Who exactly is Barbara the Bat?
If you were a Nintendo DS owner in the mid-2000s, you might remember a purple-haired bat who was constantly yelling at you. That was Barbara the Bat. She’s the face of the Daigasso! Band Brothers series, a rhythm franchise that, honestly, most people outside of Japan only know through Super Smash Bros. cameos.
Barbara is the manager of a music shop called GB Music in the fictional Waru Waru Town. Now, don't let the name fool you. While "GB" usually stands for Game Boy, Barbara insists it stands for "Great Barbara." That basically sums up her entire personality. She’s arrogant, she’s a bit of a diva, and she treats the player like a "minion." It's a weirdly charming dynamic that made her a cult favorite.
She isn't just a mascot, though. In the original Daigasso! Band Brothers, she serves as your guide, your instructor, and your boss. She’s often seen with her younger brother, Tingtin, who—unlike Barbara—actually has wings. Barbara is an anthropomorphic bat with no wings. Why? Who knows. It’s just one of those Nintendo design quirks that nobody really questions.
The weird history of Daigasso Band Brothers
The game itself has a fascinating, somewhat messy history. It was originally supposed to be a Game Boy Color game called Game Boy Music. It got pushed to the Game Boy Advance, then eventually became a launch title for the Nintendo DS in 2004.
The Daigasso! Band Brothers series was revolutionary for its time. It wasn't just about hitting notes; it was about making music. You could play with up to eight people using only one game cartridge. Each person took a different instrument—guitar, drums, bass, keyboard—and you had to work together to not sound like a train wreck.
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Why was it never released in America?
Nintendo actually planned to bring the first game to North America under the title Jam with the Band. They even had it on their release schedules. But it never happened. Why? Most experts point to the licensing nightmare of the tracklist. The Japanese version was packed with J-Pop, anime themes, and Nintendo classics. Swapping those out for Western hits probably became more of a headache than it was worth.
Europe eventually got the sequel, also titled Jam with the Band, in 2010. But for many, the original Daigasso! Band Brothers remains a white whale of the DS era.
Barbara the Bat: More than just a rhythm game mascot
You’ve probably seen Barbara even if you’ve never touched a Band Brothers game. She’s one of those "if you know, you know" Nintendo characters that pops up in the most random places.
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl & 3DS: She appeared as an Assist Trophy. When summoned, she’d rock out on her electric guitar, sending out damaging shockwaves.
- Super Mario Maker: She was an unlockable Mystery Mushroom costume. Seeing a purple bat sprite running through a 1-1 remake was a trip for long-time fans.
- Master of Illusion: In this DS magic game, Barbara actually runs a magic shop. Apparently, the music business wasn't paying the bills, so she pivoted to card tricks.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: While she lost her Assist Trophy spot, she lives on as an Ace-class Spirit.
One of the funniest bits of Barbara lore comes from a webcomic on Nintendo’s Japanese site. She hires Ashley from WarioWare to sing at her club. Ashley, being incredibly shy, ends up falling asleep on stage. It’s a great example of how Nintendo used to cross-pollinate their niche franchises.
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What makes Barbara the Bat different?
Most Nintendo mascots are "safe." Mario is heroic. Kirby is cute. Barbara? She’s kind of a jerk. She cracks the whip, pampers herself, and openly admits she's trying to take advantage of you.
This "mean" personality was actually a risk for Nintendo. During development, there was concern that a new character wouldn't have the "automatic appeal" of an existing icon like Link or Peach. But designer Noriko Kitamura stuck to her guns, and the result was a character with more bite than your average mascot.
Interestingly, despite being a "music expert," the official lore and manga shorts suggest Barbara is actually terrible at the games she hosts. She's all talk and no talent. It makes her character feel more human, even if she is technically a wingless bat.
The legacy of the Band Brothers series
The series eventually moved to the 3DS with Daigasso! Band Brothers P. It was an ambitious title that let you use your 3DS camera to create an avatar based on your face, and it had a massive library of downloadable songs.
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Sadly, Nintendo shut down the online services for the 3DS version in 2020. This was a huge blow to the community, as the game’s core hook was the ability to share and download user-created MIDI tracks. Thousands of fan-made songs effectively vanished overnight.
How to experience Barbara the Bat today
If you want to track down Barbara’s origins, here is the best way to do it:
- Import the original DS carts: Daigasso! Band Brothers and the DX sequel are relatively cheap on the second-hand market. Since they're rhythm games, you don't need to be fluent in Japanese to enjoy the core gameplay.
- Check out Jam with the Band (Europe): This is the only English-language entry in the series. It’s a bit harder to find but much more accessible for Western players.
- Smash Bros. Spirit Collection: If you’re playing Smash Ultimate, you can summon the Barbara the Bat spirit using a Rouge the Bat core, a Prince Saruno core, and a grab-type core.
Barbara the Bat is a reminder of a time when Nintendo was willing to be a little weird and experimental with their characters. She’s a relic of the DS era's "Touch! Generations" boom—a period where anyone could pick up a handheld and feel like a rockstar, even if their boss was a wingless bat with a bad attitude.
Next Steps for Fans:
To get the full experience, look for the Tsuika Kyoku (Request Selection) expansion cartridge for the original DS game. It's a physical GBA cartridge that plugs into the DS's Slot 2 to add 31 new songs. It's a rare example of physical DLC before the eShop even existed. If you're a collector, that's the "holy grail" of the Band Brothers era.