Boo

Boo Buddies are ghosts that appeared in Link's Awakening. They are based on shy ghosts known as Boos from from the Mario series of games, debuting as "Boo Diddley" in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and reappearing in Super Mario World as "Boo Buddy" on the Super Nintendo. They have appeared in numerous Mario games since, and from Super Mario 64 onwards they are known simply as "Boo"s.

Two Boo Buddies in Link's Awakening guard the Power Bracelet. Unlike their Mario counterparts, they do not shy away from Link when he looks at them. They will simply float towards him to attack in the dark room, and when struck with the sword they will disappear, only to reappear elsewhere and continue their assault. They can only be destroyed by lighting the two torches, at which point they will turn black and fearful, and attempt to flee. At this point Link can strike them with his blade to defeat them, or wait until they have left, upon which point the chest containing the Power Bracelet will appear.

Trivia

 * Boo Buddies only appear on Koholint Island, and as such it is unknown if they live elsewhere in the Zelda universe.
 * Using light to weaken or defeat enemies in this manner occurs in many later Zelda games, such as ReDeads or Nocturn, a very similar ghost enemy.
 * Boo Buddy's Japanese name, Teresa, comes from the Japanese word,, meaning "to be shy", fitting their bashful nature.