For fighter info, seeR.O.B. (SSBB),R.O.B. (SSB4), andR.O.B. (SSBU).For enemy info, seeR.O.B. Squad. For other uses, seeR.O.B. (disambiguation).

Robotic Operating Buddy (R.O.B.)
The Japanese and American versions of the R.O.B. peripheral.
Universe	R.O.B.
Debut	Stack-Up (1985, as a peripheral) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996, in-game cameo)
Smash Bros. appearances	Brawl SSB4 Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Mario Kart World (2025, cameo)
Console/platform of origin	Nintendo Entertainment System (peripheral) Super Nintendo Entertainment System (in-game)
Species	R.O.B.
Gender	Male[1]
Place of origin	Real world (as a toy) Professor Hector's laboratory (R.O.B. series) Isle of the Ancients (Super Smash Bros. series)
Created by	Gunpei Yokoi
Article on Wikipedia	R.O.B.

R.O.B. (RoboticOperatingBuddy) (ロボット,Robot) is a peripheral for theNintendo Entertainment System (NES). Initially made as Nintendo's attempt at enduring theNorth American video game crash of 1983, R.O.B. has since transitioned into a video game character via in-game cameos and playable appearances.

R.O.B. made hisSuper Smash Bros. series debut inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl as both anunlockable character and as enemies inAdventure Mode. The playable R.O.B. has reappeared as a playable character since then.

Origin[edit]

As a video game peripheral[edit]

R.O.B is a battery powered mechanical apparatus outfitted with photosensing optical electronics just like its fellow peripheral, the Zapper. The peripheral is compatible with two games,Gyromite andStack-Up. When the game requires R.O.B. to complete a task, the screen will flash in a specific way, which R.O.B. will detect and then perform the corresponding action.Gyromite requires the use of spinning gyros that are placed on pressure sensitive trays which manipulate the game when activated.Stack-Up requires the use of several blocks, which R.O.B will stack in various ways. An unlicensed game that uses R.O.B was created in 2014 titled8-Bit X-Mas 2014, which manipulates R.O.B. into dancing to Christmas music.^[2]

The peripheral started life in Japan as the Family Computer Robot in 1985, and was met with very little fanfare. The peripheral would have been considered a failure and a footnote in Nintendo history if not for its significance outside of Japan. Due to thevideo game crash of 1983,Nintendo sought to enter the North American market by portraying the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) as an advanced toy instead of a video game console. Nintendo of America's then-sole marketing staff Gail Tilden was tasked with promoting the system as such in preparation for its North American test launch. To this end, Tilden suggested that the Family Computer Robot and the Zapper be packaged alongside the NES in order to promote the console as a futuristic toy. According to Tilden, the Famicom Robot's North American name was "originally going to be OTTO, which was a play on the word 'auto'", but she instead settled on rechristening the Robot as the Robotic Operating Buddy, or R.O.B. for short.^[3]

Although R.O.B.'s time in the spotlight was brief, he nevertheless established a legacy. He was ranked fifth in GameSpy's "25 Smartest Moments in Gaming" because of his impact in reviving the video game industry and helping Nintendo establish a major presence in the North American video game market.^[4]

Conversely, ScrewAttack called R.O.B. the fifth worst game peripheral ever, citing that he only moved up, down, and side to side, was noisy and slow, was nearly impossible to put together by oneself, and specifically noted the lack of compatible games.^[5]

As a video game character[edit]

Despite its short-lived status as a peripheral, R.O.B. has gone on to make many appearances in games. The first in-game appearance was a cameo inKirby's Dream Land 3; in this game, there is a stage in whichKirby must complete puzzles in various rooms to collect pieces of R.O.B. for Professor Hector, R.O.B.'s creator inGyromite, so that R.O.B. can be rebuilt.

R.O.B.'s head appears as treasure inPikmin 2, and is known as the "Remembered Old Buddy". Similarly to how its head is a collectable treasure, R.O.B.'s status as a collectable is referenced inThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, where it makes a cameo in its entirety in theCuriosity Shop. However, it can only be seen to the right of the counter when looking from the backroom and cannot be purchased. Robotic cranes designed in R.O.B.'s image can be seen in theF-Zero GX coursePort Town Aero Dive, which can also be seen in theSuper Smash Bros. Brawl stage of the same name.

Mario Kart DS notably marked the debut of R.O.B. as a playable character; in this game, R.O.B. appears as an unlockable driver alongside three signature karts, one of which resembles the stand forStack-Up.^[6] Also inBrawl,R.O.B. debuts as a playable fighter and has reappeared in everySmash release since.

