dark Great Demon King"), also known as the Boss of Shadow (かげのボス Kage no Bosu?) is the final boss of Rainbow Islands, and the true antagonist behind the events of Bubble Bobble. The Master of Darkness initially takes the form of a giant armored Bubble Dragon, while his true form is a giant Skel-Monsta known as the Super Skel-Monsta.
Biography[]
Appearance[]
The Master of Darkness resembles a giant Bubble Dragon, appearing similar to Bub. He wears a suit of armor with spiked pauldrons and gauntlets with red stones embedded in them. The Master of Darkness has two fangs, as opposed to the usual single tooth usually seen on Bubble Dragons, as well as an angry facial expression and small green wings.
Abilities[]
In his first form, the Master of Darkness's main attack is firing bubbles out at the player to attempt to trap them inside. He is also able to change humans into Bubble Dragons, as seen by the prisoners kept in his lair who have been transformed, much like Bub in the original Bubble Bobble. His second form, the Super Skel-Monsta, is shown to be able to conjure small winged Skel-Monstas to attack its foes in the Game Boy Color version of Rainbow Islands.
Appearances[]
Bubble Bobble[]
The Master of Darkness did not appear in Bubble Bobble, but is responsible for transforming and controlling Bub and Bob's parents. He is foreshadowed in the game's true ending.
Rainbow Islands[]
The Master of Darkness is the final boss and main antagonist of Rainbow Islands. He is fought in the last world, Bubble Island. As Bubby and Bobby enter the room, the Boss awakens from his slumber and moves around the room, shooting bubbles at Bubby and Bobby. After being hit enough times, the Master of Darkness's Bubble Dragon form's skeleton crumbles, and he transforms into the Super Skel-Monsta, his true form.
After being defeated, the room fills with the Super Skel-Monsta's blood. The two must jump on platforms to escape the blood, which will make them lose all their lives if it touches them.
In-game, the Master of Darkness is primarily referred to as the Boss of Shadow (かげのボス Kage no Bosu?).
The Nintendo Entertainment System version of Rainbow Islands refers to the Boss of Shadow simply as Bubble Dragon. Additionally, the English manual of the NES version refers to the villain of the game as being named Krabo, though this is never referenced in-game.
Parasol Stars[]
Although the Super Skel-Monsta perished in Rainbow Islands, the Master of Darkness returns as the boss of Rainbow Star. He behaves similarly to his first appearance, although Bubby must defeat him using Water Drops this time. The Master of Darkness appears only in his Bubble Dragon form in this game, the Super Skel-Monsta does not appear.
Bubble Memories[]
The Master of Darkness returns as the main antagonist of Bubble Memories, reincarnated into a new form known as the Super Dark Great Dragon, which resembles his original Bubble Dragon form but with larger wings and slightly different armor.
The English version of the game refers to him as the Master of Darkness ofr the first time.
Rainbow Islands: Putty's Party[]
The Master of Darkness appears as the main antagonist and final boss of Rainbow Islands: Putty's Party, referred to in the manual as the King of Darkness. He once again attacks the Rainbow Islands, but is defeated by Putty and vanquished once more.
Rainbow Islands Revolution[]
The Master of Darkness returns in Rainbow Islands Revolution, once again acting as the final boss. The Master of Darkness acts extremely similar to its first appearance, although he is not fought the same manner. This time, the player must draw rainbows using the Nintendo DS touch screen to attack him.
Other appearances[]
Pop'n Pop[]
The Master of Darkness appears in the Taito crossover game Pop'n Pop, serving as the main antagonist responsible for the attack on Pop'n World. He once again appears in the form of the Super Dark Great Dragon.
Trivia[]
- If the player defeats the Super Skel-Monsta in one hit in Rainbow Islands by collecting all the items in each Secret Room, he exclaims "What strength!! But don't forget there are many monsters like me all over the world". This quote is a reference to the victory text in the original Street Fighter, which was released just barely over a month before Rainbow Islands, in which the player's opponent states "What strength!! But don't forget there are guys like you all over the world" after being defeated.
