Careening Dirigibug

Careening Dirigibug
Appears in	Pikmin 2
Scientific name	Flotillium circusmaximus
Family	Dirigibug
Areas	None
Caves	Subterranean Complex, Submerged Castle, Cavern of Chaos, Hole of Heroes, Dream Den
Challenge Mode stages	Abduction Den
2-Player Battle stages	Hostile Territory
Attacks	Drops bomb-rocks

Careening Dirigibugs (サクレウラメ^?) are extremely strange creatures in Pikmin 2. Colorful balloon-like appendages allow them to drift gracefully around. Despite their comical appearance, when approached, Dirigibugs pull from their mouths bomb-rocks and toss them onto the ground with the intent of blowing Pikmin off the map. This can be taken advantage of to damage other enemies.

These beasts are only found underground, which includes caves, Challenge Mode and a single 2-player stage, Hostile Territory.

Notes

Olimar's notes

“This creature floats effortlessly through the air using gas-filled balloons. Both its appearance and its nature are antagonistic. And it is the only variant of its species in this ecosystem. It may be best to consider the possibility that it somehow wandered into this ecosystem from an entirely alien one. Positive proof does not exist at this point, but that is how the creature is currently classified.”

Louie's notes

“Pull off the balloonlike air sacs, mince the meaty abdomen, and shape it into small cakes. Pan-sear the cakes until crusted, but be careful not to overcook the delicate meat. When ready to serve, garnish the plate with the vibrant air sacs. Even the most discerning dinner guest will be dazzled by the colorful presentation!”

Brawl trophy description

"A dangerous, offensive-minded creature. It uses balloons to keep it afloat as it flies through the air and drops bomb-rocks on ground-bound prey. These Bomb-rocks sometimes turn out to be duds, but since the slightest stimulus can set these things off, the ultimate care should be taken with them."

Strategy

Dirigibugs can be defeated in the same manner as Scarpanids and other flying enemies: rapidly throw Pikmin onto it while in the air (one Purple Pikmin will work just as well), then swarm it when it falls. The creature should be approached from behind if possible, and Ultra-Bitter Spray is very useful should the enemy be carrying a bomb-rock.

Without a spray, the creature will throw its bomb a random distance and direction when attacked. Should it land too close to the enemy to be able to make an approach, the player must back off and try again. Alternatively, bring it to the ground then whistle all Pikmin back to safety; then the Dirigibug will take longer to procure a new bomb-rock, leaving it vulnerable once the bomb-rock on the ground has exploded.

Careening Dirigibugs are also useful in that they can take out other enemies. You must walk towards a group of enemies alone, and allow the Dirigibug to follow you. Lure it into throwing a bomb-rock in front of you and the enemies. Then, retreat, and let the bomb-rock detonate on the enemies.

