Poobah the Pharaoh

Pharaoh Poobah meets the demon
Poobah the Pharaoh
Species	Human
Debut	Wario: Master of Disguise

Poobah the Pharaoh is the a boss in Wario: Master of Disguise. Despite being the boss of "Episode 5: Picking the Pharaoh's Brain", he figures heavily into the backstory of the entire game. Like the other characters in the game, he originates from a television show rather than the same world that most of the Wario games take place in.

Background

Long ago, Poobah was a greedy king who despite his wealth, desired to make one wish. Willing to pay any cost, he called a demon into his world. She was known as Terrormisu. The conditions for granting his wish were simple: he would have to starve his people to appease her. He agreed and set to the task of doing so, but soon he discovered that demons are not to be trusted. She stole everything he had and reduced his kingdom to rubble. His palace was transformed into a pyramid and sunk beneath the sand. Afterwards the first Cannoli later sealed Terrormisu into the Wishstone and scattered the fragments. One piece was said to be placed in the pyramid with Poobah himself and eventually the legend was distorted to the point that the story told that Poobah had used the Wishstone to make his wish.

For centuries he waited. The way into his chambers were guarded by his unusually hip doorman. Though many came to plunder his pyramid, especially archeologists for the sake of 'research'. His years in solitude seemed to have driven him into madness, as he was prone to fits of giggling when speaking to others. Eventually he was approached by Wario who was seeking the Wishstone piece that was was said to be held in the pyramid. Refusing to let Wario leave alive, he challenged the thief in battle. However he was defeated and confessed that the Wishstone was not in the Pyramid. Despite that, the Pharaoh was confident Wario would be able to collect the Wishstones and defeat Terrormisu. Before Wario could make any further demands, the Pharaoh created a portal and sent him to the ancient ruins where the piece of the Wishstone was kept.

Gameplay

Phases

Phase 1

Poobah in his human form

• In his first phase, the Pharaoh flies around as just his mask with no body. Whenever he drops a boulder, a small ball will light up on the top of his head. By using Cosmic Wario's laser gun, he will become disoriented and invisible statues will begin to rotate around his head. By using Genius Wario to see them and then hit them with the boxing glove, the Pharaoh will return to his full human form. Dragon Wario can then use his fire breath to burn away his loincloth. After this, the Pharaoh will counterattack by firing spikes from his nostrils.

Phase 2

• Once reduced to the last of his health, the Pharaoh will fight nearly identical to before. The only difference is that he will not enter into his original attack phase until a glowing block on top of his head is hit by Genius Wario. He will then enter the above phase again.

Trivia

• His name is a reference to the character Pooh-Bah in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. The Flintstones later expanded it to be the title, 'The Grand Poobah', the name of the leader for the Water Buffaloes Lodge.