8 Weirdest Video Game Enemies (And What They Represent)
2. Chain Chomps - Super Mario Series
Icons of the Super Mario world, Chain Chomps are black balls of metal attached to a thick chain that bark and lunge at players as they pass them by. With gigantic teeth and beady eyes, they have the feel of a nervous shark crossed with a weaponised Pac-Man - but Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto drew from a far more familiar source to create his Chomp-y pals.
Apparently, the creatures are a direct embodiment of his childhood fear of a dog that attempted to attack him. It jumped towards Miyamoto but was pulled back by the leash it was attached to, leaving the animal gnashing just inches away from his face.
Understandably, this left an impression on the video game designer who then incorporated this experience into Super Mario Bros. 3, letting players the world over experience the blind panic of a wild Chain Chomp coming to chew its way through poor old Mario.
Why exactly he chose a ball seems to be a design choice to really highlight the creature's teeth over everything else, mirroring the close up image Miyamoto would have had of this dog's snapping jaws.