TheStar Fox series in particular has been tied with R.O.B. closer than any other Nintendo series.ROB 64 references R.O.B. both in name and as a robotic assistant, owing to his status as the pilot of the Great Fox, the Star Fox team's battleship and base of operations. On a related note, R.O.B. itself also appears as a boss in theStar Fox-based levels in 9-Volt's stage inWarioWare: Smooth Moves.

Lastly,Star Fox Zero andStar Fox Guard both feature robots that are almost identical to R.O.B.Zero features Direct-i, who is tethered to the Gyrowing and functions similarly to ROB 64 and R.O.B. itself by being an assistant to the player. Conversely,Guard features the A.T.K. Unit, which is one of the "combat class" robots in the game that threaten the player's mining facilities.

InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

R.O.B., as he appears inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl.

R.O.B. is an unlockable playable character inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl. Initially appearing as theAncient Minister during the events ofThe Subspace Emissary, his true identity is revealed rather late into the story. R.O.B. sports his Japanese color scheme of white and red as his default color, regardless of the language, though one of hisalternate costumes consists of his North American color scheme of white and gray.

Some aspects of R.O.B.'s real world design are incorporated into his moveset. Specifically, his "Gyro" and "Spinner" from hisGyromite configuration are used for hisGyro special move; his ability to rotate his torso is used for his down smash andArm Rotor special move; and the LED bulb on his head indicates how powerfulRobo Beam is. Due to the aesthetic used inBrawl, R.O.B. also looks more detailed than he does in other games and real life.

R.O.B. boasts a strong zoning game, thanks to Robo Beam and Gyro. Despite his appearance, he is a heavyweight that also boasts excellent recovery thanks toRobo Burner, a potent air game, and useful tilt attacks. However, R.O.B. is terribly weak for a heavyweight, as his strongest attacks require opponents to be significantly damaged before they can KO reliably. As a result, R.O.B. is currently ranked 18th out of 38 on thetier list, placing him in the C- tier.

Trophy[edit]

R.O.B.'s trophy inBrawl

R.O.B.

R.O.B. sporting his Famicom colors. R.O.B. debuted in Japan as Robot in 1985 as an add-on for the Famicom. He could be combined with a "gyro set," etc. for two types of play. The player controlled Professor Hector, the TV emitted light, and R.O.B. responded to the light by moving. At the time, it was epoch-making game play. Recently, R.O.B. appeared in Mario Kart DS.

R.O.B. sporting his Famicom colors. R.O.B. debuted in Japan as Robot in 1985 as an add-on for the Famicom. He could be combined with a "gyro set", etc. for two types of play. The player controlled Professor Hector, the TV emitted light, and R.O.B. responded to the light by moving. At the time, it was epoch-making game play. Recently, R.O.B. appeared in Mario Kart DS.

:Nintendo Entertainment System

Robotic Operating Buddy

Stickers[edit]

Name	Game	Effect	Fighter(s)
R.O.B.	Mario Kart DS	AttackSpecialsIndirect+015 Attack +15	R.O.B.
Robot & Blocks	Stack-Up	AttackSpecialsIndirect+027 Attack +27	R.O.B.
Robot	Mario Kart DS	AttackEnergy+032 Attack +32	R.O.B.

R.O.B. (Mario Kart DS US)

Robot & Blocks (Stack-Up)

Robot (Mario Kart DS JP)

As enemies[edit]

TheR.O.B. Squad is the general term referring to the army and race of R.O.B. enemies in The Subspace Emissary. Although having no real canon of their own outside of theSuper Smash Bros. series, the story of The Subspace Emissary suggests that the race of R.O.B. robots called theIsle of the Ancients their home before it was subsequently taken over byTabuu in preparation for his invasion into theWorld of Trophies.

InSuper Smash Bros. 4[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

R.O.B., as he appears inSuper Smash Bros. 4.

R.O.B.'s return to the series was officially announced onSSB4's official website on October 9th, 2014,^[7] although he was one of several characters who was initiallyleaked on August 19th, 2014 as part of theESRB leak. Compared to his design inBrawl, R.O.B.'s design inSSB4 is more in line with his appearance as a real-life peripheral: thesheen of his body is now a satin finish instead of a glossy finish, his gray-colored components are darker, his head is now slightly smaller, and his eyes are now slightly larger and have more defined lenses. Additionally, his default color is now based on the language the game is set to, with the grey-colored NES palette being his default for all languages other than Japanese, Chinese and Korean, which use the red Famicom color scheme.