Technical information

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name			bombsarai
Global properties (List)
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
s000	friction(not used)	Friction	0.5
s001	wallReflection	Unknown (wall bounce speed multiplier?)	0.5
s002	faceDirAdjust	Unknown	0.25
s003	accel	Acceleration	0.1
s004	bounceFactor	Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?)	0.3
fp00	ライフ	HP	1500
fp01	マップとの当り	Unknown (related to slopes)	20
fp02	ダメージスケールXZ	Horizontal damage scale	0.2
fp03	ダメージスケールY	Vertical damage scale	0.2
fp04	ダメージフレーム	Damage scale duration	0.35
fp05	質量	Unknown (weight?)	0.01
fp06	速度	Move speed	60
fp08	回転速度率	Rotation acceleration	0.1
fp09	テリトリー	Territory radius	200
fp10	ホーム範囲	"Home" radius	100
fp11	プライベート距離	"Private" radius	50
fp12	視界距離	Sight radius	200
fp13	視界角度	FOV	180
fp14	探索距離	Unknown (exploration radius?)	200
fp15	探索角度	Unknown (exploration angle?)	120
fp16	振り払い率	Successful shake rate	1
fp17	振り払い力	Shake knockback	80
fp18	振り払いダメージ	Shake damage	1
fp19	振り払い範囲	Shake range	120
fp20	攻撃可能範囲	Unknown (shock attack max range?)	100
fp21	攻撃可能角度	Unknown (shock attack max angle?)	45
fp22	攻撃ヒット範囲	Unknown (attack hit range?)	50
fp23	攻撃ヒット角度	Unknown (attack hit angle?)	15
fp24	攻撃力	Attack damage	10
fp25	視界高	Unknown (height visibility?)	50
fp26	探索高	Unknown (exploration height?)	50
fp27	ライフの高さ	HP wheel height	50
fp28	回転最大速度	Rotation speed	2
fp29	警戒時間	Unknown (warning time?)	15
fp30	警戒ライフ	Unknown	100
fp31	ライフ回復率	Regeneration rate	0
fp32	LOD半径	Off-camera radius	80
fp33	マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定	Collision processing radius	30
fp34	ピクミンとのあたり	Pikmin damage radius	20
fp35	石化時間	Petrification duration	1
fp36	ヒップドロップダメージ	Purple Pikmin drop damage	50
fp37	地震気絶確立	Purple Pikmin stun chance	0.3 (30%)
fp38	地震気絶時間	Purple Pikmin stun time	5
ip01	振り払い打撃Ａ	Shake mode 1 – hit count	3
ip02	振り払い張付１	Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement	3
ip03	振り払い打撃Ｂ	Shake mode 2 – hit count	8
ip04	振り払い張付２	Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement	5
ip05	振り払い打撃Ｃ	Shake mode 3 – hit count	15
ip06	振り払い張付３	Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement	10
ip07	振り払い打撃Ｄ	Shake mode 4 – hit count	30
Specific properties
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
fp01	飛行高さ	Unknown (hover height?)	70
fp03	状態遷移高さ	Unknown	50
fp10	上下の揺れ速度	Unknown	2.5
fp11	上下の揺れ幅	Unknown	20
fp21	上昇係数(0)	Unknown	1.5
fp22	上昇係数(5)	Unknown	1
fp31	振払確率(1)	Unknown	0.2
fp32	振払確率(5)	Unknown	0.8
fp40	もがき時間	Unknown (time it spends struggling on the ground?)	0.8

Glitches

This article or section needs to be cleaned up, either its format or general style. Notes: Move to the glitches article when they're good, but first, confirm them.

There is a rare glitch that you will see one floating without balloons.

In some dungeons like the Hole of Heroes, a Careening Dirigibug can throw a bomb rock over a barrier when trying to kill your Pikmin on the other side. On the first floor of the Cavern of Chaos, some can get caught in the pipes.

One glitch that can occur with the Careening Dirigibug involves invisible bombs. A captain may activate a bomb while the Dirigibug is still holding it, which will cause it to explode while the creature is still holding the bomb. The Careening Dirigibug continues the "holding" animation, even when there is no bomb there. It will eventually perform the throwing animation with the bomb that is not there.

In this creature's Piklopedia entry, petrifying it just as it breaks free from another spray makes it possible to freeze it and its bomb-rock separately.

Gallery

• 

  A Careening Dirigibug in the Piklopedia.

• 

  Another screenshot of the creature in the Piklopedia.

• 

  A Careening Dirigibug carrying a bomb-rock.

• CareeningDirigibugTrophy.png

  The trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

• 

  A Careening Dirigibug with a non-existing bomb-rock in its claws.

• 

  The Brazillian Treehopper, a real world insect that bears a striking resemblance to the Dirigibug.

Trivia

• A Careening Dirigibug trophy can be unlocked in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Interestingly, the trophy description details that Careening Dirigibugs occasionally throw dud bomb-rocks, which is not true in Pikmin 2.
• The Careening Dirigibugs bear a strange resemblance to the Eosapiens from the documentary "Alien Planet", and also from William Barlowe's book, Expedition. Both these creatures float using gas-filled sacks on their heads, effectively hunt down their targets, and also have generally similar body shapes.