R.O.B.'s previously unimpressive KO potential has drastically improved, as his smash attacks, up aerial, up throw and back aerial are now potent KOing options. His grab game now boasts combo potential, thanks to down throw becoming a useful combo starter into up aerial. R.O.B.'s mobility has also improved, as hiswalking,dashing and especiallyair speeds have all increased, the latter of which also improves his already excellent recovery. Outside of these changes, the potency of his zoning and air games has remained largely intact:Robo Beam andGyro are both reliable projectiles, while his neutral, back, up and down aerials boast disjointedhitboxes. R.O.B. also received a newFinal Smash calledSuper Diffusion Beam.

However, R.O.B. has some weaknesses. While his KO potential has been significantly improved, his newfound KOing options suffer from noticeable endinglag for some of his moves. His Arm Rotor in particular has a lot of ending lag. His projectiles have also been toned down: Robo Beam travels slower, while a fired Gyro deals much less damage and covers less distance. R.O.B.'s large hurtbox has also become slightly larger and hisfalling speed has increased; when coupled with his status as aheavyweight, these traits make him more susceptible to combos. Lastly, his grab game is hindered by his much smaller grabboxes, which have significantly decreased his overall grab range to the point it is now the shortest in the game.

Nevertheless, R.O.B. is generally seen as somewhat more viable in competitive play than inBrawl, thanks to his zoning game's potency largely remaining intact and his improved KO potential. He has since earned some noteworthy and dedicated mains, who have achieved decent results at all levels of play. As a result of his improvements and tournament success, R.O.B. is currently ranked 36th out of 55 on thetier list, placing him in the D tier.

Trophies[edit]

R.O.B.'s trophy inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

R.O.B.'s trophy inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U

R.O.B.

This NES accessory was released in 1985, a groundbreaking system that controlled the robot via a game on the screen. In Smash Bros., R.O.B. has two projectile weapons and can use his rocket base to fly through the air. If you let his Robo Beam charge over time, it'll make for a powerful blast.

This NES accessory was released in 1985—a groundbreaking system that controlled the robot via a game on the screen. In Smash Bros., R.O.B. has two projectile weapons and can use his rocket base to fly through the air. If you let his Robo Beam charge over time, it'll make for a powerful blast.

:Nintendo Entertainment System Robotic Operating Buddy (10/1985)

:Mario Kart DS (11/2005)

Released in Europe in 1986, R.O.B., a peripheral for the NES, was a little robot that responded to flashing lights in games. In this game, he can fire gyros and lasers at his enemies. He also has the ability to hover, which is handy for recoveries. Keep in mind that his Robo Beam can be charged up for an extra-powerful shot.

:R.O.B. (09/1986)

:Mario Kart DS (11/2005)

R.O.B. (Alt.)'s trophy inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

R.O.B. (Alt.)'s trophy inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U

R.O.B. (Alt.)

R.O.B.'s side smash, S3, fires a laser beam that does more damage up close. You can also aim it slightly up or down before firing. His down special Gyro sends a spinning top hurtling forward and can be charged for more damage. You can even dodge while charging!

:Nintendo Entertainment System Robotic Operating Buddy (10/1985)

:Mario Kart DS (11/2005)

R.O.B.'s side smash, S3, fires a laser beam that does more damage up close. You can also aim it slightly up or down before firing. His down special Gyro sends a spinning top hurtling forwards. While charging it up, you can move left or right to do a quick dodge, then continue charging where you left off!

:R.O.B. (09/1986)

:Mario Kart DS (11/2005)

InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

R.O.B., as he appears inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.

R.O.B. makes a return inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, yet again as an unlockable character. He has a new Final Smash yet again, beingGuided Robo Beam.

R.O.B.'s moveset has once again been improved drastically inUltimate from the previous game and he is considered by many competitive players to be a top-tier. This is backed up by his very consistent presence and results in tournaments for which he has become somewhat infamous. This can be attributed to his improved combo game and kill power: R.O.B. has many ways of comboing into his side special, which can drag opponents with him closer to the blast zones before sending them into it with a powerful horizontal launching hit. He also has a killing up throw and a down throw that buries, therefore setting up for up smash or up air, both of which kill between 100% and 150%. His neutral air attack is a slow but large, disjointed combo starter and extender. Combined with the kill power of his side special and gyro enables not just one but many possible zero-to-death combos.

Spirits[edit]

Fighter spirit[edit]

Primary spirit[edit]

No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Slots	Base	Max	Base	Max	Base	Max	Ability	Series
1,114		Ancient Minister		★★★	2	2822	8507	1213	3658	1609	4849	No Effect	Super Smash Bros. Series

Support spirits[edit]

No.	Image	Name	Class	Cost	Ability	Series
823		Stack-Up	★★	1	Falling Immunity	R.O.B. Series
824		Gyromite	★★	1	Back Shield Equipped	R.O.B. Series
1,113		Subspace Bomb	★★	1	Bomber Equipped	Super Smash Bros. Series

Gallery[edit]

• 

  R.O.B.'s Japanese, Korean, and Chinese default costume inSmash 4

• 

  R.O.B.'s Japanese, Korean, and Chinese default costume inUltimate.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language	Name
Japanese	ロボット,Robot
English	R.O.B.
French	R.O.B.
German	R.O.B.
Spanish	R.O.B.
Italian	R.O.B.
Chinese (Simplified)	机器人,Robot
Chinese (Traditional)	機器人,Robot
Korean	R.O.B.
Dutch	R.O.B.
Russian	R.O.B.
Portuguese	R.O.B.

Trivia[edit]

R.O.B.'s appearance inPort Town Aero Dive makes him the only playable character in the series to also appear in a stage that's not from the same universe as him.

• The R.O.B. peripheral has a product ID of HVC-012. This appears as his name in the Japanese version ofMario Kart DS,^[6] in the filenames ofstickers related to him, and is even referenced inPalutena's Guidance regarding him.
• R.O.B. is the only character in theSuper Smash Bros. series that is not from a video game. Instead, he is a video game peripheral for the NES. This gives him the distinction of being the only character in the series who originates from the real world.
  • Along withDuck Hunt, he is one of the only two characters that has a direct connection to the real world.
• R.O.B. is the only known character who is not coded to experiencehelplessness, as inBrawl the game freezes if he is put in helpless state. As ofSSB4, however, he can be rendered helpless by touchingPac-Jump's red trampoline.
• R.O.B. is one of two playable characters to make his playable debut in a game outsideSmash Bros. that is not his own, first appearing inMario Kart DS, with the other beingIsabelle who made her playable debut inMario Kart 8. Coincidentally both of them made their playable debut in aMario Kart game.
• As ofSSB4, R.O.B. is the only character whose default costume is different depending on what version of the game is played. He uses his NES color scheme in all regions outside of Japan, whereas his Famicom color scheme is used in the Japanese version.
  • Despite this, his portrait in theSound Test forSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is that of his Famicom color scheme instead of his NES color scheme, regardless of the game's region.
• Although difficult to hear, R.O.B. actually has a "voice" of sorts, which consists of subdued mechanical beeps. It is easiest to hear him when he isstunned,asleep orstar KO'd.
• R.O.B. is the onlyunlockablenewcomer inBrawl to remain as an unlockable character in both versions ofSSB4.
  • Additionally, he andWario are the only newcomers fromBrawl to return forSSB4 as unlockable characters, as Wario is a starter character inBrawl.
• R.O.B. is one of four characters to have a different Final Smash across every installment since Final Smashes debuted in theSuper Smash Bros. series. The other three arePit,Zero Suit Samus andKing Dedede.
  • He is also the only sole fighter from a series to have this trait.
• R.O.B. is the only playable fighter without feet.
• Ike and R.O.B. are the only characters whose default costumes became alternate costumes in a later installment.
  • However, his Famicom color scheme is still the default in Japanese versions ofSSB4 andUltimate.
• With his debut occurring in July 1985, R.O.B. is the earliest fighter introduced inBrawl.
• R.O.B.'sup aerial is very similar to an attack used bySpyborg, a boss fromStar Fox 64. Interestingly, Spyborg bears a vague resemblance to R.O.B., and its Japanese name is HVC-09,^[8] which is similar to R.O.B.'s serial code, HVC-12.
• R.O.B. is the only fighter to currently lack a home stage from their own universe.
  • He is also the only fighter to represent a universe introduced inBrawl that lacks a singleAssist Trophy.

Notes[edit]

v • d • e R.O.B. universe
Fighter	R.O.B. (SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU)
Enemies	R.O.B. Squad (R.O.B. Blaster ·R.O.B. Launcher ·R.O.B. Sentry)
Other	Ancient Minister ·Isle of the Ancients
Trophies,Stickers, andSpirits	Trophies (SSBB ·SSB4) ·Spirits
Music	Gyromite

• Characters
• R.O.B. universe
• Controllers
• Trophies (SSBB)
• Trophies (SSB4-3DS)
• Trophies (SSB4-Wii U)
• Stickers
• Spirits
• R.O.B.